From: rsp@ukc.ac.uk (R.S.Pickett)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Re: Standard of International Cricket ????
Date: 25 Jan 93 12:07:22 GMT
Reply-To: rsp@ukc.ac.uk (R.S.Pickett)
Organization: Computing Lab, University of Kent at Canterbury, UK.

In article <1jvb6fINNfcr@sunaus.Aus.Sun.COM> peterm@pinhigh.Aus.Sun.COM writes:
>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.
>
You have contadicted yourself here as you said in your last posting that you
thought England would be easier to beat this time.
>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.
>
Agreed on this point.

>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.
>

You clearly display here that you do not follow international cricket
closely enough. Phil Tufnell has already won two matches for England almost
single handedly and very nearly a third. He is not a good fielder but he
is much better now than he was when you saw him in Australia. Don't make
judgements on players who you have seen very little of. As for Gatting
I don't suppose you've seen him play for years. Try to be a bit more
objective.

>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. ?????
>

Of course your articles never show the slightest touch of bias! :-)
If you look at recent batting records England certainly come ahead
of Pakistan and India. And W. Indies are yet to prove that they are the
best though I think they perhaps will soon enough.

>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.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket