posted Nov 18, 2008

"Just another example of south asian teams thinking they can make their own rules."



yes, obviously the right to be correct and be the torch bearers for everything good in the world of cricket belong to the Western Countries, doesn't it?!?

at least try and sound smart next time

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posted Nov 18, 2008

They shouldn't move the 1st day just cancel it as i doubt very much any of these test matches will see day 3 let alone day 4!!!

India are going to destroy England which is not a great prospect but so true.

And before the high horse cricket hardcore fans start to have a go at the indian cricket authorities i have 2 words for you STANDFORD SERIES.

All that is happening to cricket is now is what happened to football in europe 15 years................ MONEY!!!

The FIFA world cup used to be the pinnacle of the sport now the UEFA Champions league has equal parity.

Anything and Everything has its price in life, like it or not cricket is no different. Test match cricket will be relegated below 20/20 within 20 years why because of money. Twenty20 is a more marketable product than test match cricket is. Twenty20 has so much more flexibilty that it appeals more to sponsors and fringe fans of te game. Also untapped markets such as North America and Central Europe will be targeted with Twenty20 because it fits in with the sporting cultures of these countries.

Asia has the worlds fastest growing economy and also the greatest number of test playing nations. Do people really think that they powers that be in Asia want to share the limelight with the likes of Standford or an English premier league?

The Answer is no! they want to do to cricket what europe has done to football which is to suck in the global talent from around the world to ply their trade there for increases earnings!

Money Money Money is what this is all about!!!

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posted Nov 18, 2008

It doesn't matter actually. Modi has assured that the test will not be delayed.

Further, the BCCI is sure that the tests will be wrapped up in 4 days definitely so it is not a worry. England will not last 5 days anyway in both the test matches.

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posted Nov 18, 2008

I am an Indian fan, but the request by BCCI just highlights a worrying trend of absolute disregard for player's by the board.
The team has played the highest numbers of tests and ODIs this year.

Tests - India has played 40 tests, the next closest is England with 38 tests

ODI - India 38, the next closest is Bangladesh with 32.

And this new requests shows that the BCCI only sees the players as commodities who need to go and perform at the board's whims and fancies.

Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs??

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posted Nov 18, 2008

"This preserves the sanctity of Test cricket" -Professional Cricketers' Association chief executive Sean Morris.

Sanctity means "The quality or state of being holy or sacred". There is absolutely nothing holy or sacred about Test cricket! It's a great sport for players and spectators alike but it ain't a religious festival! Get a dictionary Mr Morris

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posted Nov 18, 2008

There is one rule - whether Dhoni or Ponting - Test cricket dates cannot be changed to accomodate a single player's neeeds

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posted Nov 18, 2008

Perhaps by the time the 1st Test starts, India will have won the one day series 7 - 0, and Dhoni will be due a day off . . . anyway, surely India have a young, brilliant wicketkeeper/batsman who can step in while Dhoni earns his due rewards ? Yuvraj would probably do a good job as stand-in Captain !

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posted Nov 18, 2008

RedFabFred,

Wow, you hit the nail on the head on so many points. Exactly what I've been saying for the past 2 years.

For those crying "Greed", hasn't it always been like that? I saw an old poster of W.G. Grace sell ads for Wills (?) cigarettes. Has anything really changed and don't the cricketing boards of other cricket nations also want a piece of the action (CA, ECB etc)?

Final point. 20/20 has been a blessing from my point of view => I have better odds of getting Canadians to give cricket a chance than I normally would (test cricket is like watching paint dry for many of them).

The only vehicle to opening one's mind for test cricket is via 20/20. In my country, at any rate.

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posted Nov 18, 2008

red fab fred!

Wow! That was a wonderful article! You got your facts right and you were very blunt as well. Congratulations on a job well done. You could'nt be further than the truth than this one! Enjoyed reading it anyway!

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posted Nov 18, 2008

You could'nt be further than the truth than this one!
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Not sure how to take this comment! Genuine praise or a sarcastic quip!

I'm 100% sure that if India were playing Pakistan this issue over Dhoni and a delay wouldn't even have occurred. Similarly, if it were Flintoff in this position and it was an Ashes match again no issue would arise, as those matches are too important to the player to miss.

However you how much does Dhoni really prioritise a test match against England compared to a 20/20 game that will help secure his financial future for himself and his family.

Here lies the major problem with test cricket as it currently stands.

The ICC do not currently or have cemented plans to hold Cricket Test Match World cup. There is not enough going on in the international arena where players can cash in.

People have to remember that this is not just a sport for the players but also their jobs. They, like any sportsman have limited playing time in which they can earn from the sport.

If you were to ask an Indian or Pakistan player the most important game to them and it will be test matches between the 2 countries. The same applies to England and Austrialia.

Other than those 2 matches there is not much to wet the apetite of top players. EXCEPT MONEY!!

This isn't a recent thing though in all honesty it first started when the home tests and one dayers went to SKY.

The ICC unlike FIFA do not have a cash cow tournament which is the only thing keeping national football associations in line. There is nothing the ICC has, to stop the greed of human nature taking a hold over players.

I hate refering back to football in a cricket thread, but look at the quality of players in international football arena. A high percentage are from South America and where do they ply their trade? Europe where the money is.

This will happen to cricket over the next few years with more and more players going to play in India by firstly snubbing English and Austrialian domestic cricket, then the snubbing or 'early retirement' from international cricket.

Ask any individual in life especially in todays economic climate would they rather put national pride and obligation over personal wealth and security. I think we all know the answer.

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