tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.comments2019-04-06T14:17:04.891+01:00Same Bat... Different Ball GameSydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14792368170002037565noreply@blogger.comBlogger197125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-22634268092361006482015-03-28T23:30:56.017+00:002015-03-28T23:30:56.017+00:00Aren't South Africa the exception to this thou...Aren't South Africa the exception to this though? They're still doing pretty well in ODI championship away from home. They haven't played many of the "big" teams yet though. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952597754091672288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-29519681506471624862015-03-18T21:15:07.667+00:002015-03-18T21:15:07.667+00:00It's a curveball which gives England a bit of ...It's a curveball which gives England a bit of a psychological advantage! Can't wait for this series to start.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952597754091672288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-17505900993598637252015-03-18T21:12:46.388+00:002015-03-18T21:12:46.388+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952597754091672288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-51882914530830512122015-03-18T21:12:39.512+00:002015-03-18T21:12:39.512+00:00I really enjoy reading Izzy's articles and twe...I really enjoy reading Izzy's articles and tweets, generally agree with her most of the time. She's a talented writer so amazing to think a decent player too!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952597754091672288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-17828114555144387042015-03-18T21:10:37.882+00:002015-03-18T21:10:37.882+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952597754091672288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-70800310438641659742015-03-18T21:10:28.379+00:002015-03-18T21:10:28.379+00:00It's great to have Holly back with Sussex! Fan...It's great to have Holly back with Sussex! Fantastic player.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952597754091672288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-33210663937640430882015-03-16T08:48:56.689+00:002015-03-16T08:48:56.689+00:00In an Ashes year all roads seem to lead to Loughbr...In an Ashes year all roads seem to lead to Loughbrough. Club and Counties will see less of their stars than ever as they relocate. Opportunities for others on one hand but a reduced focus on grass roots.Bazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07003969620066540447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-29885709656078096922015-03-13T16:55:58.773+00:002015-03-13T16:55:58.773+00:00Leaving Wyatt out makes no sense to me. She needs ...Leaving Wyatt out makes no sense to me. She needs time in the middle not at Loughborough!Don Mileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05766597067191912325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-12063252376479748442015-03-13T09:35:43.716+00:002015-03-13T09:35:43.716+00:00If they're being taken on this tour as genuine...If they're being taken on this tour as genuine England players of the future the 'newbies' need to be given the chance to shine. They should've gone to NZ for experience too.Bazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07003969620066540447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-73096600670514487462015-03-01T20:49:47.098+00:002015-03-01T20:49:47.098+00:00It was a very good and very welcome performance ce...It was a very good and very welcome performance certainly..and I would definitely buy my pizza from Sciver's pizzeria!! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10952597754091672288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-89300685759782619212015-02-19T22:30:56.366+00:002015-02-19T22:30:56.366+00:00Agree with all these.
Unfortunately this piece in...Agree with all these.<br /><br />Unfortunately this piece in the Guardian suggests that the women's franchises will take the names of their male counterparts: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/19/green-light-womens-big-bash-league-australiaRaf Nicholsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07204092093532311278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-3188431916804030842015-02-18T21:37:51.370+00:002015-02-18T21:37:51.370+00:00Who is England's best all rounder ?
Knight
B...Who is England's best all rounder ?<br /><br />Knight <br />Brunt - the pretender<br />Sciver - the young pretender<br />Gunn - the old pretender<br />Marsh - the unknown pretender<br /><br />Yeah, probably Knight at the moment.The Clangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760786835721279059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-67268334401269230712015-02-16T05:48:35.872+00:002015-02-16T05:48:35.872+00:00A few thoughts:
1) I didn't call for Nat to b...A few thoughts:<br /><br />1) I didn't call for Nat to be dropped - I want to see some progress, but it does say in the final paragraph that she shouldn't be dropped.<br />2) If Lyd had played yesterday (and not made a score) then this would have been a different blog; and I *would* have called for her to be dropped.<br />3) Gunn performed well enough in the summer to not be asking questions of her yet.<br />4) As for who else... I agree - it's tough - that's the downside of having an elite performance squad which is a bit bowler-heavy because the bowlers are much more injury-prone. The only candidate in the elitesquad (apart from TB) is Fran Wilson, who played a handful of matches a few years ago. They obviously consider her the "best of the rest" but they equally obviously don't consider her very far. Others would suggest Georgia Elwiss as a batsman, but I'm not convinced. At the next level down... Georgia Adams? She "looks" very classy with the bat, but others would argue there isn't much substance beneath, and her county record would support that to be honest. So... yer... difficult - and the subject of a future blog, I think!Sydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14792368170002037565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-14877753658032093172015-02-16T00:28:03.611+00:002015-02-16T00:28:03.611+00:00Sciver has been poor, but long term she has great ...Sciver has been poor, but long term she has great potential and as The Clanger says she's hardly alone in performing badly for England at the moment. Seems a bit harsh to single her out.<br /><br />Obviously you can't continue to just be selected on potential alone though, so I have a question for Syd, Raf and those who actually get to see domestic games.<br />How many players at that level are realistically of a standard to challenge the incumbents for places in the England team?<br /><br />From the outside it doesn't look like there's an easy answer to England's issues at the moment.<br /><br />Should the coaching be questioned when the same problems seem to be highlighted after nearly every game?hypocausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04439837574312017331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-89795970927451543442015-02-15T21:16:53.417+00:002015-02-15T21:16:53.417+00:00One ODI 50 in the last 2 years, one from Greenway,...One ODI 50 in the last 2 years, one from Greenway, one from Gunn, one from Sciver (and Sciver hasnt played all of the 2 years). Numerous chances to get one. That's why its fair to ask why just Sciver. If Gunn is the all rounder you suggest then I draw your attention to her batting record, which does not support this proposition.<br />I agree her bowling (not good on this tour though) gives her a strong claim as a bowler and perhaps the selectors have taken this view in dropping her down to 10.<br />Just as you think Gunn should not be singled out, I think Nat Sciver should not be singled out. I also note no previous blog of this ilk for Tammy Beaumont, who's batting has been - well just look at the scorecards. <br />I know blogs are in their nature meant to be thought provoking, even provocative but it doesnt feel right to go at Nat when others are equally deserving of criticism.The Clangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760786835721279059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-71193594871517859982015-02-15T20:30:46.347+00:002015-02-15T20:30:46.347+00:00I know I'm notorious for being a fan of Jenny ...I know I'm notorious for being a fan of Jenny Gunn (ahem), and I know she's had 3 bad goes with the bat in a row now. But we shouldn't forget her performances against India last summer: 7* and 62* in the Test; 5-19 in the first innings of the Test and 4-23 in the second ODI.<br /><br />Nat Sciver's highest score last summer was 17 and she took no wickets against India at all. The two just aren't comparable in terms of recent performances.<br /><br />There's obviously a problem with our middle order. But Jenny Gunn isn't it!Raf Nicholsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07204092093532311278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-54125697958187765382015-02-15T19:49:40.582+00:002015-02-15T19:49:40.582+00:00Bit tough to single out Sciver. Surely one could s...Bit tough to single out Sciver. Surely one could say pretty much the same about Greenway and Gunn. Greenway has been dropped, which I guess is confirmation she hasnt been delivering. Gunn is rapidly looking like a non all rounder, now down to no 10 in the batting order (and either hasn't bowled or not bowled well). So, why pick on just Sciver?The Clangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760786835721279059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-83950894944369850402015-02-14T21:30:23.458+00:002015-02-14T21:30:23.458+00:00Arran Brindle : ODI Average = 27.94, SR = 59.03
TT...Arran Brindle : ODI Average = 27.94, SR = 59.03<br />TT Beaumont : ODI Average = 17.25, SR = 42.24<br /><br />I would respectfully suggest that if Beaumont really is the closest player England have to an Arran Brindle she is still light years away from her.<br /><br />Your general point, that of England missing Brindle, is well made (although its a lot quieter when England are fielding!).The Clangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760786835721279059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-71926869497157206762015-02-13T01:06:36.994+00:002015-02-13T01:06:36.994+00:00It's also worth remembering football was telev...It's also worth remembering football was televised because it was already a popular activity attended by thousands, not because broadcasters felt they had a duty to grow the game.<br /><br />By happy accident the game was the most popular sport at various pivotal points in broadcast history and benefited financially from that.<br />By coincidence the length of a football match is well suited to modern viewing habits, further cementing its dominant position.<br /><br />The premier league football rights have been sold for billions. Is that good for cricket? Doubtful.<br />Is that the fault of footballers or football fans and does it point to some moral failing or other on their part? No.<br />Is there potential for cricket to be administrated far more competently than it is, with long term goals in mind that will help the game reach a wider audience and grow financially? Definitely.hypocausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04439837574312017331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-37295602457181440352015-02-13T00:48:54.498+00:002015-02-13T00:48:54.498+00:00I know it's not allowed among cricket fans, bu...I know it's not allowed among cricket fans, but I'm able to watch cricket and football (both men's and women's) as well as athletics/tennis/motorsports/swimming/cycling/snooker/darts/any number of olympic and parasports events without resorting to specious comparisons and analogies.<br /><br />Which form of surgery btw?<br />The best paid surgeons perform cosmetic surgery in private clinics. Is it right that they earn more encouraging people to take the risk of unnecessary surgery than those performing truly vital work?<br />Surgeons in a western country earn more than their counterparts working in far more taxing conditions in the developing world.<br />Those surgeons in turn still earn far more than a midwife in rural Central African Republic for example.<br />http://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/on-demand/56011-015<br /><br />Is that right? Seems pretty sick to me. Yet we live in that world.<br /><br />We also live in a world where supposed financial experts were paid fortunes to oversee an economic catastrophe that ruined the lives of millions, and were then paid millions more in public money to "fix" the problem while the most vulnerable groups in society took the hit.<br /><br />That's the sick world we live in.<br /><br />Footballers unlike those economic titans at least have a discernible, measurable talent they've worked years on to perfect. No really.<br /><br />Their part of the entertainment world is also one of the few that isn't disproportionately dominated by performers from a privileged background.<br />We're constantly told how disgusting it is the likes of Didier Drogba, Lionel Messi or Wayne Rooney are paid millions for kicking a ball, yet no-one suggests Benedict Cumberbatch or Eddie Redmayne shouldn't take home millions for essentially reading aloud for a few weeks.<br />Considering how easy football apparently is you'd think it would be awash with old Etonians making a killing.<br /><br />Is there an ugly side to football? Of course. There's also great beauty and skill. It's the most popular sport in the world and the one that most accurately represents the world we live in, for good and bad.<br /><br />If surgery, midwifery or nursing/care work/social work/teaching (or women's cricket) were among the most popular entertainments in the world, they too would generate the astronomical sums and pay salaries that football does.<br /><br />It would be great if most of the money made by football went to the grass roots or improving living standard across the globe. Sadly it doesn't (even with Blatter and co in charge football actually does a far better job of this than cricket...)<br />Put it this way. I'd rather the "prima donnas" on the pitch got the money than the oligarchs and sheikhs in the boardroom.<br /><br />I find it bizarre people are so quick to apply sweeping judgements of moral character to an entire group merely because of which sport they happen to be involved with.<br /><br />I can think of at least a couple of women's cricketers who would never be out of the tabloids if they were given multi-million pound contracts and the level of media scrutiny applied to top footballers.<br /><br />A sports fan citing one sport over another as being a case of the emperor's new clothes seems the definition of ludicrous.<br />Analyse any sport and it'll only amount to an arbitrary set of skills used to perform an ultimately meaningless task to a better standard than a notional opponent.<br /><br />A bakers dozen of people mill about in a field for between 3-8 hours a day. Occasionally one of them will hurl a ball at the floor causing a short burst of running, shouting and gesticulating. Two middle aged men perform a strange form of full-body sign language/contemporary dance and everyone goes back to milling about.<br />People pay to watch and even waste whole days watching it on telly.<br />*Emperor's new clothes claxon*<br /><br />Tennis appears to be a couple of people using snowshoes to hit a furry lump of rubber back and forth across a car park.<br /><br />And rugby?<br /><br />Apologies for the rant I just find the bitter adversarial side of warring sports fandoms utterly fatuous and pathetic.hypocausthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04439837574312017331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-6586897588808646352015-02-12T18:14:53.537+00:002015-02-12T18:14:53.537+00:00A modern day emperor's new clothes.
The footba...A modern day emperor's new clothes.<br />The football clubs have a vested interest in deluding people into thinking the Premier League is vital, critical, must see. The media (especially Radio 5 Live) are also part of this delusion, whipping up hysteria about football because they want people to watch and listen and improve their ratings.<br />The supporter, poor thing, is fleeced for vast amounts of money and treated very badly indeed.<br />One day (no time soon) everyone might wake up to the delusion that they are watching ludicrously over paid players (its a sick society where a football player gets paid many times more than a surgeon that can save your life for example), strutting around a patch of grass, only wearing the shirt because they are paid to, with no emotional tie to the city their club is supposed to represent.<br />A modern day emperor's new clothes.The Clangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760786835721279059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-75346339637916996702015-02-10T11:27:45.193+00:002015-02-10T11:27:45.193+00:00Do we need this major shake up of the women's ...Do we need this major shake up of the women's domestic game some are shouting for? England men do ok with 18 first class counties and 20 minor counties. Also, most of the England Women squad have been in ECB development programmes since their teenage years and this is where their real development takes place. Also seems those most keen to ring fence the top division are those who happen to be in it at the moment!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05281521954994736684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-3998558810885297312015-02-02T22:11:03.017+00:002015-02-02T22:11:03.017+00:00Perhaps her new action is as radical as a Knight &...Perhaps her new action is as radical as a Knight 'new action' and she's become a quickie. Perhaps DvN has taught how to leg spin !The Clangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760786835721279059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-41542785905876828542015-01-31T22:33:50.706+00:002015-01-31T22:33:50.706+00:00Um .... a bit more statistical analysis raises one...Um .... a bit more statistical analysis raises one more interesting angle (and a bit more substance to my claim that just looking at the most recent 2 years isn't solid). Ask the question what do the career Scoring Rates look like for squad members when playing as T20 opener and :-<br /><br />Edwards 107.11<br />MARSH 102.86<br />Winfield 101.63<br />Taylor 99.83<br />Wyatt 95.58<br />Knight 93.75<br /><br />Marsh, the forgotten T20 opener. Marsh and Edwards have opened together 31 times (the most of any combination) and amassed 939 (more than any other combination).The Clangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760786835721279059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1651413709818481022.post-79888308215362898852015-01-31T20:27:35.763+00:002015-01-31T20:27:35.763+00:00Not really convinced that those stats make a solid...Not really convinced that those stats make a solid case.<br /><br />1. Winfield scored 74 as an opener in England's most recent T20 (something that the above stats do not bring out) and surely has earned another crack as a T20 opener on the back of that. Crickey, I mean Beaumont got selected in the T20 WC in 2014 having scored 2, then still got picked after a duck, and then got picked for the Final after a 2).<br /><br />2. Knight batted 10 times in those 12 matches and scored only 79 runs (granted she scored them as more than a run a ball but volume of runs also matters and 79 is pretty poor).<br /><br />3. You've picked the last 2 years but that's arbitrary. Taylor has had a better career T20 scoring rate than Edwards since 5th Sept 2012.<br /><br />4. One point to better support your case: Edwards' SR when opening in T20 is 107.11<br /> <br />For me, Winfield has earned being opener in the 1st T20 in NZ on the back of that 74.<br />After that its a straight fight between Edwards and Knight for the other opening spot. Both have good cases. Both were in Oz this winter and Knight batted better than Edwards. Edwards, as you point out, is our best batsmen. <br /><br />Whether it is Edwards, Winfield, Knight or Sciver, let's hope the opening partnerships form the basis of some 150+ scores.The Clangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760786835721279059noreply@blogger.com