The Cricket.

[mickd1961]

I loved Botham but Stokes is now even better than him in my opinion.

Absolute legend.

[kettering_baggie]

Awesome performance by Stokes today. That match is a statement as to what test match cricket must stay as a five day contest.

[mickd1961]

Awesome performance by Stokes today. That match is a statement as to what test match cricket must stay as a five day contest.

The bloke heading up English cricket who’s pushing for four day cricket is a f king moron.

This should be blocked by every nation.

[Dubbag]

The bloke heading up English cricket who’s pushing for four day cricket is a f king moron.

This should be blocked by every nation.

I didn't hear this news. Move to a four day? What reason?
I suspect it is like everything else in life at the moment....the inability to concentrate for a length of time anymore on one specific issue.
One day cricket...one hour chess...speed dating...
People have lost their ability to focus....😂

[Yarmbaggie]

Up front I don’t want to see Test cricket reduced to 5 days.

However the reasons given revolve around

Reducing players workload
The average Test match this century has lasted 318 overs and most are over with 4 days
Cricket outside of England and Australia, except the odd Tests are not well attended

For me though
1) if the cricket authorities free up some dates they will fill them with other matches such as their One Hundred competition. Surely on occasions when the matches finish within 4 days then that reduces the players workload
2) the product of Test cricket is exact that, a TEST and is the fabric of the game and needs protecting
3) bottom line the authorise see financial losses ( or missed opportunities) when day 5 is not used
4j Kiv all 5 Ashes tests this year went into day 5. Theoretically therefore all could have been drawn after 4 days and a 0-0 series, really exciting
5) test cricket fans understand the ebbs and flows of the game and that is what they enjoy. Start replacing that with lots of declarations or pitches more suited to bowlers then the game will not be what we like.

In summary for me, it is all about money no matter what they say. If the game isn’t seen as good enough to have 5 day tests then for me just cancel test cricket. What a shame that would be though for millions of people who can see past the immediate.

[Dubbag]

Up front I don’t want to see Test cricket reduced to 5 days.

However the reasons given revolve around

Reducing players workload
The average Test match this century has lasted 318 overs and most are over with 4 days
Cricket outside of England and Australia, except the odd Tests are not well attended

For me though
1) if the cricket authorities free up some dates they will fill them with other matches such as their One Hundred competition. Surely on occasions when the matches finish within 4 days then that reduces the players workload
2) the product of Test cricket is exact that, a TEST and is the fabric of the game and needs protecting
3) bottom line the authorise see financial losses ( or missed opportunities) when day 5 is not used
4j Kiv all 5 Ashes tests this year went into day 5. Theoretically therefore all could have been drawn after 4 days and a 0-0 series, really exciting
5) test cricket fans understand the ebbs and flows of the game and that is what they enjoy. Start replacing that with lots of declarations or pitches more suited to bowlers then the game will not be what we like.

In summary for me, it is all about money no matter what they say. If the game isn’t seen as good enough to have 5 day tests then for me just cancel test cricket. What a shame that would be though for millions of people who can see past the immediate.

Good post.
Thank you for the information.
Makes sense to me now.
Agree...5 day test should remain.

[TipperaryBaggie]

Totally agree with everything Yarm has posted, I was brought up in the purist era of watching the likes of Colin Cowdrey, Peter May, Ken Barrington etc. Although it is perceived that the the 'slam dunk' type of cricket is good for the public, there is nothing better than sitting in your chair at a county game with your box of sandwiches watching the game as it was meant to be played.

[mickd1961]

Up front I don’t want to see Test cricket reduced to 5 days.

However the reasons given revolve around

Reducing players workload
The average Test match this century has lasted 318 overs and most are over with 4 days
Cricket outside of England and Australia, except the odd Tests are not well attended

For me though
1) if the cricket authorities free up some dates they will fill them with other matches such as their One Hundred competition. Surely on occasions when the matches finish within 4 days then that reduces the players workload
2) the product of Test cricket is exact that, a TEST and is the fabric of the game and needs protecting
3) bottom line the authorise see financial losses ( or missed opportunities) when day 5 is not used
4j Kiv all 5 Ashes tests this year went into day 5. Theoretically therefore all could have been drawn after 4 days and a 0-0 series, really exciting
5) test cricket fans understand the ebbs and flows of the game and that is what they enjoy. Start replacing that with lots of declarations or pitches more suited to bowlers then the game will not be what we like.

In summary for me, it is all about money no matter what they say. If the game isn’t seen as good enough to have 5 day tests then for me just cancel test cricket. What a shame that would be though for millions of people who can see past the immediate.

100% agree with all you say Yarm.

In countries like ours you can’t rely on the weather so the average time span of 318 overs is irrelevant........those overs might have been over a five day period.

The wear on a pitch is also a massive factor in many matches,most great games are the result of having to navigate a tough fifth day pitch.

Teams should be heavily penalised for not completing all their daily overs and a penalty of 6 runs per over imposed and ruled on by the umpire sat in a control room.

Drinks breaks are a 30-40 minute waste of time.

If a player wants a drink he should take it on the boundary whilst play continues and if a batsman wants one it should be via the umpire.

The pace of change in between overs is far too slow and teams should be given a time limit of 30-40 seconds in between overs to bowl the next ball or have runs awarded against them.

The way people stroll around in between balls really winds me up.

[Dubbag]

The way people stroll around in between balls really winds me up.

Depends on who the people are......and just as importantly....whose balls they are...that are doing the strolling between Mick!!