Comments on: The end of a sporting anomaly http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/ Blogging politics, culture, sociology and life from Brisvegas Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:03:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Tony D http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-479567 Tony D Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:39:56 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-479567 Further decline of the nation state? Will this mean an end to sporting-nationalism? Or will nationalistic loyalties be derived from the location of head office? Further decline of the nation state?

Will this mean an end to sporting-nationalism? Or will nationalistic loyalties be derived from the location of head office?

]]> By: pablo http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478965 pablo Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:13:06 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478965 I watched a fair number of the IPL games and they were not necessarily slogathons. Bowlers, including slow spinners, were dominant in many of the games, but they needed to really mix their deliveries across four overs. But it is the money and the franchise, especially the single entrepreneur owner that worries me. The Texan who is putting up $20 million for a one-off series between the West Indies and English has a touch of the Firepower petrol pill about it. I would hope that each nation cricketing authority keeps a firm handle on future developments particularly the money. No agents and no lawyers might be start. I watched a fair number of the IPL games and they were not necessarily slogathons. Bowlers, including slow spinners, were dominant in many of the games, but they needed to really mix their deliveries across four overs.
But it is the money and the franchise, especially the single entrepreneur owner that worries me. The Texan who is putting up $20 million for a one-off series between the West Indies and English has a touch of the Firepower petrol pill about it. I would hope that each nation cricketing authority keeps a firm handle on future developments particularly the money. No agents and no lawyers might be start.

]]> By: Kris http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478874 Kris Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:16:24 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478874 While I see the overall point of the piece, it would be sad to see too much of a shift away from state representation though. I for one have been very proud of the achievements of a majority Tasmanian born and bred Shield team, far more so than when we were filled with NSW rejects. I guess any shift in the way we are doing things has to take into account the positives and negatives that will be gained. Part of this has to take into account that our most successful periods have always coincided with incredibly settled state teams with heavily regulation on player movements. This cannot simply be coincidence. While I see the overall point of the piece, it would be sad to see too much of a shift away from state representation though. I for one have been very proud of the achievements of a majority Tasmanian born and bred Shield team, far more so than when we were filled with NSW rejects.

I guess any shift in the way we are doing things has to take into account the positives and negatives that will be gained. Part of this has to take into account that our most successful periods have always coincided with incredibly settled state teams with heavily regulation on player movements. This cannot simply be coincidence.

]]> By: derrida derider http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478816 derrida derider Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:07:18 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478816 I reckon this argument is predicated on the top 2020 players being the top Test players. Which is not necessarily so - Andrew Symonds will never be as good a Test player as he is a 2020 player, while Simon Katich is the reverse. And an ultra-accurate medium pace swing bowler who can also slog with the bat is the ideal for 2020, while Test cricket will always want tearaway seamers for the new ball and leggies for the last day even if they're batting rabbits. If indeed 2020 becomes more popular and also beomes more franchise-like I think you'll see more specialisation amongst players. Test cricket may decline, but I don't think it will die; too many players and fans (including me) much prefer an epic struggle to a slap-'n-bash fest. They don't call them "Tests" for nothing. I reckon this argument is predicated on the top 2020 players being the top Test players. Which is not necessarily so - Andrew Symonds will never be as good a Test player as he is a 2020 player, while Simon Katich is the reverse. And an ultra-accurate medium pace swing bowler who can also slog with the bat is the ideal for 2020, while Test cricket will always want tearaway seamers for the new ball and leggies for the last day even if they’re batting rabbits.

If indeed 2020 becomes more popular and also beomes more franchise-like I think you’ll see more specialisation amongst players. Test cricket may decline, but I don’t think it will die; too many players and fans (including me) much prefer an epic struggle to a slap-’n-bash fest. They don’t call them “Tests” for nothing.

]]> By: Rod C http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478811 Rod C Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:39:05 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478811 We used to have imported international players in the Sheffield Shield (I refuse to call it the P*** Cup) for ages. Players like Viv Richards, Ian Botham and Graeme Hick all tried (and failed) to win the Shield for Queensland, and likewise for the other states e.g. Richard Hadlee for Tasmania. And Australian players have always moved from state to state to get a better contract (though for much of that time a 'better contract' meant 'a job with an employer who will allow you to play cricket') - Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Jeff Thomson among others all moved to Queensland; others like Dirk Wellham and Trevor Chappell played for at least three different states. Just tweaking the opening of what was otherwise a thought provoking piece (well, for cricket tragics like me anyway). We used to have imported international players in the Sheffield Shield (I refuse to call it the P*** Cup) for ages. Players like Viv Richards, Ian Botham and Graeme Hick all tried (and failed) to win the Shield for Queensland, and likewise for the other states e.g. Richard Hadlee for Tasmania. And Australian players have always moved from state to state to get a better contract (though for much of that time a ‘better contract’ meant ‘a job with an employer who will allow you to play cricket’) - Allan Border, Greg Chappell, Jeff Thomson among others all moved to Queensland; others like Dirk Wellham and Trevor Chappell played for at least three different states.

Just tweaking the opening of what was otherwise a thought provoking piece (well, for cricket tragics like me anyway).

]]> By: Darryl Rosin http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478809 Darryl Rosin Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:27:44 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478809 I watched my first ever game of cricket a couple of weeks ago, a IPL semi-final, and found it surprisingly fun. The length is a very very big feature of the appeal for me. I wouldn't have bothered even trying to negotiate a whole day away from the family to watch a game, but a couple of hours in the evening is much easier. d I watched my first ever game of cricket a couple of weeks ago, a IPL semi-final, and found it surprisingly fun. The length is a very very big feature of the appeal for me. I wouldn’t have bothered even trying to negotiate a whole day away from the family to watch a game, but a couple of hours in the evening is much easier.

d

]]> By: Alastair http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478806 Alastair Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:14:22 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/06/18/the-end-of-a-sporting-anomaly/#comment-478806 Interesting times in the world of cricket. I tend to agree that the 50 over one-day format will be most at risk due to the Twenty20 cricket. I think Test cricket is pretty safe as a format. Interesting times in the world of cricket. I tend to agree that the 50 over one-day format will be most at risk due to the Twenty20 cricket. I think Test cricket is pretty safe as a format.

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