This week the 2020 World Cup in the West Indies progressed with Australia, South Africa and England (surprised?) dominating. Their fast bowlers are consistently picking up wickets and their batting is aggressive and convincing (if only certain other teams could say the same). However, while the dreams of some regarding money, spectacle and money are being fulfilled, the dreams of lesser teams to rise in the rankings and finally get Test Status must be all but dead. During New Zealand's thrashing of Zimbabwe early in the current tournament I watched the African team's batting with a sense of despair. Their batsmen had no technique, physical or mental, to the point where Scott Styris and Nathan McCullum had just to bowl the ball to get a wicket. If 2020 cricket is to be the new cash cow and be played in every series and in annual tournaments then this will not improve - there is little incentive to strengthen their technique and even less time during a game to gain experience.
Thus any hope of gaining test status will be extinguished. Some questioned this very situation when 2020 cricket first appeared and now I admit that I fear the same thing. These fears will be realised if 2020 is the dominant form of cricket for the lesser nations
NEWS
- ...And the higher nations best beware as well. Or at least that could be the warning taken from the ECB vs Modi situation. The ECB has all but accused the IPL creator of trying to subvert them by setting up a similar system in England (without ECB knowledge or consent)
RECENT RESULTS
- With all the 2020 going on, this week I will focus on one result - last night's thrilling game between New Zealand and Pakistan. The margin of victory was just 1 run as the Black Caps defended a low total. With all the criticism of 2020 cricket that flies around (much of it from me) this is the kind of entertainment that reminds me why it could be beneficial; not the boundaries but the dog fight down to a last-over finish.
- However news centers would be mistaken to lord the kiwi efforts because they should never have had to defend such a poor total. All the top order batsmen got out to poor shots and stupidity. The bowlers did very well but that will not be enough against the pace of the top teams
ARTICLE OF INTEREST
http://www.cricinfo.com/world-twenty20-2010/content/current/story/458501.html
This article is about the difficulty Ireland faces in retaining players when they cannot achieve Test Status. As I outline above, this cannot improve with mass 2020 infecting every level of the game
LOOKING BACK
May 4th (1957) - Birthday of Australian spinner Peter Sleep who sticks in my memory because of a 12th Man classic:
Ian Chappell "...well this is an unusual situation. Lawson and Hughes have only had a few overs each and the ball's gone to Sleep already"
Mas Walker "Yeeesssss well when your sitting around in the commentary box for any length of time it's not unusual for the balls to go to sleep, get a bit numb from lack of circulation..."
Ian Chappell "Max I didn't mean..."
Max Walker "the best thing to do is slip the hand down the strides and give 'em a bit of a rub..."
Ian Chappell "Max I was talking about Peter Sleep, he's coming into bowl"
Max Walker "(cough) Yeeeessss he's been bowling pretty well lately Peter Sleep..."
Well that's it from here and I hope you join me again
It's good bye for now
No comments:
Post a Comment