England Cricket 2022

[WhyLikeThis]

And DRS is really expensive. I'm a fan but I really don't see the point of it for the CC. Rolling it out even just for the top division would cost millions. That's a non-starter.

DRS is expensive, this is why a smaller top tier males this more feasible. The point is to replicate test conditions as closely as possible. Strauss has proposed using kookaburra and SG balls for a similar reason.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

This season, yes. Many of those have been 600 plays 700 snore draws that wouldn't have produced a result in six days. They've had the same batch of crap Duke's balls as the tests, which is a big part of that.

The change years ago from three to four days was needed, but four days is enough if you have a ball that doesn't go soft after 25 overs.

As above, Strauss has proposed using Kookaburra balls which do less than Dukes and SG balls that go out of shape even faster. This will most likely continue and possibly increase the already high levels of draws. 5 days will reduce the number and prepare players better for test cricket.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I wasn’t proposing the ECB use magic to increase attendance. They have plenty of cash to help counties promote attendance through a variety of means. To clarify, this does not include summon daemons or the use of voodoo.

But I think this is one of the problems that isn't a problem. As I said, I think reviving more of the festivals is a very good idea. That goes against the idea of fewer matches, 5 day matches and DRS, though. But the CC isn't a failing competition. Give it the correct space within the season, give it a meaningful structure like two divisions of nine, give it a decent ball, and it will do just fine. It's about time the 18 professional counties were treated as an asset rather than a liability.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

But I think this is one of the problems that isn't a problem. As I said, I think reviving more of the festivals is a very good idea. That goes against the idea of fewer matches, 5 day matches and DRS, though. But the CC isn't a failing competition. Give it the correct space within the season, give it a meaningful structure like two divisions of nine, give it a decent ball, and it will do just fine. It's about time the 18 professional counties were treated as an asset rather than a liability.

This review isn’t about comforting the counties, it’s purpose is to improve the quality and preparedness of cricketers coming through to the England team. The quality gap between county cricket and test cricket is demonstrably wide. Replicating test conditions for the top tier will aid this.

You won’t like this either; relegating 2 first class counties each year to the National counties leagues (and promoting the 2 best performing minor counties up to the Championship) would kick a bit of life into cricket.

 

[Ted Striker]

Aus's Sheffield Shield mostly plays out in front of completely empty stadiums.

Intertesting, I didn't know that.

Tbh County cricket is a hard sell (I wouldn't dream of going), the sales/marketing must have their work cut out

 

[littlebabyjesus]

This review isn’t about comforting the counties, it’s purpose is to improve the quality and preparedness of cricketers coming through to the England team.

The strength of cricket comes from the bottom up, not the top down. The single biggest calamity for the England team occurred in 2005 when cricket was taken off free to air tv. Participation at grass roots has declined since then. The number of kids playing has declined since then. The number of kids who have Joe Root or Ben Stokes as their sporting hero is far smaller than it would have been if their heroics had played out on free to air tv.

But the ECB won't address that. They won't admit they were wrong.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Intertesting, I didn't know that.

Tbh County cricket is a hard sell (I wouldn't dream of going), the sales/marketing must have their work cut out

Not really. You just have to accept that it is what it is. And what it is is a strength in the English game. Something followed by a very loyal hard core of cricket lovers. Not something to be tossed away carelessly. And not something in crisis. Somehow the idea that the ECB subsidises county cricket is taken to be a bad thing in some quarters. It shouldn't be. That's exactly how it should be.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

The strength of cricket comes from the bottom up, not the top down. The single biggest calamity for the England team occurred in 2005 when cricket was taken off free to air tv. Participation at grass roots has declined since then. The number of kids playing has declined since then. The number of kids who have Joe Root or Ben Stokes as their sporting hero is far smaller than it would have been if their heroics had played out on free to air tv.

But the ECB won't address that. They won't admit they were wrong.

I totally agree the lack of free to air test cricket is a huge loss and should be addressed as a priority. This does not negate the fact that the county game needs to improve.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

This does not negate the fact that the county game needs to improve.

It does if the reason the county game has declined is the removal of free to air coverage of the international game.

You must do better, says the ECB. You must attract more kids into the game, says the ECB. But we won't show the game to kids on TV.

Doesn't work.

There are things that are wrong. The amount of money parents are expected to stomp up for their kids to enter the county system at youth level is a fucking scandal and needs addressing immediately. Access to the game at grass roots needs opening up. And kids need to be shown the top level of the game on tv so that they want to play the game in the first place.

To add to that, the ECB needs to stop prioritising the maximisation of profit from corporate deals at test matches. Make games affordable for people to bring their families to rather than catering primarily for corporate fucks who don't even care about the game.

The game has been stolen from the people and sold back to us at extortionate prices. That is the root problem. Anyone who doesn't start from there is just blowing hot air. Strauss can go fuck himself, tbh.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

The increasing gap in quality between the county and test games is not going to be resolved by tests on free to air TV.

Read the document from the review I posted earlier, it’s pretty sensible stuff.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

You won’t like this either; relegating 2 first class counties each year to the National counties leagues (and promoting the 2 best performing minor counties up to the Championship) would kick a bit of life into cricket.

I don't hate that idea but it's not practical. The minor counties are amateur, the first class counties are professional.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

I don't hate that idea but it's not practical. The minor counties are amateur, the first class counties are professional.

The sky is blue and water is wet. Support will need to be provided to facilitate the step up. It would make cricket far more exciting and take another step away from it’s rigid class structure.

Enforcing separation between professionals and amateurs in cricket is ultra old school.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

The increasing gap in quality between the county and test games is not going to be resolved by tests on free to air TV.

The root cause of the decline in cricket over the last decade or so is the removal of tests from free to air tv. That's my contention. And the evidence to back it up is the decline in overall numbers of kids playing cricket plus the lack of recognition of cricket stars by kids. Most kids don't know who Ben Stokes is. In the 80s, most kids knew who Ian Botham was.

It won't solve the problem overnight, just as the problem its removal caused wasn't seen for a few years.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

The sky is blue and water is wet. Support will need to be provided to facilitate the step up. It would make cricket far more exciting and take another step away from it’s rigid class structure.

Enforcing separation between professionals and amateurs in cricket is ultra conservative.

It's not a question of enforcing separation. The minor counties used to take part in the B&H Cup. And they'd get murdered mostly. You'd get maybe one shock result a season tops. If you think it's a big step up from first class to tests, it's just as big a step from amateur to professional.

And what happens to the relegated counties? Where do their players go? how do they pay the wages when they're in the minor counties league? What happens to their academy systems? The counties are centres of excellence that need to be supported and developed, not threatened with apocalypse every season.

As for the promoted teams, where do they play? You going to develop grounds for them specially only for them to be relegated straight away because they find themselves outclassed?

 

[WhyLikeThis]

It's not a question of enforcing separation. The minor counties used to take part in the B&H Cup. And they'd get murdered mostly. You'd get maybe one shock result a season tops. If you think it's a big step up from first class to tests, it's just as big a step from amateur to professional.

And what happens to the relegated counties? Where do their players go? how do they pay the wages when they're in the minor counties league? What happens to their academy systems? The counties are centres of excellence that need to be supported and developed, not threatened with apocalypse every season.

As for the promoted teams, where do they play? You going to develop grounds for them specially only for them to be relegated straight away because they find themselves outclassed?

These problems can be mitigated with the right support. Where’s your Bazball postive mental attitude?!

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Right, that’s enough arguing about cricket for one evening

 

[SpookyFrank]

Jack Leach's reverse sweep must be the champagne moment of the match.

Not Stokes chinning a six into his own dressing room?

 

[WhyLikeThis]

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Not Stokes chinning a six into his own dressing room?

That was good. Shame Baz didn't catch it. Flintoff hit a six for his dad to catch once (he dropped it). That was class.

 

[Petcha]

Jimmy's only slightly younger than me. I struggle with the stairs at the station when the escalators are broken. He's knocking over opening batsmen.

When will he stop. He's incredible. A freak.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Under bowling Broad, again.

 

[Ted Striker]

Getting nervous now. If they come out of this and set any target worth bowling at, the wind will be completely in their sails (and it's not like England need a reason to mentally capitulate )

 

[Petcha]

Ben Stokes is quite good at cricket

He's averaging 16 with the ball in his last three tests and smashing the ball into his own dressing room. While being an inspirational leader. I'm looking forward to see how he does abroad though.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Spanked.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Crushing win.

It's been a disappointing series so far, though. Two one-sided games over in three days. Hope for something competitive in the final test.

 

[planetgeli]

Hansie Elgar?

Many levels of incompetence. Lots made no sense.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Hansie Elgar?

Many levels of incompetence. Lots made no sense.

That's harsh.

Picking two spinners for OT made some sense, even though I didn't agree with it.
Batting first was foolish given the conditions, but it made some sense to try to hang on to the afternoon and build from there. 250 might have been a serviceable 1st innings total when bowling last. They couldn't hold on to the afternoon was the problem. And England wouldn't have either, let's face it, even in the absence of Jansen, which is why it was foolish to try.
Bowling the spinners in tandem against Stokes/Foakes for an hour made little sense. But I sensed Elgar was desperate to justify the tactics by then. Also, Harmer didn't bowl very well.

Partly, I think Elgar was the victim of his own cussedness. Misguidedly leading from the front by striding out to open when they should have been bowling. In reality it was a suicide mission, and he should have known that/been told by somebody.

 

[planetgeli]

Excessively naive hubris then.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Excessively naive hubris then.

I sincerely hope so and that I'm not the one being naive.

I did think dropping Jansen for Harmer was bonkers, however much spin you thought there might be later on. After all, Elgar can always bring himself on as a variation.

/gets coat