Roar Guru
Joined October 2017
168k
Views
189
Published
17.9k
Comments
Published
Comments
The fourth and final instalment looks at some great West Indian players, most of whom would have been superstars in the ODI format. I…
In light of the recent Ashes series result, a number of people responsible for aspects of England’s performance resigned their positions. These included coaches…
This is Part 3 in the series about a team full of exciting players who never had a chance to play ODI cricket. I’ve…
Cricket Australia has not had a good run with its choice of CEOs in recent times. Remember James Sutherland, who probably stayed on a…
I recently submitted an article about my best Australian XII who never played an ODI. At the time I wrote that, I realised it…
Right about now, we should have been enjoying the start of a short white-ball series between Australia and New Zealand. I was particularly looking…
That nebulous rabble that is the Australian media had a lovely time this summer. An underwhelming England squad gave them plenty of stories both…
This article was prompted by a Roar reader – so many thanks to DTM for this idea. The Ashes are over and in the…
In the days leading up to the first Ashes Test, I made some predictions that I thought I’d revisit. In hindsight, more than a…
It’s been 1200 days since Australia last played Test cricket overseas against an Asian opponent. That was a two-Test series against Pakistan in the…
Pat Cummins knocked over Ollie Robinson to claim the last wicket of the fifth Ashes Test, completing a 4–0 series win and putting a…
The Sydney Test is in the record books and it was a real stop-start affair, which was frustrating for everyone. In between rain delays…
Now that the Ashes have been retained, a lot of interest for the series seems to be focused who will be selected in the…
There are two truths that are self-evident: the sun will rise in the east and set in the west, and England Test cricket is…
Prior to the appointment of Pat Cummins as Australia’s Test captain, I read all manner of reasons why this would be a disastrous move.…
'The selectors will have a conundrum if Josh Hazlewood is fit for the Sydney Test'. This was a comment I read from one of…
The media has got this series completely wrong. There appears to have been an assumption made by the media some weeks ago, especially the…
I’ve no idea why, but the Esther Phillips song from the 1970s 'What a Difference a Day Makes' came into my head the other…
The Adelaide Test is done and dusted and this has to go into the record books as something unique. I don’t think there’s ever…
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard the expression “cricket’s a funny game”. The first Test fits that narrative nicely. One…
Strauss has also been very smart in is form of words. He’s leaving some guys out but also saying they’re still in the mix for the Tests in the English summer. He’s not guaranteed anyone anything, but has a message, as you say.
Interesting to see what Broad does, given he’ll presumably go back to County cricket.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
I think we need to take a step back and look at who this game is important to?
Eligible players obviously want to play for the reasons you outlined in your piece, Tony – “a great opportunity for players to represent their culture, history and families.
Fans want to watch it, not only because of the exciting players from both sides, but because it’s the first serious game of the new season.
The Clubs are at best okay with it, given they can use it as a trial for some players, while I think the NRL is ambivalent. It meets part of their role in promoting the game but does it make them a ton of money?
This game is always going to struggle for players unless or until it attains the same status as State Of Origin. That’s the one tournament that has buy-in from all stakeholders. In the meanwhile, we can still watch a pretty good game of footie with the players who are available.
Indigenous All Stars: A great concept that could be even better
The bunker, or some form of technology assisted decision making, is here to stay in the NRL, so it makes zero difference whether we need it or not.
What the NRL does need to do is invest in the technology to make it better and fit for use in Rugby League. Trials will be taking place on technology helping decide forward passes, which shows the NRL is moving that way, but is there more they can do?
There also needs to be certainty over what the technology is designed to do. I can say what it’s not designed to do – allow for 100% correct decisions to me made, 100% of the time.
If that general view is accepted as the industry standard, then the technology should only be an aide to onfield refs decisions. That makes the game day ref the sole judge and only they should be able to use the technology to change their decision and that should ONLY happen when there is clear evidence their original call was not correct.
Does the NRL need the Bunker?
All very valid questions Jeff and clearly none that you or I could confidently answer.
I think many, including me, assumed the nadir for English Test cricket in particular was the recent series defeat, but all it’s done is expose all manner of issues. One I didn’t expect to see was a lack of unity.
It seems to me Broad has put himself above the team in recent months. It started with his ill-chosen words about what lengths the England quicks should bowl and has only continued with this outburst. He probably has every right to be aggrieved but coming out in the press with a “poor bugger me” story, is hardly likely to inspire team unity.
Imagine what Burns, Hameed, Bess and Malan are thinking. They’ve been left out as well, with no guarantee of further consideration, yet none of them are publicly bleating.
He clearly can’t see Strauss’s point; he’s at the end of his career, they need to find bowling replacements, they need Broad and Anderson ready to go against the Black Caps and above all, England Test cricket needs to move on.
IMO he’s being selfish and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him not play another Test.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
He may well be using a ghost writer, but at the end of the day, the views in his column are attributed to him.
If for example, Strauss was the challenge the assertion he made more than a 5 minute phone call to tell him he wasn’t going on tour, Broad would be expected to respond.
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?
In the short term, the growing popularity of Willow opens up more avenues for people to be exposed to cricket which hopefully turns to more people playing.
Still early days and small steps, but a base number of viewers in the millions is a pretty useful start.
Are Aussie cricket players above the board?
Yeah, it seems very strange for a former colleague to only get in touch via text. perhaps he tried to call Langer but Langer wasn’t picking up?
'No thoughts given to it': McDonald coy on replacing Langer full-time
I wonder if all that pent up testosterone is going to be looking for an outlet? Jordan Rapana arguably showed the effects of a quiet off season with his antics last night, so look out for round 1.
The Cheese headlines one of the quietest NRL off-seasons in recent memory
I don’t think enough people have realised the enormous good that finals game against Penrith must have done for this squad – and for Brad Arthur. They took the eventual premiership winners down to the wire and arguably should have won that game.
That they didn’t, even though they were down on players and had way less ball than Penrith, has to give them a huge confidence boost heading into this season.
Forget all that nonsense about X-factor players and focus, as Parra did, on the basics. They defended wonderfully well, turned the final into a real grind and so nearly came away with the bikkies.
They should make the finals in 5th or 6th again this year and of they do, they’re a huge chance to go better than they did last year,
Nerd’s Eye View: Eels need spark in attack to be legitimate NRL title contenders
McDonald talked about the things he’s learned from Langer, but I assume elite honesty is not one of them, IF the report on this story is correct.
There’s no way he can’t have thought about what he’d do if he was offered the job. Sure he might be waiting to see what CA wants before deciding to apply, but he wouldn’t be human if he hadn’t given it any thought.
'No thoughts given to it': McDonald coy on replacing Langer full-time
“The players would do well to reflect on the fact that the view of the old guard is not nearly as important as that of the the fans. ” Hmmm, not so sure about that.
Fans certainly make up their own minds about the players, but many are still influenced by what the ex-players have to say. This is sadly where the Warne’s of the world have way too much influence, for all the wrong reasons. You’re right, at the end of the day, the fans come first, mostly because there’s so many of us, but in terms of influence, the ex-players can’t be discounted
Are Aussie cricket players above the board?
That came off the middle of the bat.
WATCH: An optical illusion, or one of the worst LBW decisions ever?
I know from experience I copped at least as many injuries in the nets as I did playing, often because I wasn’t as focused. I think back to that painful injury Joe Root suffered while batting in practice. Not properly focused so wasn’t wearing the right protective gear.
It’d be useful to know exactly how the head knock came about, though the end result should still be the same. He needs to seriously re-think his priorities which is a tough decision for any young person to have to make.
UPDATE: Pucovski subbed out of Shield match after another concussion
We’ll have to agree to disagree on your first point but I think you make a very valid comment when you pose the question, what are players aiming to achieve in their careers these days?
I don’t think there’s an Aussie kid interested in the game who doesn’t want to win the baggy green and play Test cricket for Australia. At some point though, that dream morphs into a different reality for many, simply because only a select few are good enough to play at that level.
All want to make a living from the sport, often because it’s the only thing they know how to do well. Now that the big money is in white ball cricket, it seems to me may are happy to go as far as they can in the T20 format, knowing that if they have one or two good seasons, they could be set up for life.
Guys like Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis still hold the dream of being a Test player, but are equally happy making a good living from BBL & IPL – and I have no problem with that. Chasing a quid has been happening for at least the past 80 or 100 years, with plenty of top notch players leaving Oz to ply their trade in England.
Are Aussie cricket players above the board?
And you know this latest issue is because he tried to play a pull shot? Care to share where you got that information?
UPDATE: Pucovski subbed out of Shield match after another concussion
that’s fair enough. I think someone suggested having a magic round over in New Zealand. That could be a good option.
Warriors make devastating call on their home season
😂
'Hypocritical' and a 'disgrace': Langer's mates can't let it go as they maintain Cummins rage
We appear to have “use by” dates for all manner of things these days. Perhaps it’s about time we had one for commentators or the topics they’re allowed to discuss on live TV.
I’ve no issues if they want to carry on with each other off air, but rather than maintaining their public rage, why don’t they try and do something to fix the issue – like getting on the Board of CA and/or doing something to make sure this type of mess doesn’t happen again?
'Hypocritical' and a 'disgrace': Langer's mates can't let it go as they maintain Cummins rage
Exactly and Qld didn’t lose this match thanks to a questionable umpiring decision, they lost it because they lost 7 for 28 and gave NSW a chance. They really only have themselves to blame, not the umpires.
NSW defeat Queensland in a thriller after controversial run out call
I’m guessing Mark Waugh is finally getting it. Warne and he can still be a good friends, but when Warne’s commentating, he’s probably everyone’s worst enemy – unless he’s talking about spin bowling of course.
'Primal screaming': The ex-player mafia avenges Justin Langer
No, but it’s a way for the League to say thanks to the Warriors and at the same time, try and spread the game a little.
Not sure how much spreading could be done with some of those rusted on Union supporters down there. They really love their code. 😊
Warriors make devastating call on their home season
How do you see the integrity of the game being impacted if the Warriors have a season of home games, Adam? After all they played a couple of seasons of away games.
Not having a go, just keen to understand your point.
Warriors make devastating call on their home season
1 The timing about when to play this match is just fine
2 If this game is going to be used to showcase the sport and Indigenous culture, take it to towns within Australia and New Zealand that aren’t already good RL supporters.
3 Taking a tour overseas has merit, as does a tournament but would be costly to stage. It could also not have any “Test” matches or matches against top tier national sides.
Indigenous v Maori All Stars needs more prominence but World Cup not way to go
So an umpire is not allowed to make a mistake? They thought the batsman was in, end of story.
There is no benefit of the doubt in the Laws of the Game, so that doesn’t apply here.
NSW defeat Queensland in a thriller after controversial run out call
I’m not sure England’s only problem is their batting.
Broad & Anderson are good in England but not so much in other countries and they’ve got at best a season or two left. Robinson ha issues with his stamina, Wood is good while the other quicks are mostly injured. They badly need more fast bowlers, hence the call up of Matt Fisher
Can anyone tell me what's going on with English Test cricket?