I shouldn't be responding to this - bed beckons - but Rubrick's comment put me in mind of Ewan Chatfield, who bowled slow/medium pace for NZ for many years. In a test match he'd bowl over after over at the batsmen using exactly the same line and length, which were such that if the batsman failed to at least block the ball it would take the middle stump out every time. Frustrating for the batsmen and neophyte cricket watchers, because it required absolute concentration from the one and looked as dull as dishwater to the second. But if there was
one lapse in concentration ... Every so often, however, Ewan would bowl up a yorker, i.e. he simply changed the length. I won't say it got the batsman out every time, but after being mesmerised by Ewan's consistency for a few overs, it often completely bamboozled the batsman, who would be on his way back to the clubhouse saying "What happened? What happened?" before he even realised he was out!
- Pfranz
