Probably because Botham does not actually have a trophy named after him? Needed something for his contributions. Not gonna be renaming the Ashes any time soon.Apologies if this has already been discussed to death while I was away, but what do people make of the new Botham/Richards trophy? Richards I get, but Botham was a non-event against the WI. No idea what I would call instead.
I don't think SA were the best for the whole period, but definitely once Philander debuted and they started bowling teams out for sub 100 scores regularly.Obviously Pietersen-gate didn't help team morale much but the 2010-11 team just got deservedly displaced by a superior SA team. They took over the ranking by beating us emphatically in 2011 and held it for a year, but I think SA were always the best team of that 2008-2014 era overall.
2005-06 team was unlucky that they had to replace Trescothick so soon, Jones was made of glass, Flintoff was never the same after he overbowled himself in 2006, Vaughan was on the way out with his injuries as well. Plus they had to compete with an Aussie team full of aging ATGs, determined to avenge 2005.
Yes it is the Basil D'Oliveira Trophy, but I generally don't really know or care what the name of the trophy is... and there is not enough SA cricket 'fans' that realise that a trophy is even played for.Yeah, all true but I'm just not persuaded. I'm trying to remember what the other trophies involving England are called. SA is D'Oliveira isn't it? I think that makes sense, but I don't know what Saffers make of it. I honestly can't remember the others.
Also once ABDV stopped ****ing around and actually became a world class player around 2012.I don't think SA were the best for the whole period, but definitely once Philander debuted and they started bowling teams out for sub 100 scores regularly.
I was about to write that England-India is the Pataudi trophy, but looking it up, that’s only true when they play in England and it’s the Anthony de Mello trophy in India.Yeah, all true but I'm just not persuaded. I'm trying to remember what the other trophies involving England are called. SA is D'Oliveira isn't it? I think that makes sense, but I don't know what Saffers make of it. I honestly can't remember the others.
The best team mantra did not necessarily make them a great team. With Aus dropping away and Eng not quite doing everything right, SA drifted to the top. But did not look a not a complete great team until that English tour in 2012 when ABdV took over the keeping. Even then was still a class batsmen light and also still struggled with a spin bowling option.Also once ABDV stopped ****ing around and actually became a world class player around 2012.
The RSA team of 2012-15 is one of the best sides ever, but they were annoyingly overrated for a few years before that when they were good on paper but didn’t win hardly any Test series.
Is that possible?A bit of research suggests that England play India for the Pataudi Trophy but we don't have a trophy for Pakistan, SL, NZ or Bangladesh.
SA play WI for the Vivian Richards Trophy, so Viv's definitely getting too much attention. WI have produced some other decent players too.
WI play SL for the Sobers/Tissera trophy.
Australia vs WI and Australia vs NZ have trophies don't they? I think that's it.
Frank Worrel and Trans-Tasman trophies respectively.Australia vs WI and Australia vs NZ have trophies don't they? I think that's it.
I hadn't realised that about England/India series. And I had no idea at all who Anthony de Mello was until looking him up. I quite like the fact that India have named a cricket series after a priest/psychotherapist.I was about to write that England-India is the Pataudi trophy, but looking it up, that’s only true when they play in England and it’s the Anthony de Mello trophy in India.
There’s not actually that many with names, England only have four named trophies they play for out of nine test series opponents (eleven?), which is middling by other countries’ standards.
Yeah, Roebuck was the Somerset captain at the time and heavily involved in the decision to release Richards and Garner.The naming of the Botham/Richards Trophy has deeper connections than them being on-field rivals in Test matches. Ian and Viv, along with Joel Garner, were team-mates at Somerset and Botham resigned from Somerset when the two West Indians were axed. I have a feeling that Peter Rebuck might have been involved in the sackings. Anyhow, a bond was established between the two men and the naming of the trophy is, in my opinion, quite appropriate.