From: peterm@pinhigh.Aus.Sun.COM (Peter Miles)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Re: Standard of International Cricket ????
Date: 25 Jan 1993 00:10:55 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: peterm@pinhigh.Aus.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: pinhigh.aus.sun.com

In article 6691@falcon.ukc.ac.uk, rsp@ukc.ac.uk (R.S.Pickett) writes:
You obviously have some dislike for the "poms". I can guarantee that the
Ashes will not be as easy to win next year. I would perhaps make Australia
slight favorites but England are a far better side than they were 3 years
ago and have IMHO one of the best batting line ups in the world, particularly
with the reinstatment of Gatting who is as good now as he ever was. Yes,
we do have a weakness in the bowling department but over the past couple of
years Defreitas has become a very successful bowler and we have two very
promising spinners in Tufnell and Salisbury. I feel that without a bowler
like Alderman who was so superb at exploiting English conditions the Ausies
will struggle to achieve the results they are used to at home.

However, I do agree that there is a lack of great wicket-keepers and fast
bowlers emerging. I wonder if any other countries will follow Englands
policy of playing a batsman as WK. If they do then the standard may fall
yet further. Certainly I can only think of 4 bowlers who I would possibly
classify as world class.

Rob.

Dear Rob,

2 points first. 

1. I do like the poms in general, however, I do think your selectors are blind,
and nepotistic. with some of the players that they select, and some that
they overlook (e.g. David Gower).

2. Australia currently hold the Ashes and as such WE do not need to WIN them
BACK, you do.!!! A draw will do us just fine.(regrettably that may be the case,
though I hope not) Wouldn't it be great to see a Test series finish 3-2, instead
of 1-0 with 4 or 5 draws..

Regarding your comment that England are a far better side than 3 years.
They would want to be, they were pathetic then.!!! Quite ironic actually
how your English press bagged our side saying that they were the worst
side on paper to Tour England in 30 years. Whilst I wouldn't have been
that candid, to me they were not a very good side on paper, but yet
they were good to whip your boys 4-0.

I like to believe, that I am a fair judge of cricket i.e. even handed. and as such
I am not afraid to criticise my own country. 

The Australian bowling attack is pedestrian, especially without Bruce Reid.
We need an injection of new fast "young" bowlers. To rely on McDermott,
Whitney and Merv the Swerve, as our fast bowling attack is folly. Likewise
so does England need "fast" bowlers.

With regard to your comments on Gatting, all I can say is, please
"take two steps forward into the present" .!!!!! You must be joking. !!!

What is it about you english that you don't think a cricketer has made 
it until they reach their late 30's or early 40's.

In Gattings case, he wasn't much good years ago, so that cannot say much 
about his form these days.!!!

I have always thought that De Freitas was an honest bowler, but thats about
it.!!!

Rob, you really should take up comedy if you are serious about Phil 
"the dill" Tufnell..!!!! What do you mean by the word promising.?????

If you mean that he might take a wicket now and then, but at the cost 
of 90 or 100 runs, then I might agree with you, but really, if Tufnell is 
your best spinner in England, you have trouble with a capital "T".

He has to be the worst International cricketing fieldsman, I have ever 
seen, just fractionally ahead of Eddie "the barrell" Hemmings, and to 
round it all off, he can't bat to save his life.

Finally, I have to say that I think your English patriotism, is showing
a tad of bias. I do not know how you could consider saying that the
English batting lineup is one of the best in the world. ?????

Maybe if you are talking about the "cowboy style" oneday game. you
may be correct, but as far as Test Batting lineups go, you do not rate 
in the top 4 teams in the world.

IMHO, the order would be Australia, West Indies, Pakistan, India,
and then it's a toss up between NZ and the England.

Regards

Peter.