Sheffield Dilled

[mal]

The SS is arguably the best non International cricket comp in the world
But is it losing its status ?
All 6 SS teams competed last week
Becoz of a 4 day format and on apparent roads this is what happened
All the sides batting first dominated and then ....

WA 8/442 DEC
TA 5/296 DEC
WA 4/201 DEC
TA 9/351

WA made 12/643 and lost on the last ball of the game !

NS 5/451 DEC
QL 468
NS 184
QL 1/168

NS declared when 600 runs was likely and then get creamed and lost by 9 wickets !

SA
6/517 DEC
VI 6/246 DEC
SA 2/109 DEC
VI 4/384

SA 8/626 and get thrashed by 6 wickets !

All 3 sides that decared batting first were beaten
All 3 losing teams would feel frustrated

QUESTION
20/20 domestic = 20/20 International
50 over o/d domestic = 50 over ODIs
4 day Sheffield killed = 5 day Test cricket
Should the Sheffield Thrilled be a 5 day game ???

YES TO 4 DAYS
Because it sets up more thrilling finishes
quicker batting
less playing time for the players

YES TO 5 DAYS
Because sides can dominate 4 day games and then get beaten becoz of declarations
It will better prepare AU cricketers for 5 day test matches ?

SUMMARY
I would say 20 years ago when crowds were bigger
Declarations were good entertainment

Now only a handful of people go to these games, so do we need 4 day games anymore ?

20 years ago I would scoff at a suggestion of a 5 day SS comp
Now Im not sure
Also we play all year in a 4 day comp and then play a 5 day final ....

[Pottsy]

Not a bad summary there Mal.

The only thing that come to mind immediately is the bowlers.

They seem to be struggling enough as a group now, with big bad bats to bowl to and lovely flat roads to bowl on. Would it simply add to their workload?

On the other hand, maybe moving to a five day comp could help out the spinner situation for Oz in general, giving the tweakers more worn pitches to bowl on, helping out with their results and confidence.

Personally, I'd prefer it stayed as is. At least it produces a more attacking style of play rather than grinding. In a five day game you would get some pretty special first innings totals!

[MAY-Z]

cant really have a 5 day comp as a lot of the players also need a full tinme job outside cricket

teh solution is simple - put some life in the wickets, or if they are going to start flat make them deteriote so the spinners can have a chance

[whufc]

would there be extra financial pressure if the Sheffield shield went to five days al la hotel room costs, ground operation costs ( i imagine the grounds run at a loss on Sheffield Shield days), would player payments be expected to go up if they had to 'work' an extra day?

[CoverKing]

Looking at it MAL its a good question.

However, a test match goes for 5 days, 90 overs a day! Therefore 450 overs.

SS goes for 4 days, 96 overs a day. Therefore 384 overs in the game.

That is only 66 overs less per game.

Maybe an increase to 105 overs a day could be a logical thing? Make it 4 long days, however it would be entertaining.

Cricketers with full time jobs outside of the cricket? They get paid enough to play cricket only during the summer. A lot of players work in the off season, but during the season they dont do a great deal if on the main list and playing majority of the season!

[locky801]

I reckon bring back the good old days where you played until a result was reached

[mighty_tiger_79]

tassie have got the vics in some trouble in hobart

6/165 ish

[stampy]

its time the curators started producing tracks with something in them instead of road pitches

[jackpot jim]

its time the curators started producing tracks with something in them instead of road pitches

It's time the bowlers bent their backs and captains set attacking fields rather than part timers just trying to restrict the scoring rate by setting defensive fields and waiting for a declaration.