Do domestic structures define the test rankings?

[Tricia McMillan]

I think most of what I'm going to say has already been said, but a phenomenal talent is going to be a phenomenal talent no matter what, though a poor domestic system can potentially do a really good job of wasting and not developing that talent. A good domestic structure, in my opinion, helps refine the technique and skill of those less gifted - the "average" player will be better than an "average" player from another system. In other words, a world class player is born, but a quality player can still be made.

From a team perspective, the latter helps quite a bit.

[smalishah84]

Originally Posted by Tricia McMillan

I think most of what I'm going to say has already been said, but a phenomenal talent is going to be a phenomenal talent no matter what, though a poor domestic system can potentially do a really good job of wasting and not developing that talent. A good domestic structure, in my opinion, helps refine the technique and skill of those less gifted - the "average" player will be better than an "average" player from another system. In other words, a world class player is born, but a quality player can still be made.

From a team perspective, the latter helps quite a bit.

awta

btw why do so many posters on cricinfo think that you are Pakistani?

[Tricia McMillan]

Originally Posted by smalishah84

awta

btw why do so many posters on cricinfo think that you are Pakistani?

I was not aware that anyone thinks I'm Pakistani.

I don't post any comments on Cricinfo so you might be mixing me up with someone else?

[Apo]

County cricket will never produce players like KP, Lara etc. They're good at producing grinders like Cook, Thorpe etc. It certainly needs to be looked at, the system is somewhat detrimental to batsmen.

[uvelocity]

Tricia Mohammad imo

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by Apo

County cricket will never produce players like KP

How do you mean county cricket won't produce a player like someone who it produced?

[Dan]

Because he's South African LOL

Pietersen's batting was hugely developed in England, IIRC he was a decent offie before he made the move.

County cricket produced Hobbs, Compton, Woolley, Gower, Trescothick et al. Hardly the exclusive domain of grinders and mediocre blockers.

[Daemon]

If foreign players go to county cricket and become better, then I guess England just has very limited natural talent

[Cabinet96]

Yeah, Pietersen's batting was pretty much made what it is now in County Cricket. First Class Cricket might not make a world beater, but a strong system is something you can relay on and pick players from, with the confidence that their FC success will transfer to tests. Selections such as Jonathan Trott's wouldn't be made if it weren't for a strong First Class structure in England where Trott's success was an indication that he would be a good test batsmen.

On the other hand, I'm starting to have some serious doubts about the standard of Indian domestic cricket, considering the wealth of young batsmen averaging around 60 in FC cricket not getting goes in a struggling test team because of ODI failures, even when their domestic records indicate they're a better long format batsmen than short format one.

[Viscount Tom]

Well the pitches in India's domestic circuit are mostly roads and when they're not a lot of the batsmen just fail utterly.

[morgieb]

County Cricket is good for honing players talents and making them realise their potential, but for whatever reason the English junior system hasn't produced any outstanding talents.

[wellAlbidarned]

Reece Topley?

[Neil Pickup]

Define "outstanding talent"!

[morgieb]

Originally Posted by Neil Pickup

Define "outstanding talent"!

Players like Sachin, Kallis, Steyn, etc. Anderson I guess goes close, but he's only really been "that" good over the past couple of years. KP doesn't count as he learned his cricket in South Africa.

[Quaggas]

In South Africa, school cricket plays an enormous role. Someone like SeamUp to comment.