Time to Take a Stand

Hello and welcome back to my blog

Just when I thought that the IPL would fit smoothly into the world of cricket the two begin to reject each other and I fear that Test Cricket as we know it will be the innocent victim of the chaos. While the excitement and credibility of the IPL begins to plateau in 2009, the controversy hasn’t yet reached its peak as more and more the question of money over tradition is on the mind and tongue of the players.
The ICC must act soon to protect what remains of the international game as we begin to see the effects of the money-driven circus. A clear priority must be stated by the governing body so that some direction can be given to the game once again; Test cricket as it is now or accept the blank cheque of 20/20 cricket and begin to dismantle the international system. If not the often toothless or bought-off ICC, then the individual cricket boards must decide for themselves where they stand.

The problems are well highlighted in the Chris Gayle situation where the West Indies captain first decides to join his team a mere two days before a two test series in England (in order to play more IPL) and then suggest he would not only give up Test Cricket himself for 20/20 but has no problem with the old game fading altogether. Gayle’s actions are a little extreme but it does highlight some terrible truths about the situation the game finds itself in where money begins to dictate terms more and more (a concept I believe has little place in sport).

Closer to home, the New Zealand Herald found that 45% of our players believe an IPL contract to be the pinnacle of a cricket career and a staggering 61%, retrospectively, tailor their skills towards the 20/20 format. While 77% still think that playing for their country remains important the attitude towards their skills troubles me as this trend will have a large, negative impact on Test Cricket because only in this game are all the skills of cricket truly required in order to succeed – slogging will only get you so far! Andrew Strauss voiced this point in the face of Gayle’s comments and perhaps some hope remains.

On the topic of the skills involved in Test Cricket, one individual asked me why the players don’t take their 20/20 attitudes into the longer form of the game – the aggression especially – to make it more appealing. I do have an opinion on this matter but I would dearly like to have comments from anyone interested as I believe it to be a crucial topic. I will not judge the comments but use them to gain a more balanced discussion.

Finally, this week I wish to introduce a new segment to my blog posts:

Leggies and Wrong’uns

I will identify certain opinions in the media that would suggest a person who knows what they are talking about (a true leg-spinner) and those who do not (that masquerade as a leg-spinner thus becoming a wrong’un).

Last week Peter Williams wrote an article for the NZ Herald about the retiring all-rounders of the game in the face of injury and IPL contracts and although some point were good (if cliched) he made the mistake of stating Shane Warne retired from Test cricket to prolong his ODI and 20/20 career. Any cricket lover knows it was the other way around as he retired from ODIs in 2003/4 and 20/20 didn’t exist at the time (internationally). Williams should have used a better example. On this occasion he is a wrong’un.

The leggie for this week is Geoffrey Boycott who identified the general lack of enthusiasm in the West Indies team in touring England as a different angle on the Gayle business. This was backed up by comments from the WIPA (their players association) President that pointed out that the team is only touring because Sri Lanka pulled out (for the IPL) and their players were disappointed in losing out (again) on a full IPL themselves.

Also just to reply to a comment on my last post, one Murray Mexted would possibly be too much for cricket commentary to handle (or would the cheerleaders be too much for him to handle?).

Well that’s it from here and I hope you join me again
It’s good bye for now