So, cricket! The decider against South Africa starts this week after a return to the old England ways (shit one week, brilliant the next) sees the series all square. There has been little debate about the make up of the team despite the top three only doing just enough to hang on to their places. The openers in particular must contribute more, if not change must come. It seems we have plenty of choice when it comes to bowlers who can take wickets on home pitches but the veterans are still as good as we’ve got.
The final test of the summer could go either way, both teams
are more than capable of taking twenty wickets and the saffer’s attack
certainly surprised me. Rabada is class
and if the other two stay fit this trio will be a handful for any team. England’s batting looks the stronger though,
especially now the captain has stopped throwing his wicket away, this should be
enough to see us take the series.
There’s also been this Hundred thingy on the tele. I haven’t been interested and don’t care who wins but I have watched it simply because it’s been on. For some reason I find the women’s game enjoyable but the men’s bores me, I think it’s because it’s just another white ball thrash which is absolutely nothing new and honestly I think the standard of cricket has been poor. I don’t know why I prefer the women’s hundred, it doesn’t have the strength or speed but the skill is equal. I think for the women this tournament is something new and I think they are more genuine in their appreciation, there is more passion and not just for the pay checks and exposure which they are long overdue. Then again it could simply be because I’m just a dirty old man.
Overall I think the hundred is bollocks but the format of the tournament would be a good starting point for revamping the domestic T20 game. This may piss the counties off but combing the two short form thrashathons would create something greater than the sum of the parts. But Test cricket is still the ultimate although I'm not sure the standard is as high as it once was and more unpopular change for the counties could be on the way.
