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91
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by crashlander -
I must admit, I've rarely seen the ball move as much off the pitch for so long on a test pitch, no matter what sort of ball they were using. About the only one I recall was Melbourne a few years back when a certain Victorian quick skittled England cheaply twice. That was considered to be an aberration, but at least it didn't swing as much or bounce as unreliably.

I always thought the ideal pitch was one that gave the new ball bowlers some assistance and the spinner a little help on day 4 or 5. Haven't seen many of those anywhere in the world in recent years.
Indian pitches wouldn't be day 5 pitches in Australia during their 1st session. The ones delivered in Sri Lanka; they wouldn't be Aussie pitches after 2 weeks!
I know teams have always prepared pitches that favour the home side, but never to the degree that happens now. For most of history this crap would be called blatant pitch doctoring.
And some people, like us, haven't followed suit very often. When India won here not long ago, we prepare flatter pitches to the test would last until the 5th day, as it would provide Cricket Australia with more money. Took away every advantage we had.

With modern batting techniques, having dodgy pitches is lethal.
93
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by Professer E -
The BCCI won't be happy until they have all the toys, and India wins every game in every comp - the best and quickest way to kill a game. Fortunately for the game there's a few countries with too much pride and history to give up and they'll push on regardless, so the game will survive although the quality will inexorably diminish. World cricket has already resolved into a tiered competition.
95
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL 2025 Rd 16 Carlton vs Brisbane
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: Thryleon – on
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Players were warned multiple offenders would be sanctioned for umpire contact, Cerra like Rowell is a repeat offender so he should have taken more care. Yet another example of our players lack of awareness on field. They keep making the same mistakes week after week, have you noticed how many frees Cerra has given away deep in defence lately? Constantly putting his arms around the fwd which the umps are looking for and are hot on.
I dont know how you avoid an umpire when you cant see him.  Its not like he was facing the ump and ran into him.

Neale if anything used the umpire to break the tag.  Not enough being said about that.
Mate they are forever ranting and gesticulating about where they are going to exit the ball up/bounce from, I get the players are focused on their role/opponent but part of that involves being aware of obstacles. God knows they have had it rammed down their throat, some just dont get it.
96
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by LP -
Quote from: Professer E – on
The current state of test cricket is awful....bowlers still with test standard skills showing up batsmen with new age short form skills.  Don't move your feet - can't trust your defence - equals no chance of survival let alone lasting long enough to make runs.
It wasn't the worst pitch but it wasn't a test or a ODI pitch either.

Following the pandemic these associations are effectively bankrupt and understaffed, they can't pay for the work to be done to deliver test standard surfaces, they struggle to deliver a wicket that is good for 1 day let alone 5.

Cricket needs to stop making India's administrators millionaires and start ploughing some of the ludicrous bounty back into grass roots like soccer and union.
97
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL 2025 Rd 16 Carlton vs Brisbane
Last post by LP -
Quote from: Thryleon – on
Neale if anything used the umpire to break the tag.  Not enough being said about that.
Neale did exactly the same thing last time we played them, and if I recall correctly Neale has been cited for pushing an opponent into an umpire previously but got off.

This is a situation the AFL has created, because it's sanctioned Neale's behaviour by letting him off, now he's rehearsed it enough he can implement the scenario on demand.
98
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL 2025 Rd 16 Carlton vs Brisbane
Last post by Thryleon -
Quote from: Gointocarlton – on
Quote from: Professer E – on
London to a brick they'll nail Cerra..MRO and tribunal, clueless, zero common sense
Players were warned multiple offenders would be sanctioned for umpire contact, Cerra like Rowell is a repeat offender so he should have taken more care. Yet another example of our players lack of awareness on field. They keep making the same mistakes week after week, have you noticed how many frees Cerra has given away deep in defence lately? Constantly putting his arms around the fwd which the umps are looking for and are hot on.
I dont know how you avoid an umpire when you cant see him.  Its not like he was facing the ump and ran into him.

Neale if anything used the umpire to break the tag.  Not enough being said about that.
99
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: VFL 2025 Rd 16 Carlton vs Brisbane
Last post by Gointocarlton -
Quote from: Professer E – on
London to a brick they'll nail Cerra..MRO and tribunal, clueless, zero common sense
Players were warned multiple offenders would be sanctioned for umpire contact, Cerra like Rowell is a repeat offender so he should have taken more care. Yet another example of our players lack of awareness on field. They keep making the same mistakes week after week, have you noticed how many frees Cerra has given away deep in defence lately? Constantly putting his arms around the fwd which the umps are looking for and are hot on.