How much does the ability to handle debut nerves have an impact on whether or not a player might one day thrive in Test cricket? Answer that question and you go a long way towards deciding how much attention to pay to the performances of Chris Woakes and Simon Kerrigan.
We’d say that in general a debut shouldn’t be considered representative of a player’s ability. That said, it is something that needs to be overcome. Concede ten an over and you won’t be getting a second Test without first making a very compelling case in some other form of cricket.
Every player is different. Some arrive in Test cricket fully formed, secure in their abilities; others build confidence over time. The former are preferable in many respects, but frequently the latter surpass them once they’ve found their feet. You invest in players and with the potential for poor returns in the short-term, it’s important to be certain you’re investing correctly for the long-term.
One thing we’d say is that Shane Watson was struggling up until he came up against the debutants and afterwards, he wasn’t struggling any longer. That’s quite important when you look at what’s going on in this Test. Woakes and Kerrigan have a debt. Will they get a chance to work it off.
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August 21, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Couldn’t agree more. A debut doesn’t mean much. We have seen spectacular debuts become successful careers (Rahul Dravid) and also quickly go waste (Hirwani, Sinclair). Shit debuts have become quite successful as well (Warne).
On the other hand, it has to be said players today have considerably less time to prove their worth. What with T20s all over coughing up fly-by-nights who are deemed “worth a look” by the media, we might actually be missing out on genuinely good test players because no has patience any more. Sad times.
August 21, 2013 at 8:48 pm
I thought Woakes bowled ok. Kerrigan bowled like I do on Sunday afternoons.
August 21, 2013 at 10:32 pm
Turns out Australia are harder to bowl to than Leicestershire.
August 21, 2013 at 10:43 pm
I’ve been reading a lot of spy novels recently. Can we be certain that this was not a clever ploy by England to save Shane Watson’s test career
August 21, 2013 at 10:49 pm
Daneel, I’m fairly sure that if you bowl head high full tosses and slow half trackers against anyone they would have the same result. Except a team I bowled against earlier this season. Three wickets, thank you very much.
August 21, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Was it Bert’s team?
August 21, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Maybe we’ve uncovered a new Ian Salisbury!
August 21, 2013 at 11:17 pm
Or a new Scott Boswell.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/262792.html
August 22, 2013 at 3:30 am
I never thought I would say this but after lunch Broad bowled one of the best spells of hostile bowling I have seen. Certainly the best I have ever seen from him anyway.
England should send Boof some sort of gift basket as a gesture of thanks.
August 22, 2013 at 4:55 am
A small canister of tear gas, perhaps?
August 22, 2013 at 9:56 am
4-0 would be the best gift I can think of for Boof, but I’m not convinced this team will do it. We’ll see..
August 22, 2013 at 10:12 am
In other news, excellent airing of Alex Bowden’s views on DRS, not least the irritating phrase “DRS system”.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/664179.html
I love it whenever RAS syndrome gets a public airing – it happens all too rarely.
August 22, 2013 at 10:34 am
Self review: some good passages, but an unsatisfactory finish.
August 22, 2013 at 11:22 am
Gooch got a pair on debut.
Gavin Hamilton got a pair on debut.
Cook scored a century on debut.
Sean Marsh scored a century on debut.
Let’s not put too much emphasis on debuts.