View Full Version : This looks like the most boring one-day series I've ever seen
wagstaff
22 Dec 2002, 22:30
Only 5 matches have been played so far in the triangular one-day series, but everything so far suggests that this one-day series will be one big wheeze.
None of the matches so far have been good contests - virtually all have become downright tedious during the second half.
A lot of the blame has to go to the increasingly convoluted bonus point system. Whereas it was introduced to make unevent cricket matches more interesting, it has had the opposite effect. In the two England v Sri Lanka matches, the Sri Lankans have copped out of going for the total and just gone for getting the losing bonus point. They are so inept that they have trouble even obtaining that.
The only saving grace this series has had so far is that the side batting first has made high scores so there has been some entertainment in that regard. The batting from the Australian batsmen in particular has been highly impressive as usual. But Australia is so far ahead of the competition that they've got the series won before it started.
EagleBlue
22 Dec 2002, 22:35
Originally posted by wagstaff
two England v Sri Lanka matches, the Sri Lankans have copped out of going for the total and just gone for getting the losing bonus .
They didnt even look as if they were attempting to avoid conceding the bonus point tonight. Pathetic.
Originally posted by wagstaff
A lot of the blame has to go to the increasingly convoluted bonus point system. Whereas it was introduced to make unevent cricket matches more interesting, it has had the opposite effect. In the two England v Sri Lanka matches, the Sri Lankans have copped out of going for the total and just gone for getting the losing bonus point. They are so inept that they have trouble even obtaining that.
Well this isn't the sole reason. Obviously there are major mis-matches between the teams. And due to the increasingly congested international schedule, Sri Lanka haven't been able to settle in to Australian conditions.
But on the issue of the points system, I would agree that it has been a bad move. A team should be going all out to win a match, not trying to gain some consolation point. But an obvious conflict is presented where going hard for victory can mean losing the point that low risk batting could've produced. The points system was obviously rejigged to stop the situation we had last season where New Zealand saw that conceding a bonus point was in their interests. However this current system is a shoddy solution. There was a much simpler alternative - scrap the head-to-head rule.
larrikin
22 Dec 2002, 23:01
Originally posted by wagstaff
A lot of the blame has to go to the increasingly convoluted bonus point system. Whereas it was introduced to make unevent cricket matches more interesting, it has had the opposite effect. In the two England v Sri Lanka matches, the Sri Lankans have copped out of going for the total and just gone for getting the losing bonus point. They are so inept that they have trouble even obtaining that.
Surely the whole problem is that the Aussies are absolutely awsome, Sri Lanka are ****house, and the Poms have absolutely no confidence against the Aussies (and are not far above the Poms on the ****house scale).
wagstaff
22 Dec 2002, 23:04
Originally posted by larrikin
Surely the whole problem is that the Aussies are absolutely awsome, Sri Lanka are ****house, and the Poms have absolutely no confidence against the Aussies (and are not far above the Poms on the ****house scale).
Yes, that it is essentially the main problem, although with the exception of last season it's been like that for some time now.
I think the bonus points system has added to the dreariness of the one-dayers. Administrators and others can't seem to comprehend that no artificial creations will obscure the fact that under certain conditions (like now), one-day cricket is a very predictable and boring game.
larrikin
22 Dec 2002, 23:15
Originally posted by wagstaff
Yes, that it is essentially the main problem, although with the exception of last season it's been like that for some time now.
I think the bonus points system has added to the dreariness of the one-dayers. Administrators and others can't seem to comprehend that no artificial creations will obscure the fact that under certain conditions (like now), one-day cricket is a very predictable and boring game.
I must admit, I much prefer Test cricket - the game has far more substance and players are really tested. Martyn, Ponting and Campbell all got out to shots today that showed they didn't value their wicket like a test wicket.
dr nick
23 Dec 2002, 09:09
agree with you wagstaff, its been a huge letdown and confirms my belief that test cricket is by far the superior form of the game.
and sri lanka, i dont know if they were playing for a draw or what they were doing, but jayasuriya 3 from 17?? Mubarak 4 from 19 when they need 306?? absolutely pathetic, i was watching in the final overs where they needed 9 an over to even salvage the bonus point and still they were letting the balls pass harmlessly to the keeper. this is fast turning into a disgrace, and if sri lanka want invites to play over here, they surely have to start giving two hoots about how they play.
to my eyes it seems they dont even care about winning, or even getting into the finals. perhaps they are just out here to acclimatise to south african type pitches.
ScouseCat
23 Dec 2002, 11:47
This summer is really about preparing for the World Cup so I dont think it's boring at all. I expect Australia to win so I watch to see how Australia performs as a team as opposed to seeing a close contest. Obviously it would be good if England and Sri Lanka are able to test us so we can perform under pressure but ultimately it doesn't really matter who wins until February 9th in South Africa.
GoEagles
23 Dec 2002, 12:27
Sri Lanka will beat England when de Silva and Murali return after the 5th test. I can't see the finals going into a 3rd decider.
wagstaff
23 Dec 2002, 18:25
Originally posted by ScouseCat
This summer is really about preparing for the World Cup so I dont think it's boring at all. I expect Australia to win so I watch to see how Australia performs as a team as opposed to seeing a close contest. Obviously it would be good if England and Sri Lanka are able to test us so we can perform under pressure but ultimately it doesn't really matter who wins until February 9th in South Africa.
It is true that with the World Cup just around the corner that these matches should have more significance as teams obviously would want to be in good form. As well as the battle between fringe players fighting to get into the main squad in theory add something to it.
But in the end, it hasn't added much at all. Anyway in Australia's case, the real battle for positions occurred in the Aust A games - Hogg won his battle for Hauritz hands down and as a result is a real chance to get in the final squad.
And the fact that the World Cup is just around the corner makes the performance of Sri Lanka especially disappointing. England at least are having a go - they're just outclassed. Sri Lanka have more or less tanked their first three matches from early in their innings.
And finally, by the time the one-dayers start again next year the final squads will have been announced so that factor will have disappeared.
Bomber Spirit
23 Dec 2002, 18:38
2 years ago Australia went through the whole summer undefeated, and it would take a major turnaround in form by either England or Sri Lanka to threaten that this year.
Makes our failure to make the finals last summer even more mystifying.
dr nick
23 Dec 2002, 19:39
Originally posted by Bomber Spirit
2 years ago Australia went through the whole summer undefeated, and it would take a major turnaround in form by either England or Sri Lanka to threaten that this year.
Makes our failure to make the finals last summer even more mystifying.
rotation policy :confused:
Australia's problem last season was obvious. We weren't selecting our best team. Hayden and Lehmann should be walk up starts, but last season they weren't.
P0RT P0WER
24 Dec 2002, 00:07
I think its exciting, Australia consistently posting 300 plus scores, several batsmen making tons, including the poms, some great catches, big crowds, the only downsides are3 Tony Greig and his parasite brain and Sri-Lanka being worst than the poms, as long as Australia are batting first it should be a fun summer of cricket.
Hopefully Australia throw one of the finals to the Poms so we can experience a third and deciding final under the Adelaide Oval lights.