From: peterm@pinhigh.Aus.Sun.COM (Peter Miles)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Standard of International Cricket ????
Date: 22 Jan 1993 02:17:55 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: peterm@pinhigh.Aus.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: pinhigh.aus.sun.com

I have read many articles in this group, praising one person and ridiculing another. I guess
that is a bi product of sport, that we armchair critic's, sit in judgement of the professionals
critiquing their performances.

Also, I have read many debates about one era, being better than another era, etc.etc.

Thus I would like to make my point. Whilst I totally agree that it is difficult and really pointless
to try to measure, say the Bradman era, with the Border era, I do think we can take a line through
more recent eras, i.e. In Australia, the Ian Chappell era versus the current era.

I for one do not think there has been any marked improvements technologically, during this
period of 1970 to the present, apart from a more disciplined approach to a higher level of 
physical fitness. But to my mind mind the tools of trade, and skillsets for the game have basically remained static over the years.

However, I do think that there has been a marked DECREASE in the ENTERTAINMENT provided
in the TEST cricket arena during this period. Furthermore, I do think we have our selves on, both here in Australia, and in most other parts of the cricketing world, about the percieved standard of cricket in all countries.


Sure in differing countries, you each have 1 maybe 2 or if you a really lucky 3 star players, of
true "top of the list" quality players, but really the rest are really only just cricketers these days.

My assessment is as follows ; (please note I am only referring to current players)
I have broken them into 3 categories, 
1. recognised world class  
2."had world class once, but are now past it, or lost it.!!.
3. show potential, but not there yet.

The rest if they are not mentioned, don't have, nor do I think they will ever become World class
players, the best I can say for most of them is they are good toilers and battlers.

Australia

1.  Border, Reid (when fit)
2.  Nobody
3. Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn

England

1.  Nobody
2.  Gooch
3.  Hick, Robin Smith

India

1. Azharuddin
2. Kapil Dev
3. Tendulkar

New Zealand

1. Crowe
2. Nobody
3. Greatbatch

Pakistan

1. Akram
2. Mianded
3. Imzamam Ul Haq, Waqar, 

Sth Africa

1. Nobody
2. Wessels
3. Donald, Rhodes, Snell

Sri Lanka

1. Nobody
2. Aravinda da Silva
3. Mahanama

West Indies

1. Richie Richardson, Ambrose
2. Haynes, Logie
3. Lara, Simmons, Bishop, Arthurton

General Comment on these selections.
==============================

IMHO, from the above ratings, I have only found 8 players who I believe are current world class.
There are 7 players that I believe are losing it, or have lost it, including Javed & Kapil. I'm sure that
will start a lot of discussion, but I do believe this to be true. In fact I was tempted to include 
Border in the same category (#2), however, his recent Test Century, his pending achievement to be the Greatest Test Run Getter of ALL TIME, and the fact that he is by far the BEST Captain(tactically)
in the world today, led me to leave him in the world class category.

The 2 main points that I think is quite evident, is the total lack of a world Class WK in the style
of a Rod Marsh, Alan Knott or Farook Engineer of the past. !!!!! Also, there are not many Fast Bowlers of any class emerging.!!!

Also, this era really highlights the paucity of the standard of English cricket. !!!!!

It's a pretty bad state of affairs, when  Phil De Freitas commands first use of the new ball, and 
Alec Stewart WK and opens the batting( theres still room for nepotism in the 90's), and they clean 
all the moths off Mike Gatting, and roll him out into the centre of the pitch like a Trojan horse.
It looks like the Ashes are going to be even easier to defend on English soil this year, than they were, to win back 3 years ago. AND thats saying something, considering the pop gun bowling
attack we have here down under, and the jaundiced view that the Australian selectors have that
Steve Waugh will magically turn into a Dougie Walters SOON, I mean you would think 47 Tests would be enough to be able to run into some consistent form, wouldn't you. ??? Still they will probably pick him again, remembering what he did to Mother England last tour. I just hope that
if they do, that the English bowlers can show Waugh up for the NON TALENT that he is.


I am an avid fan of TEST cricket, BUT, I want to be entertained.!!!!!

I do not have the figures to highlight my case, but I would bet that the # of runs scored in a
day during the tests of the 70's(Chappelli) would far outweigh the paltry number we get these days, and have done for many years.

Who can remember the last person to score 100 runs(on their own) in a session. My last
recollection of  such a feat, was Dougie Walters, in a Test in Perth in the mid 70's, doing so with
a "6" of the last ball of the days play.!!! Now that is what I call entertainment.

You people cannot tell me that you feel fully entertained when you watch a Test these days.????

Any comments..............

Regards  Peter.



Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket