Originally posted by Jimski
View Post
If Anderson (or actually Crane who was padded up as the designated Nightwatchman) had been sent on and had their wicket taken there wouldn’t have been another batter sent in (as SB states) just as there wasn’t when Bairstow was out - they were close enough to the end of play to stop for the day.
You can raise every hypothetical objection to nightwatchmen in theory you like but it’s been proven in practise in this instance to have been a mistake not to employ one. England’s last proven, in form batsman has gone for 5 runs when he didn’t even need to be on the pitch. The fact that it was his decision rather than a coach or vice-captain (with Root on the pitch, who is vice-captain in Stokes’ absence btw?) for dubious reasons just rubs it in.
Comment