1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Well explained! Thank you for the different view. I guess I knee-jerked when I heard they’d offered him (an insulting) six months extension. I’m also still smarting over the whole Tim Paine situation. I know he was maligned by many, but I was a huge fan. Considering the circumstances under which he was (without warning) given the captaincy, I think he performed very well in that capacity. I mean, in the blink of an eye the top three (coach, captain and v/captain) effectively fall off the face of the Earth and Tim was thrown in the deep end. Even before the cheating I actually never liked Steve Smith, either. Maybe it’s because I was a big fan of Pup and it makes sense to not warm to his replacement, especially when he’s been replaced by a player I don’t like.  And Warner… I can’t stand him. Never liked him, and especially dislike him more since the embarrassing scandal they put Aus through. 
Whoa, what a rant! I feel much better now having expressed that, though. 😁

Fair enough

Personalities aside, I tend to view it all a bit differently.  Losing at home to India last year still smarts yet most will have forgotten all about it.  Not me

If we'd have won that series I'm not sure that the conversation about Langer would be the same. In my view, he'd still be the coach if we'd have won that series

Ok, we defeated England 4-0 but they were non competitive for the most part. They were as poor as what we were in 1985 (or 2010/11)

And the t20 World Cup is a bit of a lottery anyway ... I don't place too much stock in the super-abbreviated form of the game

But with regards to Test cricket, at home, there are high expectations on winning ... away from home, the interest is often way less

For instance, the last time we toured Sri Lanka we lost 0-3 in the 3 Tests.  And we've only beaten India in a Test series in India once in over 5 decades.  Also, the last time we defeated England in England (Test series) was in 2001

And in the last 4 series against South Africa, they have won 3 of the series (including the last 2 series) ... a 3 & 8 W/L record in the last 13 tests between the 2 countries

We are no longer a powerhouse even though we've got a reasonably good team (mainly at home)

 

Footnote: After that series loss to India did JL have 1 year left on his contract?  Then extended by 6 months? 

The writing might have been on the wall 18 months ago ... but the murmurings have been ever-present for 2 years

 

Edited February 7, 20223 yr by Macca

8 minutes ago, Macca said:

Fair enough

Personalities aside, I tend to view it all a bit differently.  Losing at home to India last year still smarts yet most will have forgotten all about it.  Not me

If we'd have won that series I'm not sure that the conversation about Langer would be the same. In my view, he'd still be the coach if we'd have won that series

Ok, we defeated England 4-0 but they were non competitive for the most part. They were as poor as what we were in 1985 (or 2010/11)

And the t20 World Cup is a bit of a lottery anyway ... I don't place too much stock in the super-abbreviated form of the game

But with regards to Test cricket, at home, there are high expectations on winning ... away from home, the interest is often way less

For instance, the last time we toured Sri Lanka we lost 0-3 in the 3 Tests.  And we've only beaten India in a Test series in India once in over 5 decades.  Also, the last time we defeated England in England (Test series) was in 2001

And in the last 4 series against South Africa, they have won 3 of the series (including the last 2 series) ... a 3 & 8 W/L record in the last 13 tests between the 2 countries

We are no longer a powerhouse even though we've got a reasonably good team (mainly at home)

There's my rant!

 

Yeah, you make a great point in that most of us fans tend to forget results from matches abroad. It’s easily done.

As for last year’s series, same thing applies (selective memory, perhaps) eg. the thing at the forefront of my memory is that we bowled them out for 36 in their second innings in Adelaide. 

2 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Yeah, you make a great point in that most of us fans tend to forget results from matches abroad. It’s easily done.

As for last year’s series, same thing applies (selective memory, perhaps) eg. the thing at the forefront of my memory is that we bowled them out for 36 in their second innings in Adelaide. 

Yep, India beat us and it wasn't even their best side ... but the reason I've brought it up is if we had have won that series it would have been awfully difficult for CA to not offer JL a much longer extension (especially when adding in a 4-0 series win over England)

We retained the Ashes in England in 2019 but again, if we'd have won that series that's another notch on JL's belt

But if he's keen, Langer won't be out of work for long ... that intense style can often work in the short term.  Maybe not in the long term though!

Just now, Macca said:

Yep, India beat us and it wasn't even their best side ... but the reason I've brought it up is if we had have won that series it would have been awfully difficult for CA to not offer JL a much longer extension (especially when adding in a 4-0 series win over England)

We retained the Ashes in England in 2019 but again, if we'd have won that series that's another notch on JL's belt

But if he's keen, Langer won't be out of work for long ... that intense style can often work in the short term.  Maybe not in the long term though!

I read somewhere he might possibly be getting a gig in some capacity with CA. Whatever he decides to do, we all wish him well, of course. 💚💛

Will Pucovski suffers yet another concussion. Surely now either the powers that be or in his own best interests and accord its time to retire. I just cannot fathom out how a cricketer can get what is it 11 concussions?? Nup thats it young man, please don't play again! Sorry!

20 hours ago, picket fence said:

Will Pucovski suffers yet another concussion. Surely now either the powers that be or in his own best interests and accord its time to retire. I just cannot fathom out how a cricketer can get what is it 11 concussions?? Nup thats it young man, please don't play again! Sorry!

He must have walked under a few ladders,  the lad.  Hard to fathom his run of bad luck.  He was apparently hit with a soccer ball at training this time

Things will hopefully turn around but we don't know about the extent of the effect of these concussions or the severity

But I'm reminded that numerous people were writing off Pat Cummins and now he's the captain of Australia!

Again, we don't know the severity of these concussions so if he battles on, it could be assumed that it's safe to do so.  The kid has got talent so I hope he gets back

Edited February 13, 20223 yr by Macca

Not sure what the criticism of Cummins’ decision making in regards to the declaration in Karachi, seems to have called it perfectly. 

Sri Lanka's keeper is called Dickwella.

Sounds like a name from a Carry On movie.

 

 

Factoring in time lost, the first test against Sri Lanka has lasted 6 sessions

Travis Head with 4-10 ... who would have thought! 

So in the last month we've had Ben Stokes retire from ODI cricket citing the schedule as a major reason so he can instead focus on Test and T20 cricket and we've also now had Trent Boult forgo his NZ cricket contract so he can spend more time at home.

 

Cricket and ODI cricket in particular seems to be at a tipping point and something needs to be done IMO to salvage it.

The T20 leagues and franchise cricket is here to stay unfortunately, so there's no putting the cat back in the bag. So in my view cricket needs a few fixes to keep things on track.

 

1. Look to take a leaf out of international soccers books and create international duty windows where players are to prioritise international duties over Franchise duties.

2. Scrap all bilateral international ODI and T20 series. All tours going forward should just be test tours (maximum of 5 home & away tests a year).

3. Outside of the ODI and T20 World Cups, all ODI's and T20's are to be World Cup Qualifier tournaments. This means that teams at stages will likely go 12 months+ without an international ODI or T20 match. But when they do play, they'll mean a lot!

4. West Indies to disband in White Ball cricket. I don't want to get rid of them entirely and this is why I think they should remain in Test cricket. But in the white ball format where the game can be grown I think they should go back to their own nations. This will make sense for things like Olympics and Commonwealth Games anyway.

5. Have one major cricket tournament every year over a 4 year cycle. 

ODI World Cup

T20 World Cup

Test Match World Cup (yep, time to introduce this)

T20 @ Olympics (ICC is pushing for 2028. Should be able to have it by 2032 at the latest). In the meantime, bring the men in for 2026 Commonwealth Games as a trial before it hits the Olympics.

Interested to hear what people think and if this could potentially work for cricket like it does soccer?

Watched the BBL Draft this evening which made for interesting viewing. A lot of the big names eg Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Faf Du Plessis who could only play the early part of the tournament were overlooked for players who could play either the whole thing or the majority of which I think is a good thing.

The only players picked who are only doing about half a season I think were Rashid Khan for Adelaide and Trent Boult for the Stars.

Edited August 28, 20222 yr by MadAsHell

Meanwhile, Channel 7 are suing CA with regards the Big Bash and the supposed lesser quality of the product (lower ratings as a result)

An unprecedented move as I can't ever remember anything of the sort ever happening here in Australia or overseas

14 minutes ago, Macca said:

Meanwhile, Channel 7 are suing CA with regards the Big Bash and the supposed lesser quality of the product (lower ratings as a result)

An unprecedented move as I can't ever remember anything of the sort ever happening here in Australia or overseas

That's pretty amazing stuff! Where does that leave this Summers broadcast of cricket? It sounds pretty untenable to have 7 as the broadcaster while they're in the middle of suing CA doesn't it???

The sooner Cricket goes across to Channel 10 the better it will be IMO. They never should have taken thr BBL off there in the first place.

18 hours ago, MadAsHell said:

That's pretty amazing stuff! Where does that leave this Summers broadcast of cricket? It sounds pretty untenable to have 7 as the broadcaster while they're in the middle of suing CA doesn't it???

The sooner Cricket goes across to Channel 10 the better it will be IMO. They never should have taken thr BBL off there in the first place.

Yes, Ch10 seemed like an ideal fit for the Big Bash ... could end up there the way things are going, TD!

Ch7 need to make the Tests work though and that shouldn't be too much of an ask ... Ch9 look like they are all-in with the Tennis (they are covering the US Open as well starting just after midnight tonight)

Covid wasn't kind to the t20's though.  The sport needs a packed house to get the viewers engaged.  Being a new sport, the games looked strange played in front of empty stands

As for the International draft, a fizzer according to the pundits

And the Big Bash is up against the new UAE t20 tournament as well as the new South African league (where all the teams are owned by consortiums from the IPL)

The BBL season is going to be right up against it this summer

 

Well we got our backsides kicked by the kiwis in tonites t20 opener. To many has beens in the side and they will have to adjust after the t20. That is if they are capable of that.

Anyone else think M Wade might be an [censored]?

On 6/14/2008 at 9:01 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

How do we get that Chanderpaul out?

Can’t believe it but still saying the same thing 14 years later.

Still, as they say in the classics, cricket’s a funny game!

Pedestrian attack but Marnus is a freak anyway ... certainly knows how to cash in but from all accounts, he practices like no other

Bring on the South Africans!

Take that Chanderpaul. Twice in one day. 

You don’t want to be batting under lights with a pink ball in play and our very own Scotty Boland and Mitchell Starc on the rampage. 

Special tribute to the late Ritchie Benaud on the second day of the Boxing Day test as Australia reaches 2/222.

Mankad.

Seriously this should not be a problem. The umpires should call a short run if the runner is out of the crease at the point of delivery. FIXED! 

Note: The batsmen may bat outside the crease.

Is Brad Haddin commentary crickets version of David King?

Can anyone explain how Ashton Agar who has played only one first class match this season for only one wicket  and averages over 40 with the ball in first class matches was preferred as the second spinner ahead of Swepson or Murphy?  

Surely they can't be considering him as the second spinner in India.  

Selection of Ashton is an absolute circus

On 1/4/2023 at 12:14 PM, grazman said:

Can anyone explain how Ashton Agar who has played only one first class match this season for only one wicket  and averages over 40 with the ball in first class matches was preferred as the second spinner ahead of Swepson or Murphy?  

Surely they can't be considering him as the second spinner in India.  

Particularly as it doesn’t seem to play all that well for spinners these days anyway; Lyon averages north of 40 at the ground.