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Bish-Bosh-Bash and the

Ramifications of the

White Ball on True Cricket…

Earlier this year, I wrote an article about strongly from bowler friendly conditions!
the after-effects and lessons learned White ball cricket – the short formats of Same conditions for both teams? I won-
about the 2019 WC. Now, without any the game – has led to big money getting der?
cricket to distract and the need to find in on the act. There lies the underlying • The scheduling of play – some
something related to cricket, I dug the problem. Just like the malaise witnessed teams played a heap of games in quick
piece from the archive and gave it a read in football – when club is placed ahead of succession and others eased slowly into
over. What you have here is the result of country – money, not passion – becomes the WC – there was even a rumour that
an edit… and the addition of a few more the driver. Yes, I kid you not, these are India had requested a later start – so,
thoughts. So… without further ado… the thoughts that swirl in my mind in their players could recuperate from their
here we go. the middle of dark nights. But I promise IPL exploits – club influencing country?
you, it’s not the state of the game that • The very structure of the tour-
*** keeps me awake, it’s the damaged neck nament – ten teams only – some rather
I often lie awake at night… blame it vertebrae that cause insomnia… resulting inexperienced and weak teams just didn’t
on the bad neck. So, on one such night in many ponderings about many things, make the grade. Of the 45 round-robin
earlier this year, I reminded myself of a including cricket. OK, before I prattle on games:
comment I’d placed somewhere on social much longer, let’s jot down a few bullet o At least 20 completed games
media about the under-performance of points about last year’s world cup event: were one-sided affairs – boring, of
the South African team at the last cricket little value for the image of cricket. This
world cup, held in England and Wales • Playing a cricket tournament in amounts to about 50% of games, if rain
during the summer of 2019. Note, I use the UK, beginning in late May and lasting affected games are considered. Good?
the term summer loosely. for many weeks… until the final on 14 o By my limited judgement, only
July 2019. The location and timeframe about four games were above average,
I also commented about the state of play had two distinct influences on results: last over affairs and maybe seven games
at the tournament in general. So, maybe I o Rain – a few teams benefitted by could have been described as banana skin
should give you my thoughts on that first rain affected games – getting one point upsets.
– because it did have a direct influence on on the table where they most likely would o One game per day for most of
one or two of the South African games. have lost, as they were not the favourite the tournament – people just lose interest
OK, before I go there, my disclaimer… for the particular game. – something the ICC are well aware of
I am no pundit or statistician, merely o Pitch preparation – pitches dry- from previous lengthy tournaments.
an observer. Also said, I’m no fanatic; ing out and becoming lower and slower • When tongues wag there is
I merely love(d) the game for a host of as the games progressed. So, if you chose usually a reason – may I suggest that the
reasons. One… it’s been said that cricket wrong at the toss, you lost! Or, if you lost umpiring was not up to WC standards
mirrors life – maybe more so than many the toss, you lost. at times? The most glaring incident was
other sports. The ups, the downs… the  A quick look at the 45 group the four-run-overthrow in the final.
rewards for hard work and dedication. games - 27 out of the 40 completed round Regardless of the exact interpretation of
robin fixtures were won by the side bat- the Law(s) of the Game, how on earth
However, I believe that analogy is fast ting first, about 67%. Should that be? does a batsman get to benefit by hitting
disappearing into the night sky… like  Most of the sides who won the ball twice on any given legal delivery?
a white ball that’s been agriculturally batting second were favourites to win, on You can say what you want, I’m sure even
hacked out of the ground by some- strength and form, so… they would likely a club umpire would have called “dead-
one who could best be described as a win, irrespective of batting first or second ball” as soon as the ball deflected off the
ball-basher. No finesse, no grace, no – no banana skins here. batsman’s bat. And so, the WC Final was
class… just a swinging wide arc of brute o Even a semi-final game was rain decided on what should’ve been a non-
force… and (maybe, just maybe) igno- marred – resulting in play to continue the event! However, some would say justice
rance. next day – allowing one team to benefit was done, as the losing side’s lucky run

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