Which aspects of test cricket have regressed in the current era?

[subshakerz]

Many aspects of the game we can readily acknowledge as having improved, like fielding or hitting.

But what parts of the game can we say have definitely become worse in the past 20 years? Or is it just nostalgia?

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Bribes
Commentary
PED usage

 

[Nintendo]

Many aspects of the game we can readily acknowledge as having improved, like fielding or hitting.

But what parts of the game can we say have definitely become worse in the past 20 years? Or is it just nostalgia?

Test batting has definitely gotten worse in the past 8~ years. Don't think that's down to T20 as much as it is pitch conditions, wobble ball etc but it's worth noting.

 

[trundler]

Slip fielding.

 

[Raz0r6ack]

Test batting has waned overall. Nations like South Africa, England, Pakistan & Sri Lanka just don't have the same quantity of quality of Test batsmen that they had 10-15 years ago.

New Zealand is the outlier and has actually gotten better in this regard.

 

[Brook's side]

Test batting has waned overall. Nations like South Africa, England, Pakistan & Sri Lanka just don't have the same quantity of quality of Test batsmen that they had 10-15 years ago.

New Zealand is the outlier and has actually gotten better in this regard.

England probably has their strongest batting line up for at least 15 years, and maybe more than 50 years.

In fact no other test line up in history for any country has demonstrated that they are capable of what England's current batting line up has done.

 

[Howe_zat]

England's batting is worse than it was 15 years ago because we had a stronger opening pair, but that's it, and it's because we've had like 3 good opening partnerships since the ameteur era.

 

[Molehill]

How about spin bowling? Is there any team with a better spinner now than they had say 15-20 years ago?

The answer maybe India, but if you include Kumble then he'd be at least the match of Ashwin.

 

[Nintendo]

How about spin bowling? Is there any team with a better spinner now than they had say 15-20 years ago?

India definitely has better spin bowling. Pak are probably better than they were 15-20 years ago, they had Yasir shah for a while and have abrar now. Who did England have 15-20 years ago? Don't think swann/Monty where playing consistently in that era and Rehan/leach is better then alot of other guys, moeen was handy too. South Africa definitely have better spin.

 

[StephenZA]

In fact no other test line up in history for any country has demonstrated that they are capable of what England's current batting line up has done.

Lol

 

[Spark]

Test batting has waned overall. Nations like South Africa, England, Pakistan & Sri Lanka just don't have the same quantity of quality of Test batsmen that they had 10-15 years ago.

New Zealand is the outlier and has actually gotten better in this regard.

The names are lesser but the actual output of Australia is certainly better. Recall that 10-15 years ago was the era of Australia regularly getting shot out for double digit scores, especially away.

England probably has their strongest batting line up for at least 15 years, and maybe more than 50 years.

In fact no other test line up in history for any country has demonstrated that they are capable of what England's current batting line up has done.

what

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

How about spin bowling? Is there any team with a better spinner now than they had say 15-20 years ago?

South Africa have Harmer and Maharaj way better than Nicky Boje in the bowling

 

[trundler]

England's batting is worse than it was 15 years ago because we had a stronger opening pair, but that's it, and it's because we've had like 3 good opening partnerships since the ameteur era.

Boycott-Edrich
Vaughn-Trescothick
Strauss-Cook

Reckon that might actually be the most of anyone in that period. SA, WI and India have had 1 notable pair that I can think of in that period. 2 for Oz and none for Pak.

 

[Spark]

England's batting in its Strauss era peak was better than it is now. Obviously much less fun to watch though.

 

[Howe_zat]

How about spin bowling? Is there any team with a better spinner now than they had say 15-20 years ago?

Maybe half of them?

India comfortably.

For England, Leach is better than having Giles/Dawson/whoever, probably about the same as Panesar.

West Indies had no spinner at all in the early to mid 2000s

Bangladesh have probably their top 3 spinners ever in the team right now

Pakistan are a bit chaotic as is their wont but I think Yasir Shah, who is still playing, is much better than say Kaneria was

 

[trundler]

Maybe half to them?

India comfortably.

For England, Leach is better than having Giles/Dawson/whoever, probably about the same as Panesar.

West Indies had no spinner at all in the early to mid 2000s

Bangladesh have probably their top 3 spinners ever in the team right now

Pakistan are a bit chaotic as is their wont but I think Yasir Shah, who is still playing. is much better than say Kaneria was

Yasir Shah's been done for about 4 years though. And poor Kaneria had to put up with both Kamran Akmal and 500 par roads. Decent player rekt by circumstances.

 

[Spark]

Maybe half to them?

India comfortably.

For England, Leach is better than having Giles/Dawson/whoever, probably about the same as Panesar.

West Indies had no spinner at all in the early to mid 2000s

Bangladesh have probably their top 3 spinners ever in the team right now

Pakistan are a bit chaotic as is their wont but I think Yasir Shah, who is still playing. is much better than say Kaneria was

Australia meanwhile was picking Beau Casson, Xavier Doherty and Michael Beer

Just astonishing to think that we've gone from Cameron White to three frontline spinners and they're all... doing well? What is this

 

[honestbharani]

Slip fielding.

This I think is the most objective conclusion we can come to. Everything else is more multi-layered.

 

[Molehill]

India definitely has better spin bowling. Pak are probably better than they were 15-20 years ago, they had Yasir shah for a while and have abrar now. Who did England have 15-20 years ago? Don't think swann/Monty where playing consistently in that era and Rehan/leach is better then alot of other guys, moeen was handy too. South Africa definitely have better spin.

Swann debuted in 2008, Monty 2 years earlier, both far better than Leach. If we say 10-20 years then it's a no brainer.

I think we need at least 20 Tests to do a comparison, so cannot really use the likes of Rehan or Abrar. Kaneria did pick up 260 Test Wickets which is more than Yasir. A like for like those two.

I think you could argue England, Australia, Sri Lanka, NZ are clearly far weaker (although bit harsh on Lyon). SA a fair bit better, not so sure about Pakistan and WI. India also had Harbhajan with over 400 wickets, so again not a massive difference to Ashwin.

 

[Spark]

Swann debuted in 2008, Monty 2 years earlier, both far better than Leach. If we say 10-20 years then it's a no brainer.

I think we need at least 20 Tests to do a comparison, so cannot really use the likes of Rehan or Abrar. Kaneria did pick up 260 Test Wickets which is more than Yasir. A like for like those two.

I think you could argue England, Australia, Sri Lanka, NZ are clearly far weaker (although bit harsh on Lyon). SA a fair bit better, not so sure about Pakistan and WI. India also had Harbhajan with over 400 wickets, so again not a massive difference to Ashwin.

The thing about Australia is that it's such a sharp divide. Obviously prior to January 2007 it was ATG standard. Then after that it probably wasn't even Test standard for quite some time.

Harbhajan wouldn't make India's current side. Ashwin and Jadeja are a massive upgrade IMO. Axar less so but his batting is a lot better (well, except for against NZ).