Yeah but there is no incentive to perform once you have that contract and I think that was a good idea to be fair. Also the set up for all forms is a mess and has been put out of place for a competition that doesn’t benefit any form of cricket. There is no need to shave more overs off a T20 game, it’s as fun and quick as it needs be.
OD cricket is defunct for England, due to that decision.
I’ve been hearing about how English cricket should be reorganised along Aussie lines since the seventies. Nothing much has changed, certainly not for the better. The snobby old boys network continues to hold the game back in the UK.
Thought the Windies might have an outside chance of chasing down the target on the last day but they’ve collapsed England-style in the morning session.
Got to agree with @aussie. Sheffield shield is a higher standard than county cricket and scoring runs and performing there is a much better indicator of mental toughness (and some ability to perform) than county cricket. There is every incentive to perform!
Is there a way to change this? Almost no state schools play cricket anymore and the kids from Asian and Afro-Caribbean heritage are not as anchored to it…
Ultimately is the game is too expensive to be subsidised by the government - which feels like the only way to really broaden the game?
Near me I often see Asian kids playing cricket. There is a block somewhere as you look at the amateur sides and they are usually full of Asian blokes.
Still more to play out where England can get some respectability.
Interesting Broad saying worst Aussie team in 15 years and best English team in 15 years.
Starc - maybe best Aussie left armer ever
Gazza - best offy ever but has hardly played
Cummins - maybe top 10 paceman ever and again hardly played
Carey - best glove man since Healy and I think has it over Haddin, Paine, Gilly Nevill, Wade etc. as for batting will never be as good as Gilly but is superior to the others. Fine player.
Head - I don’t know where he fits in history yet but who cares he’s a star right now.
And the so called “fill ins” delivered like Neser and Boland.
But cricket teamwork and attitude is evident in the field. Like watching a football team with the willingness to do the hard stuff running back or off the ball. It was chalk and cheese.
I think every Test had moments when England were in it. 100 ahead with 9 wickets left, Aussies 5 for less than 200 on day 1. And others. Aussie then grinded it into winning positions with a bit of ticker.
And now for the 2 best Tests.
And don’t forget Marnus’ with his fielding.
Yes he can be irratating with the shit he does when batting, but in the field, he has to be up there with Jonty, Punter and Jnr in terms of work rate, catching and energy.
Yeah I reckon Marnus and Smith would drive you crazy in the sheds. But both of them were solid in the field when it mattered.
He’s good, no doubt, but no way is he up there with those.
I think he could end up being that level. He is ultra consistent in the field and looks to be one that sets the standard for the team.
The major difference in someone like Jonty, for example, is that he was point or backward. That was his space and he owned it completely; ground fielding, catches and effecting run outs. To a large extent, he was a specialist fielder. Ponting was just a freak in that he was just about as good in his ground fielding as Jonty but where he absolutely excelled over even him was in hitting the stumps. It was completely unreal how many direct hits he had. Both of them also did it for many, many years starting early in their careers.
Labuschagne is already 31. Taken some stormers this series and he’s a wonderful fielder, no doubt, but ja…
Really not sure what is supposed to be great about this England side
Brook
Stones
Root
And a crocked bowling line up, 15 years ago Broad and Anderson were in their prime for another few years.
I mean if he can take time off his busy Man City/England Football Team career, which is proving to be quite the distraction/hindrance
Ever heart of autocorrect?
I meant Mick and Keith.
They’d probably do a better job out in the middle
Charlie would do a better job out there.
And he’s dead!
