World Twenty20 2016

^ of course, but they don't have the talent to do so. This group do and are not paid what they are worth by their board. International cricketers are valuable commodities these days. In no other walk of life would anybody be expected to be paid way under market value so why should sport be any different? In an ideal world, of course they would be playing Tests but the game is moving on towards t20 whether we like it or not. Eoin Morgan missed an ODI to play in the IPL and New Zealand & Sri Lankan players have turned up late for international tours to play IPL so it is hardly only the West Indians.

The only way around the problem is a better distribution of ICC funds, well run domestic boards and changes to Test cricket such as more day/night matches and hopefully some form of Test championship to provide some context, to make it a more profitable entity. Test cricket only thrives in a few countries and is not seen in the same way by the younger generation of players, many prefer playing t20 and get paid better for doing so, why should they be criticised for that?

Then they should retire from international cricket to play in the IPL and give others the chance to show what they can do.

They are being given the chance in Test and ODI cricket and they're not doing very well to put it mildly. They haven't even qualified for the Champions Trophy next year

Because the best players are off in pursuit of the mighty dollar. If Gayle and the rest of the mercenaries are not happy with the money on offer for playing test cricket then why bother with it? Its so they can use the exposure international cricket brings to put them on the world stage and no other reason.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying I just personally would never blame anyone for looking to maximise their earnings in a short career. You clearly feel differently which is fine. I love Test cricket and desperately want it to remain the pinnacle of the game but I fear situations such as this are going to become more widespread until the administrators do something to help Test cricket

The people we are talking about are likely to have international careers that last the best part of 10 years, so even at the figures you are talking about they will earn the best part of 1.5 million dollars plus appearance fees and sponsorship, on top of that they will still be playing in the IPL and other 20/20 leagues around the world. Test cricket is still hugely popular around the world, its only in the sub continent and caribbean that attendances are down but that is because of the disconnect between the players and the fans in those countries.

They are all greedy. Look at the way the ECB sucked up to Alan Stanford when he staged the winner takes it all t20 match between England and his select 11.
He landed in a helicopter in the middle of lords square, had a wheel barrow of 20m brought in and slagged off test match cricket in front of the board and they just took it thinking of their slice of the pie. He turned out to be a fraud and basically demanded access to the players changing room and wives. How the members of the ECB were not forced to resign is beyond me. Test match cricket is the golden goose and they are doing everything in their power to strangle it.

(04-04-2016 18:54 )lancealot790 Wrote:  The people we are talking about are likely to have international careers that last the best part of 10 years, so even at the figures you are talking about they will earn the best part of 1.5 million dollars plus appearance fees and sponsorship, on top of that they will still be playing in the IPL and other 20/20 leagues around the world. Test cricket is still hugely popular around the world, its only in the sub continent and caribbean that attendances are down but that is because of the disconnect between the players and the fans in those countries.

I was going to leave it but I don't agree at all with any of that. Firstly, very few cricketers play internationally for 10 years plus once you've added South Africa to that list, and their Test attendances are so far down they replaced their traditional Boxing Day Test with a 20/20 in 2014, you're talking about everyone apart from England and Australia. New Zealand are struggling as well. Saying there is a disconnect between players and fans in these countries is so wide of the mark it's untrue, the players are idolised in the subcontinent. The reality is that t20 is seen by more & more people as the most exciting form of the game and they would rather go & watch that than Tests and players want to play n front of big crowds, as well as for big money. People burying their heads in the sand and saying everything is fine with Test cricket is what will kill it off

End of the day West Indies were the best team in the tournament. They had the killer instinct. Chris gayle has been playing for test side for years. Dwayne bravo was dropped from test series team in 2010 due to contractual reasons and in 2015 he decided to call it a day. This has happened to other players too. What kind of reward is that from West Indies board. They turned their back to the players. If players want to earn more money what's wrong with that. English players on contract are already earning decent money

Ben stokes gave mouthful to Samuels when he was at the crease. Stokes got some back. He's just Gotta take it like a man.