On the one hand he is in the top ten century-makers for the county, a run machine at the top of the order in red ball cricket and certainly in the fifty-over game.
The references to him as our 'red ball captain' in the media pieces suggest that he won't be the white ball equivalent and that makes a lot of sense. I don't see him in our best T20 side, as Harry Came, for one, is better-suited to that format.
The team needs Billy to return to his best and to be fair we haven't seen that for a while. Last year was a struggle, bar for a century at the very end, while this year has seen much of the same.
I would love to see him less intent on crease occupation and playing more shots. I feel this year, perhaps with the pressure of the final year weighing on him, he has not played his normal game. Batting time is fine, but at some point there will be one with your name on it.
Having said that, taking the shine off the new ball is also very important. Paul Borrington didn't get the credit he deserved for his role in 2012, when he kept an end going while Martin Guptill blazed away. The runs scored down the order that year were made because the bowlers were tired and the ball old. The likes of Anuj Dal and Alex Thomson are cashing in similarly this year.
Perhaps now, knowing he will be staying around, we will see the best of Billy in the Royal London and the later return of the four-day game.
His captaincy has matured and is less formulaic, while he undoubtedly has the respect of the players. You will struggle to find anyone with a bad word to say about him, too and I have always found him a thoughtful, thoroughly pleasant and charming man, as interested in me and my family as I am in him.
Whatever happens at the end of the season and whoever comes into and goes out of the club, the skipper will be around for a while longer.
That is no bad thing, eh?
Whilst he hasn't got the runs this season he doesn't look as out of form as he did at times last season. He is never going to be pleasing on the eye (not many opening bats are) and with an elegant batsman at the other end in Shan Masood he is always going to look like he is struggling. Even Wayne Madsen looks out of nick when batting along side Shan Masood.
ReplyDeleteI would like him to be more attacking as a captain but we all would be more attacking when sitting behind a keyboard.
Pleasing that we are making decisions early especially with batters out of contract. With Masood unknown over availability due to possible international call ups and Billy, Wayne and Leus out of contract we could have faced 4 of our top 6 being not at the club next year.
Do you think for next season Billy may step down as captain and concentrate solely on batting Steve ? We may then be able to tempt a high calibre performer with the added cache of captain to the Club.....if funds allow obvs !
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