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The Ashes

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      djf01 Chief Commissioner

    The biggest problem with Australian cricket is at the club level, I play grade cricket in Canberra, and the price of player registration for the season is a staggering $550.00 dollars.
    Now you might say "how does that make our national team weaker?" And I would simply answer, young, talented cricketers, just coming out of the junior competition are not able to afford the best part of a whole weeks wage just for a season? I know that the financial burden is enormous when compared to other sports.
    and the lack of talented cricketers playing grade, lead to less competition for the higher grades, rep teams and then state teams and ultimately the National team.
    Jajb94

    I take it you have your own bat.  How much did that cost?
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 16:15

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      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Banned
    I take it you have your own bat.  How much did that cost?
    "djf01"


    What's the point of that particular question?
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 16:34
      simont141 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Adelaide
    That is a horrifying amount of money for a season's registration. I'm glad it wasn't like that for the many years that I played!
    Your point is very well made; the so-called grass roots level is where all cricketers start, and the good ones graduate via District and State level to Test cricket. We can't afford to lose talented young cricketers because the cost of playing is too high. . . I don't particularly want to see them all chucking the bats away and buying surfboards.
    Valvegear
    It is. Some clubs have a more modest registration fee but charge per game. When you consider all the costs involved, it's not a real surprise. Water prices (gone up 3 fold in recent years), cost of curator, umpire fees, new balls for each innings (they aren't cheap!), club admin and rent costs, coach fees, etc. I prefer to put more money through the bar to help drive club costs down, but doesn't seem to be working Smile
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 17:08
      Fireman Dave Chief Commissioner

    Location: Shh, I'm hiding
    I take it you have your own bat.  How much did that cost?
    "djf01"


    Which of course is in addition to the cost of registration. So $550 on top of bat, shoes, pants, shirts, hats, gloves, pads etc all adds up.
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 19:47
      Fireman Dave Chief Commissioner

    Location: Shh, I'm hiding
    Read an article in the paper the other day highlighting the failures of the various players. It was quite shocking that a large number of  supposedly 1st class players are playing with basic errors in technique, like not keeping their head still, and being basically unbalanced at the crease. The question needs to be asked, how do they get to that level?
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 19:52
      djf01 Chief Commissioner

    What's the point of that particular question?
    Valvegear
    I wasn't trying to defend the high cost of registration fees, just point out there are other substantial cost impediments to playing competitive cricket the average Joe might not be aware of.
    Posted: 22 Aug 2013 19:54
      MC3801 Train Controller

    Well done to Steve Smith. Fantastic century.
    Posted: 23 Aug 2013 16:46
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Banned
    I wasn't trying to defend the high cost of registration fees, just point out there are other substantial cost impediments to playing competitive cricket the average Joe might not be aware of.
    "djf01"


    Fair comment.
    Posted: 23 Aug 2013 16:52
      MC3801 Train Controller

    Aussies finally have their first wicket. Score is now 77-1.
    Posted: 23 Aug 2013 21:27
      Graham4405 The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: In exile
    England 247/4 at stumps on day 3. A draw looming?
    Posted: 24 Aug 2013 07:12
      Donald Chief Commissioner

    Location: Donald. Duck country.
    That would have been one of the most boring days of cricket ever.   Apart from the verbal between Clarke and Pieterson - pity we didn't get to hear it.
    Poms working on the theory that we can't win it might as well kill it as a match.
    More rain forecast for tonight.   I thought I heard on the first morning that the match forecast was for fine weather for the entire match.   Good to see their guessoloigists are as good as ours!
    Posted: 24 Aug 2013 10:10
      Jajb94 Deputy Commissioner

    Location: In a BAM
    I take it you have your own bat.  How much did that cost?
    djf01
    Well, in my kit bag I have

    2 cricket bats ($700.00)
    Helmet ($65.00)
    Batting gloves, 2 pairs ($100.00)
    Leg guards ($100.00)
    Shoes spiked for turf pitches ($130.00)
    Hip and thigh guard ($70.00)
    Box ($15.00)
    Bat Gripping cone (15.00)
    1 Quality cricket ball ($45.00)

    For a Total cost of $1225.00

    Then we come to the clothes,
    Club One-day shirt  ($40.00)
    Club 2-day shirt (40.00)
    2 pairs of white/cream pants ($80.00)
    Club Cap ($15.00)

    For a Total cost of $175.00

    But, my point is that all the above equipment can, if cared for properly last 3-5 years before requiring replacement
    Which the total cost, spread over the five years of expected life is about $280.00 Which I believe would be equivalent to many sports in terms of equipment cost.

    But the problem is, whilst any cricketer acquires this as they go through the junior system, during that time they are only paying $150.00 MAX in associated playing fees.

    But that extra cost in player fees associated with grade Cricket is the killer to many a cricketer's aspirations as the financial realities hit home.

    But back onto the topic of the Ashes

    I for one am very glad that Steven Smith has been able to score his maiden ton in test cricket, when he debut he was picked for the wrong reasons, and as a result, failed, then for the tour of India just past I was not a fan of his selection in the squad, but the runs he made over there caused me to change my mind, and I now look forward to watching him score countless runs if he is not a victim of the selectors mauling, as so many have been before, and indeed, he almost was.

    And Shane Watson, think about his previous performances in this series, in every single inning, his technique has improved in one area or another, and I hope that this inning is a thing that will become commonplace.

    as for the bowling, well Ryan Harris has done exactly what everyone knew he could, and in partnership with Siddle, make our pace bowling stocks better than England, it is therefore a shame that we have now lost Pattinson and Bird to injury.

    I suspect that this game will be decided on day five, morning session.
    Posted: 24 Aug 2013 19:10
      Jajb94 Deputy Commissioner

    Location: In a BAM
    I wasn't trying to defend the high cost of registration fees, just point out there are other substantial cost impediments to playing competitive cricket the average Joe might not be aware of.
    djf01
    that is a fair observation, but all the equipment can last upwards of 5 years when looked after. so when you divide the total cost of the equipment over the life of that item, you easily find that is really isn't that expensive on a per-season basis.
    Posted: 24 Aug 2013 19:12
      djf01 Chief Commissioner

    Apart from the verbal between Clarke and Pieterson - pity we didn't get to hear it.
    Donald

    Apparently (according to that most reliable of information sources: Twitter) ieterson said something in response to a Clarke sledge on Bell.  Pieterson decided he'd be the one to respond, to which Clarke replied "shut up, no one likes you anyway".

    Pieterson retaliated with "No-one likes you either, and your the captain", which had Shane Watson rolling around in hysterics Smile.

    In the words of Homer Simpson: "it's funny 'cause it's true".
    Posted: 24 Aug 2013 19:13
      djf01 Chief Commissioner

    Well, in my kit bag I have

    2 cricket bats ($700.00)
    ...
    But that extra cost in player fees associated with grade Cricket is the killer to many a cricketer's aspirations as the financial realities hit home.
    Jajb94

    Sounds like you managed to get some cheap bats!

    I had a thought on this, and that's the ACT might not get the same financial support as associations in the main states, as AFAIK the ACT association probably doesn't get the same level of trickle down cross subsidy from Cricket Australia as the ACT association isn't a full member.

    Maybe someone can shed some light on this ....

    I played a season a park cricket a few years ago (in regional NSW), and the fees weren't half that - including for the firsts.
    Posted: 24 Aug 2013 19:53
      MC3801 Train Controller

    Another rain delay. Hopefully the day's play starts soon.
    Posted: 24 Aug 2013 20:20
      MC3801 Train Controller

    Will this rain ever end? Sad
    Posted: 24 Aug 2013 22:21
      Donald Chief Commissioner

    Location: Donald. Duck country.
    It's only raining because we were doing well.
    Posted: 24 Aug 2013 22:48
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Banned
    I dunno - we weren't doing all that well. It took all day to get 4 wickets, and we needed to take 20 to win.
    The Poms were playing for a draw right from the start of their innings, as a scoring rate of 2.12 runs per over demonstrates.
    Australia scored at 3.81 per over.
    England needs to remember that, although the Ashes are safely retained, they are supposed to be entertainers, and that sort of strokeless play turns the crowds away. If they tried to win, and didn't, they haven't lost anything.

    As an aside, how dumb is Watson?  When Bell came in Watson said to Pietersen, " Now you're batting with a kid." Pietersen, to his great credit, reminded Watson that Bell had three centuries in the series, and enquired how many Watson had in his whole Test career.
    Posted: 25 Aug 2013 11:58
      MC3801 Train Controller

    Score now 293-5. England now trail by 199.
    Posted: 25 Aug 2013 21:21
      Graham4405 The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: In exile
    Australia 492/9d & 111/6d
    England 377 & 159/2 with a minimum of 11 overs to play.

    Interesting...
    Posted: 26 Aug 2013 03:55
      Graham4405 The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: In exile
    Match drawn when bad light stopped play with England 206/5. Just 21 runs  or 5 wickets short of victory...
    Posted: 26 Aug 2013 09:09
      bevans Site Admin

    Location: Melbourne, Australia
    Match drawn when bad light stopped play with England 206/5. Just 21 runs  or 5 wickets short of victory...
    Graham4405

    The umpires had the say but according to the ABC (i was listening) Clarke did ask the umpires for a decision.  Clarke made it a game with the declaration. Australia now to look to this summer.

    Regards
    Brian
    Posted: 26 Aug 2013 09:12
      simont141 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Adelaide
    Interesting series. Statistically, Australia matched (or bettered) England on almost all fronts, yet lost 3-0. I think Australia will go away somewhat comforted, yet disappointed and hungry for a rematch.
    Posted: 26 Aug 2013 10:08
      djf01 Chief Commissioner

    Interesting series. Statistically, Australia matched (or bettered) England on almost all fronts, yet lost 3-0. I think Australia will go away somewhat comforted, yet disappointed and hungry for a rematch.
    simont141
    The circumstances of the series were somewhat flattering to England IMHO.  Rain adversely effected the games where Australia won the toss and batted first.  Had Ashton not had a brain snap and got his hundred from #11 and we'd sneaked those extra 15 runs, and rain washed out the 2nd and 4th tests rather the 3rd and 5th we could well have seen 3-0 to the Aussies - however undeserved.

    Harris was the best of the bowlers on either side IMHO (bowling against stronger opposition batting), but Broad and Anderson were not far behind.  Swann was outstanding.  Bowling on both sides was exceptionally good, particularly the seam bowling with both sides reliably swinging the new and old ball in not always helpful conditions.

    England's change bowling was noticeably weaker than Australia's.  Bresnan was good in patches, as were most of Australia's other bowlers.  If the Aussies got on top of Broad and Anderson, England had nowhere to go at Swann's other end.  But Australia invariably pegged England back if their batters got on top, and England did not once pass 400 in the series.

    The best batter on either side was Bell who made 3 hundreds and some 50s too at #5.  With the ball moving about and the high quality of the bowling #5 was the prime spot to bat in this series (the main reason Smith was statistically one of our better players).

    It think it's fair to say that had Bell been in the Australian settup he'd have been lucky to get 1 century let alone 3.  He'd have been batting our of position: opening, #3, #6 wherever.  And even if he did OK and got one of his hundreds, no doubt he'd have been moved in the batting order again to plug another hole somewhere else.  England made only 1 change to their top 6 in all 10 innings on the series, despite the (alleged) poor form of their top order.

    A lot of people have been saying this now, but clearly Australia needs to settle a top order and stop dropping/shuffling players for centuries every 2 or 3 times they bat.  Even in the last innings of the Oval test match the shuffling of the batting order was clearly counter productive.  They needed Rogers to open and play bat on ball & turn the strike over against the Anderson/Broad swingers that neither Watson nor Warner could hit their cow shots against.
    Posted: 26 Aug 2013 11:48

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