by Yardy Lard » Mon Jan 14, 2013 12:48 am
Think this thread was started by somebody who wants to be better than they were, or did not achieve what they wanted out of the game. I think we have to be fair to the guys who play today.
After 35 years in the game, I feel qualified to give a fair assessment, without going back to the thoughts of our day and potting the players of today.
Players today are fitter and stronger and their fielding is 200% better than players when I played.
I played at a Grade club for 20+ years, went and coached at ATCA level for 10 years and then back at Grade level,. The fielding back when playing, consisted of 20 catches, a few long balls and go in for a beer. A bit of running and not much else. The guys today field for hours, and do much work on their fitness.
They are 200% better athletes than we were. The fielding today is much, much better.
I do think the game has gone off in batting and bowling however. Grade Cricket now is still excellent at A Grade standard, with not much changing in standard over the years, BUT it drops off quickly when you get to B Grade and C Grade. D Grade is simply appalling.
Many of the good Grade players have headed to ATCA level, for a variety of reason. Relaxed training, less Sundays, less T20 and mid week games, less training and also the financial gain these days at ATCA clubs. Also, only 80 overs in a day is a huge benefit, as opposed to the 96 overs at Grade level. Many grade players have to be at the ground now at 9.30am for a normal 11.00am start and this often is a problem for employment, for those working Saturday mornings.
ATCA cricket has been smart enough to work out that 80 overs in days play and staring at 1.00pm allows more players to play, and sooner or later is attractive to Grade players.
Grade cricket has not worked out the the extra 16 overs and 3 sessions does nothing more than give bowlers 5-6 and 7 to bowl crap in the middle of an innings. This does nothing for the bowlers and nothing for the batsmen to face 16 overs of shit in the middle of an innings. The sooner that they go back to bowling 80 overs, this will eliminate the shit being bowled which does nothing for anyone. Bowlers can bowl hard for 80 overs and just 4 bowlers and a possible fifth bowler is sufficient. The quality of a days play is kept for the duration of the day. This was only brought in when Greg Chappell changed Grade cricket, when he was the Redbacks coach and should revert instantly.
It most certainly is no where near as good a quality from B Grade standard and down. I think the standard of ATCA however has got much better and that the top level of ATCA level is as good as Grade Cricket B Grade. The better players are filtering to the ATCA clubs much earlier in life now and the quality is not at a Grade club, as the older blokes do not stay around any more. The kids play B Grade cricket at at Grade club when not ready for it, and also without the experienced old heads around.
All up the standard of player is still here today. The quality has filtered to ATCA level and unfortunately at Grade Cricket, it has dropped off markedly.
The Futures League which Mr Cox and the SACA, are hoping will improve the standard will IMO actually do the opposite. Not many Grade players who you talk to are in favour of the new system that will be around next year. Grade cricket certainly cant afford to have a D Grade other than for 2 ovals, as another 4-5 players will be missing from the elite Grade clubs.
Maybe just have Under 16 Reds sharing the oval with a C Grade side and getting rid of the D Grade and Under 16 Whites, to avoid the extra oval.
In all - I don't think I would have been a better player now.