Cricket Thread

[MillionMilesAway]

Shai Hope really is too good for this WI team.

 

[cleavers]

This must be up there with the worst England cricket short form team for many a year, not sure how it got to this in such a short time, but I think the blame lies with the ridiculous "hundred" competition. English short form cricket needs a huge shake up for me.

I'm not sure the long form of the game is in much better shape either, too many players over the hill in all forms for me.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

This must be up there with the worst England cricket short form team for many a year, not sure how it got to this in such a short time, but I think the blame lies with the ridiculous "hundred" competition. English short form cricket needs a huge shake up for me.

I'm not sure the long form of the game is in much better shape either, too many players over the hill in all forms for me.

Not enough money riding on it for international teams now.

T20 will kill cricket barring its form.

No point in a defensive technique or mental toughness now, just smash as many 6s before you miss one.

 

[cleavers]

Not enough money riding on it for international teams now.

T20 will kill cricket barring its form.

No point in a defensive technique or mental toughness now, just smash as many 6s before you miss one.

You might be right on the money thing, but T20 has been fine for years, we've had ups and downs of course, but it's the only very short format we need, the other thing is a pointless distraction, and it disrupts other cricket for 6 weeks. As a player you can still use brains in T20, sadly this England squad generally don't, batting or bowling.

I used (a couple of years ago) to watch almost all England T20, and 50 over games, I'm sad to say I've basically given up on it, there seems to be a culture of retire one week, come back the next, either you've had enough as a player or you haven't, some of these players just take the piss, but they'll still turn up and give it their all in the IPL.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

You might be right on the money thing, but T20 has been fine for years, we've had ups and downs of course, but it's the only very short format we need, the other thing is a pointless distraction, and it disrupts other cricket for 6 weeks. As a player you can still use brains in T20, sadly this England squad generally don't, batting or bowling.

I used (a couple of years ago) to watch almost all England T20, and 50 over games, I'm sad to say I've basically given up on it, there seems to be a culture of retire one week, come back the next, either you've had enough as a player or you haven't, some of these players just take the piss, but they'll still turn up and give it their all in the IPL.

It will be interesting to see who emerges from the county youth system. They’ll be prepping them for T20 riches rather than attritional ashes.

I don’t watch as much as I used to, or at least don’t focus on cricket as much as I used to.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Not enough money riding on it for international teams now.

T20 will kill cricket barring its form.

No point in a defensive technique or mental toughness now, just smash as many 6s before you miss one.

You are spot on about T20 killing the longer forms of the game. It's's now a fight to balance the longer forms of the game, and it's finances, against threats from T20 league's.

 

[Fordyboy46]

To lose a series to a shit West Indies side is as low as it gets for England. I just think the ecb needs to get a grip with how many tours England do in a season, it seems to be every other week at present

 

[Fordyboy46]

King, Charles the opening batsmen for the Windies. Excellent

 

[balotellishaircut]

Shai Hope really is too good for this WI team.

He needs to do it in test match cricket, that’s what’s letting him down.

 

[ancoats]

This must be up there with the worst England cricket short form team for many a year, not sure how it got to this in such a short time, but I think the blame lies with the ridiculous "hundred" competition. English short form cricket needs a huge shake up for me.

I'm not sure the long form of the game is in much better shape either, too many players over the hill in all forms for me.

The ECB handing out Central Contracts to the players makes them don't care enough or play at county levels enough.
When you're inside the bubble of a central contract you have made it and the job done. You could be playing crap for a couple of years but still play for England at all levels, That can not be right and sends out the wrong message to the rest hoping to play at international levels working their arse off for the clubs.

it's pointless calling it out because the ECB are untouchable, and let's not forget the England players lost the ashes and finished 7th in the World Cup table, but somehow still came up smelling of roses and picked for England again

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

You are spot on about T20 killing the longer forms of the game. It's's now a fight to balance the longer forms of the game, and it's finances, against threats from T20 league's.

It is hard as the 100 and T20 make virtually all the money for counties. Therefore they get played in the height of summer, in a July and August.

Why would players hone their skill on first class cricket, when all the riches are in the slogathons?

Guess we need to get used to the longer format becoming increasingly marginalised and get behind our McCoys Originals,

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

The ECB handing out Central Contracts to the players makes them don't care enough or play at county levels enough.
When you're inside the bubble of a central contract you have made it and the job done. You could be playing crap for a couple of years but still play for England at all levels, That can not be right and sends out the wrong message to the rest hoping to play at international levels working their arse off for the clubs.

it's pointless calling it out because the ECB are untouchable, and let's not forget the England players lost the ashes and finished 7th in the World Cup table, but somehow still came up smelling of roses and picked for England again

Do you remember the days before central contracts?

England were far worse than they are now.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

It is hard as the 100 and T20 make virtually all the money for counties. Therefore they get played in the height of summer, in a July and August.

Why would players hone their skill on first class cricket, when all the riches are in the slogathons?

Guess we need to get used to the longer format becoming increasingly marginalised and get behind our McCoys Originals,

I used to love players like David Gower with his effortless cover drives. Did he ever hit a six?

 

[MillionMilesAway]

He needs to do it in test match cricket, that’s what’s letting him down.

True, but they don't play that much test cricket now, and much of the rest of the team aren't there to support him.

 

[MillionMilesAway]

I used to love players like David Gower with his effortless cover drives. Did he ever hit a six?

10 in 117 tests
22 in 111 ODI innings.

according to Cricinfo. I suppose some of the hook shots would have gone for six, but it's difficult to picture him smashing many over extra cover!

 

[ancoats]

Do you remember the days before central contracts?

England were far worse than they are now.

it was better for county cricket clubs and players with dreams of playing for England, Now it's a closed shop and players have to go through the system at all England levels from youth cricket and then get picked for England and a central contract.

Not many players learn the trade in county cricket and from there earn a call-up because of the inform stuff they have been playing

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

it was better for county cricket clubs and players with dreams of playing for England, Now it's a closed shop and players have to go through the system at all England levels from youth cricket and then get picked for England and a central contract.

Not many players learn the trade in county cricket and from there earn a call-up because of the inform stuff they have been playing

To some extent, but there aren’t loads pushing for contracts either, which they should be if it’s the promised land for cricketers.

Within 10 years, franchise cricket will pay far more than central contracts. Then what happens?

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

10 in 117 tests
22 in 111 ODI innings.

according to Cricinfo. I suppose some of the hook shots would have gone for six, but it's difficult to picture him smashing many over extra cover!

Do you not remember him reverse scooping Malcolm Marshall? :-)

 

[ancoats]

To some extent, but there aren’t loads pushing for contracts either, which they should be if it’s the promised land for cricketers.

Within 10 years, franchise cricket will pay far more than central contracts. Then what happens?

the reason why no players are pushing for a call-up is that the central contract system stops it, the ECB always pick the next on the list, just like Moeen Ali last summer being called back up, what harm would have it done picking somebody from country cricket that can bowl and bat instead of Moeen Ali and his bad finger, He could have hit the ground running and played really well,

Cherry-picking the best young talent is the only way the ECB see top-level cricketers, They forget that learning a skill in country cricket is also good, rather than having something that catches the eye from a young age is just as good

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

the reason why no players are pushing for a call-up is that the central contract system stops it, the ECB always pick the next on the list, just like Moeen Ali last summer being called back up, what harm would have it done picking somebody from country cricket that can bowl and bat instead of Moeen Ali and his bad finger, He could have hit the ground running and played really well,

Cherry-picking the best young talent is the only way the ECB see top-level cricketers, They forget that learning a skill in country cricket is also good, rather than having something that catches the eye from a young age is just as good

That happens. Stokes asked for Moeen specifically.

Look at the spinners going to India. Hartley is really inexperienced, especially in first class cricket.