Historical Perspective

[Goughy]

We currently see players missing out on Test cricket due to T20 cricket (legit and non-legit) and Kolpak status.

People are worried, however it isnt a purely modern phenomenon.

Take the case of Ted McDonald. An Australia Test cricketer that decided it was better to play league cricket in England as a club pro rather than International cricket.

The great Learie Constantine being another that favoured club pro duties over FC cricket.

 

[wpdavid]

And maybe Barnes, to some extent.

Yup, it's interesting that we've returned to the point when players can earn more by not playing test cricket. Shame though, imo. And different to 80-90 years ago given that the extent of the current pre-eminence of international cricket was unthinkable in those days.

 

[fredfertang]

In 1953 when Australia lost the Ashes for the first time after the war their spin attack was as dire as now - a young Richie Benaud took 2 for 180 odd, Doug Ring 2 for 120 odd - only Jack Hill, who only ever played three tests, played two of those in '53 and took 7 wickets at 23 apiece

At the time fellow Aussies Bruce Dooland, Vic Jackson, Jack Walsh, Vic Jackson and Jack MacMahon were spinning out plenty of county batsmen and in addition Colin McCool and Cec Pepper were mesmerising batsmen in the Lancashire Leagues - save MacMahon all were leggies

 

[pskov]

In 1953 when Australia lost the Ashes for the first time after the war their spin attack was as dire as now - a young Richie Benaud took 2 for 180 odd, Doug Ring 2 for 120 odd - only Jack Hill, who only ever played three tests, played two of those in '53 and took 7 wickets at 23 apiece

At the time fellow Aussies Bruce Dooland, Vic Jackson, Jack Walsh, Vic Jackson and Jack MacMahon were spinning out plenty of county batsmen and in addition Colin McCool and Cec Pepper were mesmerising batsmen in the Lancashire Leagues - save MacMahon all were leggies

To be fair there's nothing old about that either. When Australia last lost the Ashes Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn couldn't buy a run between them whilst a certain Mike Hussey was knocking seven shades of **** out of every county bowler.

 

[pasag]

Yeah, the excellent book 'It's Not Cricket' shows how basically every controversy in cricket has happened before, sometimes over 100 years ago, whether it be betting and throwing matches, bad behaviour, choosing money over country etc. If you look at the parallels between the SCG saga and Bodyline, you'll see nothing's new.

 

[Richard]

To be fair there's nothing old about that either. When Australia last lost the Ashes Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn couldn't buy a run between them whilst a certain Mike Hussey was knocking seven shades of **** out of every county bowler.

Martyn's First Test in The Ashes concluded a run of 18 Tests in which Martyn averaged a fraction under 60.

There is absolutely no way anything about Martyn's retention in 2005 was either poor or should have been different. It's ridiculous that he was dropped when he was. After 18 Tests like that, you deserve more than 4 iffy ones before being left-out.

Especially when you're replaced by a completely unproven, injury-prone all-rounder.

 

[fredfertang]

To be fair there's nothing old about that either. When Australia last lost the Ashes Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn couldn't buy a run between them whilst a certain Mike Hussey was knocking seven shades of **** out of every county bowler.

No not at all but it was a different situation then - those I named plus the likes of Roy Marshall, Ken Grieves, Jock Livingston and others had to make a much bigger decision than today's overseas/kolpaks - they had to take the plunge and acquire a two year residential qualification before they could play in the County Championship

 

[Goughy]

No not at all but it was a different situation then - those I named plus the likes of Roy Marshall, Ken Grieves, Jock Livingston and others had to make a much bigger decision than today's overseas/kolpaks - they had to take the plunge and acquire a two year residential qualification before they could play in the County Championship

Yeah, this isnt about not being selected and consequently doing something else. As you point out, a large group of players turned their back on International cricket to pursue a professional career in England (as we see now again with Kolpaks).

As pasag mentions, 'Its not Cricket' does a pretty good job of showing that nothing is ever new and has all been seen before.

 

[pskov]

Martyn's First Test in The Ashes concluded a run of 18 Tests in which Martyn averaged a fraction under 60.

There is absolutely no way anything about Martyn's retention in 2005 was either poor or should have been different. It's ridiculous that he was dropped when he was. After 18 Tests like that, you deserve more than 4 iffy ones before being left-out.

Especially when you're replaced by a completely unproven, injury-prone all-rounder.

No not at all but it was a different situation then - those I named plus the likes of Roy Marshall, Ken Grieves, Jock Livingston and others had to make a much bigger decision than today's overseas/kolpaks - they had to take the plunge and acquire a two year residential qualification before they could play in the County Championship

Thought it was obvious that my tongue was firmly in cheek when I said that, but never mind.