Comments on: The IPL: Irritating, putrid and lacklustre http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/ Thu, 17 May 2012 12:01:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Carel http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8117 Carel Sun, 25 Apr 2010 06:12:22 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8117 I think cricket in general, or at least out local Protea chokers are irritating, putrid and lacklustre the last few seasons. I think cricket in general, or at least out local Protea chokers are irritating, putrid and lacklustre the last few seasons.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Adam Wakefield http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8114 Adam Wakefield Sat, 24 Apr 2010 17:15:21 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8114 Thanks for the comments guys. Mitchram...always interesting to get an older follower's viewpoint on things. You know, I certainly understand why the game is exciting, becuase often it is, but I don't know, there is so much it is making me uneasy. Good point on modern life..when do you have five days to watch a game? Interesting times indeed... Thanks for the comments guys.

Mitchram…always interesting to get an older follower’s viewpoint on things. You know, I certainly understand why the game is exciting, becuase often it is, but I don’t know, there is so much it is making me uneasy. Good point on modern life..when do you have five days to watch a game?

Interesting times indeed…

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Adam Wakefield http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8108 Adam Wakefield Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:26:00 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8108 Thanks for the comments guys... Very good point raised by Mitchram. We seem to have less and less time to sit down and watch a game of cricket these days, especially those of us stuck in the mire of the working world. T20 does have it's place, don't get me wrong, but we have passed the point of no return sometime ago, which worries me quite a bit. I love Test cricket, and while you sometimes miss the good stuff, it isn't just about seeing the wickets and runs. It's about absorbing the atmosphere and detecting who holds the momentum and which way things are going. I'm sure you know about it, but smaller kids sure do enjoy the T20 stuff :) I'm just a stickler I guess for the slow stuff. What can be said is that Test cricket's future is increasingly looking day/nightish, which I'm not excited about at all... Keep the comments coming! Thanks for the comments guys…

Very good point raised by Mitchram. We seem to have less and less time to sit down and watch a game of cricket these days, especially those of us stuck in the mire of the working world.

T20 does have it’s place, don’t get me wrong, but we have passed the point of no return sometime ago, which worries me quite a bit. I love Test cricket, and while you sometimes miss the good stuff, it isn’t just about seeing the wickets and runs. It’s about absorbing the atmosphere and detecting who holds the momentum and which way things are going. I’m sure you know about it, but smaller kids sure do enjoy the T20 stuff :)

I’m just a stickler I guess for the slow stuff. What can be said is that Test cricket’s future is increasingly looking day/nightish, which I’m not excited about at all…

Keep the comments coming!

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Adam Wakefield http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8107 Adam Wakefield Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:16:09 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8107 Thanks for the comments guys. Mitchram, thanks for the comment. Always interesting to get the views of older fans of the game, since I've only been following it since the mid-90s. I certainly see why the game is so popular, with it for example being a great way, like a rugby match, to start the weekend or something along those lines. My concern, qaqambile is also on this, is the deteriation of technique and mental fortitude that makes cricket such a difficult game to conquer, and such an absorbing contest to watch. Missing the best bits are all part and parcel. I remember waiting to get into Newlands when Ntini and Ngam took 4 SL wickets in the first 30 minutes. That was lame! :) You make a very good point about not having the time anymore to watch Test cricket. Who can forget the timeless Test between SA and England? 10 days for petes sake! T20 is indeed a modern form of cricket for a modern lifestyle, but I'll stick to my guns. The future of Test cricket is undoubtedly in the air, with day night Tests being the next step. Once that happens, who knows...interesting times indeed... Keep the comments coming... Thanks for the comments guys.

Mitchram, thanks for the comment. Always interesting to get the views of older fans of the game, since I’ve only been following it since the mid-90s. I certainly see why the game is so popular, with it for example being a great way, like a rugby match, to start the weekend or something along those lines. My concern, qaqambile is also on this, is the deteriation of technique and mental fortitude that makes cricket such a difficult game to conquer, and such an absorbing contest to watch. Missing the best bits are all part and parcel. I remember waiting to get into Newlands when Ntini and Ngam took 4 SL wickets in the first 30 minutes. That was lame! :)

You make a very good point about not having the time anymore to watch Test cricket. Who can forget the timeless Test between SA and England? 10 days for petes sake!

T20 is indeed a modern form of cricket for a modern lifestyle, but I’ll stick to my guns. The future of Test cricket is undoubtedly in the air, with day night Tests being the next step. Once that happens, who knows…interesting times indeed…

Keep the comments coming…

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Mitchram http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8101 Mitchram Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:30:29 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8101 Adam, as a middle age West Indian and devotee of the game of Cricket I think I've seen every version of the game (including a version which featured 2 players in a team playing against the remaining 9) and I can say without any doubt that Test cricket days are numbered. Did you know that when Test Cricket first started it was not limited to 5 days? you played until everyone was out. Some cricketers missed the boat back to England. It had to change and cricket has to change if it is to survive. Have you been to a county match in England and seen 50 people (nearly all of whom are friends and families of the players) in a stadium for 20000? Why is that? Because the 5 days game is not appealing. You have to wait 5 days to see a conclusion and if you slip away to get a beer you may miss the best bits! Did you see the crowds at the recent test series in Australia? All over the world people are saying they want the shorter version of the game. It is exciting, entertaining and they can still get on with their lives. To see a full Test match you have to be retired or on holiday! At the moment I only bother to watch the highlights at the end of the day anyway. The T20 format a great version of the game where all the best bits are condensed into a digestable few hours (kind of like the highlights of a test game) As an ageing Cricket fan I love it and so do the kids. I know I will live to see Test cricket die a slow death. Its already started. I will mourn its passing but like so many people now we need to be practical about the things we can support in our modern lives, and dispense with those we can't. RIP Test Cricket. Adam, as a middle age West Indian and devotee of the game of Cricket I think I’ve seen every version of the game (including a version which featured 2 players in a team playing against the remaining 9) and I can say without any doubt that Test cricket days are numbered. Did you know that when Test Cricket first started it was not limited to 5 days? you played until everyone was out. Some cricketers missed the boat back to England. It had to change and cricket has to change if it is to survive. Have you been to a county match in England and seen 50 people (nearly all of whom are friends and families of the players) in a stadium for 20000? Why is that? Because the 5 days game is not appealing. You have to wait 5 days to see a conclusion and if you slip away to get a beer you may miss the best bits! Did you see the crowds at the recent test series in Australia? All over the world people are saying they want the shorter version of the game. It is exciting, entertaining and they can still get on with their lives. To see a full Test match you have to be retired or on holiday! At the moment I only bother to watch the highlights at the end of the day anyway. The T20 format a great version of the game where all the best bits are condensed into a digestable few hours (kind of like the highlights of a test game) As an ageing Cricket fan I love it and so do the kids. I know I will live to see Test cricket die a slow death. Its already started. I will mourn its passing but like so many people now we need to be practical about the things we can support in our modern lives, and dispense with those we can’t. RIP Test Cricket.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: qaqambile http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8100 qaqambile Thu, 22 Apr 2010 07:50:11 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8100 100% true 100% true

(Report abuse)

]]> By: qaqambile http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8098 qaqambile Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:31:27 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8098 Thank you so much for stating my thoughts.As a Test cricket purist I find the IPL a poor excuse for cricket. I do not care who says what, it is not cricket.You hear of the mongoose lately.What on earth is that? A cricket bat without a splice.I hear about 20/20 tournaments at school level and I think to myself what hogwash.How will you be able to get batsmen who are technically sound for Test cricket?How will you get bowlers who can pitch the ball in the right line and length for over after over when at most they have 4 overs or 24 balls and their sole concern is to not leak runs?It is impossible to say you love cricket and then think 20/20 is cricket.It is impossible to say you love cricket and hate Test cricket. Test cricket is cricket. Thank you so much for stating my thoughts.As a Test cricket purist I find the IPL a poor excuse for cricket. I do not care who says what, it is not cricket.You hear of the mongoose lately.What on earth is that? A cricket bat without a splice.I hear about 20/20 tournaments at school level and I think to myself what hogwash.How will you be able to get batsmen who are technically sound for Test cricket?How will you get bowlers who can pitch the ball in the right line and length for over after over when at most they have 4 overs or 24 balls and their sole concern is to not leak runs?It is impossible to say you love cricket and then think 20/20 is cricket.It is impossible to say you love cricket and hate Test cricket. Test cricket is cricket.

(Report abuse)

]]> By: Amar http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8096 Amar Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:37:37 +0000 http://www.sportsleader.co.za/adamwakefield/2010/04/21/the-ipl-irritating-putrid-and-lacklustre/#comment-8096 How right you are! There is now some talk in the rarefied journalistic circles of a certain island country that watching IPL matches can cause cancer! Climatologists have also done studies which say that IPL is contributing to global warming and that the temepratues in India have gone up a few degrees already (although that might be because summer has set in n India). But I agree with you in general. There is nothing better than watching rather ordinary cricketers duking it out for an irrelevant little trophy over a period of 5 days. How right you are! There is now some talk in the rarefied journalistic circles of a certain island country that watching IPL matches can cause cancer! Climatologists have also done studies which say that IPL is contributing to global warming and that the temepratues in India have gone up a few degrees already (although that might be because summer has set in n India).
But I agree with you in general. There is nothing better than watching rather ordinary cricketers duking it out for an irrelevant little trophy over a period of 5 days.

(Report abuse)

]]>