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Unpopular cricket opinions

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
Yes its not the main consideration (obviously) but you need to be able to cash in on weak attacks and run through weak batters to win tests. It is a valuable skill but obviously not as important as runs against a strong attack or top order wickets. I just think its importance is sometimes understated.
I see your point - Daniel Vettori, for example, won us a few Tests (might be overstating it here, TH to correct me) against minor opposition.

However, I think what it can do is give undeserved recognition to players who have padded their stats out against lesser opposition, but have not contributed in the big moments. Tom Latham is one of the greatest examples I can give. In fact, he might prove your point, but also the point I'm making, too. Averages nigh-on 40, which makes him almost a lock for an all-time NZ XI as opener. But he is abysmal against SA, well sub-par against Australia, and not that flash v England or India. By your (very fair) consideration, he's probably gone a long way to winning us matches against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc.
 

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
Obviously we can't abolish the Ashes but @Chubb does make a very valid point......it does bring out the very worst in Australians and its not like they're that great to start with.
Being Australian brings the worst out in Australians, it's just that in the Ashes it's visible to the rest of the world.

But in all seriousness, cricket needs that drama. Has one thing worth a pinch of **** happened in T20 in 16 years?
 

Ali TT

International Vice-Captain
The multi-format point system to decide bilateral series was a good way of making all the matches relevant.
 

ashley bach

Cricketer Of The Year
The Ashes are never leaving. And that's good because it's so much fun to watch Aussies and Poms poking **** at each other.
 

shortpitched713

International Captain
Reckon it would do the opposite actually

Very true, but it's the kind of publicity that keeps the game going

Again disagree with your conclusion. It would just dramatically reduce the overall attention cricket gets in the media, not redirect it to other cricket

I would say it's probably the opposite for a lot of players, even a majority. The Ashes is what motivates them and got them into cricket in the first place. You're certainly right for some of them though
Buzzkill
 

SteveNZ

Cricketer Of The Year
Indian and Australian dominance is killing cricket
Respectfully, there's a big hairy monster whose name starts with T and ends with twenty that is a much more dangerous foe. Specifically, franchise cricket.

Australia lost at home to the Windies last summer. Even the utter dominance that India has at home, is a storyline and an intriguing layer to Test cricket. Dominance in sport is not a new thing - think Tiger Woods, the Federer/Nadal/Djokovic triumvirate, Australia's Test/ODI side in the 2000s, Simone Biles, Usain Bolt etc. Those sides are not unbeatable, but they do set the standard for people to chase. That's a good thing. And both of them are going to go through a transition phase in the next 2-3 years, then we'll see - as the saying goes - who has been swimming naked when the tide goes out.
 

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