Unpopular Cricket Opinions

[G Mus]

I was pleasantly surprised with the T20 world cup team selections, thought they would * it horribly

 

[Stopher]

Steve Waugh played for team success, not himself.

 

[Parquet Court]

i agree with this sentiment in future for all forms of cricket

http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/969283.html

not 100% on board with everything in the article but a great way to balance out test cricket is to franchise it - salary cap it / or provide compensation for countries who cannot keep up with india, aus, england due to economic circumstances

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Franchising Test cricket defeats the whole purpose of the format. Worst. Idea. Ever.

 

[DT_fanatic]

Not really an unpopular opinion (I hope) but Cricket should always be a national sport. Despite being an Indian supporter I would happily give up the 2007 T20 WC if it meant the IPL and subsequent domestic t20 comps wouldn't exist. It probably was inevitable though.

 

[Wolfs]

Spirit of the Game is nonsense. I mean think about it this way. People loved all the trash talking that Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan did in the NBA and people love the character in sports yet cricket is like the only one where we go on the ad nauseam of spirit of the game. We love the aggressiveness in so many sports but cricket is exempt which is really weird.

To say that only Australia sledges is naive. All teams dish it out. It's the highest level in cricket, it is going to be competitive with different personalities. I love that all teams are aggressive on the field. If I want nice sport, I'll go to the local game on Saturday. I personally don't sledge because I don't have the wit to think of something awesome without being crass.

 

[JackOutback]

I felt Steve Waugh toed the line perfectly; ruthless on the field, tried to intimidate the opposition, but never tried to intimidate the umpires, always professional and was respectful off the pitch to the opposition. I felt it started to go downhill under Ponting, who could be petulant on and off the field.

 

[Tulip]

Obviously never watched Stuart Board bowl?

Broad is a bit of a w***er, but he's in the minority in that side - as much as it hurts to say it considering they're England.

 

[Tulip]

Spirit of the Game is nonsense. I mean think about it this way. People loved all the trash talking that Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan did in the NBA and people love the character in sports yet cricket is like the only one where we go on the ad nauseam of spirit of the game. We love the aggressiveness in so many sports but cricket is exempt which is really weird.

To say that only Australia sledges is naive. All teams dish it out. It's the highest level in cricket, it is going to be competitive with different personalities. I love that all teams are aggressive on the field. If I want nice sport, I'll go to the local game on Saturday. I personally don't sledge because I don't have the wit to think of something awesome without being crass.

Rugby Union and Golf are two other sports where its highly frowned upon to play outside the spirit of the game. Tennis too, though we can thank the massive acclaim around John McEnroe screaming at umpires for that changing. Thankfully the top players in the world, like Federer and Djokovic, are by and large class acts.

 

[peternorth]

Spirit of the Game is nonsense. I mean think about it this way. People loved all the trash talking that Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan did in the NBA and people love the character in sports yet cricket is like the only one where we go on the ad nauseam of spirit of the game. We love the aggressiveness in so many sports but cricket is exempt which is really weird.

cricket isnt a contact sport (neither is bball, but it at least has clashing bodies in close proximity). there is distance between batsmen and fielding team. no physical contact, which gives rise to tempers and some verbals.

NBA made trash talking famous. but the sport became cool in the 90s with starter caps, puffy jackets and jerseys. by extension everything associated with the sport/league is cool too. except maybe fathering many children to different mothers across the states of usa

 

[Wolfs]

It's just an archaic thing though. Spirit of the game doesn't make the laws. It's the whole mankad thing and uch.

 

[damochandler]

The English of late never wanted to have a beer with the Australians either. The Australians never complained

 

[frankrizzo]

Broad is a bit of a ******, but he's in the minority in that side - as much as it hurts to say it considering they're England.

Jimmy anderson has been one of the most consistent s**t talkers in the sport, stokes never shuts up (although in fairness half of the abuse is aimed at himself) and recently retired/axed players like kp prior swann ect were up with the biggest sledgers in the game.

 

[Stopher]

Jimmy anderson has been one of the most consistent s**t talkers in the sport, stokes never shuts up (although in fairness half of the abuse is aimed at himself) and recently retired/axed players like kp prior swann ect were up with the biggest sledgers in the game.

Yeah, that Anderson is all class...

 

[royboy2]

The English of late never wanted to have a beer with the Australians either. The Australians never complained

Other way round I think you'll find

 

[Rustin Cohle]

Brendan McCullum is incredibly overrated and all this coverage of his farewell tour as if he's a legend of the game is embarrassing.

 

[Damon_3388]

Yeah, that Anderson is all class...

'The Lancashire Lip'.

 

[the_interloper]

Spirit of the Game is nonsense. I mean think about it this way. People loved all the trash talking that Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan did in the NBA and people love the character in sports yet cricket is like the only one where we go on the ad nauseam of spirit of the game. We love the aggressiveness in so many sports but cricket is exempt which is really weird.

To say that only Australia sledges is naive. All teams dish it out. It's the highest level in cricket, it is going to be competitive with different personalities. I love that all teams are aggressive on the field. If I want nice sport, I'll go to the local game on Saturday. I personally don't sledge because I don't have the wit to think of something awesome without being crass.

Once it became possible for players to earn millions of dollars a year I don't blame them for not playing "in the spirit" of the game. Anyway I was taught to sledge in under 12s so I've always thought it was fair game as well. Mankad? Why not? Walking? Only if the car is out of petrol.

 

[Gough]

Brendan McCullum is incredibly overrated and all this coverage of his farewell tour as if he's a legend of the game is embarrassing.

100 consecutive Tests is not to be sneezed at, and my respect for him grew a lot in the way he led NZ, against Pakistan in the wake of Phillip Hughes' death.

 

[GeelongFTW]

I had always thought the kiwis said wickets in front of the runs like us for some reason. eg. 2/222 instead of 222/2
Only Australia does it I'm assuming?

 

[ioppolo]

I had always thought the kiwis said wickets in front of the runs like us for some reason. eg. 2/222 instead of 222/2
Only Australia does it I'm assuming?

Correct.

 

[Choomah]

Joe burns isn't a test opener

 

[eth-dog]

Joe burns isn't a test opener

Not unpopular.

 

[JackOutback]

Not entirely convinced he's a Test batsman. He's probably got three, maybe just two, innings to score or they might move Khawaja up and bring Marsh in for the Third Test.

 

[Jak!x]

Not entirely convinced he's a Test batsman. He's probably got three, maybe just two, innings to score or they might move Khawaja up and bring Marsh in for the Third Test.

Marsh is a stopgap unfortunately, you'd be better off opening with him and leaving Khawaja in at three where he's making runs.
I think Burns is a Test batsman, but not an opening one, needs to be batting at 4/5. I'd prefer Handscomb or either of the young Queenslanders to him to him in the middle order though