Cricket thread

[matticus]

I always knew we had it in us to pull it back

We looked at the big picture better than they did. Winning a Test Series isn't all about having the best bowlers and the least batting collapses.

 

[Chromatic]

Hmmmm.






BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew

This is quite bizarre because last night the players all passed their PCR tests. We went to bed thinking the match would go ahead.

I suspect the IPL would have a lot to do with this. It starts in 10 days' time. The players are on huge contacts. The IPL is worth £300m to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

They are desperate to protect their product and the players protect their contracts. This stands to cost the ECB £20m, one assumes there would be some negotiations about that with the BCCI.

It is a shame Covid has interfered with a brilliant series.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

The economics of cricket in India are on a different level to all the rest.

 

[Chromatic]

Here's Michael Vaughan:

Post update

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
If you go back to the start of the summer, the India team didn’t want to play this Test due to how close it was to the IPL. The difference between The Oval and this match is that the IPL starts next week. These players are absolutely petrified of getting Covid, having to isolate and missing out on the IPL.

 

[Beebo]

Apparently the staement about the series being drawn 2-2 has been withdrawn and discussions are ongoing about rescheduling.
It’s a shambles, all because of IPL cash which is making the Indian players nervous.

 

[geocycle]

Anyone want a ticket for tomorrow? All a bit of a fiasco isn’t it. Can understand players wanting to get home after a long tour with the prospect of isolating being the final straw. I guess a combination of stress, family and IPL money. But what changed between yesterday when the game was on and today? There have been no more cases we are told. Seems unprofessional to me. Ido have sympathy with the fixture congestion they have to deal with.

 

[Chromatic]

Come on now @Beebo, there's no way something as minor as a scheduled test match should be allowed to jeopardize an IPL pay-cheque.

 

[geocycle]

Apparently the staement about the series being drawn 2-2 has been withdrawn and discussions are ongoing about rescheduling.
It’s a shambles, all because of IPL cash which is making the Indian players nervous.

yes someone has realised that a forfeit would give the insurers a way out of paying.

 

[matticus]

Here's Michael Vaughan:

Post update

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special
If you go back to the start of the summer, the India team didn’t want to play this Test due to how close it was to the IPL. The difference between The Oval and this match is that the IPL starts next week. These players are absolutely petrified of getting Covid, having to isolate and missing out on the IPL.

Could this have been avoided - in hindsight - by insuring the players against financial loss due to COVID infection?

 

[Chromatic]

Could this have been avoided - in hindsight - by insuring the players against financial loss due to COVID infection?

Possibly, but I don't think the prospect of the IPL going ahead with a few star players sitting it out for a while would appeal to the money men under any circumstances.

 

[Beebo]

The IPL has already been postponed by 4 months so this test wasn’t clashing when it was initially arranged. It’s in Dubai now because India is still too dangerous.

Quote from the ECB.

“This is not a situation which has been created by the rescheduled IPL, I fundamentally do not believe that for a second."

What a load of tosh

 

[Beebo]

Kent wins the T20 in the final against Somerset. Neither team have a 100 franchise . If only it was free to air.

This comment is stolen from the BBC comments page, but perfectly sums up the situation.

“Who would have believed you could have such a wonderful day's cricket in front of a full house with little or no marketing? especially in such a tired old format with 6 ball overs and all 18 counties involved in the competition-even those who don't deserve to exist? They ought to try selling it to women and kids and attract a new audience.......”

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I'm reading Richie Benauld's autobiography at the moment. He's scathing about cricket administration. Not much has changed.

 

[Tenacious Sloth]

The stadium announcers in the T20 World Cup are doing my head in!

I’m having to watch it with the sound turned off.

I’m going to try and sync up TMS with the Sky coverage for the England games.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Aussies getting smashed at the moment.