Just a question I had. What difference does it make when you charge down the pitch to a pacer and when you stand outside the crease? Because your final position would be same wouldn't it?
I have seen the legends and some great players like Sachin Tendulkar, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Ricky Ponting, etc all these guys would be standing outside their crease to a pacer which infact made them comfortable to negative the swing. But yesterday when I saw Stokes he was actually in no position to play his shot. Now why does that happen ? This is the doubt that arises in my mind.
The batsmen come down the track to eliminate/nullify/negate possible lbws. The height factor comes into play when you come out of your crease to play. Any good length bowl hitting your pads will go above the stumps (especially on bouncy wickets like Old Trafford).
Yesterday, Stokes was trying to eliminate the possible lbw which Abbas is extremely good at. Sibley's mode of dismissal was lbw as well so that was in Stokes's mind.
Less did he know, he would get bowled off an absolute jaffa instead of lbw.
Stokes was actually in an ok-ish position had the delivery not swung. He could have played a sublime straight drive but unfortunately for him, it swung away from him.
This what I think. You guys are more than welcome to differ
