PHILINFRANCE Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 An excellent, if somewhat scathing article by Tanya Aldred. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2022/jan/16/england-are-collapse-specialists-but-hobart-ignominy-sets-new-low Interestingly, she writes: Wouldn’t it, you found yourself thinking to yourself, against all odds and the evidence of the last four Tests, be something for Joe Root to win the game and salvage something from the series with that longed-for Australian Ashes hundred? Fool! Great Minds, and all that.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tin Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 Aggers is usually bang on the money and while I agree it’s time for radical change, I’m not sure this is the way to go. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/60016410 Glos and Somerset to merge into Wessex, for example, in a new 10-team first-class county setup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin TomF Posted January 17 Admin Report Share Posted January 17 1 hour ago, tin said: Aggers is usually bang on the money and while I agree it’s time for radical change, I’m not sure this is the way to go. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/60016410 Glos and Somerset to merge into Wessex, for example, in a new 10-team first-class county setup? I ******* despair at this. What we need to be doing is prioritising the CC not killing it off. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globe Trotter Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 Focus needs to return to Test cricket for the ECB and it needs to be the ongoing priority. The review and changes to our one day cricket were needed after the 2015 World Cup but our T20 / ODI team is now one of the best in the world and will continue to be. As new, young players come through they will be used to this aggressive, expansive form of cricket and I see no reason why we won’t continue to thrive. In short, if it’s not broke don’t fix it. Test cricket as the name suggests is a mental and physical test over 5 days, often in unfamiliar conditions and can include being away from home for months at a time. We need to do all we can to prepare players for this rather than chuck them in at India or Australia and hope for the best. I hope there are changes for the upcoming WI tour, the England camp seems to comfy for one. Get Kirsten in and identify players who have the temperament as much as the skill to succeed in Test cricket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tin Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 (edited) 1 hour ago, TomF said: I ******* despair at this. What we need to be doing is prioritising the CC not killing it off. I can see the potential benefits, but I'd rather my county (Glos) wasn't taken away from me when we're finally looking like we mean business. As far as Aggers' proposal goes, we already have a 10-team First Division of County Cricket. How would an 8-team Second Division going down to three days (from four) benefit the Test XI, especially when there are some big counties in it? I loathe The 100 and franchise sport in general, and the concept of potentially rewarding some of the big ground counties (Glamorgan being a prime example) turns my stomach. Edited January 17 by tin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nbafc Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 I've perhaps misjudged Agnew's piece, but I'm not sure he believes that is what should happen, rather as a bit of a grenade/talking point. He also points out where responsibilities lie during this debacle of a tour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin TomF Posted January 17 Admin Report Share Posted January 17 1 hour ago, tin said: I can see the potential benefits, but I'd rather my county (Glos) wasn't taken away from me when we're finally looking like we mean business. As far as Aggers' proposal goes, we already have a 10-team First Division of County Cricket. How would an 8-team Second Division going down to three days (from four) benefit the Test XI, especially when there are some big counties in it? I loathe The 100 and franchise sport in general, and the concept of potentially rewarding some of the big ground counties (Glamorgan being a prime example) turns my stomach. There wasn't an issue with the county game between 2009-2011 when England were the best team in the world however. What changed was the complete dominance of the short form at the expense of the CC and ten years down the line we're reaping our just deserts. The CC should be at the forefront of the season, not crammed in to April & September. Get rid of the 100, have a 50 over tournement run alongside the T20 Blast with fixtures only on Fri/Sat/Sun and then lace the CC around that. It's perfectly achievable given we used to have the CC + Sunday League 50 Overs AND a 50 overs knockout tournement. Unfortunately the idiots at the ECB will most likely ditch the T20 blast meaning the biggest revenue earner for all 18 clubs is lost (Excluding test venues/matches) and then wait till they're in such financial dire straits that they'll float the plan to merge them down to 10 teams with zero identity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelRobartes Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 Apart from anything else, I don't understand how you can hope to aid development and increase your player pool by almost halving the amount of First Class sides. Makes no sense. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin TomF Posted January 17 Admin Report Share Posted January 17 25 minutes ago, MichaelRobartes said: Apart from anything else, I don't understand how you can hope to aid development and increase your player pool by almost halving the amount of First Class sides. Makes no sense. Not least all the academic/local cricket that feeds into them. Get rid of somerset and you loose the influx of players rising up through schools like Milford and good minor counties like Devon etc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calculus Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 (edited) 3 hours ago, TomF said: I ******* despair at this. What we need to be doing is prioritising the CC not killing it off. I can sympathise with your view, but County Cricket just isn't producing battle hardened Test players for England these days. Contrast this with Sheffield Shield in Australia where just 6 teams play the sort of cricket that produces Test players. In England we have gone for one day comps, the blast, the hundred all to attract spectators and generate cash to support the existing structure. If you want to see the best players you'll see them in these comps and rarely in the county champs, where red ball contracted test players don't even play anymore. Much as I've loved county cricket I can see that it's no longer fit for purpose, doesn't produce Test players, is of little interest and attracts a diminishing number of spectators. Perhaps reducing the number of counties would be sensible, which would leave space for the money making stuff, and also make sure that the best players play in the 4 day game against the best opposition. Edited January 17 by Calculus Typos 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Red Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 I was at a sportsman's charity dinner about 3 years ago where Agnew was the guest speaker and did a Q&A. The subject of county cricket was raised and he thought it was inevitable that the number of counties would reduce at some point. He made the point that his own county Leicestershire would likely be one of the prime casualties so he had no desire to see it happen, but he couldn't see how all of them could remain competitive and viable long term. He was also very much not in favour of the Hundred, though his view may have changed since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tin Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 Personally, to help the England Test team I would: Play the 50-over stuff throughout April Play County Cricket from the first week of May to the first week of Sept, Mon-Thurs, a total of 18 games in 18 weeks, put it on free-to-air TV and promote it Play T20 Blast on Fridays alongside the County Cricket season, two nine-team North/South divisions (minimum 8 games each) plus knock-out rounds and Finals Day Play The 100 after Finals Day solely in September. Anyone available but not playing Tests for England should play for their county, instead of carrying the drinks all summer. For the big Test tours, like the Ashes and India, schedule in at least two first-class games as warm-up matches and maybe a third midway through the five-Test series. Get rid of Root, Silverwood, Bobat, Giles, and Harrison. Reinstate a national selector. Employ a Test coach and a white-ball coach. Two coaches, two different formats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin TomF Posted January 17 Admin Report Share Posted January 17 59 minutes ago, tin said: Personally, to help the England Test team I would: Play the 50-over stuff throughout April Play County Cricket from the first week of May to the first week of Sept, Mon-Thurs, a total of 18 games in 18 weeks, put it on free-to-air TV and promote it Play T20 Blast on Fridays alongside the County Cricket season, two nine-team North/South divisions (minimum 8 games each) plus knock-out rounds and Finals Day Play The 100 after Finals Day solely in September. Anyone available but not playing Tests for England should play for their county, instead of carrying the drinks all summer. For the big Test tours, like the Ashes and India, schedule in at least two first-class games as warm-up matches and maybe a third midway through the five-Test series. Get rid of Root, Silverwood, Bobat, Giles, and Harrison. Reinstate a national selector. Employ a Test coach and a white-ball coach. Two coaches, two different formats. Trouble is they want the 100 on during the school holidays, its a total mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom Posted January 17 Report Share Posted January 17 Saw this posted on Facebook England’s test cricket side batting woes since the tour of the West Indies in January 2019. All you cricket fans take note! Windies v England 2019 1st test- 1st inns 77 all out 2nd inns 167-3 to 246 all out. Collapse 7/79 2nd test- 1st inns 187 all out 2nd inns 132 all out 3rd test- 1st inns 232-4 to 277 all out. Collapse 6/45. England v Ireland 2019 one off test match Eng 1st inns 85 all out England v Australia 2019 Ashes 1st test Eng 2nd inns 146 all out 3rd test Eng 1st inns 67 all out 4th test Eng 2nd inns 197 all out NZ v England 2019 1st test Eng 1st inns 277-4 to 353 all out. Collapse 6/76 SA v Eng 2019 1st test Eng 1st inns 181 all out Eng 2nd inns 204-3 to 268 all out. Collapse 7/64 2nd test Eng 1st inns 185-4 to 269 all out. Collapse 6/84. England v West Indies 2020 1st test Eng 1st inns 204 all out Eng 2nd inns 249-3 to 313 all out. Collapse 7/64 Eng v Pakistan 2020 1st test Eng 1st inns 219 all out India v England 2021 1st test Eng 2nd inns 178 all out 2nd test Eng 1st inns 134 all out Eng 2nd inns 164 all out 3rd test Eng 1st inns 112 all out Eng 2nd inns 81 all out 4th test Eng 1st inns 205 all out Eng 2nd inns 135 all out Eng v NZ 2021 2nd test Eng 2nd inns 122 all out Eng v India 2021 1st test Eng 1st inns 183 all out Eng 2nd inns 211-4 to 303 all out. Collapse 6/92 2nd test Eng 2nd inns 120 all out 4th test Eng 2 nd inns 141-2 to 210 all out. Collapse 8/69 I’ve not included the recent ashes debacle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperRed Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 (edited) A video has been leaked showing the police putting an end to a “party” involving some England and Australia players at 6am on Monday. The video only shows a few players from either side having a drink outside but the video was filmed by Graham Thorpe who drunkenly narrates which players are there and said he was videoing it for the lawyers. It’s going to be pretty uncomfortable for him given it has made it to the press. Fitting way to end a shambles of a tour. Edited January 18 by SuperRed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 17 minutes ago, SuperRed said: A video has been leaked showing the police putting an end to a “party” involving some England and Australia players at 6am on Monday. The video only shows a few players from either side having a drink outside but the video was filmed by Graham Thorpe who drunkenly narrates which players are there and said he was videoing it for the lawyers. It’s going to be pretty uncomfortable for him given it has made it to the press. Fitting way to end a shambles of a tour. What always happens at the end of a series. Non story really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperRed Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 3 minutes ago, Super said: What always happens at the end of a series. Non story really. Maybe if it was just about the drink and not the assistant coach’s video getting leaked to the press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid in the Riot Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 22 minutes ago, Super said: What always happens at the end of a series. Non story really. No problem with the drinks, but how on earth did the vid get leaked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantom Posted January 18 Report Share Posted January 18 Impressed they are still in their kit lol Ps hope that's a wag and not someone on a special invite lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Some innings by Maxwell at the BB 154 not out and the team making 273! No surprise they won easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin TomF Posted January 19 Admin Report Share Posted January 19 On 18/01/2022 at 08:38, Kid in the Riot said: No problem with the drinks, but how on earth did the vid get leaked? Done purposely as easy way to move Thorpe on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 On 17/01/2022 at 19:42, phantom said: Saw this posted on Facebook England’s test cricket side batting woes since the tour of the West Indies in January 2019. All you cricket fans take note! Windies v England 2019 1st test- 1st inns 77 all out 2nd inns 167-3 to 246 all out. Collapse 7/79 2nd test- 1st inns 187 all out 2nd inns 132 all out 3rd test- 1st inns 232-4 to 277 all out. Collapse 6/45. England v Ireland 2019 one off test match Eng 1st inns 85 all out England v Australia 2019 Ashes 1st test Eng 2nd inns 146 all out 3rd test Eng 1st inns 67 all out 4th test Eng 2nd inns 197 all out NZ v England 2019 1st test Eng 1st inns 277-4 to 353 all out. Collapse 6/76 SA v Eng 2019 1st test Eng 1st inns 181 all out Eng 2nd inns 204-3 to 268 all out. Collapse 7/64 2nd test Eng 1st inns 185-4 to 269 all out. Collapse 6/84. England v West Indies 2020 1st test Eng 1st inns 204 all out Eng 2nd inns 249-3 to 313 all out. Collapse 7/64 Eng v Pakistan 2020 1st test Eng 1st inns 219 all out India v England 2021 1st test Eng 2nd inns 178 all out 2nd test Eng 1st inns 134 all out Eng 2nd inns 164 all out 3rd test Eng 1st inns 112 all out Eng 2nd inns 81 all out 4th test Eng 1st inns 205 all out Eng 2nd inns 135 all out Eng v NZ 2021 2nd test Eng 2nd inns 122 all out Eng v India 2021 1st test Eng 1st inns 183 all out Eng 2nd inns 211-4 to 303 all out. Collapse 6/92 2nd test Eng 2nd inns 120 all out 4th test Eng 2 nd inns 141-2 to 210 all out. Collapse 8/69 I’ve not included the recent ashes debacle Proves precisely that this recent Ashes shambles is nothing new and the knee jerk media reaction from the cricket media putting the blame on England’s county system is utter nonsense. Historically England have been hammered pretty much everywhere overseas since the game became international. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
And Its Smith Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 Met Dom Sibley, Tom Curran and Sam Curran tonight as part of a new cricketing scheme in Bristol. My lad beat Curran’s outside edge which he was delighted about! Sibley ain’t the sharpest tool in the box. 3 lovely guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Red Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Just realised that the WI series is only on BT Sport and ******* Talkshite2 which isn`t even a radio channel available through Sky. Shan`t be taking a lot of notice of this one then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin TomF Posted January 22 Admin Report Share Posted January 22 T20i just starting on BT Sport in case anyone forgot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin TomF Posted January 22 Admin Report Share Posted January 22 Tip: don’t bother turning on. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Globe Trotter Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 The T20 team have been watching too much of our Ashes batting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Red Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 I for one blame Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILINFRANCE Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 24/4. That's what happens when you spend too much time trying ro improve red ball cricket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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