If there has to be a scapegoat for losing this test it surely has to be whoever decided Bethell was a good pick for a series-deciding test match and then putting him in before Smith in the second innings. I'm not slagging Bethell off, if the call comes you don't say no, but he never should have been there.
Good point, but Bethell could have done himself a favour if he’d decided not to bat like a total c**t
Can someone explain something to me about Woakes? The commentators kept saying that he'd practiced batting left-handed in the nets and was expected to do it today if he'd found himself on strike. I understand that the point of that would've been to keep his injured left shoulder away from the ball, but how could he possibly have batted left-handed whilst his left arm was in a sling? Or did he actually mean bat one-handed but from a left-handed stance sort of like a backhand in racquet sports?
your top hand, right hand if you’re batting left handed, generally provides control of the bat so you would defend using just that arm. Like a normal batting position just without the bottom hand on the bat.
Put yourself in his shoes, he was likely surprised to be called up, he only got 2 overs in the first innings, then lbw to Siraj (no shame in that!), just 4 overs in the second innings, then following Brook in and probably desperate to contribute after playing hardly any red ball cricket this year. I'm not surprised he never settled!
I'm mostly right handed but bat left handed with my right hand at the top, controlling the bat. The left hand is used to steady the bat and provide power when required.
