Grumpy old man post

[Booney]

Adam White
@White_Adam

I sat my under 10 kids down for a chat tonight at training so they could ask any cricket questions they liked. The first two questions were about how to hit reverse sweeps. I immediately shut down the Q&A session, we got out our bats and worked on our cover drives.

See!

[Lightning McQueen]

Adam White
@White_Adam

I sat my under 10 kids down for a chat tonight at training so they could ask any cricket questions they liked. The first two questions were about how to hit reverse sweeps. I immediately shut down the Q&A session, we got out our bats and worked on our cover drives.

See!

Hi Walter.

[whufc]

Yeah I hate the new found trend in reverse sweeping, seeing a lot more country cricketers try it as well.

Not that it is an effective shot at country level, im yet to see anyone hit a run from it but I really think it goes against the spirit of the game, especially given cricket is meant to be the gentlemen game.

Any coach worth their salt will ensure they teach kids a solid foundation and that starts with a good defence. I do like the modern day philosophy around letting natural techniques flourish. Whilst it would be nice if we all had the perfect technique as long as we get into a good position at the time of contact with the ball it really doesn't matter how you get there. I like Steven Smith's theory in that everything he does before hitting the ball is about feeling comfy, he feels comfy, he feels confident, he feels confident his feet move and his positive.

[Dutchy]

Been watching u14 cricket all summer and have not seen one reverse sweep, that includes a T20 comp.

However have seen plenty of shouldering arms, Steve Smith style with a loud "no run", I found it more unusual as u14's never used to leave any delivery

[Booney]

Been watching u14 cricket all summer and have not seen one reverse sweep, that includes a T20 comp.

However have seen plenty of shouldering arms, Steve Smith style with a loud "no run", I found it more unusual as u14's never used to leave any delivery

Now, just a reminder lads, when you leave it there's no need to scream "NO RUN" as the bloke at the other end CAN F*CKING SEE YOU LEFT IT!

[MatteeG]

Been watching u14 cricket all summer and have not seen one reverse sweep, that includes a T20 comp.

However have seen plenty of shouldering arms, Steve Smith style with a loud "no run", I found it more unusual as u14's never used to leave any delivery

LOL absolutely. Even the off pitch no balls get chased 5 feet across to get a swing at it.

[whufc]

My office is located on the Clare Oval and has the perfect view to the centre of the ground.

Currently some form of inter school cricket competition going on, would have to be year 6-7 (10-12)

The batting standard is great, one kid in particular gets some serious ping off the bat an is only very small in stature. No reverse sweeps / ramps / switch hits in site.

Got to say though the bowling standard is horrendous. Not sure an over has gone by without at least one wide minimum. Plenty of weird and wonderful actions getting around as well, which im not sure are working for them. Interestingly no spinners in either innings as well.

Kids are full of excitement and bouncing around in the field, celebrating each wicket with pure glee.

Good to watch

[Booney]

FMD...

[whufc]

For once i think Warner is right.......

The only reason test cricket is surviving for the smaller nations is due to the money T20 brings in to fund it......the double edge sword is the money t20 brings in means t20 cricket is going to be extremely valuable to players wages.

I put it in my prediction thread but i don't think there will be much more than 3 nations playing test cricket by 2035.

Unless the ICC or the big nations somehow create a test cricket fund im not sure the small countries will have the players to be competitive

[gadj1976]

FMD...

We all know it's not scaredness. It's scardidity!

[Jimmy_041]

FMD...

We all know it's not scaredness. It's scardidity!

Or scaredicatness

Or maybe just fear

He really is a knob

[Booney]

*Clears throat*

[Booney]

Bump.

[Aerie]

Reckless or smart cricket?

In Konstas case, I think he was doing the equivalent of hitting the spinner over mid off to set the field back.

It was brave, entertaining and it worked. He only ramped Bumrah. It was calculated risk.

At the end of day 1, the game was still in the balance. By lunch day 2, Australia were well and truly on top thanks to a century partnership between Smith and Cummins and Smith “going on with it” and hitting a big century. That is still the most important ingredient in a Test match win, but Konstas played his role in setting the platform, however unorthodox.

Another bright, modern young star on the world stage, Jaiswal, had his team back in the game. 30 minutes before Stumps, India had set a platform to go big. Jaiswal, closing in on a century, adrenaline high, took a suicidal run to mid on and Kohli quite rightly sent him back.

Then Boland, with another classic ingredient made for Test cricket, a relentless line and length, took two more wickets to steer the match well and truly in Australia’s favour by stumps on day 2.

Regardless of the tactics, Test cricket brings out consequences for your actions. It was incredibly brave of Konstas to do what he did on the stage he did it.

[whufc]

Reckless or smart cricket?

In Konstas case, I think he was doing the equivalent of hitting the spinner over mid off to set the field back.

It was brave, entertaining and it worked. He only ramped Bumrah. It was calculated risk.

At the end of day 1, the game was still in the balance. By lunch day 2, Australia were well and truly on top thanks to a century partnership between Smith and Cummins and Smith “going on with it” and hitting a big century. That is still the most important ingredient in a Test match win, but Konstas played his role in setting the platform, however unorthodox.

Another bright, modern young star on the world stage, Jaiswal, had his team back in the game. 30 minutes before Stumps, India had set a platform to go big. Jaiswal, closing in on a century, adrenaline high, took a suicidal run to mid on and Kohli quite rightly sent him back.

Then Boland, with another classic ingredient made for Test cricket, a relentless line and length, took two more wickets to steer the match well and truly in Australia’s favour by stumps on day 2.

Regardless of the tactics, Test cricket brings out consequences for your actions. It was incredibly brave of Konstas to do what he did on the stage he did it.

Going to be interesting to see what Konstas does when India start with a third man. Was a great tactic on the day which worked extremely well, his shown that card so now has to think his way through the next problem.

[am Bays]

FFS Scott