Yes but £18k a season for an 18 year old county cricketer or £18K a week for an 18 year old PL footballer? The former has a better chance of playing too.
My total experience of playing cricket at school in the eighties consisted of 2 games lessons. In the first we were the batting side and I spent the majority of time sitting waiting to bat. Finally it was my turn and after one ball whizzed past we ran out of time. The following week I was continuing my innings and managed to get bowled immediately! We then spent the rest of the lesson fielding. At no point was I shown how to hold a bat, bowl or catch a ball. We moved onto rugby for the next lesson.
I probably would have still been crap but a bit more enthusiasm by the teacher might have encouraged one or two of us to want to get into the game.
Another big issue is that because of the relative short summer in northern hemisphere, kids are on school holiday most of the cricket season, by the time they come back ,its into football season again.
The headline is misleading IMO as I totally disagree with it but when you read the quotes within the article he does make some sense ie England have shown they're capable of winning a test match in short spells but Australia have dominated when it mattered and that's frustrating.
Sorry Mark but 3 sound beatings suggest otherwise.
Just read the same article and did chuckle, I love his positivity. It’s like me saying there’s not much difference between me and Ryan Gosling. (I hope my wife never reads this, I’ll be if for serious piss taking)
On Sky last year he was talking about bowlers who hit the groove straight away, naming Curtly Ambrose as a prime example. Needless to say they dug out footage of Ambrose nailing him lbw first ball with one that was basically a 95mph off-break.
The headline is misleading IMO as I totally disagree with it but when you read the quotes within the article he does make some sense ie England have shown they're capable of winning a test match in short spells but Australia have dominated when it mattered and that's frustrating.
but unfortunately a Test match lasts 5 days, with both sides batting & bowling for around 100-120 overs on average and if you're not on your game during those periods you'll lose.
Some poor selections in there. They wont change the batting order as most on here have suggested is the way forward and we'll be 3 down and the Ashes gone before Christmas.
I am actually looking forward to the series now. Just a short while ago I could see nothing but a thrashing but something has made me more optimistic. I can't put my finger on it, maybe it's because so much has gone wrong in the last year or so. We haven't found anyone to open with Cook, we haven't got 3&5 sorted properly and we've lost our number 1 all-rounder, for now at least. We've lost seam bowler after seam bowler and for all Moin's stats we do not have a Test class spinner in the squad. I just can't see it getting worse and this is an opportunity for many to step-up and make a name for themselves. The more I think about Brisbane the more excited I feel. I will be camped out on the sofa for the series which will keep my wife from my snoring! 23rd November - Bring it on!!!
On Sky last year he was talking about bowlers who hit the groove straight away, naming Curtly Ambrose as a prime example. Needless to say they dug out footage of Ambrose nailing him lbw first ball with one that was basically a 95mph off-break.
Atherton did bag a lot of ducks - but look at the quality of bowlers he faced in his career compared to the crap that most countries put out these days!
.....when people look at his average of 39 in Tests they need to see it in that context - the likes of Cook has a much better average but has faced far weaker bowling.
Starc is out for the Aussies, to be replaced by Jackson Bird. Smith injured his hand in net practice but will play - maybe something for the bowlers to target.
What time of bowler is he, is he another medium pacer that will go for 0-100. I know the ashes are gone and there is little point in risking wood but he would have given us something different
What time of bowler is he, is he another medium pacer that will go for 0-100. I know the ashes are gone and there is little point in risking wood but he would have given us something different
Everyone knows I'm a big fan of TC. But I don't think he is the answer.
He is quicker than Overton but still fairly medium. Gets good movement on the ball but isn't really suited to Aus conditions.
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I probably would have still been crap but a bit more enthusiasm by the teacher might have encouraged one or two of us to want to get into the game.
Sorry Mark but 3 sound beatings suggest otherwise.
On Sky last year he was talking about bowlers who hit the groove straight away, naming Curtly Ambrose as a prime example. Needless to say they dug out footage of Ambrose nailing him lbw first ball with one that was basically a 95mph off-break.
I've said it before - we're an average side at the moment, the Aussies are slightly better and it was a home series.
SA: Donald, Pollock, De Villiers
AUS: McGrath, Gillespie, Lee, Warne, McGill, Reid, Hughes
NZ: Hadlee
WI: Ambrose, Walsh, Patterson, Bishop.
PAK: Akhtar, Akram, Younis, Mushtaq
SL: Muralitharan
.....when people look at his average of 39 in Tests they need to see it in that context - the likes of Cook has a much better average but has faced far weaker bowling.
Starc is out for the Aussies, to be replaced by Jackson Bird. Smith injured his hand in net practice but will play - maybe something for the bowlers to target.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21861603/joe-root-got-listen-dawid-malan
He is quicker than Overton but still fairly medium. Gets good movement on the ball but isn't really suited to Aus conditions.
Come on England. Still two tests up for grabs and no Mitchell Starc to face.