The current state of cricket

[Craig]

Where do people see it at the moment, and in the future of the game? Can any team make a breakthrough and really improve. Or maybe like Gelman (pasag) said that eventually a 500 runs total will be chased down in a Test and I agree with that, Sri Lanka might have got that had the two Jayawrdene's, Vandort and Silva at least contributed 25-30 (or one to make up for the other) runs each and Sangakkara not getting that unlucky call they may well have got home.

I also see something has to give in New Zealand cricket because sooner or later it has to occur to somebody on why so many of their good cricketers always seem to be injury prone, the careers of Nash, Allott, O'Connor and to an extent Cairns were all lost because of serious injuries. Even Astle can count as well, and yet in Australia there isn't as many injury problems amongst the senior team? If it were the All Blacks and a lot of the top players kept getting injured every five minutes, would it continue for so long before something was done about it? Of course not.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

The future of cricket? Well, to me my likely retirement from the game is the most pressing expected development from my point of view.

Everything else fades into insignificance to me besides that big black hole.

[chaminda_00]

I am the only one that thinks NZ cricket isn't in that bad shape. Yeah they got owned by South Africa, but South Africa are playing some pretty good cricket at the moment. For me it say more about how well South Africa played, then how poor NZ played. Also there lack of Test Cricket played a major part. I don't really think their side is that bad with or without Bond. More matches they will start to play better.

[Prince EWS]

For me it say more about how well South Africa played, then how poor NZ played.

Did you see much of the series? Not putting you down here - a genuine question. I'd be inclined to agree with you completely if I hadn't actually seen them play; they were diabolical. The batting didn't even look first class standard, let alone test standard, and that's a worry regardless of how well SA bowled. The batsmen had so many technical faults that it wasn't funny. The bowling attack was very much second string taking into account the injuries they had, and I actually thought they all bowled decently except for O'Brien, so that's a plus in a way I guess.

[chaminda_00]

I saw bits and pieces of it. Don't stay up to all hours watch cricket these days. From what I saw, it looked like a bunch of batsmen with little or no match hardness at Test level. But then again I reckon guys like Taylor, Papps and Vincent don't have the greatest techniques to start of with. But regardless of the make up of side, if you only play Tests once ever six months your always going look like an average to crap Test outfit.

[bond21]

SA are the 2nd best in the world, NZ played terribly but at least they didnt get beaten by England.

Remember the T20 world cup? England's "Twenty 20 specialists" what a farce that was.

[Langeveldt]

State of cricket.. Good to be honest, but the beast of T20 needs to go sod off for a couple of years so we can see some of the real stuff.. I think its a farce that NZ play so little test cricket, I definitely wouldn't call SA the 2nd best test side in the world, yet NZ looked absolutely horrible..

[bond21]

I dont see who is better than SA

India would be their closest rival, but I think SA would beat them easily.

[wpdavid]

The two most recent series have been profoundly depressing for anyone who wants a competitive test structure. imo fans are being short changed by the ludicrous schedue which means that players are either under-cooked or burnt out, so they're rarely seen at their best. More is definitely less right now, but that's way beyond the dunderheads at the ICC.

[wpdavid]

Originally Posted by bond21

I dont see who is better than SA

India would be their closest rival, but I think SA would beat them easily.

Both sides would probably win at home, no?
I'd see them as being too close to call, and vying for 2nd place. No-one else comes close right now, afaics

[headhunter]

Originally Posted by Langeveldt

State of cricket.. Good to be honest, but the beast of T20 needs to go sod off for a couple of years

Cant see that happening, if anything T20 is going to get stronger in the future.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by bond21

I dont see who is better than SA

India would be their closest rival, but I think SA would beat them easily.

Well South Africa did beat them (though not easily) and as David said, it's almost certain that India would beat South Africa in India.

At the current time, India definitely look a stronger outfit than South Africa.

[andruid]

T20 should be a nice sweetener at the start of a tour of domestic campaign to draw in a few interested then put aside as the serious cricket take over, bangladesh Tour New Zealand soon that should answer a few questions and probably raise a few more but National boards ought to do more to balance out how much of each type cof crcket teams get in a year so they don't end up going for ages before seeing Test cricket.

As far as the Non-Test worldgoes thing are actually looking rosier than the T20 or %0 over World cup suggested, The Intercontinental cup is growing which is keeping national teams of the top Associates active as institutions and this is vitally important if the game is to grow as nobody wants to play for a national team that does nothing most of the time, The World Cricket league system is a bonus as it gives Associates a ladder to climb from wherever they are to the the top of the one day game in a competitive manner and it gives real rewards for hard work (Ireland, Uganda, Afghanistan) while punishing incompetence.

A little more assistance with professionalising the game in the top associates would be nice though

[JBMAC]

Originally Posted by Langeveldt

State of cricket.. Good to be honest, but the beast of T20 needs to go sod off for a couple of years so we can see some of the real stuff.. I think its a farce that NZ play so little test cricket, I definitely wouldn't call SA the 2nd best test side in the world, yet NZ looked absolutely horrible..

Langeveldt.....73 posts and you never showed up that's a world record.read back from 159

http://www.****************.net/show...me+langelveldt