Though I’m not against the phenomenon that is the Indian Premier League, I do worry about the future of international cricket with its introduction.
It’s hard to tell what effect the league is going to have on the game until a couple of seasons have been completed. But with the money involved, the players attracted and the attention from the media, it’s hard to see how it could be anything but a huge success.
Dimi Mascarenhas is the only English player to be playing in the league at the moment, but with the attraction as it is, I don’t see that lasting too long. English players are the most experienced in the 20/20 format, and this will probably mean the clubs of the IPL offering big bucks for English players’ signatures.
We’ve already seen that five of New Zealand’s key players will miss the first week of their tour to England due to the IPL, and the fear is the effects could be much more drastic in the future. When the league inevitably becomes successful, who is to say the organisers won’t expand it? Thus eating up more time of the English summer and a large proportion of the year? Could we be seeing second string international sides playing test matches in the not to distant future? Time will only tell.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Back With a Bang!
After a short break due to work commitments, Twelfth Man is back up and running (hopefully full-time!). Firstly, let me just point out the irony of me coming back following Sehwag's success this week! Before you ask, yes it is intentional! I finally have something to say I was right about!
However, my main focus of this post is on England's recent tour of New Zealand. Specifically looking at the test matches.
I was delighted England managed to swing the series round, and comeback to win 2-1. However, I can't help but feel the team is still not on the straight and narrow, and carrying some "dead wood". Bowling changes were made after England's defeat in Hamilton, one I agree with, and one I don't really understand. Harmison has been off the boil for a while now, so I wasn't suprised to see him dropped. However, I couldn't get my head around why Hoggard was dropped? I agree he bowled poorly in Hamilton, but unlike Harmison, he had been reasonably consistant to that point. Plus he would have had a ball in Wellington with the perfect bowling conditions.
The faith was kept with the England top 6, and this is where I see that "dead wood". Fair play to Andrew Strauss for hitting a fabulous 177, but should he have really played in that final test? Is he really the future of English cricket? Personally I can't see him hanging on to his place for too much longer. My other concern is Michael Vaughan. I'm a huge fan of his captaincy, but he has some major problems with the bat. He needs a good start to the season with Yorkshire, to get some form behind him going into that first test at Lord May 15th.
Now to the positives! All this negativity is cramping my style a little bit! Ryan Sidebottom, what can I say? I remember being at Headingly last summer. First day of the test match against the West Indies, and Sidebottom's return to the international scene. I said to my friend "surely he can't be playing". Needless to say, I was soon put in my place and eating my words (I've been doing a lot of that recently).
I was pleased for Monty Panesar aswell. He bowled England to victory, and hopefully he can do the same for England this summer against New Zealand, and then in the big test against a very South African side.
Ian Bell looked a class act throughout the series for me. Even though his average was shaped by a well crafted 110 in the third test, he always looks a classy player. And I would describe him as England's most consistant batsman.
Roll on Summer 2008!
However, my main focus of this post is on England's recent tour of New Zealand. Specifically looking at the test matches.
I was delighted England managed to swing the series round, and comeback to win 2-1. However, I can't help but feel the team is still not on the straight and narrow, and carrying some "dead wood". Bowling changes were made after England's defeat in Hamilton, one I agree with, and one I don't really understand. Harmison has been off the boil for a while now, so I wasn't suprised to see him dropped. However, I couldn't get my head around why Hoggard was dropped? I agree he bowled poorly in Hamilton, but unlike Harmison, he had been reasonably consistant to that point. Plus he would have had a ball in Wellington with the perfect bowling conditions.
The faith was kept with the England top 6, and this is where I see that "dead wood". Fair play to Andrew Strauss for hitting a fabulous 177, but should he have really played in that final test? Is he really the future of English cricket? Personally I can't see him hanging on to his place for too much longer. My other concern is Michael Vaughan. I'm a huge fan of his captaincy, but he has some major problems with the bat. He needs a good start to the season with Yorkshire, to get some form behind him going into that first test at Lord May 15th.
Now to the positives! All this negativity is cramping my style a little bit! Ryan Sidebottom, what can I say? I remember being at Headingly last summer. First day of the test match against the West Indies, and Sidebottom's return to the international scene. I said to my friend "surely he can't be playing". Needless to say, I was soon put in my place and eating my words (I've been doing a lot of that recently).
I was pleased for Monty Panesar aswell. He bowled England to victory, and hopefully he can do the same for England this summer against New Zealand, and then in the big test against a very South African side.
Ian Bell looked a class act throughout the series for me. Even though his average was shaped by a well crafted 110 in the third test, he always looks a classy player. And I would describe him as England's most consistant batsman.
Roll on Summer 2008!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Sehwag
I'm struggling to understand how people can openly criticise Virender Sehwag. With an average of just under 50 in test match cricket, and an attacking style of play, surely he is a much better option that the dead wood that is Wasim Jaffer?
The pair played together in Perth and although Sehwag didn't set the game alight with his batting he managed 70+ runs in the match, and showed ambition to take it to the Australian attack. I don't see any ambition with Jaffer, and he can't even do his job as a rock at the top of the order. I wasn't overly impressed with what I saw of him before this tour, but what I've seen in Australia has just backed my thoughts up. Anyway, lots not turn this into a Jaffer bashing post!
Sehwag has done it against the best, and offers experience at the top of the order, where India need it at the moment. Their middle order is phenomenal, but foundations have to be set for them to fire. I for one hope Sehwag gets a good run in the Indian test side now and hope he can be succesful at Adelaide and beyond.
The pair played together in Perth and although Sehwag didn't set the game alight with his batting he managed 70+ runs in the match, and showed ambition to take it to the Australian attack. I don't see any ambition with Jaffer, and he can't even do his job as a rock at the top of the order. I wasn't overly impressed with what I saw of him before this tour, but what I've seen in Australia has just backed my thoughts up. Anyway, lots not turn this into a Jaffer bashing post!
Sehwag has done it against the best, and offers experience at the top of the order, where India need it at the moment. Their middle order is phenomenal, but foundations have to be set for them to fire. I for one hope Sehwag gets a good run in the Indian test side now and hope he can be succesful at Adelaide and beyond.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Standing up for the little guy
This entry was inspired by a thread on Planet Cricket.
I'm sick and tired of people criticising Bangladesh for their test match performances. I thoroughly understand that they're not winning games and getting turned over more often than not, but how much do we want cricket to progress? Kicking Bangladesh out of test cricket would be a massive step back, and would probably demoralise the cricket setup in the country.
In the thread on Planet Cricket members suggested setting up a two tier system where the lesser nations face each other (guessing this would include Zimbabwe, Namibia, UAE, etc). No, no, no. You learn from playing the best, and I genuinally think Bangladesh will take something from every test match they play against the likes of Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand.
I look at the team that played against New Zealand in the two test matches, and that team has potential. Tamim and Siddique showed they could bat by posting the highest test match opening partnership by a Bangladeshi pair. This in only their second test match. And who can forget Tamim's explosive knock against India in the world cup? Give this kid time to work on his game and consistency and he could be a great find for Bangladesh.
Captain Ashraful seems to have been around for ages. But at the age of 23, he is the perfect age to lead the next generation of Bangladeshi cricketers. That hundred against Australia at Cardiff announced Ashraful on the world stage, and although he also lacks consistency, he has produced some fantastic knocks. Again, he is a young player, despite having played 40 test matches and 107 one-day internationals. He has time on his side and he will learn.
The most notable area of weakness to me when I last saw Bangladesh was seam bowling. Mortaza was a good prospect, but he was the only seamer capable of reaching a decent pace and taking wickets reguarly. However, Sajidul Islam and Shahadat Hossain are two capable of doing a similar job as Mortaza. They have a combined age of 40, so give them time! Sajidul has just played two test matches, and showed promise.
I guess my main point is, let Bangladesh get on with playing their cricket, and lets focus on their possitives as oppose to concentrating on their weaknesses.
I'm sick and tired of people criticising Bangladesh for their test match performances. I thoroughly understand that they're not winning games and getting turned over more often than not, but how much do we want cricket to progress? Kicking Bangladesh out of test cricket would be a massive step back, and would probably demoralise the cricket setup in the country.
In the thread on Planet Cricket members suggested setting up a two tier system where the lesser nations face each other (guessing this would include Zimbabwe, Namibia, UAE, etc). No, no, no. You learn from playing the best, and I genuinally think Bangladesh will take something from every test match they play against the likes of Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand.
I look at the team that played against New Zealand in the two test matches, and that team has potential. Tamim and Siddique showed they could bat by posting the highest test match opening partnership by a Bangladeshi pair. This in only their second test match. And who can forget Tamim's explosive knock against India in the world cup? Give this kid time to work on his game and consistency and he could be a great find for Bangladesh.
Captain Ashraful seems to have been around for ages. But at the age of 23, he is the perfect age to lead the next generation of Bangladeshi cricketers. That hundred against Australia at Cardiff announced Ashraful on the world stage, and although he also lacks consistency, he has produced some fantastic knocks. Again, he is a young player, despite having played 40 test matches and 107 one-day internationals. He has time on his side and he will learn.
The most notable area of weakness to me when I last saw Bangladesh was seam bowling. Mortaza was a good prospect, but he was the only seamer capable of reaching a decent pace and taking wickets reguarly. However, Sajidul Islam and Shahadat Hossain are two capable of doing a similar job as Mortaza. They have a combined age of 40, so give them time! Sajidul has just played two test matches, and showed promise.
I guess my main point is, let Bangladesh get on with playing their cricket, and lets focus on their possitives as oppose to concentrating on their weaknesses.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Time to move on
I'm delighted to see today, India have dropped the charges against Brad Hogg and Harbhajan will definately be free to play in the final two tests of the series.
The whole scenario that has erupted over the past couple of weeks is too detailed to map out here. But, I for one am pleased the series can finally resume (sadly not at 1-1, but 2-0 to the aussies), and hopefully can finish with two competitive games.
Despite the dropping of the charges against Hogg it seems he is going to be replaced by paceman Shaun Tait. Interesting move. Tait has ability but I'm a big fan of having the spin option in your team. I know Ponting can turn to Symonds and Clarke, but part-timers can't do the job of an out-an-out spin bowler. But, hey ho! Who am I to question a captain and cricketer of Ricky Ponting's knowledge and ability.
My final point in this post is on Adam Gilchrist. Gilchrist WAS destructive and has a fabulous test/one-day record. But he seems to be digging himself a bit of a hole at the moment. Maybe the time has come to START looking for new prospects, and by this I don't mean Brad Haddin (despite the fact he probably will takeover!).
The whole scenario that has erupted over the past couple of weeks is too detailed to map out here. But, I for one am pleased the series can finally resume (sadly not at 1-1, but 2-0 to the aussies), and hopefully can finish with two competitive games.
Despite the dropping of the charges against Hogg it seems he is going to be replaced by paceman Shaun Tait. Interesting move. Tait has ability but I'm a big fan of having the spin option in your team. I know Ponting can turn to Symonds and Clarke, but part-timers can't do the job of an out-an-out spin bowler. But, hey ho! Who am I to question a captain and cricketer of Ricky Ponting's knowledge and ability.
My final point in this post is on Adam Gilchrist. Gilchrist WAS destructive and has a fabulous test/one-day record. But he seems to be digging himself a bit of a hole at the moment. Maybe the time has come to START looking for new prospects, and by this I don't mean Brad Haddin (despite the fact he probably will takeover!).
Saturday, January 12, 2008
West Indies leave with nasty Steyn
Dale Steyn has announced himself on the world stage in the last few months. He destroyed New Zealand when they toured South Africa, and now he has claimed six wickets in the second innings of the third test match, to take the Proteas to a series victory over the West Indies.
I remember watching him play against England in 2004, and thinking, this is just another Andre Nel. Angressive, fast, wayward. But now look at him. Eighteen test matches and over 90 wickets at under 24. That's some record, and I genuinally believe this guy could be the next Allan Donald.
South Africa will be looking for someone to spearhead their attack, and Steyn ticks all the right boxes. His rise to the top has come at a good time, with the retirement of Shaun Pollock (who SA have relied upon too many times). But a new era is about to begin for South Africa, and with that they have exciting prospects. I for one, look forward to seeing them tour England in July.
I remember watching him play against England in 2004, and thinking, this is just another Andre Nel. Angressive, fast, wayward. But now look at him. Eighteen test matches and over 90 wickets at under 24. That's some record, and I genuinally believe this guy could be the next Allan Donald.
South Africa will be looking for someone to spearhead their attack, and Steyn ticks all the right boxes. His rise to the top has come at a good time, with the retirement of Shaun Pollock (who SA have relied upon too many times). But a new era is about to begin for South Africa, and with that they have exciting prospects. I for one, look forward to seeing them tour England in July.
Friday, January 11, 2008
SAying Goodbye
The South African cricket fans will soon be saying their goodbyes to one of the games greats - Shaun Pollock. Born into a cricketing family, he was made for this wonderful game, and became one of the worlds greatest allrounders.
Thirteen years, 107 test matches, 416 wickets and nearly 4000 runs and counting, as he plays his final test match against the West Indies. The one-day series will be his chance to tour his country as a international player for the last time.
I'm not old enough to remember Pollock that well in his earlier days, but I still get told when he came on the seen he was rapid. A bowler with genuine pace and wicket-taking ability. Looking at him now that's hard to believe, but he still manages to trouble the worlds top players with his on the spot seam bowling.
Batting is part of his game that his developed immensely. So much so, he is often entrusted by current captain Graeme Smith to go in, and take a game by the scruff of it's neck. And a health average in both forms of the game backs it up.
Shaun Pollock, we thankyou for your years of service to international cricket, and for the memories you have left us. You truely were a fantastic performer.
Thirteen years, 107 test matches, 416 wickets and nearly 4000 runs and counting, as he plays his final test match against the West Indies. The one-day series will be his chance to tour his country as a international player for the last time.
I'm not old enough to remember Pollock that well in his earlier days, but I still get told when he came on the seen he was rapid. A bowler with genuine pace and wicket-taking ability. Looking at him now that's hard to believe, but he still manages to trouble the worlds top players with his on the spot seam bowling.
Batting is part of his game that his developed immensely. So much so, he is often entrusted by current captain Graeme Smith to go in, and take a game by the scruff of it's neck. And a health average in both forms of the game backs it up.
Shaun Pollock, we thankyou for your years of service to international cricket, and for the memories you have left us. You truely were a fantastic performer.
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