3 year deal. Jimmy Adams is still a Hampshire player. Always expected this to be agreed, if you cut him in half (preferably when he's retired), it would say Hampshire.
Done.
Monday, 25 October 2010
Saturday, 16 October 2010
My favourite Cricketer - Imran Tahir
They say the art of legspin is dead. Well, no-one’s said that really but I’m saying it to validate my argument, though actually there is at least some truth in there somewhere. Since Warney packed in test cricket for Indian 20/20, TV adverts and some stop off town in the Nevada desert, international cricket hasn’t exactly been blessed with fine legspinners. To prove my point I could just say Bryce McGain but that would be harsh. For example, Danish Kaneria is a genuine leggie but he just can’t seem to cut it consistently at test level. Mishra was good too but not good enough for the Indian selectors. Steve Smith tries his best, bless him, but he has a long way to go.
The fact is there is no Clarrie Grimmett or Abdul Qadir or even Mushtaq Ahmed out there. Except for one. Known to the casual cricket viewer as the guy South Africa tried to pick but then weren’t allowed to, most would dismiss Imran Tahir as just another spinner. Indeed his profiles that circulate the internet happily back this notion up. “A journeyman cricketer” and “Never fulfilled his potential” adorn quite succinct, cold descriptions. It could, and should easily be suggested that the people who have written these profiles have never seen Tahir bowl in the flesh. Instead basing their presumptions on the number of clubs he has turned out for in his career.
And yes, he has been a bit of a tart in that respect. Charles Babbage constructed his programmable computer with the aim of one day calculating Tahir’s number of clubs, as the abacus was not up to the task. There are more teams, spread out over Pakistan, England and South Africa that have printed shirts with ‘Tahir’ on the back than I can care to name (though the Water and Power Development Authority deserves a special mention).
Yet all of that is irrelevant in relation to his skill with ball in hand. For me Tahir represents everything that I love about cricket. Here is a man who is not a gym freak like an increasing number of cricketers. I doubt he spends any more time than he has to running and practising fielding drills. Batting is a bit of a laugh for him because his mind is focussed solely upon the talent that makes him oh so employable. With one sleeve up and one sleeve down, a brisk canter to the crease is the prelude to a little bit of magic. Warne’s greatest weapon was his stock delivery, though his variations were mightily effective too, whilst Kumble married the topspinner. Tahir has full confidence in his legbreak, but is equally adept at sending down the googly, topspinner etc. He also knows, down to a single delivery, when to bowl a particular variation. That is his greatest asset.
Often when you watch a normal legspinner (i.e crap one) you get the impression that a googly is bowled when the bowler feels like it, just to add a bit of variety to his spell. When Tahir bowls a googly you are under no illusions that the previous dozen deliveries to that batsman have been bowled with the sole intention of making the googly the killer blow. There is no sledging, or staring down the opponent, or unnecessary outbursts of frustration. He is simply too nice for that.
That’s not to say he is not passionate. Quite the opposite. All of those emotions, frustrations and feelings are stored up as the carefully constructed plan is executed, culminating in a personal victory. Be it the prize wicket in a final, or a tailender in a dead rubber, Tahir celebrates each and every wicket as though he had just found out that he has the only winning Euromillions ticket. Arms outstretched, head thrown back, shouting at the top of his voice and running to some distant part of the ground, Tahir is not only a joy to watch but he lifts the team around him.
I have always been sceptical of the idea of a talisman, as to win you need a team effort, but if such a person exists then it is Tahir. In 2008 he joined Hampshire in Division One with seven games left. Hampshire sat bottom with one win all season and almost certain to be relegated. In those last seven games, Tahir picked up 44 wickets at an average of 16.68, as Hampshire drew three and won four to finish third in the table. He breathes life into a team, bringing exuberance, energy and everything one associates romantically with a sub-continental bowler – mystery, magic, guts and some cavalier slogging with the bat. I’d go so far as to say that he is the greatest legspinner in the world currently, and not at all far off the greatest spinner. A lecturer of mine last year described watching a model steam engine in motion as “it’s, well, it’s effing orgasmic”. In my mind this wraps watching Imran Tahir up in a nutshell.
Imran Tahir is a window to another time, an ideal that is very nearly dead. One that says stuff your BMI readings. To hell with your score on the bleep test. Who gives a damn about how many reps you can do in a minute. You’re a bloody talented, thoughtful guy and you possess something that no number of coaches and back room computer analysts can teach. The shape and size spectrum in cricket is sadly diminishing but there will still be those that champion talent over physical ability. Tahir is one and for as long as he plays, I will be in love with the diversity of cricket, and above all the art of legspin.
The fact is there is no Clarrie Grimmett or Abdul Qadir or even Mushtaq Ahmed out there. Except for one. Known to the casual cricket viewer as the guy South Africa tried to pick but then weren’t allowed to, most would dismiss Imran Tahir as just another spinner. Indeed his profiles that circulate the internet happily back this notion up. “A journeyman cricketer” and “Never fulfilled his potential” adorn quite succinct, cold descriptions. It could, and should easily be suggested that the people who have written these profiles have never seen Tahir bowl in the flesh. Instead basing their presumptions on the number of clubs he has turned out for in his career.
And yes, he has been a bit of a tart in that respect. Charles Babbage constructed his programmable computer with the aim of one day calculating Tahir’s number of clubs, as the abacus was not up to the task. There are more teams, spread out over Pakistan, England and South Africa that have printed shirts with ‘Tahir’ on the back than I can care to name (though the Water and Power Development Authority deserves a special mention).
Yet all of that is irrelevant in relation to his skill with ball in hand. For me Tahir represents everything that I love about cricket. Here is a man who is not a gym freak like an increasing number of cricketers. I doubt he spends any more time than he has to running and practising fielding drills. Batting is a bit of a laugh for him because his mind is focussed solely upon the talent that makes him oh so employable. With one sleeve up and one sleeve down, a brisk canter to the crease is the prelude to a little bit of magic. Warne’s greatest weapon was his stock delivery, though his variations were mightily effective too, whilst Kumble married the topspinner. Tahir has full confidence in his legbreak, but is equally adept at sending down the googly, topspinner etc. He also knows, down to a single delivery, when to bowl a particular variation. That is his greatest asset.
Often when you watch a normal legspinner (i.e crap one) you get the impression that a googly is bowled when the bowler feels like it, just to add a bit of variety to his spell. When Tahir bowls a googly you are under no illusions that the previous dozen deliveries to that batsman have been bowled with the sole intention of making the googly the killer blow. There is no sledging, or staring down the opponent, or unnecessary outbursts of frustration. He is simply too nice for that.
That’s not to say he is not passionate. Quite the opposite. All of those emotions, frustrations and feelings are stored up as the carefully constructed plan is executed, culminating in a personal victory. Be it the prize wicket in a final, or a tailender in a dead rubber, Tahir celebrates each and every wicket as though he had just found out that he has the only winning Euromillions ticket. Arms outstretched, head thrown back, shouting at the top of his voice and running to some distant part of the ground, Tahir is not only a joy to watch but he lifts the team around him.
I have always been sceptical of the idea of a talisman, as to win you need a team effort, but if such a person exists then it is Tahir. In 2008 he joined Hampshire in Division One with seven games left. Hampshire sat bottom with one win all season and almost certain to be relegated. In those last seven games, Tahir picked up 44 wickets at an average of 16.68, as Hampshire drew three and won four to finish third in the table. He breathes life into a team, bringing exuberance, energy and everything one associates romantically with a sub-continental bowler – mystery, magic, guts and some cavalier slogging with the bat. I’d go so far as to say that he is the greatest legspinner in the world currently, and not at all far off the greatest spinner. A lecturer of mine last year described watching a model steam engine in motion as “it’s, well, it’s effing orgasmic”. In my mind this wraps watching Imran Tahir up in a nutshell.
Imran Tahir is a window to another time, an ideal that is very nearly dead. One that says stuff your BMI readings. To hell with your score on the bleep test. Who gives a damn about how many reps you can do in a minute. You’re a bloody talented, thoughtful guy and you possess something that no number of coaches and back room computer analysts can teach. The shape and size spectrum in cricket is sadly diminishing but there will still be those that champion talent over physical ability. Tahir is one and for as long as he plays, I will be in love with the diversity of cricket, and above all the art of legspin.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
A huge relief
The news I certainly had been hoping for, and I'm sure the news every person had been hoping for, Dominic Cork has signed a one year deal for the 2011 season. You can't beat Corky, not even age can. He was perhaps waning slightly at Lancs but the move to Hampshire has been like a new pair of legs on him. If anybody can find a more hard working, committed and enthusiastic 39 year old fast bowling, captaining, trophy winning cricketer then I'll buy a Sussex season ticket.
He had perhaps hinted at calling it a day, having lifted the 20/20 cup surrounded by teammates young enough to be his children. His comment about feeling that he may no longer be able to earn his place in the team was quite a surprise to be honest, given his very, shall we say, 'self assured' attitude. But I guess even the strongest of characters mellow but he has certainly made the best decision in my view.
It is not just his stats that made me want him to sign on for another year. I am always sceptical when people talk of their team having a 'talisman', but if one does indeed exist then Cork to Hampshire is what Favre was like to the Packers. Cork brings hard work, a smile, energy, guidance and above all inspiration to the team. He effectively won us two trophies with his bowling whilst his mentoring capabilities has seen Wood go from no involvement at the start of the year to a force in all three formats by the end of it.
He is the face of Hampshire, filling the gap left by Warne in that respect. He was probably hoping that 2010 would be a season to get some cricket in but also to get some breaks in too to look after the body. Injuries conspired to not only change that but to also give him the captaincy. A role he was born for and one that he did not let us down in doing. Cork was signed for 2009 because he still felt he had something to offer. Two years later he still feels the same way and for that I am damn pleased.
He had perhaps hinted at calling it a day, having lifted the 20/20 cup surrounded by teammates young enough to be his children. His comment about feeling that he may no longer be able to earn his place in the team was quite a surprise to be honest, given his very, shall we say, 'self assured' attitude. But I guess even the strongest of characters mellow but he has certainly made the best decision in my view.
It is not just his stats that made me want him to sign on for another year. I am always sceptical when people talk of their team having a 'talisman', but if one does indeed exist then Cork to Hampshire is what Favre was like to the Packers. Cork brings hard work, a smile, energy, guidance and above all inspiration to the team. He effectively won us two trophies with his bowling whilst his mentoring capabilities has seen Wood go from no involvement at the start of the year to a force in all three formats by the end of it.
He is the face of Hampshire, filling the gap left by Warne in that respect. He was probably hoping that 2010 would be a season to get some cricket in but also to get some breaks in too to look after the body. Injuries conspired to not only change that but to also give him the captaincy. A role he was born for and one that he did not let us down in doing. Cork was signed for 2009 because he still felt he had something to offer. Two years later he still feels the same way and for that I am damn pleased.
Saturday, 25 September 2010
GET IN!!
What a rise it has been. Some questioned his inclusion, moaning that the likes of Kerrigan and Parry should have been in the squad instead (yes, they were Lancs fans). But when, amongst your list of victims you include Bopara, Goodwin, van Jaarsveld, Chanderpaul, Cook and Trescothick, then you are likely to be noticed. Danny Briggs has had a barnstorming year, leading English wicket taker in the 20/20 with 31, he even came into his own in the Championship, turning into a genuine spin threat.
Effectively 4th in line to the spin throne, it's just amazing even now, to see his name especially, amongst the lists for touring parties to Aus. That's certainly not to say he hasn't deserved it. Completely the opposite. Nic Pothas said in the latest issue of SPIN that some Hampshire players' faces didn't seem to fit with the England set up. Two of those mentioned have made it into the performance squad, justifiably. To have both openers score over 1300 runs for the season is brilliant. To have both of them English is even better and for one to be born in this county is the icing on the cake.
I expected Carberry to go to Australia in some playing capacity. I also half expected, half blindly hoped that Adams would be on the same plane, so overall it was a very pleasing squad announcement. To see none of, in my view the three best batsmen of 2010 (Adams, Hildreth, Lyth) involved with the main squad, whilst Bell waltzes back into the group of 16, has done little to repair my views on ECB selection.
But that should not detract from the marvellous achievements of these three Hampshire players, who have absolutely destroyed the selectors' door using Cosgrove as a battering ram. They richly deserve their chance, and some.
Effectively 4th in line to the spin throne, it's just amazing even now, to see his name especially, amongst the lists for touring parties to Aus. That's certainly not to say he hasn't deserved it. Completely the opposite. Nic Pothas said in the latest issue of SPIN that some Hampshire players' faces didn't seem to fit with the England set up. Two of those mentioned have made it into the performance squad, justifiably. To have both openers score over 1300 runs for the season is brilliant. To have both of them English is even better and for one to be born in this county is the icing on the cake.
I expected Carberry to go to Australia in some playing capacity. I also half expected, half blindly hoped that Adams would be on the same plane, so overall it was a very pleasing squad announcement. To see none of, in my view the three best batsmen of 2010 (Adams, Hildreth, Lyth) involved with the main squad, whilst Bell waltzes back into the group of 16, has done little to repair my views on ECB selection.
But that should not detract from the marvellous achievements of these three Hampshire players, who have absolutely destroyed the selectors' door using Cosgrove as a battering ram. They richly deserve their chance, and some.
Monday, 20 September 2010
Scheduling the 2011 T20
Now, as absolutely bloody fantastic as the Finals Day win was, it did feel like being handed one of those foil blankets after finishing a marathon, such was the mix of elation with relief at having finally completed the tournament. In short it was way too long in terms of number of matches played. 144 games to eliminate 10 of the 18 sides? It had shades of the IPL in how it made many people crumple to their knees in front of the TV during yet another dead rubber from the County Ground in Derby shouting "Why?!! WHY?!!!!".
The saddest part, for me, was that after some of the losses, I found myself not being bothered by the defeat. For someone who's life is ruined by the rugby season, where Wednesday through to Saturday are spent worrying about the Saturday fixture, then Sunday to Tuesday are spent recovering from the match before starting the cycle all over again, it is pretty damning on the tournament as a concept for me just to go "doh" at a result then get on with my life.
Sixteen group games made half of them meaningless, whilst playing against half the country removed a lot of the local derby feel. I think that it has already been decided that the tournament will return in 2011 to a 6 team group with 10 group games, just like 2009. This is a good move, bringing back the regions and reducing the games, but there are still changes that I would make to the calendar:
- Group games will only be played on weekends.
- The group stages will run from the start of June until the end of July.
- Teams will only play one match a week with the exception of two weeks, where two games will be played.
- Group games will be played alternately home and away, so a home game every two weeks.
- Quarter finals will be played on the first weekend of August.
- Finals day will be played two weeks later on the Saturday.
This scheduling has a number of benefits. Firstly it spaces out the group games so that, coupled with the reduction in group matches, each game carries more importance and is more of an event. The way it will be spaced out is so: Start of June to end of July covers 8 weekends, so teams play one match a week, except for two weeks where they play two matches a week, say a home game on Friday and an away game on Sunday. This again allows for more importance to be placed on each match, and also allows for more time during the week to play Championship and one day matches, de-cluttering those schedules too.
Secondly, playing the games on weekends only offers the chance for higher attendances, as a greater number of people will be able to attend on Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons than on Tuesday evenings, for example. The spacing out of these games, coupled with better ticket price management, would boost attendances as people would be more willing to pay to see a game once a fortnight at £15 each, rather than £20 each twice a week.
The tournament can still make the most of the supposedly best weather, whilst also allowing CC matches to be played in decent weather too. And whilst it is still spread out, the tournament should hopefully not be played over such a long period as to make overseas players difficult to come by.
Playing the quarter-finals a week after the last group games allows form to still be carried over, whilst the two week gap between QFs and Finals Day means that clubs have enough time to sell tickets for Finals day properly. The quarter finals would be played on the Saturday and Sunday, one in the afternoon and the other as a day nighter straight after, so all four can be broadcast. Finals Day arrangements would stay the same.
To keep Sky happy, each round of matches would be played over all three days available, so they would in effect still be able to show three live matches a week.
With the correct marketing, scheduling and pricing of tickets, the ECB could turn the 20/20 from an exciting yet ever so slightly fading fad into a genuine breadwinner. One that defines the weekends of the high summer and does more to boost interest in cricket than Groundhog Day masked by cheap music and dancers and other gimmicks. 20/20 is a serious business and so it must be treated thus. The first port of call for the ECB must be the calendar wallchart.
The saddest part, for me, was that after some of the losses, I found myself not being bothered by the defeat. For someone who's life is ruined by the rugby season, where Wednesday through to Saturday are spent worrying about the Saturday fixture, then Sunday to Tuesday are spent recovering from the match before starting the cycle all over again, it is pretty damning on the tournament as a concept for me just to go "doh" at a result then get on with my life.
Sixteen group games made half of them meaningless, whilst playing against half the country removed a lot of the local derby feel. I think that it has already been decided that the tournament will return in 2011 to a 6 team group with 10 group games, just like 2009. This is a good move, bringing back the regions and reducing the games, but there are still changes that I would make to the calendar:
- Group games will only be played on weekends.
- The group stages will run from the start of June until the end of July.
- Teams will only play one match a week with the exception of two weeks, where two games will be played.
- Group games will be played alternately home and away, so a home game every two weeks.
- Quarter finals will be played on the first weekend of August.
- Finals day will be played two weeks later on the Saturday.
This scheduling has a number of benefits. Firstly it spaces out the group games so that, coupled with the reduction in group matches, each game carries more importance and is more of an event. The way it will be spaced out is so: Start of June to end of July covers 8 weekends, so teams play one match a week, except for two weeks where they play two matches a week, say a home game on Friday and an away game on Sunday. This again allows for more importance to be placed on each match, and also allows for more time during the week to play Championship and one day matches, de-cluttering those schedules too.
Secondly, playing the games on weekends only offers the chance for higher attendances, as a greater number of people will be able to attend on Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons than on Tuesday evenings, for example. The spacing out of these games, coupled with better ticket price management, would boost attendances as people would be more willing to pay to see a game once a fortnight at £15 each, rather than £20 each twice a week.
The tournament can still make the most of the supposedly best weather, whilst also allowing CC matches to be played in decent weather too. And whilst it is still spread out, the tournament should hopefully not be played over such a long period as to make overseas players difficult to come by.
Playing the quarter-finals a week after the last group games allows form to still be carried over, whilst the two week gap between QFs and Finals Day means that clubs have enough time to sell tickets for Finals day properly. The quarter finals would be played on the Saturday and Sunday, one in the afternoon and the other as a day nighter straight after, so all four can be broadcast. Finals Day arrangements would stay the same.
To keep Sky happy, each round of matches would be played over all three days available, so they would in effect still be able to show three live matches a week.
With the correct marketing, scheduling and pricing of tickets, the ECB could turn the 20/20 from an exciting yet ever so slightly fading fad into a genuine breadwinner. One that defines the weekends of the high summer and does more to boost interest in cricket than Groundhog Day masked by cheap music and dancers and other gimmicks. 20/20 is a serious business and so it must be treated thus. The first port of call for the ECB must be the calendar wallchart.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Sloppy end
It was going to happen, wasn't it? Nothing to play for, no threat of relegation whilst the team we were facing very much had that threat. That was the difference at the end of the day and we deserved to lose. You could say we were not favoured by the conditions but Warks wanted it more, Woakes bowled well and for the fourth time in 6 innings our batting was frankly crap.
Slug again made it clear to all that taking a positive approach was the way to go, much like Cork on the first day, but the top order didn't learn, though Dawson can certainly hold his head high after these last two matches saw him be, in my view, our best batsman. Adams got the runs he needed to pass 2500 for the season, an amazing feat, and if a Lions call doesn't come then Miller will be getting abuse from more than just Dimi.
Slug again made it clear to all that taking a positive approach was the way to go, much like Cork on the first day, but the top order didn't learn, though Dawson can certainly hold his head high after these last two matches saw him be, in my view, our best batsman. Adams got the runs he needed to pass 2500 for the season, an amazing feat, and if a Lions call doesn't come then Miller will be getting abuse from more than just Dimi.
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