wagstaff
28 Mar 2005, 13:01
On last night's Ch. 9 news for the first time I can recall they didn't devote an entire segment to the day's play of a Test match involving Australia. Instead of giving it around two minutes coverage, they devoted barely 15 seconds to it, the amount usually given to showing English Premier League highlights.
More coverage was given to rugby league (through the Melbourne Storm game), even though Victoria isn't a league state.
I think the media coverage (or lack of it) of this NZ tour is a concern for Australian cricket. Even though Australia has played to its usual high standards and the likes of Gilchrist and Ponting have blazed dominant innings, the reaction from the media and (from my judgement) the general public has been a level of indifference or ignorance.
It's almost got to the stage in Australia where no matter what spectacular feat the side and/or individuals do, it's a case of 'been there, done that'.
And frankly, who can blame the media/public for their collective inertia? Watching the Pakistan and especially the NZ "Tests" this summer hasn't felt like Test matches but more like exhibition matches where each Australian player gets the chance to show off their skills at one time or another.
And while the cricket public no doubt has delighted in the likes of Gilchrist blasting attacks all over the park over the years, without the ingredient of a real contest and battle the effect is eventually diluted.
It's gotten to the stage where a workmate of mine a couple of weeks ago said that what Australia should do is stop playing international cricket for a couple of years and just play each other!
It's a strange situation - as Australia's level of excellence continues to grow and the gap with other sides expands, the inertia from the public/media will continue to expand as well.
Probably another factor in this indifference is that there is too much cricket being played. Unfortunately, that issue isn't going to improve in the forseeable future.
More coverage was given to rugby league (through the Melbourne Storm game), even though Victoria isn't a league state.
I think the media coverage (or lack of it) of this NZ tour is a concern for Australian cricket. Even though Australia has played to its usual high standards and the likes of Gilchrist and Ponting have blazed dominant innings, the reaction from the media and (from my judgement) the general public has been a level of indifference or ignorance.
It's almost got to the stage in Australia where no matter what spectacular feat the side and/or individuals do, it's a case of 'been there, done that'.
And frankly, who can blame the media/public for their collective inertia? Watching the Pakistan and especially the NZ "Tests" this summer hasn't felt like Test matches but more like exhibition matches where each Australian player gets the chance to show off their skills at one time or another.
And while the cricket public no doubt has delighted in the likes of Gilchrist blasting attacks all over the park over the years, without the ingredient of a real contest and battle the effect is eventually diluted.
It's gotten to the stage where a workmate of mine a couple of weeks ago said that what Australia should do is stop playing international cricket for a couple of years and just play each other!
It's a strange situation - as Australia's level of excellence continues to grow and the gap with other sides expands, the inertia from the public/media will continue to expand as well.
Probably another factor in this indifference is that there is too much cricket being played. Unfortunately, that issue isn't going to improve in the forseeable future.