4 thoughts on “VIDEO: The CRICKETher Weekly Vodcast – Episode 47”
Are England’s batters really over the hill and isn’t the current position better than the situation a few years ago when no one ever made a debut after the age of 22?
From watching NZ domestic T20 matches this month, it looks as though we’re in a transitional phase: there are a lot of very promising young players coming through (especially bowlers), but most of them lack the experience for full international cricket – they’re not quite at the Amelia Kerr “jump right in” level. So U19 tours and international competitions could be a big boost.
That domestic competition has been a 3-way tussle between Wellington (my home team), Canterbury and Auckland – which is bad news for Wellington, since they slipped to third at the final hurdle and can’t now qualify for a home final, but good news for the White Ferns with a higher number than usual of close, competitive matches.
Wellington are very hard to beat when at least one of Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr fire with the bat, but when they’re out for a combined total of 7 runs, as happened on Sunday vs Auckland, that’s pretty much game over.
Another great vodcast. A few points on your England selection issue
Sid is correct about the team ageing together bring a huge concern. Another is that they’re not exactly a world beating team to begin with. They’re a good team, but really only a great team at its absolute best should have so many automatic selections.
This indicates either a really conservative selection policy, extreme favouritism or a lack of genuine contenders beating the doors down demanding selection. The latter is also a huge problem if true.
Personally, you should never gift games on potential. People need to be demanding inclusion rather than just look the goods or show a bit of potential.
Winning does matter, especially to a coach, and while Raf says no one would’ve cared if England lost vs a very poor, unmotivated WI team, I would disagree. A loss against such a team would ramp up pressure on the coach and on the new players who are going to be immediately called into question. Plus losing can be a very bad habit to break….
You could add another problem on top of the ones Syd and Raf mention in this Vodcast. The problem they mention about an ageing team is perhaps 3 years or so away. The problem following that, which will make itself known during that period is the huge gulf – a regular Grand Canyon – between club and regional cricket with the abolition of the county teams and tournaments. In the main the ECB decided to abandon the natural loyalty many players had to their counties by not choosing the Div 1 counties as the regional hubs. One assumes that was done on the basis of facilities but it destroyed a link and questioned the loyalties of many. As I chat to players now I find that to many it’s let’s just play – which is fine – but you need to build that loyalty in the Regional teams to ge the best performances rather than have players move hither and thither all the time. It doesn’t help regular supporters like myself either. While I’m equally content watching Hursley Park, or the Vipers or England, my loyalty to particular teams has taken a bashing. I was asked a couple of years ago who I supported in the KSL. I said no one since Sussex players were represented in every team bar one. I simply went to the closest match. I think I may be an exception though and others who were Vipers fans may turn up to whatever name they’ve give them now (how’s that for poor marketing?) and think “I don’t know any of these people I was cheering for last year… What am I doing here? A fan base its important. Without ‘bums on seats’ TV broadcasters will never take this game seriously.
Now I’ll retire before my finger prints are worn through!
CRICKETher 
Are England’s batters really over the hill and isn’t the current position better than the situation a few years ago when no one ever made a debut after the age of 22?
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From watching NZ domestic T20 matches this month, it looks as though we’re in a transitional phase: there are a lot of very promising young players coming through (especially bowlers), but most of them lack the experience for full international cricket – they’re not quite at the Amelia Kerr “jump right in” level. So U19 tours and international competitions could be a big boost.
That domestic competition has been a 3-way tussle between Wellington (my home team), Canterbury and Auckland – which is bad news for Wellington, since they slipped to third at the final hurdle and can’t now qualify for a home final, but good news for the White Ferns with a higher number than usual of close, competitive matches.
Wellington are very hard to beat when at least one of Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr fire with the bat, but when they’re out for a combined total of 7 runs, as happened on Sunday vs Auckland, that’s pretty much game over.
LikeLike
Another great vodcast. A few points on your England selection issue
Sid is correct about the team ageing together bring a huge concern. Another is that they’re not exactly a world beating team to begin with. They’re a good team, but really only a great team at its absolute best should have so many automatic selections.
This indicates either a really conservative selection policy, extreme favouritism or a lack of genuine contenders beating the doors down demanding selection. The latter is also a huge problem if true.
Personally, you should never gift games on potential. People need to be demanding inclusion rather than just look the goods or show a bit of potential.
Winning does matter, especially to a coach, and while Raf says no one would’ve cared if England lost vs a very poor, unmotivated WI team, I would disagree. A loss against such a team would ramp up pressure on the coach and on the new players who are going to be immediately called into question. Plus losing can be a very bad habit to break….
LikeLike
You could add another problem on top of the ones Syd and Raf mention in this Vodcast. The problem they mention about an ageing team is perhaps 3 years or so away. The problem following that, which will make itself known during that period is the huge gulf – a regular Grand Canyon – between club and regional cricket with the abolition of the county teams and tournaments. In the main the ECB decided to abandon the natural loyalty many players had to their counties by not choosing the Div 1 counties as the regional hubs. One assumes that was done on the basis of facilities but it destroyed a link and questioned the loyalties of many. As I chat to players now I find that to many it’s let’s just play – which is fine – but you need to build that loyalty in the Regional teams to ge the best performances rather than have players move hither and thither all the time. It doesn’t help regular supporters like myself either. While I’m equally content watching Hursley Park, or the Vipers or England, my loyalty to particular teams has taken a bashing. I was asked a couple of years ago who I supported in the KSL. I said no one since Sussex players were represented in every team bar one. I simply went to the closest match. I think I may be an exception though and others who were Vipers fans may turn up to whatever name they’ve give them now (how’s that for poor marketing?) and think “I don’t know any of these people I was cheering for last year… What am I doing here? A fan base its important. Without ‘bums on seats’ TV broadcasters will never take this game seriously.
Now I’ll retire before my finger prints are worn through!
LikeLike