Field Theory: I don't like cricket (tune change)
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3410,
Let me just say that I love ODI cricket, like Test cricket, and really dislike Twenty20.
Any game where the average batsman is expected to face only 11 deliveries* does not deserve to be called cricket. That's only 2 more than the top order of a baseball team, fer Chrissakes.
*(20 x 6) / 11 = 10.9
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3410,
On second thoughts, it a lot less than the top order of a baseball team.
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3410,
or "fewer", I should say.
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*(20 x 6) / 11 = 10.9
That's assuming not only that you're always going to be bowled out on the last ball of the innings, but that you're going to lose your batsmen at regular intervals. Whereas in reality the top order on average will face many more balls than the tailenders, and O'Brien will get to bat once every ten or so games.
Duh.
I really don't understand all this hostility for 20/20. It's nice to have a little more cricket in the season, the odd full stadium, and a format to which I can take my son. If anything the multiple formats are a strength of cricket, in that they broaden the appeal of the game.
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Looks like I will be there for the Saturday of the Basin test - would be keen to meet up with you all there too and compare nerdy blogger stories / get pissed.
We could be the PA-eige Brigade.
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3410,
That's assuming not only that you're always going to be bowled out on the last ball of the innings...
Not so. It still holds with only 9 down.
... but that you're going to lose your batsmen at regular intervals.
That's true, of course, but that's what an average does. I'm not saying that this is how it is likely to play out (it isn't), but it's still a valid statistic which is, at least IMO, an interesting observation.
If anything the multiple formats are a strength of cricket, in that they broaden the appeal of the game.
I suppose so, if each format survives. Personally, I'd be horrified if T20 supplanted ODIs.
I really don't understand all this hostility for 20/20.
I just think that the attack / defend balance is way out of whack; that's my main complaint.
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That's true, of course, but that's what an average does.
That's what an average does, but yours is not an average. An average would be taking a bunch of 20/20 games and working out how many balls on average the batsmen in each position face. Yours is an arbitrary number without any basis in reality - it's just not how cricket works.
I just think that the attack / defend balance is way out of whack; that's my main complaint.
I personally love that spinners have such success in it.
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3410,
Yours is an arbitrary number without any basis in reality - it's just not how cricket works.
I said "the average batsman is expected to face only 11 deliveries." You may say that that is how cricket works (you'll notice that I have already agreed with that), nevertheless it is true.
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3410,
Look, I get your point that most of the time an innings will require fewer that 11 batsmen. That's fine. I just feel that the game is too short.
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3410,
I'd have preferred if, for a 20 over match, only 5 batsmen were allowed.
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I said "the average batsman is expected to face only 11 deliveries." You may say that that is how cricket works (you'll notice that I have already agreed with that), nevertheless it is true.
It really, really isn't. But fair enough, the game is short, there might be some merit in looking at having fewer batsmen. But it's still three hours odd plus the innings break. That's a very long time by almost any other sport's point of view, and it's the super-short version of the game. I love test cricket but let's face, at times it's a pointed gun away from turning into a hostage situation. And that's not everyone's cup of tea, at least initially.
Let 20/20 be the gateway druk to test cricket, if you will.
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Really, really bad shit on the Sri Lankan tour of Pakistan:
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricket team as they were on their way to Gaddafi stadium in Lahore on Tuesday morning, Dawn news channel reported.
The channel showed footage of two gunmen opening fire using Kalashnikovs. At least 12 gunmen were involved in the attack.
Five security personnel are reported dead, three more are seriously injured and have been rushed to the hospital.
The attackers - who came in a white car - lobbed two grenades at the van and the men then started firing at a police van which was providing security to the Lankan team.
The gunmen, reportedly surrounded the team van and opened fire indiscriminately. They reportedly continuously for two to three minutes.
Rocket launchers used in the attack as well.
The incident happened at Liberty Chowk in Lahore.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board seven players have been reported injured. Five of them are seriously injured - Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakara, Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Jayawardene and Tharanga Paranavithana.
The tour has been officially cancelled.
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3410,
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Really, really bad shit on the Sri Lankan tour of Pakistan:
I knew there was a danger of this, but I never thought it would really happen.
It was claimed by some (Imran Khan?) that terrorists in Pakistan would never attack cricketers because cricket is so loved that the terrorists would lose the support of the public. Perversely though, that is part of the reason why cricket would be a target.
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cricinfo reports minor injuries to five players, but I wonder if it's a bit further behind than other reports - it claims for instance that the attack will *almost* certainly lead to the abandonment of the test which was about to be played.
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Pakistan officials were last night quick to say the attack bore the hallmarks of the militants who carried out the attack on the city of Mumbai in November.
I imagine we won't be seeing cricket tours to Pakistan for a long time.
It was claimed by some (Imran Khan?) that terrorists in Pakistan would never attack cricketers because cricket is so loved that the terrorists would lose the support of the public. Perversely though, that is part of the reason why cricket would be a target.
I heard that too, in and out of the media. I don't think the word "terrorist" means someone who wants people to like them.
It has caused terror, it will create uproar and international condemnation, and it will undermine the Pakistani government.
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I heard that too, in and out of the media. I don't think the word "terrorist" means someone who wants people to like them.
The mere fact that it was the Sri Lankan team illustrates this pretty well. Terrorists don't care who gets hurt or killed, just that someone does.
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The mere fact that it was the Sri Lankan team illustrates this pretty well. Terrorists don't care who gets hurt or killed, just that someone does.
There is a good chance that the original target was the Indian team that was supposed to be touring at this time. But the fact that the attack went ahead against the Sri Lankans shows that one of the objectives was to terrorise the people of Pakistan and attack their way of life.
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I have to ask a non-serious question about cricket so I'll do it here, given that there is a new stream to talk about the Lahore attack.
If I were to organise some kind of get-together* for the PAS readers in Wellington on the Saturday of the India/NZ test match, how many people would want to show up?
*cricket and then (possibly sponsored) drinks
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If I were to organise some kind of get-together* for the PAS readers in Wellington on the Saturday of the India/NZ test match, how many people would want to show up?
I am in for day @ the test and as much of the evening as my leave pass extends to.
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If I were to organise some kind of get-together* for the PAS readers in Wellington on the Saturday of the India/NZ test match, how many people would want to show up?
Can't get there from here, without significantly more funds and planning than is possible :(. Otherwise I'd be keen.
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If I were to organise some kind of get-together* for the PAS readers in Wellington on the Saturday of the India/NZ test match, how many people would want to show up?
I thought we had put forward Sunday a while ago? I can't on Sat, the dastardly knack market, but I could sneak in for the last session. Saturday makes more sense anyway since Sunday is likely to be family day, and you wouldn't want the surrounding children to interfere with the drinking.
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If I were to organise some kind of get-together* for the PAS readers in Wellington on the Saturday of the India/NZ test match, how many people would want to show up?
I shall be there in spirit, how's that? Or Hadyn could dress as me.
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There is a good chance that the original target was the Indian team that was supposed to be touring at this time. But the fact that the attack went ahead against the Sri Lankans shows that one of the objectives was to terrorise the people of Pakistan and attack their way of life.
Pretty much what I was getting at - I agree that the Indians were probably the initial target, but, hey, any touring team will do to cause a bit of mayhem. One can hypothesise motives, but it's all pretty chilling.
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Or Hadyn could dress as me
I'm not sure Hadyn could pull off a Green Onion Slave Girl.
And if he does, I'm really sure I don't want to see it.
the Indians were probably the initial target, but, hey, any touring team will do to cause a bit of mayhem. One can hypothesise motives...
But that's the problem, by the time a person or group of people have reached the point where they think killing other people is a reasonable way of achieving their goals, it's no longer possible to sensibly hypothesise their motives. They are by definition so far outside normal that you can't realistically imagine why.
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