Is Cricket 'DEAD' Thread

[Henry Jr]

Agree with those points BH.

Problem is as Grizz alluded to above, is that no one is prepared to grind out an innings, leave the ball and play boring.

Katich was one of the very few. He made you bowl to him.

Be interesting for our resident cricket stats man (Boonie) to go thru the shield scores this year and work out how many 100's are made compared to other years. Gut feeling is that the figure in sliding downwards over the years.

Anyone, adjust the lineup thru the feedback given.

D.Warner
P.Hughes
S.Marsh
U.Kawaja
M.Clarke
S.Watson
M.Wade
Cutting
Pattison
Cummings
N.Lyon

 

[djboonie]

You'll have to give me until tomorrow on this one, but I'll become a regular on this thread from now on!

I have some strong opinions on the Shield Competition and how it's managed at the moment... From the curators to the selectors, it's all a bit amateurish.

I agree with Henry and Grizz about the ability to play long innings' these days. It's about mental application and discipline. 2 qualities which are severely lacking in some of the modern day bats.

Problem is as Grizz alluded to above, is that no one is prepared to grind out an innings, leave the ball and play boring.

Katich was one of the very few. He made you bowl to him.

 

[grizzlym]

My, my, now Cummins looks extremely doubtful too.

It'll be very interesting what, if any, moves the new selection panel make.

 

[djboonie]

So...

I have searched through the online sources and found...

Number of Centuries / Half centuries per season (based on the top 50 bats)

season	100	50	avg
2011-12	21*	55*	40.94*
2010-11	45	105	38.84
2009-10	55	122	40.58
2008-09	56	121	38.95
2007-08	52	143	40.1
2006-07	50	142	38.59

*season still in progress

 

[Brishawk]

So...

I have searched through the online sources and found...

Number of Centuries / Half centuries per season (based on the top 50 bats)

season	100	50	avg
2011-12	21*	55*	40.94*
2010-11	45	105	38.84
2009-10	55	122	40.58
2008-09	56	121	38.95
2007-08	52	143	40.1
2006-07	50	142	38.59

*season still in progress

Interesting to know the strike rate . . . see if 20/20 has had an effect on batting style . . . just saying ti would be pretty awesome to know that

 

[Henry Jr]

So...

I have searched through the online sources and found...

Number of Centuries / Half centuries per season (based on the top 50 bats)

season	100	50	avg
2011-12	21*	55*	40.94*
2010-11	45	105	38.84
2009-10	55	122	40.58
2008-09	56	121	38.95
2007-08	52	143	40.1
2006-07	50	142	38.59

*season still in progress

Perhaps a decline in 50s and 100s

Thanks mate

 

[djboonie]

Interesting to know the strike rate . . . see if 20/20 has had an effect on batting style . . . just saying ti would be pretty awesome to know that

Ask and you shall receive (this time)

season	100	50	avg	sr
2011-12	21	55	40.94	55.8
2010-11	45	105	38.84	51.35
2009-10	55	122	40.58	53.65
2008-09	56	121	38.95	52.57
2007-08	52	143	40.1	52.58
2006-07	50	142	38.59	53.17

 

[Brishawk]

Ask and you shall receive (this time)

season	100	50	avg	sr
2011-12	21	55	40.94	55.8
2010-11	45	105	38.84	51.35
2009-10	55	122	40.58	53.65
2008-09	56	121	38.95	52.57
2007-08	52	143	40.1	52.58
2006-07	50	142	38.59	53.17

Cheers

Hmmm probably too early to tell . . .

 

[Goady138]

This article is worth a read just for interests sake.

Football's siren call hard to resist

While NSW may produce cricketers, down south it's the AFL that turns Victorian heads.
IN THE same week that Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja played critical parts in the most encouraging Australian Test victory since the retirements of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, Victoria supplied 10 of the first 11 players selected by Greater Western Sydney in the national draft.
Despite the success of the AFL in spreading the gospel and its audacious expansion program, it remains heavily reliant on Victoria to provide the players, as the draft demonstrated. GWS is very much an organ transplant from Melbourne, given that the coach, chief executive, most of the good players - including Tom Scully and Callan Ward - are highly paid ''guest workers'' from Victoria, flown in like miners to the Pilbara


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/...d-to-resist-20111126-1o0k7.html#ixzz1erVypfeh

 

[Messenger]

Dave Warner?

We don't have a better opener that, you know, actually plays regular first class cricket?

One century and he is in the team.... Hmm.

 

[frankc]

I must admit I have severe concerns for the survival of the game. While ensuring revenues are optimised is important (the key term here is 'optimised'), it appears that Cricket administration seeks to simply maximise revenues in the short-term without considering the longer term needs of the game.

I think Crickets main problem is that it has an identity crisis. There are three forms of the game which are apparently equally as importnat; i can't see how this is possible. Moreover, while 50-over cricket and Tests may not be that far apart in terms what it requires for a player to be successful, the rquirements for a successful test cricketer and 20/20 player are poles apart. What this means is that cricket is diluting its own talent pool.

The ICC needs to sit down and decide what the future of cricket is and then make decisions on that basis going forward. Moreover scheduling needs to be meaningful and so do individual games. I think everything needs to be on the table.

I think the entire cricket structure needs to be re-engineered from the group up. In essence the future of the games sits with the adminisators and the players. For long-terms survival, I think 20/20 needs to be part of that (much as it pains me to say it) - fans want a version of the game that is decided in not much longer than a game of Football or Soccer. Given the nature of this form of the game, Cricket has the option of spreading its popularity across of wider audience.

Test Cricket should be the other part of the equation. Fans will respond to quality test cricket in certain countries (i.e. Australia, England, South Africa, India etc). I think the number of tests played annually should reduce and be keenly anticipated contests. I feel tests is one game where less is more.

Finally, the domestic game needs to be restructure also. For example, in AUstralia, each state should play each other state twice, however one game should be a four-day contest and the other game a 20/20 game. State squads should be selected for each form of the game, however there will be naturally some overlap.

SUch a structure would allow club 20/20 cricket and a champions league on 20/20 to be schueduled in.

Scheduling is vital and it is important that players are able to participate in the games they want to - after all they deserve to be able to legitimately profit form there talents.

Whether the above is right or wrong, what cricket is missing is a narrative. A purpose for what it does. There is no order of strcuture - it is simply chase indiscrimmately the $, saturate the opportunity so that people get bored of it, and then try inane measure to reinvigorate it.

Cricket can survive and prosper. It just needs to clearly articulate what it is about, and then pursure that vision with consistency and vigour.

 

[Garf]

Cricket has prospered in the last 20 years with more matches and styles of the game being developed. However I now believe it has reached a saturation point. There is too much of it to keep its fans interested !

I have been a cricket fan since the 70's and found Tests rather dull until the West Indians of the 80's and the Aussies of the 90's ramped up the run rates. Tests are what most cricketers aspire to take part in, but the standard has slipped globally in recent years because patience and application are two words that have gone out the window. The 20/20 game has infiltrated Test Match strokeplay, and the purists are losing interest.

The chase for the dollar (or rupee) has really stuffed up the game many of us used to enjoy.

It's a long shot but I'd love to see the 5 Test Match series reinstated against one visiting side of some quality during our summer. They could play shortened away series against lesser lights shortly before or after the Aussie summer season.

 

[Henry Jr]

Dave Warner?

We don't have a better opener that, you know, actually plays regular first class cricket?

One century and he is in the team.... Hmm.

Averages 56 at first class level Mess.

 

[Messenger]

Averages 56 at first class level Mess.

10 games, Hank. 148 against SA will push that up. Hardly the sort of numbers that used to get you a baggy green.

 

[grizzlym]

I know someone who plays with Warner. Has said for a couple of years no0w that he's got the best eye of any batsman he's seen. also said earlier in his career that he saw no reason he couldn't transition to be more of a 'first class' player as his technique and all of that were good. Might just be an inspired selection.

 

[djboonie]

I know someone who plays with Warner. Has said for a couple of years no0w that he's got the best eye of any batsman he's seen. also said earlier in his career that he saw no reason he couldn't transition to be more of a 'first class' player as his technique and all of that were good. Might just be an inspired selection.

I actually agree. I first thought he was a bit of a baseballer playing cricket with most of his runs coming from big swings mainly on the on side, however the more I've seen of him, the more I think he could play the longer forms of the game.

IMO his technique is much better than Phil Hughes' and although i think others should have been selected before him don't necessarily think it's entirely a bad thing. We need to find 2 blokes who can open the batting. Watto should take Hussey's position when he retires, and needs to conserve energy for his body's sake. Hughes is not a long term option until he acknowledges he needs to work on his 'ball selection'/'Shot selection' abilities.

Personally the guy with runs on the board this year is Cowan, followed by Quiney, then Rogers and Klinger (hasn't stopped making runs since leaving Vic.)

Warner, unless there's something I've missed should be adequate for the moment.

 

[Henry Jr]

10 games, Hank. 148 against SA will push that up. Hardly the sort of numbers that used to get you a baggy green.

Agree. But shouldn't the question be how does Phil Hughes get a gig with an first class average of 49 and a test average of less than 40.

Take out his first series against the Saffer's, he would be in the 20's.

 

[djboonie]

Agree. But shouldn't the question be how does Phil Hughes get a gig with an first class average of 49 and a test average of less than 40.

Take out his first series against the Saffer's, he would be in the 20's.

Reversible baggy blue/green in play. Saves costs...

 

[Brishawk]

Agree. But shouldn't the question be how does Phil Hughes get a gig with an first class average of 49 and a test average of less than 40.

Take out his first series against the Saffer's, he would be in the 20's.

To put his first class record into perspective, Cowan has a first class average of 38. He would appear one of the candidates for a test opener spot and averages 10 less than Hughes at first class level. Marsh is the same. So if Hughes is being gifted a gig based on his figures then what of Marsh and Cowan et. al. who have sub 40 averages?

Hughes has no defense but obviously has talent. Seems a flat track bully for mine but hopefully he can work something out until Maddinson matures.

 

[Great 2008]

Cricket has prospered in the last 20 years with more matches and styles of the game being developed. However I now believe it has reached a saturation point. There is too much of it to keep its fans interested !

I have been a cricket fan since the 70's and found Tests rather dull until the West Indians of the 80's and the Aussies of the 90's ramped up the run rates. Tests are what most cricketers aspire to take part in, but the standard has slipped globally in recent years because patience and application are two words that have gone out the window. The 20/20 game has infiltrated Test Match strokeplay, and the purists are losing interest.

The chase for the dollar (or rupee) has really stuffed up the game many of us used to enjoy.

It's a long shot but I'd love to see the 5 Test Match series reinstated against one visiting side of some quality during our summer. They could play shortened away series against lesser lights shortly before or after the Aussie summer season.

I agree with some of Garf's comments. WTF was the two test series in South Africa about? What did it really mean? I used to really look forward to summer of cricket but now the usual headline before each series is who is injured in the Australian side. Once upon a time the Australian Cricket summer was what it was all about to the players and they made sure they were ready for it. I am not really sure what the players priorities are now? Just keeping their spot maybe or rupee? What do half these one off test series around the world really achieve? IMO most test series have become meaningless (due to proliferation) excepting the Ashes and any series against India which always have a bit of feeling.

I think it's time to put some real meaning back into test cricket in particular. I don't know how you do this. Maybe instead of random two test series, some kind of World Champion honour should be awarded at the end of a twelve month series of tests between the competing countries?

 

[grizzlym]

If anyone can get Hughes' game back on track it's Micky.

There's plenty of external influences that have affected his game/confidence.

If Micky can get his confidence back and instill a bit of discipline into his shot selection he can still fulfill the early promise.

I hope Cutting gets a shot tomorrow. Some are saying he's the most dangerous bowler they've faced in recent times.

 

[Brishawk]

If anyone can get Hughes' game back on track it's Micky.

There's plenty of external influences that have affected his game/confidence.

If Micky can get his confidence back and instill a bit of discipline into his shot selection he can still fulfill the early promise.

I hope Cutting gets a shot tomorrow. Some are saying he's the most dangerous bowler they've faced in recent times.

Cutting's record looks a little funny to me. Was he injured last summer?

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

Cutting's record looks a little funny to me. Was he injured last summer?

Ankle injury pretty much wiped out last season

 

[grizzlym]

Going to be an interesting test me thinks. Obvious to state it, but this would have to be the greenest Australian side in many a moon. I hope Cutting plays.

 

[Henry Jr]

Play all the quicks.

Clarke and Warner to bowl their nudies if required.