So, the 2016 cricket season is over and the footballers are back dominating the tabloids and the TV. What did we make of this year in international cricket and domestic cricket.
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Posts Categorised: County Cricket
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Sachithra Senanayake Mankades (try saying that after a few beers!)
Cricket is a sport in which most followers expect their heroes to adhere to a higher standard of fair play and sportsmanship.
The recent incident of ‘Mankading’ (who on earth coined that phrase?) – when Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake ran out England’s Jos Buttler who had strayed out of his crease at the non-striker’s end at a key point in the final and deciding ODI in the series was disappointing to see and thankfully remains very rare.
The last incident I can remember is when Kapil Dev ran out South Africa’s Peter Kirsten, apparently without warning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzbFy_elb8k
Differing accounts of Tuesday’s shambles say Senanayake warned Buttler twice or just the once. Either way, it wasn’t cricket. The bowler shouldn’t have done it and the captain should have over-ruled the appeal. He didn’t, it happened so we are left to count the cost of a strain on the game.
What I don’t like, however, is England using this unsavoury controversy to shield yet another highly mixed performance during a ODI series.
Sri Lanka are a decent side – but without the wicket taking machine that was Muttiah Muralitharan in the line-up and home advantage you would have expected England to win the series.… Read Full Article
0Dickie Bird to officiate over native Yorkshire
There’s an old anecdote in the cricketing career of Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird in which he hit a century for Yorkshire in one match and found himself dropped for the next.
With an average just over 20 his first-class career was hardly spectacular but as an international umpire he went on to arguably be the best in the business.
He was well liked and entertaining, bringing his native Yorkshire straight talking no nonsense approach to the pitch. Dickie was also seen as completely neutral whoever was playing, despite a deep-rooted love of both county and country.… Read Full Article
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England vs New Zealand: First Test, Day 1
It was supposed to be oh so simple wasn’t it?
The Kiwis over as the apéritif for the forthcoming Ashes clash later on in the year. So one day in to a summer of antipodean cricket and with the home side winning the toss and electing to bat, surely England have raced away at 3+ an over against a second rate attack?
Not exactly. Steady progress during the 80 over of play. Hardly an A+ score but a reasonable C grade. England still have wickets in hand with the two Yorkshire boys (Tim Bresnan was left out from the final XI) at the crease.… Read Full Article
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Too many Overseas Players?
As I write this I am trying to find the right prose that doesn’t make me come across as some silly and narrow minded ‘little Englander’ who sees all ‘them foreigners’ as something to be feared and hated.
World class overseas players such as Curtley and Courtney and the Master Blaster Viv Richards have helped to light up the county circuit in previous seasons and brought joy to millions. All fans want to see the best quality players on show – myself included.
But I do want to have a little grumble about the extent of the abuse of the spirit of the term ‘overseas’ player.… Read Full Article
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Yorkshire CC Venues — Or Lack Of!
When I were ‘nowt but a lad’ as they say round me I used to sneak out of the house to watch my beloved Yorkshire at nearby Abbeydale whenever they came to town.
Knowing the ground well I used to hide in a clearing in the hedge and would then base myself there for the rest of the morning and afternoon.
Home talents including David Byas, Richard Stemp, Richard Blakey and a young Michael Vaughan (who is a little older than me– I’m not that old!) would wow the crowds with their play.
“The pink ball appears grey/blue in red/green deficient vision, depending on its severity. I did a simulation with colour blindness…”