International Cricket

[Petcha]

Just watching his response there again. It's fucking shameful. He's totally passed the buck.

I think the issue here is the tournaments, not the bi-lateral series which I think everyone has gratefully dodged out of, probably, cynically because its a good excuse given the stupidly crowded calendar they all have. But it would be a huge gesture if the ECB just completely boycotted the tournament, not just the match with Afghanistan. Nobody cares what NZ does, but the ECB would make headlines.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

South African sports minister has now spoken up. He's still framing this as purely his own opinion, but the words are good:

As a man who comes from a race that was not allowed equal access to sporting opportunities during Apartheid, it would be hypocritical and immoral to look the other way today when the same is being done towards women anywhere in the world.

Not just Starmer passing the buck. South African cricket authorities and ECB are doing so. ICC is beyond pathetic, even pretending that they're on the side of Afghan female cricketers!

"The ICC will not penalise the ACB, or its players, for abiding by the laws set by the government of their country. We will continue to constructively use our influence to assist the ACB in developing cricket and playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan."

That's a sick joke given what is actually happening.

South Africa sports minister: Afghanistan at Champions Trophy is 'hypocritical and immoral'

 

[trashpony]

Pressure is mounting

 

[surreybrowncap]

I have just signed this petition..

Sign the Petition

Stop the England Cricket Team from Playing in or against Afghanistan

www.change.org

 

[Petcha]

This weird tournament, a franchise of a franchise has just kicked off for anyone who is stuck indoors like me. The lineups are actually fairly stellar. It's still very weird though how the IPL has got away with this.

Playing XI - DSG vs PC 2nd Match | SA20 Squad

Discover the Playing XI for the Durban's Super Giants vs Pretoria Capitals 2nd Match in Durban. Explore the squads for the DSG vs PC matchup.

www.espncricinfo.com

Cricket Streaming Online - Never Miss a Moment of the Action - Stream Now on Server 1

 

[planetgeli]

This weird tournament, a franchise of a franchise has just kicked off for anyone who is stuck indoors like me. The lineups are actually fairly stellar. It's still very weird though how the IPL has got away with this.

Playing XI - DSG vs PC 2nd Match | SA20 Squad

Discover the Playing XI for the Durban's Super Giants vs Pretoria Capitals 2nd Match in Durban. Explore the squads for the DSG vs PC matchup.

www.espncricinfo.com

Cricket Streaming Online - Never Miss a Moment of the Action - Stream Now on Server 1

I'll tell you what is fucking weird.

Let's conflate a couple of issues here. As we've seen, the ECB are being worse than useless when it comes to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, talking of 'franchises of franchises' isn't this exactly what the Hundred is about to become? The ECB being a bit too busy to properly get stuck into Afghanistan, deliberately invoked American interest in the Hundred because, and I quote,

We invented sport, they invented the franchise, and they're looking long-term.
And this was done by taking action to involve the Americans (while being too busy to deal with Afghanistan).

we've just sent out a document and a video to some NFL owners that explains what cricket is and what the rules are."

They've done this in a desperate attempt to stop the IPL taking over the Hundred because obviously USD are a preferred option to IR. Any alternative to an Indian monopoly.

Because we invented sport remember. And this is so obviously about sport. Not money. No way.


So this weird little tournament (the Hundred) too is set to become a franchise of a franchise. Or at least, a franchise of franchisers.

Cricket politics is shit, it's all headed the wrong way. A 'successful outcome' is now measured in profit, not good cricket. Not to mention having any sort of political conscience.

The Hundred: Why 2024 season is ECB's 'shop window' for investment

What will England's 100-ball competition look like in 2025 after 'Project Gemini' is complete?

www.espncricinfo.com

ECB rules out 'IPL takeover' of the Hundred

As many as eight of the ten IPL franchises are understood to be represented in the process, and have already held extensive talks with counties | ESPN.co.uk

www.espn.co.uk

 

[Petcha]

I'll tell you what is fucking weird.

Let's conflate a couple of issues here. As we've seen, the ECB are being worse than useless when it comes to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, talking of 'franchises of franchises' isn't this exactly what the Hundred is about to become? The ECB being a bit too busy to properly get stuck into Afghanistan, deliberately invoked American interest in the Hundred because, and I quote,

We invented sport, they invented the franchise, and they're looking long-term.
And this was done by taking action to involve the Americans (while being too busy to deal with Afghanistan).

we've just sent out a document and a video to some NFL owners that explains what cricket is and what the rules are."

They've done this in a desperate attempt to stop the IPL taking over the Hundred because obviously USD are a preferred option to IR. Any alternative to an Indian monopoly.

Because we invented sport remember. And this is so obviously about sport. Not money. No way.


So this weird little tournament (the Hundred) too is set to become a franchise of a franchise. Or at least, a franchise of franchisers.

Cricket politics is shit, it's all headed the wrong way. A 'successful outcome' is now measured in profit, not good cricket. Not to mention having any sort of political conscience.

A little bit of sunshine though. Apparently Sam Konstas, Australia's latest young starlet was fined by his franchise the other night for proudly walking into his franchise's dressing room with his Test Aussie cricket bag after his successful foray into the real game. Instead of the branded franchise one

And test attendances are through the roof right now, everywhere. It's in a healthy place. You can't blame these young guys for cashing in while they can. I see Williamson's playing and captaining in this game on at the moment. He's probably earning a shitload more for that than his Test earnings.

I think all young cricketers still dream of playing test cricket for their country. There, there's my optimistic take on it.

The Hundred though. Can fuck right the fuck off.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

This is the irony of all this. The Big Bash peaked a few years ago. Its attendances are generally a bit down on where they were. Meanwhile we've just had the best-attended test match in Australia ever, and probably the best-attended test match ever anywhere. Average 75,000 per day for five days. England sells out test matches despite extortionate ticket prices. New Zealand regularly gets nice crowds. Not huge but it's not a huge country and the crowds are healthy compared to a generation ago. India gets good crowds for tests plus millions more following online. South Africa gets good crowds during holiday season. Pakistan is variable. SL, Ban get poor crowds, but always have.

Test cricket is struggling to attract any attention in the WI. A low-prestige series against Bangladesh played out in front of entirely empty stadiums. So what do they do? Propose a two-tier system with WI in tier two. IE they propose just exterminating the history of the game, which saw WI strong from the 50s to the 70s then world-beaters from the 70s to the 90s. They guarantee killing off the form in the region for a team that used to be world-beaters, that has produced some of the greatest players ever, and who still have their days in the sun - only a year ago they beat Aus in Aus.

(And that cunt Vaughan claims it is inevitable. I really, realy fucking hate that man.)

The fuckers in charge don't give a flying fuck about the game. It's a disgrace.

 

[Petcha]

The BBL commentators have been very verbose about attendances and viewing figures being massively up this year. Ironically they're crediting the India test series for this which got record figures. Apparently every match featuring Konstas is blowing the lid off.

 

[Petcha]

The ECB actually making some decent noises for a change

ECB urges cricket’s leaders to take action over ‘gender apartheid’ in Afghanistan

The ECB’s chief executive, Richard Gould, called on the International Cricket Council to ‘intervene and show global leadership’ over Afghanistan

www.theguardian.com

“What is taking place in Afghanistan is the worst violation of women’s rights anywhere on earth,” Gould wrote. “If we do not take the actions that are within our power to take – whilst recognising that much is not in our power – we are all complicit and have failed the privilege that comes with holding a global leadership position in our sport.”

However Gould stopped short of calling for a boycott of Afghanistan matches when they play in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates next month.

Instead he argued for a range of alternative measures, including for a “meaningful proportion” of the ICC’s funding to the Afghanistan Cricket Board to be cut until women’s and girls’ cricket is reinstated.

Gould also suggested that the ICC should fund the Afghan women’s team, many of whom are in exile in Melbourne, and allow them to play matches.

 

[Petcha]

Meanwhile we have Lisa fucking Nandy coming out against a boycott, because it would deny sports fans enjoyment.

Did anybody here actually vote Labour? Cmon... fess up.

Earlier this week another letter signed by almost 200 politicians, including Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Neil Kinnock, urged the ECB to boycott England’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan on 26 February. However Lisa Nandy, the culture, media and sport secretary, said that cancelling the match would “deny sports fans the opportunity that they love”.

“I do think it should go ahead. I’m instinctively very cautious about boycotts in sports, partly because I think they’re counterproductive,” she added. “They can also very much penalise the athletes and the sports people who work very, very hard to reach the top of their game and then they’re denied the opportunities to compete.”