--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Opening the batting in Test cricket…" description: "\"Opening the batting in Test cricket, facing up to fast bowlers looking to do their worst with a new, hard ball is incredibly tough. You have to be brav..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/jonathan-agnew-4986_batting_opening-the-batting-in-test-cricket-faci_2993749.jpg" --- # Opening the batting in Test cricket, facing up to fast… ![“Opening the batting in Test cricket, facing up to fast bowlers looking to do their worst with a new, hard ball is incredibly tough. You have to be brave, single-minded and prepared to work very, very hard.” quote by Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/jonathan-agnew-4986_batting_opening-the-batting-in-test-cricket-faci_2993749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/jonathan-agnew-4986_batting_opening-the-batting-in-test-cricket-faci_2993749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/jonathan-agnew-4986_batting_opening-the-batting-in-test-cricket-faci_2993749.jpg) > “Opening the batting in Test cricket, facing up to fast bowlers looking to do their worst with a new, hard ball is incredibly tough. You have to be brave, single-minded and prepared to work very, very hard.” [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing elite fast bowling demands courage, focus, and relentless effort. **In simple terms:** Courage and hard work are essential. Key Takeaway Embrace the challenge fully. Themes sports courage determination Mood intense motivational Type sports inspirational When to use this quote - debut innings - high‑pressure matches - training regimes Key Concepts mental toughness skill development Questions to Reflect On - What mental tricks help you stay focused? - How do you recover after a tough spell? A Different Perspective Physical limits may cause injury if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Batting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/batting/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Cricket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket/) [Fast Bowlers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-bowlers-638123/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-ball-1222800/) [Opening Batting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening-batting-3389012/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“There is perhaps no examination in sport more exacting than opening the batting in Test cricket, certainly none more extensive and probing. The Tour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-harris/there-is-perhaps-no-examination-in-sport-more-exacting-than-opening/) [Daniel Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-harris/) > [Archer has an incredible talent. He is one of those fast bowlers who makes it look easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/archer-has-an-incredible-talent-he-is-one-of-those-fast-bowlers-who/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [With new fast bowlers on the international circuit few and far between, it's always good to see someone new coming through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/with-new-fast-bowlers-on-the-international-circuit-few-and-far/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [Whenever you see Indian first class cricket on television, you see only a white wicket in a four-day game. And you have after five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wasim-akram/whenever-you-see-indian-first-class-cricket-on-television-you-see/) [Wasim Akram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wasim-akram/) > [After 2019, one thing that really stood out to me was, early on, not going too hard at the ball and allowing myself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stokes/after-2019-one-thing-that-really-stood-out-to-me-was-early-on-not/) [Ben Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stokes/) > [There was a time where I was such a perfectionist even if I made the kick, but that's no way to live. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gostkowski/there-was-a-time-where-i-was-such-a-perfectionist-even-if-i-made-the/) [Stephen Gostkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gostkowski/) > [It's hard when you get the ball in an iso situation and you have a set defense in front of you. Very few players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/it-s-hard-when-you-get-the-ball-in-an-iso-situation-and-you-have-a/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Work for the team, work hard and when the ball falls to you you have to put it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelechi-iheanacho/work-for-the-team-work-hard-and-when-the-ball-falls-to-you-you-have/) [Kelechi Iheanacho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelechi-iheanacho/) > [The most important thing to me is how hard we go after the ball and take care of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quinn/the-most-important-thing-to-me-is-how-hard-we-go-after-the-ball-and/) [Dan Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quinn/) > [I think I throw the ball as hard as anyone. The ball just doesn't get there as fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bane/i-think-i-throw-the-ball-as-hard-as-anyone-the-ball-just-doesn-t-get/) [Eddie Bane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bane/) > [Preparation is not just about batting and bowling. You have to consider lots of things - the travel, the weather, the heat, the light,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/preparation-is-not-just-about-batting-and-bowling-you-have-to/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [As a batting captain, you do have to earn bowlers' trust, especially when it comes to fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/as-a-batting-captain-you-do-have-to-earn-bowlers-trust-especially/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [When you know that batting will be tough, that the ball might move around and your technique will be tested, you have to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/when-you-know-that-batting-will-be-tough-that-the-ball-might-move/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [We all know England conditions help fast bowlers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuvneshwar-kumar/we-all-know-england-conditions-help-fast-bowlers/) [Bhuvneshwar Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuvneshwar-kumar/) > [As a skipper, when you try to manipulate the field, you need to see the strengths of the fast bowlers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ms-dhoni/as-a-skipper-when-you-try-to-manipulate-the-field-you-need-to-see-the/) [MS Dhoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ms-dhoni/) ## More by Jonathan Agnew > [The Twenty20 is itself a banal game, a crude game, but it works, so I hope Twenty20 commentary works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/the-twenty20-is-itself-a-banal-game-a-crude-game-but-it-works-so-i/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [I don't think cricket will ever have the same sort of money as football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/i-don-t-think-cricket-will-ever-have-the-same-sort-of-money-as/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [What we have learned is that Roland-Jones is a very promising prospect. Because of the way he bowls, he will not blow batsmen away,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/what-we-have-learned-is-that-roland-jones-is-a-very-promising/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [On your debut, you just want to get into the game. I remember when I played my first Test, we bowled first and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/on-your-debut-you-just-want-to-get-into-the-game-i-remember-when-i/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [I love the individual characters that cricket produces and, more than most other sports, the unlikely heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/i-love-the-individual-characters-that-cricket-produces-and-more-than/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [By empowering players - not just players, but grown men - to think for themselves outside of the game, you hope that they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/by-empowering-players-not-just-players-but-grown-men-to-think-for/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [We go to Dubai quite a lot, so I've seen it being gradually ruined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/we-go-to-dubai-quite-a-lot-so-i-ve-seen-it-being-gradually-ruined/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [It is one thing to err on the side of caution. Equally, Test wins have to be earned. They are seldom handed to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/it-is-one-thing-to-err-on-the-side-of-caution-equally-test-wins-have/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [Players like Alastair Cook do not come around very often. To play for so long and achieve so much says everything about his fitness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/players-like-alastair-cook-do-not-come-around-very-often-to-play-for/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [Stuart Broad's 400th Test wicket did not come the way he would have wanted - Tom Latham chipped the ball to mid-wicket - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/stuart-broad-s-400th-test-wicket-did-not-come-the-way-he-would-have/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [The bouncer shouldn't be banned. Hitting batsmen, I'm afraid, is part of the game. But it's the histrionics, the nonsense, the prancing, the in-your-face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/the-bouncer-shouldn-t-be-banned-hitting-batsmen-i-m-afraid-is-part-of/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [There is no other job in major sport like a cricket captain. It is a huge job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/there-is-no-other-job-in-major-sport-like-a-cricket-captain-it-is-a/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [Without ambition, drive and the willingness to make sacrifices, I don't think you get anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/without-ambition-drive-and-the-willingness-to-make-sacrifices-i-don-t/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [Call me traditional, but Test cricket is the most important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/call-me-traditional-but-test-cricket-is-the-most-important-thing/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [When you are at the top, teams raise their game to play against you, breathing down your neck because they want what you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/when-you-are-at-the-top-teams-raise-their-game-to-play-against-you/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) [Explore all 103 Jonathan Agnew quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) ## More Batting quotes > [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/) [Buck Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-martinez/) > [I have to thank batting coach Sanjay Bangar for providing valuable inputs. He gave me honest feedback about how poorly I was batting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravichandran-ashwin/i-have-to-thank-batting-coach-sanjay-bangar-for-providing-valuable/) [Ravichandran Ashwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravichandran-ashwin/) > [I have always believed in my batting abilities. I have always put my hand up as a pure batsman and have enjoyed fielding as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-karthik/i-have-always-believed-in-my-batting-abilities-i-have-always-put-my/) [Dinesh Karthik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-karthik/) > [“Sachin is a genius in the world of cricket leaving behind all those who are only talented and intelligent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/sachin-is-a-genius-in-the-world-of-cricket-leaving-behind-all-those/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [He has defined cricket in his fabulous, impeccable manner. He is to batting what Shane Warne is to bowling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-benaud/he-has-defined-cricket-in-his-fabulous-impeccable-manner-he-is-to/) [Richie Benaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-benaud/) > [I have been pretty free-flowing in my batting. I have not let situations change my batting around too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-karthik/i-have-been-pretty-free-flowing-in-my-batting-i-have-not-let/) [Dinesh Karthik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-karthik/) > [I remember one time I'm batting against the Dodgers in Milwaukee. They lead, 2 - 1, it's the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-uecker/i-remember-one-time-i-m-batting-against-the-dodgers-in-milwaukee-they/) [Bob Uecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-uecker/) > [The offseason after the 2014 season, I worked with hitting coach Damon Mashore. I always had power in batting practice but couldn't take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/the-offseason-after-the-2014-season-i-worked-with-hitting-coach-damon/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [When it comes to batting, I have a lot of expectations from myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuvneshwar-kumar/when-it-comes-to-batting-i-have-a-lot-of-expectations-from-myself/) [Bhuvneshwar Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuvneshwar-kumar/) > [If any IPL team wants me to be a mentor or a batting consultant, I would love to do that. I can share my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virender-sehwag/if-any-ipl-team-wants-me-to-be-a-mentor-or-a-batting-consultant-i/) [Virender Sehwag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virender-sehwag/) > [There's a difference between batting at number four position and batting in the lower order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-shankar/there-s-a-difference-between-batting-at-number-four-position-and/) [Vijay Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-shankar/) > [There are lots of guns and action in my drawings, and part of that is just to make them more interesting. 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I have been blessed to experience some of these over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-osborne/is-success-just-about-winning-acclaim-trophies-wealth-our-personal/) [Tom Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-osborne/) > [God isn't really interested in our batting averages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-murphy/god-isn-t-really-interested-in-our-batting-averages/) [Dale Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-murphy/) [Browse all 286 Batting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/batting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Opening the batting in Test cricket, facing up to fast bowlers looking to do their worst with a new, hard ball is incredibly tough. 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