hornball
Posting Machine
Posts: 4,123
Joined: Aug 2018
Reputation: 22
|
RE: Cricket Banter
(07-06-2023 09:32 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: (05-06-2023 16:14 )hornball Wrote: (04-06-2023 17:41 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote: ^^ That would explain the time he spent off the field yesterday & the overs bowled by Root.
The cupboard is pretty bare in the spin department, this is a problem, I have no idea who is our number 2 spinner, Leach is approaching 40 caps, whoever it is they will lack experience. Bit odd he's got such an injury, usually it is associated with fast bowlers. Even with Leach fit the Aussies will attack spin, with England down to a 3-man pace attack, Stokes will only bowl as a last resort. One option would be to replace Leach with another pace bowler & use Root, who will bowl anyway with a number of left-hand batsmen in their ranks. Jacks did a tidy job in Pakistan, but is he any better than Root, playing young Ahmed would be a big risk in such an important series. Moeen has retired from Test Match cricket, but maybe a comeback.
With respect, why more than any other?? This is one thing - as a cricket lover and Ashes watcher since the late 70s - I can never get my head around! In particular after that abomination of '05. The growth in the media and their propensity for hype, hysteria, hyperbole and worst of all, a one time only interest in the greatest ball sport on earth! I understand that many had their first introduction to cricket in '05 and the drama that unfolded - they get a free pass, but the rest who trot out this 'important' tag to one series only, not so much!
With respect, there's no getting away from the fact that some series carry more weight. The Ashes, & England in particular are almost single-handedly keeping Test Match cricket alive. We fill our grounds & have the best travelling support in any Sport.
If you listen to Baz he wants to entertain, he understands that Test Match cricket is competing with the shorter formats & other Sports & Entertainment.
Yes, we get media overkill, but that is across the board, eg Harry, Scofield etc. Better to have media interest than to be ignored.
Equally I want the game to grow, Ireland are punching above their weight, I'm not sure where it sits, but it is way down the pecking-order in the countries Sports, despite a small loyal fanbase. Given time, who's to say that they can't do a New Zealand, who took 20 years before a Test win, but eventually climbed to the very top WTC. Money, & more importantly schedule will be the stumbling point. I would like to see a minimum of 6 - 8 Tests a year, mainly against the lower ranking sides, without that I see no point in having Test status at all. The pandemic played its part, but 4 years between Tests is a joke.
Do they really?? in objective terms?? or just to those that certain series matters too most??They shouldn't though Booms!! All series should be equal, with the WTC at the head of the queue! Look at todays first day of the WTC Final - full on, with some of the best test play in a very long time - particularly before lunch. Both sides trading 'heavy punches', with neither one willing to 'blink' first! It truly was riveting to watch. In addition (and this stood out in many ways) Australia sent out - I would imagine - the same full strength team that will start the Ashes, a clear statement of what weight this match carries! India too, but I don't know if they have any series following on at the conclusion of the game, unlike the Aussies with the series against England a matter of days away should the final run its full length! Obviously the players run the risk of injury and missing out on the 'battle for the urn' but that hasn't influenced team selection (aside from Starc)......respect!!
I genuinely make this point! England make the final in the same circumstances.........same strength of team that would compete for the Ashes themselves?? Maybe with Stokes and Brendan in charge more likely, but guaranteed?? I can imagine what some within the fanbase, and more particularly - the media - would say about that!
Kudos to the ground staff! Fabulous pitch!!
(This post was last modified: 07-06-2023 20:26 by hornball.)
|
|