7th Match, Group A: Australia v New Zealand at Birmingham Jun 12, 2013

[Sphagnum]

Does anyone really care about this shit?

CA really has no idea just how dire Cricket in this country has become. They 've overseen its fall into oblivion by their selection, rotation and inept management policies over the last 5 years.

It is the last topic we get to standing around the watercooler after it spent years and years at number 1.

By the time they realise that nobody gives a flying f**k anymore, it will be too late to do anything about it.

RIP - The Ashes audience will tell the tale this summer.

To quote the old man who played club cricket until he was 50 and used to spend all summer on the couch watching the aussies play

'I watched a couple of overs of Trott and Bell batting the other night. It gave me time to see who was in the field for Australia. After about 5 minutes, I realised we had no hope with that line up of useless nobodies so I turned it off.'

I wonder how many die-hards from his era feel the same way?

 

[Timbo]

It is a bit of a worry. But it's like all sports in that its cyclical.

Ten years ago we had the best team on the planet, but things change.

We'll get better again just like we did at the end of the 80s. And this incompetent CA management won't last.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Even at 50/2 I was reasonably confident that the Blackcaps would knock off the aussies or at least come close.

God Mitchell McClenaghan has made a sensational start to his ODI career - now averaging 17.03 from 9 against the best sides in the world (England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia? ) with 4 4 wicket bags.

Brings some much needed mongrel to that bowling lineup.

He's certainly made a statistically good start but you can't really be over-impressed by what he's been serving up, surely?

Was supposed to be our new tearaway and barely hits 130kph most of the time. It's not "mongrel" just because he grunts on release all the time.

Am hoping for more from him in future but so far it's just been an amazing run of good fortune and golden arm-ness from the lad.

 

[Green and Gold Machine]

It is a bit of a worry. But it's like all sports in that its cyclical.

Ten years ago we had the best team on the planet, but things change.

We'll get better again just like we did at the end of the 80s. And this incompetent CA management won't last.

It's more than a bit of a worry and spare us that cyclical bullshit.

The people who think getting another coach, captain and group of selectors will fix everything are kidding themselves. There are not the biggest problem here, it's the whole system. It has become completely inept and is not developing players as it should. Add to that Cricket is missing out on more of the talent pool than ever and kids are not interested in the sport as they were in the past.

By the time people try to fix everything it will be too late IMO.

 

[ozbash]

oh, are Aussie out ?

oh dear....

 

[Sphagnum]

It's more than a bit of a worry and spare us that cyclical bullshit.

The people who think getting another coach, captain and group of selectors will fix everything are kidding themselves. There are not the biggest problem here, it's the whole system. It has become completely inept and is not developing players as it should. Add to that Cricket is missing out on more of the talent pool than ever and kids are not interested in the sport as they were in the past.

By the time people try to fix everything it will be too late IMO.

Agreed.

The writing was on the wall when all of the juniors from our club came into the seniors and scrapped technique and determination for 'swinging like a rusty gate'

When I made that step, my game didn't change. That was only 5-10 years earlier.

Cricket at all levels has just become a competition to see who can hit the ball the furthest. That plan has never one anybody a test series.

 

[Rod]

He's certainly made a statistically good start but you can't really be over-impressed by what he's been serving up, surely?

Was supposed to be our new tearaway and barely hits 130kph most of the time. It's not "mongrel" just because he grunts on release all the time.

Am hoping for more from him in future but so far it's just been an amazing run of good fortune and golden arm-ness from the lad.

He had no trouble hitting 140 before his recent injury, he's still returning to full fitness I reckon.