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Sport

eventually came to a halt. think they can! Play with one ball for all the disadvantage, thus their desire to level
• OK… so, my sleeplessness has 50 overs – let the thing swing, bounce the scales, just a little… but that’s a totally
little or no impact on the possible head- and spin and let the hackers and bashers different story, for another day.
aches facing the ICC. How will things see how well they get on. Let the bowlers
improve? I really don’t know but I’ll test the batsmen and if the batters are ***
venture a few suggestions when I reach good enough, they’ll get runs! But… There you have it… ideas and thoughts
the conclusion. here’s a spinoff thought… my Dale Steyn born in the dark of night. No, I don’t
*** slower ball dipping in-swinger yorker suffer some form of derangement syn-
Now, why am I even writing this piece? special… drome… all I want is for cricket to get
Only because I can’t sleep at night? No… better. I’m rather sick of seeing wanna-be
I need to get the whole “post WC” thing Play the game WITHOUT Helmets! test batsmen think they’re great in the
out of my system. As I said earlier, the ex- one-day format (and because of that they
pectations were never high – unlike other What??? Yes, you read me right. No, wait deserve test call-up’s) – all because all the
world cups. I really didn’t think we would one… just before you start hurling abuse odds are stacked in their favour. I’m sick
win but I also didn’t think the team at me… I haven’t lost it. of seeing dreary 50 over games - when
would play so poorly at times. The lack teams who can only play bish-bash crick-
of intensity seems to have been the issue Make helmets mandatory up to first et are faced with a sporting pitch – or as
that upset most SA fans. Where was the class, almost top of the pile play. Also, in this last world cup, sticky dogs.
passion? Who knows? Maybe they should anyone batting from number six/ seven
ask their bank managers to retrieve their down should wear protection at all times. Ideas born of dark desperation – because
spark from the vaults? However, if you want to step up, grow up I once loved the game and now, I’m
*** and grow a game to be proud of, batsmen wondering? Giving one group an advan-
In conclusion – what do I suggest should need to drop their lids. You see… devel- tage over another has led to mediocrity
happen to improve the next world cup oping players will think twice… either becoming the norm… as the numbers
and the game in general? Let’s begin by they learn proper cricket or segway to seem to indicate.
reviewing the tournament structure – play only T20… leaving the best to play
more teams, more games per day – re- the best. Yes, I bet there’ll be all sorts of objections
sulting in a shorter, more exciting round to these suggestions, but I bet it will bring
robin series before the play-offs. And I mean, for years we’ve heard the old-tim- back some of the class and skill that is
now, here’s my first ninety-six-mile-an- er’s prattle on about how the modern patently lacking in today’s version of the
hour bouncer: generation have adopted shots that they showpiece 50 over world cup… and then
would never have considered, simply the next step, namely test cricket.
Play 50 over cricket with a RED ball – a because they hide behind helmets.
red Duke! Thus… generations of happy hookers and OK… before I head to another dark,
hackers have systematically demeaned sleepless night… we want to improve, not
Yes, I know there will be logistics to sort the great game… the top level… the red regress? Surely…
out… yes, I know a red ball will interfere ball summit. When the game returns to a
with the colour of the event. I’m sure pas- balance between bat and ball, only then Yep, there’s a bit of food for thought…
tel toned uniforms will work – and I’m will test cricket become the force that to add to the confusion of wondering if
sure a day match tournament will result attracts the best… and the crowds. we’ll ever see top-flight cricket played in
in better equality of surfaces and playing packed stadiums again? Oh, by the way…
conditions! Think of it this way… why are bowlers the photos were taken during the first
forever trying to do “something” with the morning of the first session of Ireland’s
But mostly, playing with a red ball will ball? No… I don’t sanction cheating, but first test – at Malahide, Dublin – all of
sort out those who can from those who I sort of get that bowlers are constantly at two years ago!

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