Flipper excellent article

about a fine batsman destroyed by the pressure of an unwanted additional burden.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/wayne-phillips-on-the-mental-health-struggles-that-curtailed-his-career-i-was-vomiting-during-games-1298655

So often Aus selectors have made the mistake of trying to get 2 players out of one (ala Flipper), E.g. their ridiculous long term search for an allrounder at no. 6 (notwithstanding that Snot may at last make the grade).

skully wrote:So often Aus selectors have made the mistake of trying to get 2 players out of one (ala Flipper), E.g. their ridiculous long term search for an allrounder at no. 6 (notwithstanding that Snot may at last make the grade).

Yes.

Honestly I think we have done better in encouraging all our bowlers to improve their batting. Having a couple of batsmen able to roll a couple of overs is also useful. We have lost matches and series by playing spare parts players.

Yes that's the 'team balance' formula that has worked best for as long as I can remember: at least 10 blokes who can at worst hold up an end, and at least eight who could bowl reasonably straight.

I was expecting an article on Flight & Guile!

Tim Zohrer was another who felt obliged to develop other strings to his bow. On being passed over as Test keeper batsman he reinvented himself as a leggie.

He was more than decent at that three disciplines. However none were sufficient to win and sustain a Test career.

horace wrote:Tim Zohrer was another who  felt obliged to develop other strings to his bow. On being passed over as Test keeper batsman he reinvented himself as a leggie.

He was more than decent at that three disciplines. However none were sufficient to win and sustain a Test career.

Dim Tim the first vitally also never quite harnessed his inner total sh1thead.