I'm sure articles and blogs about Bill Frindall's death will be popping up on cricket websites all around the world. He truly was an icon of cricket; his droll sense of humour always perfectly balanced out the school-boyish antics of his fellow TMS commentators, and even at his most gruff, he was still intensely loveable.
I used to score for my school and university cricket teams, and the 'Bearded Wonder' always did a lot to champion amateur scorers around the country. It is such a shame that this amazing man never had the chance to say goodbye, and to know how much he was loved and respected. Although he was being treated for Legionnaire's Disease, it has still come as a great shock to everybody, and all there is left to do is look back fondly on his life and career.
To coin a phrase, Thanks for the Memories
RIP xx
Friday 30 January 2009
Saturday 24 January 2009
Tests vs Twenty20
So the schedule for the tour of South Africa has been announced, as has the decision by a number of England players to take part in the early part of the IPL season this summer. As far as I can see, it's impossible to separate the two decisions, and they will both impact on the future of cricket, both in England and worldwide.
South Africa seemed to be a safe place to go and play a solid 5 test series. I have never heard anybody actually argue that it is better to play fewer tests, and last time we were in SA in 2004-5 the test series played out really nicely, despite a controversial draw in Durban. It seems that the ECB are fairly disgruntled by the itinerary, but until they come out and make clear their intentions to play meaningful series England's test hopes will be bulldozed by meaningless ODIs. Really, that's the most ridiculous part. I thought the cricket world had decided that 50 over internationals were dead. Twenty20 good, Tests good, gimmick-laden ODIs: bad.
Speaking of the upcoming tour, I'm already desperately trying to find the best value flights to fit in with school holidays and it's the return flights that are causing a problem, as the early birds are gambling and booking the latest flights back before the first day back at school. I'm now considering flying out early, possibly taking a little holiday in Namibia before flying into Durban, watching the test there then flying home on the cheapest flight I can get around New Year. Most England supporters will be celebrating the onset of 2010 (it's only just 2009!!) in Cape Town, overlooking the harbour and in the shadow of Table Mountain, and as I doubt Durban can compete with that, I may as well be mid-air if it saves me a bob or two.
So, Flintoff, Pietersen (confirmed) and Harmison (as yet only rumoured) have put themselves forward for the opening four weeks of the IPL. I object to this on a number of grounds:
1) 'Burnout' - people were just starting to take it seriously when the IPL came along and cricketers decided that it would be fine if they were paid more.
2) Given the extensive opportunities now available for international cricketers after retirement, there is simply no argument that players 'need the money'. I felt so let down by Paul Collingwood claiming that he 'needs to pay school fees' for his children, and haven't quite forgiven him for not being able to see the way most people live now. Fifteen years ago even some international cricketers were forced to have a winter job to stay afloat. Those days are gone.
3) I had been hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the England stars playing for their Counties before the international season started, given that I can't afford the £65 a day ticket prices for the summer test matches. How much money will counties lose out on because of lost players? Not just from gate revenues but from winning fewer matches without their best players.
4) No matter what anybody says, four days in England in preparation for the international test season is not enough, especially after four weeks slogging like mad.
Part of me wishes the ECB would take the moral highground and tell any player that if he wishes to play in the IPL, he must play in the whole tournament and forego his England career. I know it seems like shooting English cricket in the foot, but there are thousands of people who would give anything to play the game they love for the country they love, and this childish tantrum-throwing from the players feels like a slap in the face to the fans. Player power is important, and yes, we need to try to balance the long and shortest forms of the game, but when England's success in put in jeopardy, as it is by this selfish, showboating exhausting charade, the ECB should have the teeth to stand firm and take control.
Tantrum over, for now! Bring on the Windies series!
South Africa seemed to be a safe place to go and play a solid 5 test series. I have never heard anybody actually argue that it is better to play fewer tests, and last time we were in SA in 2004-5 the test series played out really nicely, despite a controversial draw in Durban. It seems that the ECB are fairly disgruntled by the itinerary, but until they come out and make clear their intentions to play meaningful series England's test hopes will be bulldozed by meaningless ODIs. Really, that's the most ridiculous part. I thought the cricket world had decided that 50 over internationals were dead. Twenty20 good, Tests good, gimmick-laden ODIs: bad.
Speaking of the upcoming tour, I'm already desperately trying to find the best value flights to fit in with school holidays and it's the return flights that are causing a problem, as the early birds are gambling and booking the latest flights back before the first day back at school. I'm now considering flying out early, possibly taking a little holiday in Namibia before flying into Durban, watching the test there then flying home on the cheapest flight I can get around New Year. Most England supporters will be celebrating the onset of 2010 (it's only just 2009!!) in Cape Town, overlooking the harbour and in the shadow of Table Mountain, and as I doubt Durban can compete with that, I may as well be mid-air if it saves me a bob or two.
So, Flintoff, Pietersen (confirmed) and Harmison (as yet only rumoured) have put themselves forward for the opening four weeks of the IPL. I object to this on a number of grounds:
1) 'Burnout' - people were just starting to take it seriously when the IPL came along and cricketers decided that it would be fine if they were paid more.
2) Given the extensive opportunities now available for international cricketers after retirement, there is simply no argument that players 'need the money'. I felt so let down by Paul Collingwood claiming that he 'needs to pay school fees' for his children, and haven't quite forgiven him for not being able to see the way most people live now. Fifteen years ago even some international cricketers were forced to have a winter job to stay afloat. Those days are gone.
3) I had been hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the England stars playing for their Counties before the international season started, given that I can't afford the £65 a day ticket prices for the summer test matches. How much money will counties lose out on because of lost players? Not just from gate revenues but from winning fewer matches without their best players.
4) No matter what anybody says, four days in England in preparation for the international test season is not enough, especially after four weeks slogging like mad.
Part of me wishes the ECB would take the moral highground and tell any player that if he wishes to play in the IPL, he must play in the whole tournament and forego his England career. I know it seems like shooting English cricket in the foot, but there are thousands of people who would give anything to play the game they love for the country they love, and this childish tantrum-throwing from the players feels like a slap in the face to the fans. Player power is important, and yes, we need to try to balance the long and shortest forms of the game, but when England's success in put in jeopardy, as it is by this selfish, showboating exhausting charade, the ECB should have the teeth to stand firm and take control.
Tantrum over, for now! Bring on the Windies series!
Friday 9 January 2009
ECB Tantrums
Well it's been a fairly busy week down at the ECB, and I haven't decided yet whether I'm surprised or not. Finding out exactly what had happened after I received a 'KP has resigned' text, with the sender not answering their phone for me to get the gossip, was hard, even if you did have internet access. The rumour mill went into overdrive, but so far it unfortunately seems that all the rumours were true.
KP was always a controversial choice for captain; the question hanging over his appointment was always, can he separate his love of himself from his love of the team? I have held my hands up over the last four years and admitted that maybe I was wrong to shout loudly for Graham Thorpe's inclusion in the 2005 Ashes Squad, but I feel like my concerns about KP's appointment were justified. To write (I say 'write'...) in the News of the World about the rift with Peter Moores went beyond what you expect from anyone in a team unit, let alone the captain.
To then go to the ECB and (allegedly) offer a 'him or me' ultimatum was about as badly misjudged as Monty's catch attempt in Mumbai a few years ago, and the ECB were absolutely right to tell him where to go - they shouldn't be bowing to anyone. It just made them look a bit silly when they then sacked Moores as well! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot, and just as the Aussies hit their weakest form in over a decade too! It certainly makes you shake your head in wonder.
Moving ahead, I can declare that I am 100% behind Straussy as the new captain. He has always been a favourite of mine, as I was at Lord's for his first test match and I really like the fact that he looks and sounds like an old fashioned cricketer. He even plays like one with those solid innings, and (forgive me for living in the past) that superman catch to remove Gilchrist at Trent Bridge will live forever. I'm not sure about his ODI form, but I don't think Collingwood could handle the pressure of captaincy and I can't see anyone else in the side whose place is guaranteed that could do it either. At least if it doesn't work out with Straussy in there, they can get rid of him from the ODI side without ruining his confidence and career, which I reckon is what would happen if they gave it to anyone else.
We all have to keep our fingers crossed now that England have a successful tour to the West Indies and can build up enough momentum and unity to have a real shot at the Ashes. After witnessing pretty much every ball of the last Ashes Down Under, I could do with some victories to wipe away the memories!
KP was always a controversial choice for captain; the question hanging over his appointment was always, can he separate his love of himself from his love of the team? I have held my hands up over the last four years and admitted that maybe I was wrong to shout loudly for Graham Thorpe's inclusion in the 2005 Ashes Squad, but I feel like my concerns about KP's appointment were justified. To write (I say 'write'...) in the News of the World about the rift with Peter Moores went beyond what you expect from anyone in a team unit, let alone the captain.
To then go to the ECB and (allegedly) offer a 'him or me' ultimatum was about as badly misjudged as Monty's catch attempt in Mumbai a few years ago, and the ECB were absolutely right to tell him where to go - they shouldn't be bowing to anyone. It just made them look a bit silly when they then sacked Moores as well! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot, and just as the Aussies hit their weakest form in over a decade too! It certainly makes you shake your head in wonder.
Moving ahead, I can declare that I am 100% behind Straussy as the new captain. He has always been a favourite of mine, as I was at Lord's for his first test match and I really like the fact that he looks and sounds like an old fashioned cricketer. He even plays like one with those solid innings, and (forgive me for living in the past) that superman catch to remove Gilchrist at Trent Bridge will live forever. I'm not sure about his ODI form, but I don't think Collingwood could handle the pressure of captaincy and I can't see anyone else in the side whose place is guaranteed that could do it either. At least if it doesn't work out with Straussy in there, they can get rid of him from the ODI side without ruining his confidence and career, which I reckon is what would happen if they gave it to anyone else.
We all have to keep our fingers crossed now that England have a successful tour to the West Indies and can build up enough momentum and unity to have a real shot at the Ashes. After witnessing pretty much every ball of the last Ashes Down Under, I could do with some victories to wipe away the memories!
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