Second Test the Same as the First

 Already the second Ashes test is showing signs of sameness as the first, the Ockers well on top, the Poms showing a hint of fight before collapsing to defeat.

This time against a diminished Ocker bowling attack.

Unfortunately for world cricket this seems to be norm, test series after test series simply repeating the formula of what's gone before.

A minor bitch compared with the biggie of penalties for slow over-rates when they don't affect the result of the game.

The only real change is the difference in size of championship points deducted for slow over-rates even when those over-rates actually add to the pleasure many members of the public get from watching a genuine contest instead of one interrupted by a couple of part-timers rushing through overs in an attempt to get the players paid.

I'm enjoying watching Green bowling to Root, Stark bowling to Buttler, Robinson bowling to Smith and Wood (when selected) bowling to damned near anyone.

That's what test cricket is about; individual contests within a team game.

These contests won't continue to happen if the ICC don't start changing their bloody silly rules!

The Ashes part 1, A Travesty!

 The first test of The Ashes for this summer.

The match lasted just three and a half days. I watched damned near all of it.

Except for a session on day three when both teams seemed bereft of ideas on how to advance the game it was good cricket. The Poms were at that stage batting time as much as anything, the Ockers a bowler down and with a totally ineffectual spinner.

The fourth morning changed that and the Poms collapsed for a second time.

All good stuff.

Unfortunately I read this morning that the Poms were docked all of their match fees for a slow over-rate on day two.

Why, for christ's sake?

I can understand if there was a deliberate go-slow but for most of the day the Poms were two bowlers short and, notably, it was the first game of white-clothing cricket the two teams had played this summer.

It was the best day's cricket of the match!

Add to that that, as a spectator, I didn't feel the least bit short-changed by that over-rate.

This type of utter bullshit will accomplish only one thing: The demise of test cricket.

Players will avoid the longer form of the game.

Stop it! ICC get some sense in your rules.

Two Tests - Only Two Tests!

 NZC has just confirmed it will play just two tests in Britain this year.

Two!

At a time where cricket followers worldwide are having demonstrated to them just how superior and exiting test cricket is NZC once again disgraces itself by prioritising the candyfloss crap and only reluctantly playing as few tests as it possibly can.

Bastards!