Packing the order... bowlers that bat. Can there ever be a perfect 11?

Infuriating to the opposition, but a dream to the batting captain. Test cricket in recent years has shown the importance of having a long batting line up, and more importantly bowlers that can bat. Stuart Broads efforts in the final test against New Zealand only barely a week ago is another of historys fine examples of how a bowler that can bat can swing a match for his team. His partnership with James Anderson on the second morning was crucial in setting up England's innings victory. Broad had spoken about making the number 8 role in England's side his, and with performances like those demonstrated against the Kiwis, many see 8 as being his for a long time.

Broad is an example of many bowlers that can be more than useful with the bat. It is now seen as an essential part of an all round, balanced side, including a wicketkeeper that can hold his place as a specialist batsman. You only have to look at the best sides in the world to see that at least one of their specialist bowling unit can hold his own with the bat. Australia as the benchmark had for many years as more than capable 7, 8 , 9 and 10 as Gilchrist, Warne, Lee and Gillespie and all this after having to get through a more than formidable top 6! India as well have always been able to produce lower order bowlers that could bat, those just coming to mind include Kumble, Pathan and Agarkar.

With the advancement in coaching, safety equipment and psychology of the game though it could be argued that this is simply a natural progression of the game, and to an extent i think that this is correct. What is important to remember about batting though is that you need ability in the first instance, and without this, and even with the best coaching in the world there would be a struggle to produce lower order batsman that can score runs. Gone are the days of if the bowlers score runs it will be a bonus, bolwers are now expected to hang around with the recognised batsman and score as many runs as possible. This is a long way from Fraser, Tuffnell and Malcolm as 9, 10 and 11 of England's batting line up. Scarily this has only changed in the last 15 years.

Will a team ever produce 11 batsmen? Ex- England Captain and Psychologist Mike Brearley believed in picking a specialist for all positions, so if they are the best bowler in the country but cannot bat, then pick them for their bowling merits. It is not impossible to have 11 batsmen, but it is difficult to see a country producing specialist bowlers worth their place in their number one role that can bat as well. It is safe to say that many captains would be happy to see 9 of his 11 that can bat. There is also the overriding argument that the top order should be doing their job so the bowlers shouldn't need to bat, but then again that just wouldn't be cricket.