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Best and worst cricket journalists

Smudge

Smudge

Hall of Fame Member
There are going to be some very unlucky girls at Oamaru's one and only nightclub this Saturday night...
 
Smudge

Smudge

Hall of Fame Member
The beauty of using the "CW staff member" byline means I can disown it at any time I like. :D
 
Slow Love™

Slow Love™

International Captain
Voltman said:
Although I've tracked this down from our CW archives - not my best work, mind you...

http://www.cricketweb.net/article.php?CategoryIDAuto= 8&NewsIDAuto=1743
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That's really just a dry report though.

I seem to recall you producing something you'd written in the past - maybe at Casson's encouragement - a couple of years ago at Off-Topic that was pretty good... (Weird to think I've been around these forums for about three years, give or take the odd vacation.) Dunno how to look for it, though.
 
Smudge

Smudge

Hall of Fame Member
armchairumpire said:
Well done Volty, I now know how you chose your name. Very amusing. I can now put you up there with Richard Boock.

BTW, what do you think of John Bracewell as a coach?
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Where do I start with Braces?

I was initially optimistic when he was appointed, coming off a successful spell with Gloucestershire. What I didn't like though, when he was first named, was his demand to have the coach and convenor of selectors role all wrapped into one - it gave him too much power. This has been negated somewhat in recent times with three other selectors being in the mix, although it's obvious some of his pet players - such as the Marshalls - have been given an extended run due to his preference for their talents - cricketing or otherwise...

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to training, and I can't say I agree with his allowance towards players such as Hamish Marshall who don't like net sessions at all. While it's said one bat in an open wicket situation (be it practice or in a game) is the equivalent of ten net sessions, there were obvious kinks in several players' techniques which can only be partly rectified with throwdowns.

Bracewell's brief was to get NZ towards the top of the ODI tree and in the early days he was going the right way about it. But, again, his overextended sense of loyalty to several players cost him in the last couple of years, and it's only now that we're getting back on track.

We're finally starting to see a bit of consistency in the NZ team - even if it's only three consecutive matches we've won, other chases have shown plenty of promise for the World Cup. Whether that is a reflection of Bracewell is hard to say.

But I believe the NZ team is running best when Fleming has the majority of the power in the team environment - it seemed to me he has been stifled by Bracewell, particularly when it comes to the players at his disposal.

That we won the 2000 Champions Trophy with a behind-the-scenes coach in the form of David Trist should not be underestimated. While Fleming is still there, a less abrasive personality needs to be at the coaching reins - someone who tinkers with technique and provides variety at training sessions, not someone who is trying to dictate the way to play the game from the dressing room.
 
Fiery

Fiery

Banned
Voltman said:
it's obvious some of his pet players - such as the Marshalls - have been given an extended run due to his preference for their talents - cricketing or otherwise...
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That's true, but he would argue that this persistance paid off with Kyle Mills before he got injured. The jury is out for me on Braces till after the WC. If we have a shocker I'll be the first one pointing towards the plank (just like I was with John Mitchell :p ...but I couldn't forgive him for the way he treated Christian Cullen :@ but I wont go there. OK I will...for a moment...he ended the career of one of our greatest ever All Blacks at the tender age of 26...the plonker).
If he brings home the cup he's OK by me
 
Smudge

Smudge

Hall of Fame Member
Tbh, that line was just a chance for me to add some ***ual innuendo to my post, as is required in every post I make, according to my CW contract...
 
Fiery

Fiery

Banned
Voltman said:
Tbh, that line was just a chance for me to add some ***ual innuendo to my post, as is required in every post I make, according to my CW contract...
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Ah, on first read it didn't even register, but on 2nd read, it's comic genius Voltman
 
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