Random Cricket Thread (International Cricket)

[Peter Lanky]

Five down now.

I really don't see the point of starting county cricket at the beginning of April...

Unless they cut out most of the other pointless games, I suppose there's no option but to do this, though better scheduling would help.

If they played every CC match from Weds to Sat every week, the CC could be completed in 18 weeks from the start of May to the first week of September. They could then re-launch a genuine Sunday league with all teams playing each other once and games played on (wait for it) Sunday. This would leave Mondays and Tuesdays completely free, and allow a baseball tournament at some stage with a reasonable schedule, and not cancelling the rest of cricket for it to take place. There is no need to tale tests into account nowadays as the players rarely play for their counties. With this set-up, everyone would know when games are on and may even result in larger crowds as a result.

[Aidan11]

I don't think you can have better scheduling where the British weather is concerned.

Look at the weather we had in March. It was glorious and easily comfortable to watch county cricket in.

The ECB want to cut the CC by a couple of games. Well if we keep getting this type of weather each season there wont be any games to play.

[Aidan11]

All games now confirmed as draws. Not a single ball bowled today.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Why should players have to spend seven years qualifying to play for England. In most sports these players would be able to play for/represent England/etc without any qualification. They are usually UK citizens. has the entire world moaned sufficiently to make the ECB do this? If so, they won't stop going on about it just because of this change.

[Arthur Crabtree]

What next? A union of below the line cricinfo posters make England leave out their petulant players and their cheats?

[Arthur Crabtree]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/ap ... ion-period

I checked it isn't April 1. It's not.

[rich1uk]

not really sure the motivation behind this change , the previous qualification period was already stricter than it was legally required to be iirc and not sure what difference the extra three years really signifies

[meninblue]

Yesterday during IPL match , Sunny and Jadeja discussed this:

Before IPL England and Australian teams used to complain about travel issues, food issues, weather in India. After IPL they have started saying that Indian food is tasty, the weather gives them experience for future tours, the spin friendly wickets are okay. Almost negligible complaints nowadays from those teams.

Not only the players now even the WAGS are liking everything

[Peter Lanky]

Not only the players now even the WAGS are liking everything

Perhaps the players are happy because they have the WAGs on tap.

I recall reading many years ago and article by Richard Hadlee in a book of cricketing short stories, on touring the subcontinent entitled Happiness is a dry fart, outlining the almost certainty of getting a stomach upset on a tour. Has this changed in recent years? Obviously this interests me for our trip to Kerala next year. I got through 3 weeks in Vietnam without an upset, but will I be as fortunate in India?

[OffStumpYorker]

Yesterday during IPL match , Sunny and Jadeja discussed this:

Before IPL England and Australian teams used to complain about travel issues, food issues, weather in India. After IPL they have started saying that Indian food is tasty, the weather gives them experience for future tours, the spin friendly wickets are okay. Almost negligible complaints nowadays from those teams.

Not only the players now even the WAGS are liking everything

I think its more than that to be honest adi, 20-30 years ago players would roll into any restraunt, normally the cheaper the better, that restraunt might have changed hands, i also wouldnt put it past chefs to make the food a little spicer than normal for the visting team.

In addition to this, the food hygene standards will have risen over the same period, especially in the larger cities, on the players front they are more aware of the risks of eating very spicy food and general food saftey, they're also a lot better paid so dont have to scrimp on the costs like they used to.

The IPL is also a good way to get good local information as they are playing with local players, so get recommended good places to eat as well as places to avoid.

[meninblue]

Yesterday during IPL match , Sunny and Jadeja discussed this:

Before IPL England and Australian teams used to complain about travel issues, food issues, weather in India. After IPL they have started saying that Indian food is tasty, the weather gives them experience for future tours, the spin friendly wickets are okay. Almost negligible complaints nowadays from those teams.

Not only the players now even the WAGS are liking everything

I think its more than that to be honest adi, 20-30 years ago players would roll into any restraunt, normally the cheaper the better, that restraunt might have changed hands, i also wouldnt put it past chefs to make the food a little spicer than normal for the visting team.

In addition to this, the food hygene standards will have risen over the same period, especially in the larger cities, on the players front they are more aware of the risks of eating very spicy food and general food saftey, they're also a lot better paid so dont have to scrimp on the costs like they used to.

The IPL is also a good way to get good local information as they are playing with local players, so get recommended good places to eat as well as places to avoid.

Yes, spicy Indian food even troubles us if they use excessive spices or added food colors to make the food red.

There are hygiene issues over here even now for sure with roadside eateries. Two days back in Bandra, Mumbai 140+ people suffered food poisoning due to eating un hygienically prepared food. That was made near roadside. However, Players have been eating in very good hotels and there are no hygiene issues in those hotels or even hotels of lower grades than that. However, there maybe a case that player walks out for shopping, sees a roadside stall (which is usually unhygenic) and eats there only to get ill. In average hotels cooks prepare excessive spicy stuff , or sometimes people ask for it themselves.

Things are different for team India on tours. Team India on their recent tour to Australia went to Hayden's house and feasted on recipes prepared by the Chef Hayden.

http://www.cricketcountry.com/cricket-a ... ome-/11612

[OffStumpYorker]

It may be the case, but back in the 80's and 90's players wanted to try authentic indian food, and so would generally opt out of the hotel, as they were paying for it out of thier own pockets they may well avoid a top quality restraunt and go to one of the lesser ones.

dont forget this is an age when players payed for thier own food and refreshments, when not playing, then claim it back on expenses on return, so they'd spend as little as possible to increase thier income.

I've heard hayden is a very good cook, andthat on one tour of the sub-continent he had a hot plate and cooked meals in his room for the rest of the team.

[meninblue]

OSY, those could have been reasons years back. I remember at least one England player getting ill due to being unable to adjust to Indian food. Just ask Zaheer about the Jelly beans on English tour
Hayden was indeed a good cook if his teammates and Indian players are to be believed.

[Peter Lanky]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17936252

I'm not defending Gayle in any way, but why does everyone have to want to start legal action every time something goes wrong? It's like a disease. Somerset have got another equally good player, and probably a more rounded cricketer. As far as I can see, no money has changed hands and nobody has lost anything, so why not just leave it alone?

[ddb]

Where's Harry Potter with his, Morgan could have walked away from his IPL contract with no outrage?