Unlike everyone else, I am enjoying the current cricket Test in Nagpur. It’s like a game of chess, like doing a cryptic crossword puzzle. It’s slow but real relentless Test cricket. Engrossing.
Dhoni may be criticised for slowing down the game on day -3 but he is a master strategist.
India needs a draw to lift the Trophy. 8-1 fielding is a negative ploy but legal.
Australia has to win so it’s for them to make the move and who knows they will do so today. Pity Lee is unwell, a real tragedy for Australia.
But expect the unexpected on the 9th and 10th November. Will ‘Crazy’ Krejza strike again? If India is bowled out for around 200 today (the 9th), Australia can score 300 in 100 overs, with Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke firing on the final pulsating day.
Unlikely, but if anyone can do it, Australia can.
The first duty of a captain is to win a series and not entertain crowds. Therefore I do not criticise Dhoni, a cerebral captain and very inspirational.
Although I must admit his constant shouts of ‘Mishi’, ‘Bhajji’ and ‘Viroo’ are annoying! But he has outfoxed Ponting every time in this series.
If spectators want to see fireworks from ball one, they should see Twenty20. This is Test cricket, hard core Test cricket.
Apart from the second Test, all other Tests have been slow-release thrillers with the result in doubt till after lunch on day 5.
Pity the spectators did not turn up in large number on all days during the series. And the absolute meaningless IPL matches attracted on an average 25 to 45,000 every game earlier this year.
Also why did the Indian organisers ignore Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai as venues for a Test series between two top teams?
Kersi Meher-Homji is the author of the recently released book, Cricket’s Great All-Rounders.
Gulu
Guest
I totally agree with Kersi. This was Test cricket at its best, attritional and cerebral with each session swinging back and forth. If the fast food generation wants 20/20 rubbish, they are welcome. Remember, fast food leads to obesity! Nothing like the slow burn of a Test match. And incidentally Kersi, 80% of the tickets for IPL matches were given away free to give the feel of a full house and please the sponsors and TV guys.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
What turns me off cricket is the overdramatisation of every incident. I realise that the spirit or integrity of the game is a large part of cricket, but every incident that "blackens" cricket's name is forgotten about five months later. Controversies meant more when they toured less.
wallythefly
Roar Rookie
Justin, I agree with you on the pitches! None of this batting paradise business! I'm not a Twenty20 fan but the best Twenty20 game I've seen was an early IPL game where the wicket was just impossible to bat on. The whole game went from a batfest to a much more tactical game...
Midfielder
Guest
Kersi I have no doubt you are correct and 20 years ago I would have listened or watched almost every ball bowled in a test match ......... why I changed ........ not sure TBD but some things that may have affected my thinking ........... Australian dominance in recent years... behaviour of many of the players ..... that the season never seems to end its just from one series to the next ... many games are way to slow for my liking as someone said pitches are being prepared ........ standards appear to be relaxed at times for some people whether this is right or wrong does not matter its just my interpretation.... constant appeals ...... not walking when a fielder calls a catch ... . also my kids by and large show little or no interest in cricket so no one at home to share or talk about it ......Adding all this up I guess has just meant bit by bit I have turned off cricket
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Midfielder, Spiro et al, Do enjoy your McDonald burgers prepared in 2 to 3 minutes. I'll wait for my wife's home cooked meal even if it takes 2 to 3 hours! But I agree, some rule changes are necessary to make Test cricket more watchable. Say 100 overs per day per innings in a 4-day Test. Rule against 8-1 field setting. Wide balls to be called if the balls are 2 feet on either side of the batting crease. Two wides in an over and a free hit. A limit to the run up for a bowler. I realise this is 21st century and Test cricket has to toe the line. But this series in India had ingredients for excitement, with the result in doubt till after lunch on day-5 in the 1st, 3rd and 4th Tests. This Nagpur Test swayed this way and that like a yo-yo.
dasilva
Roar Guru
I think there should be run punishment for over rates. Every hour you must bowl x amount of overs and if don't then add 25 runs to the opposition. Have a time keeper to take in consideration interuptions and wickets. Therefore giving incentive to bowl in alloted time as well as avoiding situations where they have to bowl part timers at the end of the day for the sole purpose of keeping up with over rate.
Justin
Guest
Not much needs changing - bowl 90 f%cking overs in the alloted time or have the captain fined and or suspended, dont let them take their breaks for lunch and tea until they have bowled the required overs (an they will have shortened breaks too if necessary) and ensure that we dont have dead flat pitches where the bowlers have little chance of taking wickets. Its not rocket science. Spiro - I have just saved everyones time and money. Send the cheque to.....
spiro zavos
Guest
Kersi, you must be one of the few really enjoying the Test. Someone once said that cricket was invented by God to teach people the meaning of the word 'eternity.' The slowness, generally, is part of the attraction. Players becobme characters and the plot unfolds with the intricacy of a great novel, with set pieces colouring the action from time to time. But the modern Test is too slow and lacking in action, too often, to engage the interest most of the time. I agree with Ian Chappell and Steve Waugh that things have to be done to improve the spectacle and the contest of Tests. Spend some money on a conference of interested parties, chaired by Richie Benaud to come up with rules of engagement that allow the slow-cooking admirable quality of Tests to be retained while maintaining the tastiness of the product over the five days.
Michael C
Guest
Phil - have you ever been to the footy at the MCG? If yes, then, try an international 20/20 match - - similar energised feel good atmosphere for 2-3 hours, great for after work, you're not just turning up for the evening session - rather, you get the whole game. And, unlike the footy, you probably don't really care who wins and everyone goes home happy!! Sporting entertainment!!!
Phil Coorey
Guest
I agree with midfielder - i just don't need to sit down and watch every hour of test matches anymore. Which means I hardly watch cricket as one dayers and 20/20 are a waste of my time
Michael C
Guest
The best thing though is sitting at work with the desktop scoreboard and wicket alert. And, I still like nothing better than an afternoon in the backyard/vegie patch with the test cricket on the radio. but.............to sit down and watch it dedicated on tele.........only in the background (for which it works wonderfully well, especially in combination with radio coverage) and to attend............generally only 1 day, the 3rd day is often a good one to attend, the match is taking shape, unlike a ODI, you know that weather permitting you'll see a full days play. However.............reality is that cricket for a family with kids is far best viewed from a grassy mound beneath a shady tree.
dasilva
Guest
hey I know what you mean and I don't even have wife's and kids yet. I follow cricket in text commentary for the most part but seldomly watch it as it pass too much times and if I watch all test match I will probably fail my exams.
Midfielder
Guest
Once upon a time I would never dreamed I would make this post ......... but here I go ... Test Cricket played over five days 30 hours is simply to time consuming for my current life style...... that I can hog the car radio and listen to the cricket has passed my wife and kids will not let me ......... for me it is becoming a bit like shield games look at the news to catch the score ....... if it looks close I may watch .... if very close I will watch ........ but watch all day .......... in bygone days yes today no