Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: They're talking to you

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    "@danielvettori When Gayle pats, put more fielders in the stands"

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • David Cormack,

    having cricket on pay TV might hurt cricket more than other sports, simply because of the length of time it takes to play.

    I had this exact conversation yesterday, I'm freeviewing it sans Sky but was considering getting Sky solely for the cricket however given that most matches are played when I'm at work anyway and it is a long day I'm not that interested.

    I can't tell you how excited I was to see the 4th game on Prime but that just heightened the sense of betrayal I felt when yesterday's wasn't.

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report Reply

  • jon_knox,

    I watched the Aussies play the South Africans at Twenty20 this morning. Every now & then one of the Aussie players was wired up for an over or two with some nice kit allowing two-way conversations to their former team-mates now employed as commentators. Nathan Bracken was quite happy chatting away, including letting the guys know what type of delivery he was planning as he ran in. Ponting was wired up both in the field and when at the non-strikers end when batting, not that he really gave much away.

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • Chaos Buddha,

    "@danielvettori When Gayle bats and Southee bowls, put more fielders in the stands ..."

    Nirvana • Since May 2007 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    "@danielvettori When Gayle bats and Southee bowls, put more fielders in the stands ..."

    Or Vettori himself bowls, ay?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Yeah, I was pissed at SKY for their old cynical tricks as well.

    I think short term it is in a sports financial interests to make some bucks from the pay tv mob but having your sport almost exclusively on SKY...

    ie. Super 14, Tests, ANZCUP, NRL, cricket

    equals

    More money but ultimately LESS FANS and lower merchandise sales.

    The 4 million fans the NZRU go on about is obviously bullshit, it's more like 1 million proper fans, 1 million who might check it out if they can be bothered and 2 million who couldn't give a royal flying fuck. And part of that is because most rugby in NZ is inacessable to half the population even if they did give a damn.

    The Warriors biggest years in terms of attendance were 1995, 1996, 2003, 2002 and 1997. While that's partly due to the novelty factor it's also to do with a less saturated oval ball market and their games being on free to air live or in primetime in 95, 96, 97.

    I wish a few other sports would bare that in mind when they negotiate with SKY. Get the various replays on at better times (midnight on a sunday for a Warriors replay on Prime is a joke) or negaotiate a certain number of matches on live including the biggest games.

    You might have to settle for a slightly worse deal financially but you'll get more bums on seats and more interest in your game.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Chaos Buddha,

    ... Gayle seemed to somewhat relish facing Southee especially. Makes me wonder how things may have fared if Vettori had opened with Southee [and Mills], and let him play with the harder, more swinging ball?

    That said, enjoyed Gayle's stand-and-deliver six off Gillespie earlier in his innings, just after Ryder dropped him at slip ... out of the ground, one bounce in the neighbour's yard, then onto the roof ...

    Nirvana • Since May 2007 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Every now & then one of the Aussie players was wired up for an over or two with some nice kit allowing two-way conversations to their former team-mates now employed as commentators.

    They did that here for the 20/20 match between Bangladesh and NZ A or whatever it was called. Fleming was wired up and talking to the commentators, and Styris was wired up for a while as well. Was quite interesting in parts, but a lot of it was "game of two halves, try and get him out" etc.

    I would have thought it would annoy the bowler, need a mic somewhere on your chest and a powerpack and transmitter on your belt or something.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis,

    Just a few seconds research shows that NZ has roughly 1.5 million households and SKY TV had 721,000 subscribers in december 2007.

    So approximately 50% of NZers are unable to watch any live rugby, league or cricket and are probably not watching a hell of a lot of it delayed either. The cricket had a highlights package at about 11pm last night (a weeknight).

    I used to never miss a rugby game for love nor money when it was all on free to air back in the day.

    but now I would watch about 5% of the Super 14, miss half the AB tests and perhaps see 2 or 3 ANZCup games. I also only watch the Warriors live when I go to games. I have to listen to their matches on the radio.

    oh, woe is me.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    The alternative is (and I'm theorising, not necessarily advocating) is that we're moving into a future where every house has a sky dish on the side of it.

    And most households subscribe to sky, those that want sports, get the sports package, those that don't, save that money.

    There are countries in the world where the belief that people have a right to free-to-air sports would be seen as bizarre. If this was the US the rugby football union would have its own sky channel which you would probably have to subscribe to in order to get all the games.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Wayne Phillips,

    I have to vote for The Phoenix Foundation's 'Bleaching Sun' video as my A#1 but yup Roots is a contender

    Wellingtron • Since Dec 2006 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Chaos Buddha,

    I'm freeviewing it sans Sky but was considering getting Sky solely for the cricket however given that most matches are played when I'm at work anyway and it is a long day I'm not that interested.

    Indeed, cricket is a different kettle of fish altogether in this regard. I mean, Twenty20 is one thing, and I can see that form of the game making Sky's pursestring-holders foam at the gash. But even with the 50 over game you're looking at 8+ hours worth, and it takes a bold man to explain to his wife that yes, even though it's an amazing summer's day outside he's gonna spend it all inside in front of the telly, and that in fact it's her turn to look after the kids all day.

    That said, listening Waddle's coverage on the wireless is a fine way to spend an afternoon in the garden, just as Cricinfo is a great, clandestine way to pass the working day ... so while Twenty20's a given, even at the One Dayer level the telly ceases to be the optimal way of taking in the match.

    Nirvana • Since May 2007 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Chapman,

    Finally, is this the best cricket-related music video ever?

    Maybe, though this is my personal favourite:

    Wellington • Since Nov 2008 • 135 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    it takes a bold man to explain to his wife that yes, even though it's an amazing summer's day outside he's gonna spend it all inside in front of the telly, and that in fact it's her turn to look after the kids all day.

    LOL

    Not a hope. The two days those games were on Prime, the kids were under orders to look after their own selves.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Hopefully that works - I understand you just write the address of the video...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Jimmy Southgate,

    But having it on pay TV means that they can televise all 5 days of a test with no interruptions for the news or whatever else. Though I guess its not like TV1 has much worthy television playing during the day anyway, so maybe for home games it would work; however for any away tests it would be awful.

    Wellingtown • Since Nov 2006 • 103 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    It's not really "cricket related" in the same way, but this is mine.

    (Especially for Emma)

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    It depends on your definition of 'best' (I am all about terrifying hair and clothing), but this is my favourite cricket-related *song*, at least:

    You messed about, I caught you out!

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Replying to myself, lamely: when Sherbet's 'Howzat' was in the film Rain a few years ago I was all 'fuckin' A!'

    Simon is going to come into this thread and scorn me for having no taste or shame, I can feel it. :)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Megan, quit that!

    Actually, cheers for sharing the horror. The more people who know what I'm talking about when I make the noise I make when referring to that video, the better.

    this is my favourite cricket-related *song*, at least

    Oh, ace. Brilliant.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Chapman,

    So bad it's the best? (With all due respect to Paul Kelly.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2008 • 135 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    It's not really "cricket related" in the same way, but this is mine.

    Umm, hello, warnings! Not safe for... taste.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Is that... Brett LEE?

    (Obviously I must have been hiding under a cricket-world rock to have missed this. But:

    O.
    M.
    G.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    Umm, hello, warnings! Not safe for... taste.

    Yeah, sorry about that...I was just so excited to have a forum to share the thing that can make me laugh no matter how bad a day I am having.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

  • Megan Wegan,

    The more people who know what I'm talking about when I make the noise I make when referring to that video, the better.

    Mine's sort of a scrambled MEEP, as several hundred smart arse comments try to escape my mouth all at the same time.

    O.
    M.
    G.)

    Glad to be of service :)

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report Reply

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