Recently we've witnessed both ends of the batting self-preservation spectrum, ranging from high-class to the downright stupid. In the high-end category Virat Kohli again showed his class in scoring a brilliant century and becoming the quickest man to 10,000 ODI runs. Kohli displayed his usual exquisite shot-making ability and the skill to shift through the batting gears, however it was his determination to put a high price on his wicket — he remained undefeated despite being fatigued — that stood out.

Bizarre run outs
In stark contrast there were two examples of batting totally devoid of any care for self-preservation in the Pakistan - Australia Test series. Firstly, Marnus Labuschagne watched transfixed at the non-striker's end — with his feet out of the crease and bat in the air — as the ball touched Yasir Shah's fingers and then trickled on to the stumps. It was hard to imagine what was going through the non-striker's mind but easy to ascribe a title to the act — stupidity.