Random Cricket Thread (International Cricket)

[dan08]

Don't even know what to say about this... http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/conte ... MP=OTC-RSS

[Arthur Crabtree]

He doesn't like Test cricket then.

[hopeforthebest]

Cricket reflects life better than most sports as there are not always winners or losers.

[sussexpob]

Don't even know what to say about this... http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/conte ... MP=OTC-RSS

I was just thinking the whole way through, "what happens if it rains"!

Why are cricinfo posting articles like this?

[Making_Splinters]

Boyd Rankin is back with Ireland.

Big boost for them ahead of the World T20. They shouldn't miss John Mooney too much now.

The guy played a Test for England just under 2 years ago. Funny how there seems to be no outrage over a player going to back to play for Ireland as soon as he realises his Test chances are done.

[hopeforthebest]

Boyd Rankin is back with Ireland.

Big boost for them ahead of the World T20. They shouldn't miss John Mooney too much now.

The guy played a Test for England just under 2 years ago. Funny how there seems to be no outrage over a player going to back to play for Ireland as soon as he realises his Test chances are done.

I think it's as it should be after England discarded him so easily. It would be ironic if he plays against England in the T20 WC and is instrumental in their exit from the competition.

[Making_Splinters]

Boyd Rankin is back with Ireland.

Big boost for them ahead of the World T20. They shouldn't miss John Mooney too much now.

The guy played a Test for England just under 2 years ago. Funny how there seems to be no outrage over a player going to back to play for Ireland as soon as he realises his Test chances are done.

I think it's as it should be after England discarded him so easily. It would be ironic if he plays against England in the T20 WC and is instrumental in their exit from the competition.

Personally, I think if you turn your back on your country to play Test cricket you should be forced to wait out the full five years any player who wants to change full member sides should do.

[sussexpob]

It works both ways. Without the associate rule, Rankin would never have been selectable for England until he was 35 because he had played for Ireland..... and without the same rule Ireland would have to wait until he is 36. How many careers would be wasted when a player played all his life in a test nation and low level ODI cricket without that rule? Probably a handful every now and then....

But I am hastened to agree with Splints on this. You cant chop and change country like the weather, so if a player from Ireland comes to England he choses which he wants to represent, and if that doesnt work he pays the price.

I really dont like the fact England picked an Irish cap, and like it less than after such a short time he is back with Ireland

[hopeforthebest]

We don't know what was whispered in his ear that decided him to make himself available for England, which you need to know before condemning him. England are pretty careless in the way they handle players as we've seen with Onions and others who are often traipsed around in squads often denying their counties of valuable players.

[Making_Splinters]

It works both ways. Without the associate rule, Rankin would never have been selectable for England until he was 35 because he had played for Ireland..... and without the same rule Ireland would have to wait until he is 36. How many careers would be wasted when a player played all his life in a test nation and low level ODI cricket without that rule? Probably a handful every now and then....

But I am hastened to agree with Splints on this. You cant chop and change country like the weather, so if a player from Ireland comes to England he choses which he wants to represent, and if that doesnt work he pays the price.

I really dont like the fact England picked an Irish cap, and like it less than after such a short time he is back with Ireland

I've no problem with Irish players playing for England, given most of them learnt and developed their trade suckling at the bosom of English domestic cricket. In fact I find it vaugely offensive when a player is called Irish simply because he was born there and turned out for them in his formative years when they've come up through the ranks of English cricket. Surely it should be an English player playing for Ireland given how people like to call the likes of KP a South African.

That said, I can see if you brought in the 5 year rule for Irish players to play for England then any up and coming player with a view on playing Test cricket wouldn't play for Ireland to begin with. Maybe that would be fairer though, if you want to play at the top of the game and benefit from another country don't hide behind pseudo nationalism and play associate cricket while you wait and see.

[Making_Splinters]

We don't know what was whispered in his ear that decided him to make himself available for England, which you need to know before condemning him. England are pretty careless in the way they handle players as we've seen with Onions and others who are often traipsed around in squads often denying their counties of valuable players.

Well he was happy enough to throw his lot in with the English when he started on this journey for Middlesex nearly 12 years ago, alongside another Irishman who's done slightly better in the Blue of England rather than the Green of Ireland.

[dan08]

Would just be easier to remove 'full member' status altogether. No player would ever need to switch if each country got an equal opportunity. Until that happens (which is probably a very long time), associate players will continue to switch to full member teams as that's where they can play Tests, far more ODIs and receive a better salary too.

[Making_Splinters]

Would just be easier to remove 'full member' status altogether. No player would ever need to switch if each country got an equal opportunity. Until that happens (which is probably a very long time), associate players will continue to switch to full member teams as that's where they can play Tests, far more ODIs and receive a better salary too.

I'd agree with that, on the provision that players can only play in another Country's domestic system as overseas players.

I'm all for Ireland playing Test cricket, as long as it is on the back of Irish resources and investment not English.

[dan08]

Would just be easier to remove 'full member' status altogether. No player would ever need to switch if each country got an equal opportunity. Until that happens (which is probably a very long time), associate players will continue to switch to full member teams as that's where they can play Tests, far more ODIs and receive a better salary too.

I'd agree with that, on the provision that players can only play in another Country's domestic system as overseas players.

I'm all for Ireland playing Test cricket, as long as it is on the back of Irish resources and investment not English.

That's fair enough. I don't think there's anything currently in place stopping foreign players from playing 2nd XI county cricket though (without officially being an overseas player).

[Arthur Crabtree]

Steve Smith, cricketer of the year and Test cricketer of the year.

The latter feels a little problematic given he led his team to an Ashes defeat. But it seems a reasonable pick.