Are test matches these days becoming extended one day games. Two and a half days for a full test is hardly what you hope for.
Well they have talked about reducing the number of days in a test. The last 2 tests just show why England are very much a mid-table ranked side now.. Same thing happened last time we played Pakistan at home - they won easily and so did we.
I've thought about test format for some time but can't think of a solution. No matter what, this last test match was very entertaining and had some great cricket and some odd shot choices. So how could you change it and not lose what is so great about test cricket? Does all the in match analysis and coaching help give too much benefit to the bowling team? Are pitches often not good enough? Does the review system and technology make it easier to put the batter back in the hutch? Is the equipment (bat, ball, protection) giving the bowlers an edge? Are bowlers getting better and batters getting worse? Problem I see is that fine tuning can change the game too much. After all I remember 45 years ago people complaining that there were too many draws.
My take on it is that with the one day game becoming the one that is easier to attract crowds to, many of the batsmen have become players who have adapted to scoring runs quickly, and the ability to stay at the crease has been lost to some extent. I fully understand the need to create revenue, and the fact that many people do not have the chance to spend five days at a ground, but a lot of test cricket is now sold to corporate business. I have been the lucky one to have been on the receiving end of the hospitality, and the money lost when a game is shortened must be considerable. I have also watched county cricket, from first ball to last, and a team battling for a draw can be quite absorbing, in a quite different way to one trying to score 100 runs off the last 8 overs. I think we almost have two different games, with some players more suited to one than the other, but is there enough money in the game to support both forms? I think not. Also we have the TV money to think about. Maybe we have a situation where a TV company can call the shots and have the clubs do as they want, a bit like football.
Over the years a group of us would go to 1 day of a test match at 4 or 5 grounds (most of the time it was always the 2ond day of the match
Saw the 4th set the break of the Djokovic match - such drama and great tennis ! And a win for the underdog to boot!
If the weather in St John's Wood allows, I think that a certain tall Watford fan will want to prove to the England selectors that he should be in the squad for the forthcoming ODIs as Australia have a warm-up game against Middlesex at Lord's.
That was why ODI is such a great format. You get so many close finishes. What great entertainment . Although I can't with any great conviction support Scotland in any sport I do feel they were hard done by on the world cup qualification. And that cutting the world cup numbers is not good for cricket development. Hopefully they will bounce back and have better luck next time.
It is great that Froome is cleared to participate in this years Tour de France. It was France's best chance of stopping him winning another title, damn rosbifs!!!!
Just watching the opening stage of the 2018 Tour de France which has started in the northwest of the country this year. As usual some riders have taken off from the main bunch and will try to stay ahead for as long as possible to get the maximum exposure for their teams sponsors. Froome sat and gave a lengthy interview in English and French about his clearance of all charges. The press so far have not challenged the findings, but that could change if he seems to be doing too well.
