Test Cricket - Information

[Richard]

you have got me stumped there

best ask SJS, he can remember when cricket bats were curved

I'd guess SJS knows the answer to all 3 - there were definately 3 different stages in covering being introduced.
Certainly I've seen covers in 1924 pre-match (don't know if it was regular or even in use) but I don't know when it was first covered pre-match as a matter of course.
The only date I know for certain is that covers were used when it rained in 1970.
But I don't know when they were first used overnight.

 

[Richard]

A strange defintion of small you have.

Nope, not strange at all, I get along very well with most posters, there's only a small number who dislike me.

 

[archie mac]

Feel free to correct me, my knowledge on pre-cover conventions of cricket is not all that strong. But I would have thought that the introduction of covers would have reduced the number of sticky wickets, which are notoriously hard to bat on, and you would prefer to be bowling first on a wicket of this type, in the knowledge that the wicket will dry out and become easier to bat on.

Although (and I do a wonderful job of arguing against myself) I guess that these wickets were also often a lot more likely to crumble and become hard to bat on last, in combination with all the dints left in the pitch by the ball, and massive footmarks. Anyways, feedback appreciated.

There was a lot of strategism in the old days, for instance sometimes it was better to bat on a wet pitch early, as bowlers run ups were not covered and they were unable to gain a grip. Another reason was the pitches became much worse once the sun came out and started to dry the pitch, these wicket were referred to as Sticky Dogs.
A good example of this would be the fourth Test of 1902. Aust won the toss, batted first, the English captain annouced that if he could keep the Australians quiet until lunch England would win the Test. Trumper played a great innings scoring a Century before lunch. After lunch Aust. collapsed but the damage had been done. England lost by 3 runs.

 

[marc71178]

Nope, not strange at all, I get along very well with most posters, there's only a small number who dislike me.

Nobody has mentioned anyone as a person, merely the tripe that person continues to force upon the forum.

 

[Richard]

And in that plenty of people take what I say on cricket seriously there's nothing to dig with there, either.

 

[Richard]

There was a lot of strategism in the old days, for instance sometimes it was better to bat on a wet pitch early, as bowlers run ups were not covered and they were unable to gain a grip. Another reason was the pitches became much worse once the sun came out and started to dry the pitch, these wicket were referred to as Sticky Dogs.
A good example of this would be the fourth Test of 1902. Aust won the toss, batted first, the English captain annouced that if he could keep the Australians quiet until lunch England would win the Test. Trumper played a great innings scoring a Century before lunch. After lunch Aust. collapsed but the damage had been done. England lost by 3 runs.

Another thing to throw into the pot.
On an exceptionally wet pitch batting wasn't too difficult; on a drying pitch it was all but impossible.
Either way - at the toss was the only time you knew for certain what the condition of the pitch was.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Nobody has mentioned anyone as a person, merely the tripe that person continues to force upon the forum.

Exactly. I have nothing against you personally, Richard, and I enjoy your presence on the forum, but it's extremely irritating for everybody when you simply cannot allow a topic to pass by without forcing one of your pet theories on it, simply because there are some threads where it is inappropriate.

 

[Richard]

If you really enjoy my presence on the forum I have to wonder why, unlike some (Son Of Coco, wpdavid, Neil, Corey) you are so regularly so impudent and scathing in your regular disagreements with me.

 

[Stefano]

Which are the biggest rivalries in international cricket? I would say Australia and England, which play the Ashes Series every two years.

What about others? Are Australia and New Zealand rivals? Or India and Pakistan? Or New Zealand and South Africa (like in rugby)?

And how is the international schedule prepared? For example, why is Pakistan playing against the West Indies, now?

---------

By the way: I have become a Pakistan's fan. I am watching a Pakistan test match. When Danish Kaneria is bowling, what do his mates shout? I hear something like "JABA, Danish!" I hope Pakistani users can help me.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Australia and England are probably the biggest rivals because of the long history, and India and Pakistan for fairly obvious reasons due to political tensions, location and so on. Aside from that, like in most sports rivalries develop because of the high quality (or close nature) of competition over an extended period. For example, Australia and the West Indies developed strong rivalries in the 70s and in the 90s when both had extremely strong sides, but right now that rivalry is not really there due to the relative weakness of the West Indian side. The same is true of say Pakistan and the West Indies during the 80s, and again that rivalry doesn't really exist any more.

Of late, Australia and India have had some fantastic, competitive and close series over a number of years, and a rivalry is certainly developing there. In 2001 Australia toured India as the best side in the world but having not won there for 35 years, and took a 1-0 lead and had India following on and seemingly headed for defeat in the second test, before an amazing partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid and some great bowling from Harbhajan Singh gave India a win, and then they went on to win the final test and take the series and deny Australia. In 2003/04 India toured Australia will everyone expecting a comfortable Australian win, but India were the better team over the course of the series and it finished a 1-1 draw. Then late last year Australia went back to India again and played extremely well to win the series 2-1 and take an away series win against India for the first time in decades. India are also the only team to consistently beat Australia since the Australians became the top side in around 1995. Since then Australia have lost only 5 series in total, and 3 of them have been to India.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

And how is the international schedule prepared? For example, why is Pakistan playing against the West Indies, now?

There's an ICC plan that schedules out every series that's scheduled to be played in the world for the next 6 or so years (it's called the Ten-Year Plan, but I believe it started in 2001, so it runs to 2011) - so that everyone tours everyone equally. It's rather controversial, though, because it doesn't allow for many extra series - yet there's extra series squeezed in everywhere (Super Series between Australia and the best of the world, India play Pakistan about every year, for example), so the strain on the cricketers become quite large. To avoid that, a lot of cricket boards schedule two-Test series (such as the one in the West Indies between them and Pakistan) - which, again, frequently end in 1-1 draws and thus are rather pointless.

Before, it was like in football - the individual nations organised tours between each other. That tended to work out OK too, though I believe there was concern with Zimbabwe and Bangladesh not being very popular which led to the ten-year plan.

By the way: I have become a Pakistan's fan. I am watching a Pakistan test match. When Danish Kaneria is bowling, what do his mates shout? I hear something like "JABA, Danish!" I hope Pakistani users can help me.

No idea what "Jaba" means, but if you're in for being a Pakistani fan, expect a lot of ups and downs.

 

[Stefano]

Samuel, you are from Norway? My brother lives in Oslo! Is there a cricket league in Norway?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Samuel, you are from Norway? My brother lives in Oslo! Is there a cricket league in Norway?

Yup, I am. Strange coincidence with your brother And yes, there's a cricket league - two divisions, fifteen teams, they play every Saturday and Sunday. Haven't bothered to find a club myself cos I suspect I'd be absolutely devoid of cricketing talent and because most of the players are Pakistani and would probably be a bit suspicious of a Norwegian with glasses turning up and saying that he wants to play.

 

[Neil Pickup]

The likelihood for what you're hearing as "Jaba" is "Shabash", which is Urdu for "very good".

It's one of the two Urdu words I know, the other being "Aloo"...

 

[C_C]

Hi Stefano.

You see, in any team sports, there are two kinds of rivalries- 'historical' rivalries that are a result of socio-political causes(like Brazil vs Argentina in football, Toronto vs ottawa in NHL, Arsenal vs ManU in footbal, etc etc) and 'best of the best' rivalries- ie, when two high quality teams are matched against each other(for eg. Australia vs RSA in rugby)..
The former rivalry is largely irrelevant of how good the two teams are- it has everything to do with history and the clash of two nations. Australia vs England, England vs West Indies and India vs Pakistan are two such encounters.
They will always generate passion and mass following, regardless of how badly one team thumps the other( take OZ vs ENG for example- since 1989, AUS has won 28 matches, ENG has won 7 matches and 8 were drawn).
The latter kind of rivalries, as some have already said in the thread, comes and goes depending on how good the teams were.
In the 1960s, you had a triple header between Australia, West Indies and England, in the 1970s it was primarily Australia vs West Indies, in 1980s it was primarily West Indies vs Pakistan and in the 1990s it was a triple header between Australia, Pakistan and South Africa with West Indies initially figuring in the early 90s.
Since 2000, to some extent, it has been Australia vs India.

As per who plays whom and how many times, the ICC has a 4 year plan that highly recommends each team playing another twice- once at home and once away.
However, the number of matches per series and the precise timing of the series are decieded by the respective boards.
Note that it is a recommendation and boards can choose to cancel or postpone series if they wish to- India vs Bangladesh is a notable example.

 

[C_C]

Neil, i am surprised.
As far as cricket goes, the most commonly heard urdu/hindi word after Shaabash is 'chutiya'.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Hi
However, the number of matches per series and the precise timing of the series are decieded by the respective boards.
Note that it is a recommendation and boards can choose to cancel or postpone series if they wish to- India vs Bangladesh is a notable example.

Just one thing, but the precise timing of the series is "recommended" in a similar fashion by the ICC, in their 10 year plan, rather than simply being decided by the boards. Every team has a set of fixtures leading up to 2011, and they must stick to it unless they have a good reason not to, or face punishment from the ICC. You can see all the forthcoming series and their intended timing in the 10 year plan, at the link below

http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/test/future_tours/

 

[C_C]

Yes, you are right- ICC does 'recommend' that a particular series be played out around a certain time of the year and they better stick to that scheduling as far as test cricket goes or they face stiff fines.
However, as far as scheduling ODIs go, i think the respective boards have complete authority in that matter- as we see ODI series between two teams getting cancelled/postponed fairly often.

 

[superkingdave]

They have recenlty extended the period in which you have to play teams home and away from 5 to 6 years.

 

[honestbharani]

It is so great to see newer people get attracted to cricket right in front of our eyes (not exactly, but you get the picture..)


Hi Stefano, as a person who has generally been interested in most international sports (like most of the other CW members) I can tell you cricket is definitely comparable in terms of viewing pleasure with all of those sports. I am sure you will have fun watching cricket, esp. if you watch guys like Lara, Sehwag and Gilchrist bat or guys like Lee, Shoaib, Murali and Warne bowl.