At the ODI against West Indies at Hampshire Cricket ground, and what a cracking atmosphere. Friendly stewards, more catering facilities than you could ever ask for, funny banter between the fans and generally very pleasant to attend. I know football is just 'different' but I think it could learn from what this has to offer. Come on England !!
Personally I wouldn't have it any other way. I like the partisan aspect of football and the tension etc. I wouldn't want to be sat next to a Spurs fan having friendly banter during a game, but then that's just me. P.s Cricket is boring
Very jealous Staines. Great venue. Should get some test matches. Cricket boring - bloody philistines!
I like cricket, but it is corrupt to the core and has been forever. So we could learn a lot about match fixing and 'in play events' from them.
Since the late 1960's and 1970's, football has moved a long way towards the sporting, friendly atmosphere of cricket. I agree with District, probably far enough. I like a festive but partisan and sometimes slightly edgy atmosphere during a match, so long as the edge disappears on the final whistle.
The T20 format is cricket's future, short enough to attract the crowds and snappy enough to keep them. ODIs can be great fun as well but if they're one-sided they bore, there's always an edge with T20 that one player can pull it off, moreso than in the ODIs. Those like me who appreciate test cricket will be seen as old farts but the game at it's best is magical, how many remember the Donald v Atherton session a few years back? The game at it's pinnacle...
That was superb - exactly the kind of thing that cricket fans love but non-believers can't stand - very few runs scored but a true spectacle of aggression v dogged determination.
It was this fella, Hansie Cronje. [video=youtube;JojnoSO4MDc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JojnoSO4MDc[/video]
Sooperhoop, I'm afraid t20 may be the future of cricket - but not for me. Test cricket is the pinnacle and the best. Atherton signed the massive mark left on his glove and sent it round to the SA dressing room at the end of the day.
I agree Pete but my grandson would never watch test cricket in a million years, yet he is getting enthusiastic about T20 and was at the Middlesex v Surrey match the other night. I'll work on him yet but it's interesting that the 'instant' version of the game appeals to the young who all seem to have short attention spans...
SB, I think Turkey, China and Italy have had enough lessons in corruption for the time being. I'm not saying I don't like the atmosphere at football or the way it is just that the whole package offered to the casual fan at a Cricket match is a good one and maybe we ( football) could take a few things on board. Maybe I was just lucky today.
Agree that the atmosphere at internationals is great, and I go to tests whenever I can. There's nothing better than the banter when England are doing well at the MCG. But nowadays there's always a nagging doubt at every wide, no ball, dropped catch etc. But the game was founded at a time when every sport was about gambling, and some habits are hard to change. All this 'its how you play the game' stuff is a late Victorian/Edwardian invention.
