General cricket thread

[dav123a]

ManFromDelmonte said:

Why not spend the £40M on trying to promote proper cricket instead of the utter pile of filth that is T20?

I think it works as a bit of Friday night entertainment to get some stadium's full but can we stop pretending that it is cricket?

In the same way that 6-a-side football is good for a kickabout after work and helps local sports centres and schools rent out the odd astroturf pitch, it should not be (and isn't) the focus of the FA.

Not a fan then ! I hope that some kids will move onto the longer form of the game having started out watching 20\20 on an evening. Without 20\20 you take away a large income stream for the counties and the ECB.

[dav123a]

ManFromDelmonte said:

You could say that. I went to the Oval a couple of Fridays ago and I had a great time with mates and a load of pints but the cricket just isn't for me. If it gets kids playing then that has to be a good thing, I just hate the apparent obsession with the world to concentrate all promotion and funding on the shortest and least cricket-like form of the game. I don't want it to disappear, I just want it to know it's place in the hierarchy (at the bottom).

I do appreciate I am not a typical cricket fan though. I played a good standard of cricket for 20 odd years as a fast bowler and watching a format so in favour of the batsman has all the appeal of a st sandwich. I would take an over of dot ball and play and miss away swingers followed up by the inswinger smashing into off stump over watching Chris Gayle hitting all 6 balls out of the stadium on his way to a 30 ball century any day.

I think T20 would be massively improved by use of a ball that actually swings. I find coloured kit fairly offensive too.

That's fair enough , part of the idea is to get the causal fan interested in the game. I enjoy all forms of the game , and I would appreciate those dots balls as long as it isn't in a 20\20 game. Many of the test playing nations struggle to put bums on seats for the test matches , alot need 20\20 to pay the bills.
I've only been watching the game about 20 years so Ive been of the era of coloured clothes. Can't say I mind it much.

Edited by dav123a on Monday 27th July 21:49

[dav123a]

A low scoring finals day , Northamptonshire through. Can't see Hampshire defending this.

[dav123a]

Champions again , great effort by the whole team. Sidebottom has taken something like 40 wickets at 17 unbelievable he is 37 its now his 5 title. Gale will be pleased he has planned this all winter and makes up for his run in with ECB ,who were pretty spiteful not letting him on the official celebrations. No real stand out players just all the guys chipping in. Not forgetting Dizzy who has really improved all the players across the board.
A really pleased Yorkshire man.

[dav123a]

Very sad to hear , a Yorkshire great. Unreal to see him at 45 with no helmet taking on the WI attack in that clip. He was a great fielder took around 800 catches even a stumping. As he fielded alot at forward short leg he would tell Jimmy Binks the Yorkshire wicketkeeper to get ready for rebounds.
Even in his 60s at the Yorkshire academy he would be batting in the nets with no protective gear on. RIP

[dav123a]

Afghanistan have beaten zim in a ODI series. First time an associate has beaten a full member over series. I wonder if Afghanistan will ever play test matches ?

[dav123a]

India struggling in reply now need nearly 10 an over for 40odd overs to win.

[dav123a]

Try and get attendances up around the world test matches have poor crowds. This might just work , only issue is the ball.

[dav123a]

Even more so now , hard to see anything but an Aussie win. Nz crushed under a weight of runs.

SA v India as well , looks like England aren't the only ones to collapse in Asia. SA lost last 7 wickets for 79.

[dav123a]

Anyone watching nz v SL ? possibly the greenest wicket I have seen. Aside from that Hamilton looks a very nice ground to watch cricket from. Anyone ever been ?

[dav123a]

WI carry on with a usual inept display. I'm sure Zim could have put up more of a fight. WI need to carry out a root reform across the board.

[dav123a]

Today was no better for the WI , only reason they haven't already lost Aus didn't want to enforce the follow on.

NZ smashed SL by 10 wickets , Guptill hammered 93*.Second fastest 50 in ODIs.

Anyone else think it's getting harder for teams to win away from home? The tours are so short it gives little preparation to get use to the conditions. I know teams still win away it seems to be happening less and less.

[dav123a]

I enjoy all forms of the game , test cricket will still be around for a long time yet. If some countries pull back on test cricket others would jump at the chance such as Ireland. England have got 16 test matches this year.

[dav123a]

Very poor batting by his team mates though.

[dav123a]

GloverMart said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35419120

Chris Gayle is coming back to my Somerset .... happy days!

I wonder how him and Chris Rodgers will get on.

[dav123a]

County Championship 2016: Can anyone stop Yorkshire this season? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35884471

Preview of the new season that starts today.

[dav123a]

A real legend , loved to listen to him , will be much missed.

[dav123a]

It was after his 16 days off , he didn't know he was being pulled from the Midd game till after the rest.

I'm I right in thinking that unless Yorkshire score 350+ we can't win the title ?

[dav123a]

Seems kolpak deals are back in fashion. 3 or 4 signed in the last week and more to follow. A shame really does nothing for the national team.

[dav123a]

Possibly cricinfo have an article on it and a list of other players who could go.