THE TV DEAL HAS CAUSED THIS SHEMOZZLE
Tuesday night in Cardiff was the definition of overkill. The worst crowd ever known for a serious England home match. There were five thousand at best huddled in their seats, trying not to watch the ordinary fare infront of them. Ok so the England football team’s match against Switzerland was a competing attraction, and shelling out £55 to watch the shower that is the Pakistan cricket team at present does not represent value for money.
But yesterday’s crowd is indicative of a more disturbing trend. General lack of interest. Much has been written about the decline in crowds for Twenty20 matches – partly due to the number of matches virtually doubling – but its been true of test matches too this season. Lords and the Oval had disappointing crowds and Edgbaston was embarrassing, though it was (and still is) a building site. Never mind that the punters are voting with their wallets but Paul Collingwood agreed last night that England play too much international cricket – ‘I’ve been saying that for 10 years’ he commented, and don’t forget he was rested from the Bangladesh test series! Read more…
CRICKET – SPORT OR THEATRE?
The history of cricket is littered with strange scorelines. There is Railways (Pakistan) making 910 for six declared and then bowling Dera Ismail Khan out for 31 and 27 to win by an innings and 851 runs.
There is Surrey all out for 14 at Chelmsford (Norbert Phillip six for four) in the last hour’s play in May 1983 after Essex had made a perfectly respectable 287.
There was the Somerset off-spinner, Brian Langford, recording the bizarre one-day figures of 8-8-0-1 in a Sunday League match against Essex.
There was ‘All England’ waltzing all over Kent in 1807 before losing six wickets for 11 runs to slide to ignominious defeat. And now we have Derbyshire being bowled out for 44 in the first innings on a verdant Bristol pitch and finding themselves victorious by 56 runs a little more than 24 hours later.
All the fun of the cricketing fare underlining the sport’s rich perversity. Or is it? Read more…
THE REAL PROBLEM WITH KP
Kevin Pietersen is a man apart. He is not a team player in the usual sense of the word. This is not to say he is a divisive or disruptive influence, because he very definitely is not.
He plays a full part in preparation and practice and takes his responsibilities very seriously. On top of his game he is a huge enhancement to anyone.
But he is undoubtedly a loner. It is not that he expects special treatment, but he does not conform either. For instance, when other England players park their sponsored Jaguars in a neat line in the players’ car park, he plumps his great big black Range Rover – part of a separate deal – right in between them. Read more…
A GOOD WALK SOILED?
It is amazing how subsequent events make you look at something/someone you saw in a totally different light. Throughout this summer I had developed a considerable regard for Salman Butt.
I had watched and listened to his press conferences and been mightily impressed by the way he took on a difficult not to say impossible job as Pakistan captain with calm equanimity. He was proud but sensible in triumph and dignified in defeat. He gave reasoned responses to questions about England’s chances in Australia. He sounded assured and persuasive in everything he said.
Now, after all the fixing allegations, I have a different impression of him. Admittedly nothing is ultimately proved yet but there is a lot of incriminating evidence and the England players say his general conduct and comments on the field were often disrespectful (mind you that’s nothing new from a Test match captain!) My mind is particularly drawn to something I saw at Lord’s. Read more…
TROTT AND BROAD’S EFFORT NOT DEVALUED
England’s celebrations were understandably muted on Sunday night. The players wore expressions of concern rather than overt satisfaction.
The spot-fixing allegations have made them question many incidents in the whole series, from dropped catches to erratic bowling to Pakistan batting collapses. The scandal is threatening to devalue their performances. “It does definitely take the gloss off our achievements,” said one. Read more…
Older Posts-
- THE REAL PROBLEM WITH KPKevin Pietersen is a man apart. He is not a team player in the usual...
- A GOOD WALK SOILED?It is amazing how subsequent events make you look at something/someone you saw ...
- TROTT AND BROAD’S EFFORT NOT DEVALUEDEngland’s celebrations were understandably muted on Sunday night. The players wore expressions...
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