BBL talk.

[Ozza]

Re: BBL talk.

Well summed up.

I now prefer T20 to 50/50. 50/50 are the games that have become clinical and boring and really needs a revamp.

Having said that Test cricket is my favourite, but hey a bit of entertainment doesn't hurt anyone - it's all a bit of fun and great to watch. You can like all forms of the game, why not.

Exactly. Following the Big Bash doesn't diminish my following of Test Cricket - which I still think is the most important form of the game. I also prefer T20 to one dayers now. I loved the ODI's growing up - but now unless its the World Cup, it doesn't mean anything to me. Having 5 ODI's v England at the end of an Ashes series....I really couldn't care less. I'd prefer to see the best players be able to play in the back end of the BBL competition.

One thing T20 cricket does do, is that the increased opportunities for players to play and earn money - means that Cricket will lose less players to the football codes.

[Topdog]

Re: BBL talk.

Has looked just OK to me. A quick check of his stats: 121 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 120 - hardly setting the world on fire.

41 off 30
27 off 23
20* off 13

were his previous 3 innings. Last night another OK 16 off 19. He couldnt get on strike as Short was having it all and smashing it everywhere.

[Twodogs]

Re: BBL talk.

Has looked just OK to me. A quick check of his stats: 121 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 120 - hardly setting the world on fire.

He has been on fire out the side of his mouth though. I can't remember who it was last night who was about to throw his bat at Wade until Wade gave him a cheeky grin and you could almost see the batsman remember "oh yeah, this is just a domestic league T-20 match. *!*!*!*!ing Wadey had me playing for sheep stations"

He can really get under a batsman's skin.

What did people think of the obstructing the field call? I really can't understand what Ross was trying to do, the shortest way to the crease is in a straight line. Had he continued on his path he would have been a reasonable chance of blocking the throw anyway.

I'd still be stood there arguing my case.

Well summed up.

I now prefer T20 to 50/50. 50/50 are the games that have become clinical and boring and really needs a revamp.

Having said that Test cricket is my favourite, but hey a bit of entertainment doesn't hurt anyone - it's all a bit of fun and great to watch. You can like all forms of the game, why not.

Yep exactly. T-20 is what's left over when you take the formulaic, boring bits out of 50/50 cricket. It's the result of the revamp of 50/50 cricket. And I think it's 50over ODIs that are really in trouble. But I think that in India they take 50 over cricket pretty seriously so maybe that will save it?

But Sedat is right. Test cricket is where all the drama still resides. I can still tell you where I was when Thommo batted with AB. And when Tim May batted with Craig McDermott. And when Mike Whitney batted out the last Six balls of a Richard Hadlee over to draw a Test Match. I can describe in great detail almost every ball of a session Steve Waugh and Brendon Julien batted through to snatch a draw even though we were 6 for with a session and a half to go. I know where I was and who i was watching it with that time Steve Smith took 3 wickets in the second last over of the Test Match against Pakistan down in Tassie. Even though it was the pub and we'd been there since the start of play that day. You remember all the drama of test match cricket, you reflect upon it and in the distant years to come you get to tell the young ones "I was there that day. Let me tell you what really happened"

But I watch all the BBL matches and I've got no idea who the other team is if it's the first innings and they aren't named on the scoreboard at the bottom of the screen.

[westdog54]

Re: BBL talk.

What did people think of the obstructing the field call? I really can't understand what Ross was trying to do, the shortest way to the crease is in a straight line. Had he continued on his path he would have been a reasonable chance of blocking the throw anyway.

If anything, he was trying to get out of the way of the ball to give a direct hit every chance of succeeding, and avoid getting injured by the ball.

It wasn't a great throw in the end. It gaff no chance of hitting the stumps direct and Wade was Beckett going to get the bails off.

The third umpire got it wrong. Simple as that.

[Bornadog]

Re: BBL talk.

The third umpire got it wrong. Simple as that.

What choice has the 3rd umpire got? All he saw was a player changing direction that looked like he was trying to protect the wickets?

The 3rd umpire has to call it how he sees it, he has no way knowing what the players intentions were. Otherwise all players can start playing that trick

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: BBL talk.

41 off 30
27 off 23
20* off 13

were his previous 3 innings. Last night another OK 16 off 19. He couldnt get on strike as Short was having it all and smashing it everywhere.

Wade almost cost the match with the missed stumping that went for 4 off Boyce

[Twodogs]

Re: BBL talk.

What choice has the 3rd umpire got? All he saw was a player changing direction that looked like he was trying to protect the wickets?

The 3rd umpire has to call it how he sees it, he has no way knowing what the players intentions were. Otherwise all players can start playing that trick

I tend to agree. There is a shade of grey in this situation and I think you have summed it up pretty well. Ross changes direction but it's hard to tell what he was thinking. It's sort of counter intuitive to think he was running away from the stumps but maybe that's exactly what he was doing. The third umpire had no choice in the end.

One thing I couldn't work out is was there an appeal from the fielding team? I've seen a heap of replays, I saw it happen live on TV but I can't see anyone appeal, just the umpire refer to the third umpire and I'm not 100% sure how that happened. I was watching but I sort of tuned out and focused on something else when the run out appeal was turned down and zoned back in again when they said that the umpire had referred.

[Axe Man]

Re: BBL talk.

I tend to agree. There is a shade of grey in this situation and I think you have summed it up pretty well. Ross changes direction but it's hard to tell what he was thinking. It's sort of counter intuitive to think he was running away from the stumps but maybe that's exactly what he was doing. The third umpire had no choice in the end.

One thing I couldn't work out is was there an appeal from the fielding team? I've seen a heap of replays, I saw it happen live on TV but I can't see anyone appeal, just the umpire refer to the third umpire and I'm not 100% sure how that happened. I was watching but I sort of tuned out and focused on something else when the run out appeal was turned down and zoned back in again when they said that the umpire had referred.

Bailey said after the game they appealed for the run out and then when they saw the replay on the big screen he queried the umpire as to whether Ross had obstructed the field.

Bailey after the game conceded he appealed for obstructing the field.

“I am learning for the rule as we speak,’’ Bailey said.

“I appealed for the run out then when I saw on the replay Rossy changed his line we asked them to consider for obstructing the field as well.’’

[Topdog]

Re: BBL talk.

What choice has the 3rd umpire got? All he saw was a player changing direction that looked like he was trying to protect the wickets?

The 3rd umpire has to call it how he sees it, he has no way knowing what the players intentions were. Otherwise all players can start playing that trick

He could look at what actually happened. Even if he obstructed the ball, the player was in the crease so there was no chance of a run out.

[Bornadog]

Re: BBL talk.

He could look at what actually happened. Even if he obstructed the ball, the player was in the crease so there was no chance of a run out.

From CA

"The dismissal last night of Alex Ross from Brisbane Heat saw the batsman change direction, turn to watch the direction of the throw, and run on the pitch," the spokesperson said.

"The third umpire concluded that the change of running direction of the batsman, after seeing the direction of the throw, obstructed the wicketkeeper’s opportunity to affect the run-out

[Sedat]

Re: BBL talk.

As you said you are not the target market clearly. I can only see it growing.

I think CA will grow it but I'm not sure long term that is the best strategy. It feels like we've already hit peak BBL - crowds and ratings are down this season compared to last year for the first time in its history. Adding more teams and a longer season to the mix might water down the content even more.

[Topdog]

Re: BBL talk.

Personally i love the BBL now, it is great entertainment. I think CA need to adjust the scheduling so the best players play finals. It's mental that teams will lose players for the one day series during the finals

And this is what i was talking about. Now White added to the ODI squad immediately and the 2 players i wanted to see the most in tomorrow's match will be missing.

Waters down the product.

[Twodogs]

Re: BBL talk.

Bailey said after the game they appealed for the run out and then when they saw the replay on the big screen he queried the umpire as to whether Ross had obstructed the field.

Thanks mate.

[Flamethrower]

Re: BBL talk.

In terms of the obstructing the field call last night....

As a player we were told that we would only be out if we deliberately attempted to stop a fielder from completing a dismissal, or blocked the ball from being collected or caught by a fielder.

However, I was told by an umpire that since they can't read a players mind, they assess it in this way....

1. Did the batsman look at the ball or fielder and then change direction? Did the batsman do something (eg throw their bat or yell out) to interfere with the fielding team?
2. Did this action prevent the fielding team from fielding or catching the ball?

If both points are answered YES, then the batsman can be given out on appeal by the fielding team.

Whether the batsman would have been caught, run out or stumped is not taken into account, as a batsman can also be out if their "obstruction" also causes more runs to be scored than would have otherwise been if they didn't obstruct the field.

[westdog54]

Re: BBL talk.

Man I love watching Usman Khawaja play T20. Just so effortless.