The good orthodox opening batsman should ideally be able to see off the new ball and lay the foundation of the innings before increasing the scoring rate as the innings builds. His first priority, however, must be to remain at the crease and preserve his wicket. I don't think that one opener should just act as a sheet anchor such as Tavare or Steele used to do unless the occasion demands it but nor should one of them act as a "pinch hitter."' Some of the great opening pairs such as Hutton and Washbrook, Boycott and Edrich, Boycott and Gooch and Stewart and Atherton for England as well as Greenidge and Haynes for the West Indies were able to do the job between them and others great openers such as Morris, Simpson and Lawrie for Australia, Richards for South Africa and Sunil Gavasker to name just a few were perfect examples. I mentioned in another thread last week that I once saw Hutton bat all day for !08 not out in a roses match and then add another 91 before lunch the next morning. Both parts of that innings were perfect examples how an opening batsman should best serve his team.

We are desperately short of quality opening batsmen properly qualified to play for England at present, even those playing under a "flag of convenience" although Vaughan is capable of doing the job as long as his occasional lapses of concentration do not get the better of him but as you say Trescothick is at best a reasonable number five. His failure to bat in the manner prescribed above in the last test against Sri Lanka almost certainly cost us a game we might otherwise have won but these habits come from playing the one day game. It is interesting that India no longer allow their younger cricketers to participate in it for this very reason.

Admin - Link to original thread in the England forum: Opening partnerships - Englandvs India