Thursday 16 July 2009

Test, Death, Fred, Rain

Welcome to round 2.

as the last comments in the previous post stated (correctly) the weather had not been included in many post mortems of the first test; an injustice given that when it is taken into account, Australia would have definitely won the match. It really is an issue for test cricket that such a large percentage of a competition can be just written off without being made up for. Image going to see Hamlet and the actors/theater company decided to just not do the famous soliloquy!
you would feel justifiably ripped off!

If the MCC are so concerned about the "death of Test cricket"(see next point), ensuring that full value is given to the fans and that a result is more likely should be a priority.


And so is Test on its last legs?
Well the MCC are worried, and rightly so:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hHaKOEEIxjmduMLBHBTCotCoRJ6g
It seems hard to believe as an Australian, when i see good crowds at most test days here. Sure Boxing day is the biggest day of the cricketing worlds year- a tribute to the people of Melbourne- and that the patronage has created that atmosphere, but what needs to be done around the world to get the same type of involvement? As the above article states, one (re) action maybe a world test series; logistically, what a nightmare! What do you think?

Freddie Flintoff announces retirement from Test cricket after Ashes series, to allow his body to hold up for longer playing short form cricket. Maybe part of the above problem!
Still no word as to whether he'll make it into this test.

Guys, don't forget to get your virtual side sorted before the lockout!

14 comments:

  1. A great point matey however traditionally weather has decided a lot of tests. We have been seduced into a false sense of entitlement with the style of play in the last decade that has ensured a result, sometimes even when rain shortened. Test cricket in generations gone by was session after session of sub 2 run an over scoring with sometimes only 2 wickets in a day. With the advent of one day cricket we have become expectant of a result. Although the Cardiff test should have gone Australia’s way if not rain effected the outcome was one of suspense as England clung on with only one wicket remaining instead of the run of the mill Australia victory. Not ideal for us but ultimately true test cricket was revealed. The elements play a part and taking that out of the game might just rob us of some outstanding cricket. Our great game has a glorious past littered with heroes defining themselves in adversity. Some of that adversity has been provided by things out of the players control. Pitch and weather conditions included.

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  2. Absolutely right both of you.
    I think part of the 'problem' with test cricket is that everyone keeps going on about some 'problem' with test cricket. 4 day tests? Piss off. Day night tests? You can piss off too. What a joke. Evening dew in England wreaking havoc on the ball, pitch and outfield alike. What a stupid idea.
    I've discussed the world cup idea a few times and while it wouldn't be easy I think it is doable. One idea is two groups but expecting Aus to play Bangladesh as often as South Africa is not a great idea. There would need to be a timeframe (eg two years) and scheduling to fit in the tests would be tricky. The biggest problem is the amount of stupid cricket that is played: ie 20/20.

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  3. Agreed, although many people do not see a draw as a result...ask the English if they had a result out of the first test.
    A draw IS a result.
    Test cricket is beautiful.

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  4. Hey Sledge, what are you doing for the third test? Wanna catch up for a brew?

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  5. End of the first session, second test: Johnson is all over the place and Hauritz is thrown the ball to perform a miracle. No doubt England won't keep this up for the whole day but Aus needs to stop making it so easy for them. I feel sorry for Hilf as he's getting little support.

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  6. Lefty I would bloody love to catch up for a brew or 10,000. Adelaide or Melbourne?

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  7. How about this Lords pitch??!!?? BORING! They prepared a green top and then cacked themselves when they saw what happened in Crdff and decided to do a bit of mowing, rolling and droughting.
    Soft.

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  8. Test well set up again but how similar does it look? England's middle order failing after a great platform this time. Strauss and Cook took full advantage of crap bowling and went on with their digs: Strauss still in of course. He'll be devastated if they don't make 500 which they'll need to all but ensure avoiding defeat. Weather will play a key role again and my prediction is nil-all going into the third test.

    Aus will bowl better but they owe the batsmen a few beers for the pressure they've put on them now (and not applied to the English batsmen for 2 sessions). If we're still in at the end of day 3 then it's probably the best outcome.

    Let's rip through them now and have a bat before lunch!

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  9. No doubt NL that weather does (and always will) play a big part in Test cricket; my point is that people want results- and while i take your point Sledgey- people don't see a draw as a result and question the sense of 5 days of sport for what they see as nothing. Still, as you've said NL, the "hanging on" factor certainly adds great tension to the game.

    Lefty i see your point too; but there will always be the belief that there is a problem, if no one wants to go to games.
    No doubt that day/night test (and 4 days) are fuggin stupid ideas! An earlier start time, better entertainment during breaks, and staggered ticket pricing relevent to the amount of sessions you see in the day are better ways of getting bums on seats. why would anyone pay full price to see 30 overs (i would, but i'd still be pissed about it!). When i say better entertainment, i don't mean the good old days of having "Girlfriend" sing pop dross from the back of a flatbed doing laps of the ground; more like chances (seat number draw) for people in the crowd to bowl to/face former test players (obviously not on the match track)...who knows, there is heaps of scope. Or bring back the PAL superdogs. Just having kids play kangacricket is not enough "entertainment".

    Certainly a test world series needs an even balance; divisions/draws etc would take a lot of consideration. Is anyone here keen to send in a united letter of suggestions to the MCC? i'll happily draft up ideas that you all provide/debate.

    i didn't see any of the day- too crook from the night before- but will be a late one tonight.
    Crap track is it Sledgey?
    Surely NO nation would prepare a pitch to suit their own ends?

    stoph verismo
    down the wicket

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  10. Lefty it does seem well balanced, i like a team batting through a day; the game is structured for that, so it is good to see an innings built up.
    and with that view, we also need to see the Poms bowled out before lunch (last ball of the session ideally!).

    i haven't seen Hauritz get his hand pinged, but Haddin is saying he will bowl today. we'll see.

    i'd like to see 6-10 overs of Siddle/Hilf with this ball before tossing it over to Katich for a 5 over spell, so he can get a few in before he is needed to open the innings.

    stoph verismo
    down the wicket

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  11. POTD:

    16 July 2009 2:29 PM
    Outside Sledge said...
    Agreed, although many people do not see a draw as a result...ask the English if they had a result out of the first test.
    A draw IS a result.
    Test cricket is beautiful.

    for yesterday. yes, test is beautiful!

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  12. Stoph while I agree to a extent that we need to draw in more people ot a game I don't agree we need to put on a sideshow to put "bums on seats". THe way to get people engrossed in test cricket is to instill in them a sense of the occasion. Shorter forms are making this nigh on impossible because as you said people want a result. What they are failing to realise is that test cricket is not just about the five days of one test but a series result.
    Weather sucks when it's your country being denied but I for one a praying to a god I don't even believe in for some of the wet stuff over the next couple of days. It's only fair FFS.
    Or our batsmen could show some aggots and bat out two days. The pitch is good and if we perform to our ability 550 is not out of the question.
    Just show some f&^$%$ judgement guys!!

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  13. yep! the call for some granite hard rocks is totally fair!
    ponting just bowled as i write. FUCK!!!!

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  14. i agree about getting people around to the value/intricacies of test, but the reality is, people ARE stupid and SHORT minded and need entertainment.

    Test IS entertaining; but most people are idiots: there, i said it. And i said it coz it is true.
    but my point is: "let them eat cake." It costs us "true supporters" nothing (as we meet up at the Arms, at lunch) if we give 'extra' entertainment in the breaks, so why wouldn't we?

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