Roar Rookie
Joined October 2021
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I'm just a sports nut. Sitting in front of a lap top. Asking it to type words that make sense
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Australia’s first Test defeat in Nagpur was as telling in its structure as it was crushing in its magnitude. Australia may have lost its…
The first act of the stage play that is the Ashes has been played out. The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune were best…
All the talk in the local media leading up to the first Ashes Test has centred on Australia’s conundrums, and quite rightly so –…
If I were to show you a photograph of Shakib al Hasan, would you know who he was? How about Mushfiqur Rahim? Tamim Iqbal?…
I had a little bit of time to spare on Monday afternoon, and so I settled onto my couch and put the cricket on…
The further along the timeline that we go, the less that decision makes sense to me. It all goes back to the central point: the information and images that the Indians sent to the world were calculated to provoke a reaction and Australia took the bait. Hook, line and sinker. And this is no criticism of India – quite the opposite. I remain convinced that a large factor of that first test result was Australian naivety.
India takes first points in battle of wills, as few Australians show any fight at all
I suppose it depends on how you define “in the contest” doesn’t it “Once Upon”. To me, in this situation, England could have (and were) well behind after an hour of day four. Then again, if Root and Malan had got set again they could have been level – it could have gone either way. That fits my idea of “game on”, although I have every respect for your contrary opinion!!!
Thanks for your comment!!!
Hay while the sun shone, a ton and following the Don: First Ashes Test in review
And that would be me who knows nothing! Joe Root wins the toss and bats…
The questions still plaguing England ahead of the Brisbane Test
Being a Lancastrian I like Hameed. Seems a nice lad too- I hope he does well. I don’t get the attraction with Bess at all. At least if he’s not attacking, Leach can tie up an end a la Ashley Giles. Bess seems like neither one nor t’other
The questions still plaguing England ahead of the Brisbane Test
Will be a very interesting toss here Neil. I think the daring thing to do for Australia would be to put England in, and the daring thing for England to do would be to bat!!! Not sure either captain has it in them to be daring…
The questions still plaguing England ahead of the Brisbane Test
England must bowl. They can’t win if they bat first for the same reason. Their batting order is too fragile
The questions still plaguing England ahead of the Brisbane Test
Good point Tigerbill. One way or another I genuinely hope that the steady improvement in your nation’s cricket continues. The talent is definitely there. It’s only a matter of experience and know-how now. This Australian certainly remains a very big fan of your nation and its cricketers.
Why inviting Bangladesh to the Sheffield Shield would improve international cricket
I wonder if Ashwin pulled the old WG Grace line: “these people have come to watch me bat, not you umpire”…
Ashwin wastes no time reviewing this dismissal, even though he was clean bowled
Thanks for your comments AMD. Suggesting Bangladesh for Australia was a deliberate move. It was designed around giving them experience of quicker Australian wickets that they haven’t played on before. I feel that they are the most advanced of the recent additions to test cricket, and that the next step for them would be to gain more access to conditions alien to those back home
Why inviting Bangladesh to the Sheffield Shield would improve international cricket
Thanks for your comments Rellum. I can appreciate your comments on the need for more tour games to be played. It’s not that long ago that all tourists to Australia played each of the state teams in four-day matches, and each state’s country XIs over one or two days in their test tours.
This practice was discontinued, largely because of the amount of cricket that was being played in general. My concern about the value of these games to a touring team is that the state associations would trot out a second XI, filled with not-quite-theres and promising youngsters, so that their established players could be rested and injuries not risked. The matches against touring teams were seen as meaningless, and basically a nuisance.
This was the basis behind an invitation to actually compete in a foreign territory. Each match would be worth something as there would be a competition to be won. There is a precedent there, albeit distant. New Zealand competed in Australia’s domestic one day competition for three years in the 1970s. I do like the first class championship idea. That would create the intensity that is needed for the overall standard to improve. Cricket may not come up with the answers immediately, but it does need to think
Why inviting Bangladesh to the Sheffield Shield would improve international cricket
Firstly, great respect to your opinion Jeff, and thanks for expressing it.
I feel that it’s slightly misleading to highlight merely home records. The complete picture is that Bangladesh has only managed fifteen wins from 125 tests since admission to the test roster, and only four wins from 59 starts away. Equally bothersome is their inability to save matches, with 95 of their matches ending in defeat, many of these by wide margins.
Look, don’t get me wrong. I’m a big fan of Bangladeshi cricket. I believe there is almost unlimited potential there, and their cricket in general has improved from their first ten years. The challenge is to deliver more consistently on that potential. How to achieve that is a question that Bangladesh, and cricket on the whole, is yet to answer.
There is talent across the Bangladeshi National Cricket League. I think there’s little doubt of that. The fact that in the 21 seasons of the NCL, three teams have won the competition on 18 occasions indicates that the depth of talent throughout the competition is not there at the present time.
As I have stated in other comments, I’m well aware that my suggestion is a radical one. There may be other methods in which the development of newer test nations can be fast-tracked that are not presently being employed, and while they are improving I stand by my opinion that Bangladesh are not out of this category just yet. The quicker that more nations are competitive against the top-ranked test match entities, the better for test cricket on the whole. I think we can all agree on that
Why inviting Bangladesh to the Sheffield Shield would improve international cricket
Bruce Laird – now that was one tough hombre…
Why 1979-80 remains my favourite summer of cricket
Great memories Kalva! Like you I was a young (13 in my case), expatriate English boy, and also like you I loved watching Gower bat. I once read a cricket writer saying that “he makes batting look as easy as drinking tea”, and to this day I don’t think I’ve seen a more elegant stroker of the ball.
My other hero was “Deadly” Derek Underwood. The wicket for the Sydney test was left damp by the potent mix of foul weather and equally foul covering, and that was Deadly’s habitat. Whilst he took five wickets, his greatest contribution to the game was a fighting 40-odd as night-watchman in the second innings, keeping Gower company as he stroked a sumptuous 98 not out.
England lost the test series 3-0. I heard all about it at school for the whole of 1980…
Why 1979-80 remains my favourite summer of cricket
I’m starting to get a little concerned about my beloved Burnley. We seem to have little quality or creativity going forward. We’re not too bad defensively but when you’re not scoring there is precious little margin for error. Still, plenty of season left to drag ourselves out of the mire. Where there’s life, there’s hope…
Premier League round-up: Man City go top after Chelsea's slip
Good call on PNG and Nepal Jack. On a side note, I thought there was much to be excited about from the likes of PNG and Namibia in the recent T20 World Cup. I have to confess to not being the biggest fan of T20 cricket in general, but if it aids the expansion of the game then I’m all for it!!!
Why inviting Bangladesh to the Sheffield Shield would improve international cricket
Absolutely they do SC, and I’d be under no illusions that there was any sort of quick fix for this. What saddens me is that while the top three nations are making money and the ICC remains under their thrall, the conversations don’t appear to be happening. The suggestions that I have raised are radical, and quite deliberately so, but the game of test cricket can only be strengthened by more nations becoming more competitive. I’m not sure that cricket in general is doing enough to bring this about.
Why inviting Bangladesh to the Sheffield Shield would improve international cricket
Could not agree more about the money addiction Frank. The issue that I see in the tour matches against the state sides is that history shows the standard of opposition provided to the touring team is notoriously weak. The state body will be reticent to play its stars in a match that has limited relevance to them, and will in effect trot out a second XI or an under 19 team, which defeats the purpose that it is trying to serve. I would definitely argue that the established nations need to take a greater hand in developing the game in developing regions, for the good of the game itself
Why inviting Bangladesh to the Sheffield Shield would improve international cricket
I tend to agree with you that test match status may have been granted a little soon. Mind you, if you look at the records of India, Pakistan and especially New Zealand in their initial years as a full ICC member, they are not all that different to those of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. I would argue though that test cricket needs expansion and for its expansion nations to be competitive quickly more than it has ever done, in order for it to maintain and grow its relevance.
I’m not sure that there is a single solution. There are a raft of issues that need to be addressed, but one of those is the improvement in the standard of the domestic game back home. My suggestion is a radical one- I accept that. I just see great benefits in it with what can be learned, both on the field and off it
Why inviting Bangladesh to the Sheffield Shield would improve international cricket
There is clearly a great deal of mutual respect between these two teams Jim. Another positive out of this enthralling encounter
'Thoroughly gripping': The occasion and relevance of NZ's epic draw with India
And solicitors
'Thoroughly gripping': The occasion and relevance of NZ's epic draw with India
Thanks for your comments Danny. It’s heartening to see the number of people that agree with our point of view!
'Thoroughly gripping': The occasion and relevance of NZ's epic draw with India
They are a credit to themselves and their country in so many ways BB, as well as being a great side to watch. I’m a huge fan of Kane Williamson as a person and a leader as well as a player – definitely McCullum trained!
Thanks for reading and commenting!!!
'Thoroughly gripping': The occasion and relevance of NZ's epic draw with India
I’m a little surprised that of all the spinners that New Zealand had to pick from, Mitchell Santner was left out. I’d be playing him in Mumbai, and if he does play I’m afraid it might be the young fella Ravindra that may need to miss out.
Thanks for reading and thanks for the comment Carlin!!!
'Thoroughly gripping': The occasion and relevance of NZ's epic draw with India
I’ve seen that done in India too. Only difference is that it’s done there to try & halt play when the team is losing!!! Glad that you and the good lady enjoyed the finish
'Thoroughly gripping': The occasion and relevance of NZ's epic draw with India
Thanks for commenting, and you’re by no means the first person that I’ve heard say the same thing. Likewise I’ve heard several people say that they had serious doubt that the ball would have taken leg stump. Like most here, I’m only going off what I saw on television and I’m in the latter camp, but totally respect all that have the opposite view…
India takes first points in battle of wills, as few Australians show any fight at all