jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Sept 30, 2022 11:17:10 GMT
What a great end to the CC season. The competition rarely fails to produce drama right up to the end of the season. Glos played a big part in relegating Yorkshire, by beating them at Headingly and then former Glos bowler Liam Norwell bowling Hampshire out for Warwickshire yesterday. All the more remarkable given that he clearly isn't really fit enough to play at the moment.
From Gloucestershire's perspective, we definitely deserve to go down. In the 3 years before this one, we've been competitive in almost every game and the points system in the County Championship rewards that. You can't afford to lose 8 games, some of which we lost by a country mile having collected almost no points. With the exception of the two final games, their inability to take 20 wickets has cost them. If we had a bit more luck with injuries and more nouse, we might have taken another 16 points off Northampton, one we failed to win with Northants 8 down and the second we lost trying to set up a win. Even then, we'd have finished bottom, even with 3 wins.
I think perhaps the loss of Dan Worrall has had a bigger impact than I'd appreciated. He's had a great season for Surrey and I think he's been a big influence on their dressing room.
I know Harris is back next season, and hopefully Payne and Dent will be available a bit more often, but we've got some work to do in the market. If Gohar can be re-signed, then we are going to need to find an English qualified quick to lead the line, especially without Higgins. If we don't resign Gohar, we might go down the overseas route, but we will need to find a spinner from somewhere. Gohar has taken 40 wickets this season. That would be really tough to replace if we can't keep him.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Posts: 313
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Post by jackthegas on Sept 22, 2022 18:17:14 GMT
Gloucestershire have finally won a game. We've been nailed on for promotion since the home game against Somerset, so I'm just pleased we managed to win a game. Price showing there's life after Higgins, but I do think we've missed a trick but but using some of our young prospects a bit more often this season.
I read an interview with Higgins and he basically said that he felt that things weren't the same after Dawson let and Benkeinstein replaced him. Feels like a big off season for Gloucester. I hope we can retain the rest of our squad.
Any thoughts on the Strauss high performance review? I hear talk of compromise, but I don't see much. Fewer championship and blast fixtures. 6 teams in the top division is nonsense. How does that promote anything other than short-termism? I might have been more receptive to a top division of 12. No cricket at 10 first class grounds in August. No international cricket in August. Obviously the hundred is untouched. Surely the counties throw the proposal out?
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Sept 12, 2022 15:59:59 GMT
Well I’ve seen every ball though not many today. Quite a strange match in that Gloucestershire more or less outplayed us for all sessions except yesterday afternoon yet we finish with only 1 point less. With Kent and Northamptonshire losing it was overall a good 4 days for us. FWIW, I thought Gloucestershire really should have gone for it yesterday afternoon but I guess they were afraid of collapsing and letting us win with perhaps only 250 to chase. Especially with Price, Charlesworth and Hammond in play who appeared in good form. Whatever, Somerset bowled ok but nothing special though Khan bowled well and was unlucky not to get more wickets. Gloucestershire should take something from this match, both Prices looked good as did Charlesworth and I was impressed by the fast bowler Singh-Dale though his bowling action must put his body under real pressure. edit: Just seen Gloucestershire had 2 points deducted for a slow over rate, so 12 points each. I know the last day was a wash out, and you can't legislate for that, but I thought Glos were really negative in that third innings. If they had scored at 3.5 an over they'd have given themselves the option of bowling at Somerset that evening. They weren't to know that the last day would be a washout. I know we lost at Northants, but at least we lost giving it a go and trying to set up a win. Not sure whether the statistics back this up, but I feel like Gloucestershire's batting has been OK this season. We've scored enough runs to have been competitive. Our bowling on the other hand has been disastrous. Some mitigation when you consider that Payne has missed most of the season and the quick bowlers we've picked up from Pakistan have picked up injuries too.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Sept 12, 2022 15:52:09 GMT
Women's international cricket isn't very competitive then. A bit like women's international football... A reminder of the England women's Qualifying record for the World Cup: Played 10 Won 10 Drawn 0 Lost 0. Goals for 80 Goals Against 0. Must be absolutely nail-biting stuff watching those games. If it's not remotely competitive - then in my books - it just isn't sport. I understand the sentiment epping and it appears that you need to be playing the very top teams in women’s football for it to be competitive. I know more about the cricket than the football insofar as I've watched some competitive women’s cricket. Internationally England, Australia and India are probably the best imo. But I’d say that England and India need to be playing their very best XIs to do well. Australia always seem to be the strongest atm. The best are very good but some of the fringe players are not so good and it can effect matches and their attractiveness. Again, imo. WI, SA and NZ have good players but not so many and if those top players don’t play England will always be favourites. It’s a developing sport. But going back to the 60s and early 70s the standard of fielding in the county championship was, compared to now, much poorer. Players weren’t as fit probably and less emphasis was placed on fielding skills by the counties compared to now. So men’s fielding skills have improved and I’m sure women’s skills will as well. It was just that in the last match India were especially poor in the field. It’s been a long summer with the Commonwealth Games where India were very good. India beat England at the Commonwealth Games during the Semi Final. It was a great game and the result was in the balance until the last few balls. India have been in the Country since July. I do think there is a danger than they will find it difficult to get up for this series as a result. I would not say women's cricket is any more or less competitive than men's cricket. Australia are the dominant team. India and England are a distant second at the moment and then the West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand are much of a muchness. Just like other sports, sides have good days and bad days. India were well off the pace on Saturday. Doesn't mean women's cricket isn't a sport.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Sept 5, 2022 13:26:00 GMT
Good to see Gloucestershire threatening to make game of this one. They certainly need to do something to lift the spirits. This season has been an unmitigated disaster and it feels like the slow rebuild carried out under Dawson and Harvey has been completely undone in two thirds of a season. They had the squad to compete in the top Division. The results over the last couple of covid affected years demonstrate this. We've lost our two biggest assets from white and red ball squads in my opinion. Howell is our point of difference bowler and compensates for our lack of an out and out quick and mystery spinner. Higgins opens the bowling and is a capable top order bat. Two players in one basically. Why have we let him go before the end of the season? Ed Barnard is leaving Worcester for Warwickshire and he's still playing for Worcester today. Added to the fact that we lost out on Chapel to Derby and I am left wondering whether the camp is entirely happy. Injuries to their overseas players and Dent haven't helped, but Snell and Benkenstein need to steady the ship pretty quickly. warehamgas - any views on Marchant de Lange joining Glos next year? On paper, gives the side something that they are lacking (pace) but I don't think I've seen him have a good game for Somerset, and it seems the type of signing that never seems to prosper at Bristol. I don't think our pitches lend themselves to erratic pacemen and we've not had a lot of luck with 30 something signings in the past.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Aug 11, 2022 11:28:54 GMT
Sad news: Rudi Koertzen: South African former umpire dies following car accident.South African former umpire Rudi Koertzen has died at the age of 73 following a car accident. A family spokesperson told the AFP news agency he died from injuries sustained in the accident on Monday. Koertzen stood in 108 Test matches as an umpire between 1992 and 2010. South Africa's players wore black armbands during their warm-up match against England Lions on Tuesday and will do so again for the first Test against England at Lord's next week. He retired from umpiring in 2010 after a Test between Australia and Pakistan in Leeds after a career which saw him officiate in 332 internationals. Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the sport's lawmakers, tweeted: "MCC is deeply saddened to learn of the death of honorary life Member and former umpire, Rudi Koertzen. Our thoughts are with his friends and family." ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/13349/production/_126256687_gettyimages-89065160.jpg I saw some of the Hundred match between Birmingham and whatever the name of the Franchise associated with Hampshire are called (Southern Vipers - or is that the women's T20 team?). The highlight was umpire Nick Cook giving George Garton out LBW by raising the "slow finger of death" in homage to Koertzen.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Jun 6, 2022 8:34:48 GMT
I like the enthusiasm, positivity and his obvious sense of how to play the game in the right spirit that he will bring to the job. He says all the right things in the right way and is obviously a top man. My only concern would be that he’s known as a coach who talks about culture, the spirit of the game, and is clearly a coach in line with modern thinking but that the failure of the recent test team has been about technical failures and we need a coach who focuses on improving players from a technical point of view. I’m not sure McCullum is that kind of coach. I thought Gary Kirsten would have been a better fit but good luck to the kiwi. Perhaps McCullums way will shake up the dressing room and enable the players to improve in a more roundabout way. I’ve never been convinced that Broad and Anderson were a positive in the dressing room and thought that they had Roots ear and younger players and less experienced players suffered because of it.. So I am happy with his appointment,I don’t think McCullum will put up with the cliques that were there before. Good luck to him. And today is a very good start and should set the team for the rest of the season. I think you could also argue we've had issues with mindset, technique and selection over the last 12 months. Under Silverwood / Root, we spent too long planning for the Ashes and took our eye off the here and now, contributing to a disappointing summer last year. Describing test series against New Zealand and India as an ideal warm up for Australia was an insult. Not picking a spinner last summer when one would be needed over the winter was a mistake. Going into the first test of the Ashes without Anderson or Broad was madness. From a mindset perspective, I can think back to us refusing to chase 270 odd in 70 overs against New Zealand last year and Root publicly criticising the bowlers for not pitching it up enough in the day night test, along with his woeful handling of Leach whenever he played as examples. McCullum can't do much about selection (although he may have some influence and I am sure he will help pick the XI from the squad). He will have to ensure he has the right people around him to coach, but to me, some of this looks pretty straight forward. Some of our batsmen are taking unorthodox guards. Bairstow's issues seem to be mindset rather than technical and Crawley struggles to play straight. Do you need a once in a generation coach to fix these issues? McCullum is unproven, but I would have thought he'd have more chance of coaching our batters than Silverwood. He also may be able to relate to Pope, Crawley and Bairstow because for the first half of his test career he struggled for consistency. Towards the latter stages, something clicked and he became a very good test batter. He hasn't got the proven record that Kirsten has, but that doesn't mean he can't do it.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on May 16, 2022 15:40:36 GMT
Saturday was absolutely woeful from Glos. The second innings dismissals of Harris (caught after slogging a short ball up in the air) and Bracey (caught after slog sweeping Leach straight after tea) really stuck in the mind.
I know Glos have a lot of injuries, and clearly the set-back mid match to Van Burren was another disaster, but I do worry that the three loan signings have undermined their strength, namely fighting tooth and nail to hang on and seize opportunities when they are presented. Would Glos have lost a game by that margin and scored only 1 point if they had picked the likes of Lace (who I think was really unlucky to miss out, Shaw and Goodman? Certainly couldn't have been much worse. Only upside to the short term loans would be if we managed to secure one of them on a permanent contract. I've seen plenty of Chappell and Wheal in the past and they are Division One quality bowlers. Not seen Bethell before, but he looked a cut above the other batters on display. I would be amazed if Warwickshire let him go.
I haven't been to the County Ground for a few years and I was impressed with the feel of the place. There were a lot of people in the crowd who are younger than me (mid 30s). Not necessarily kids, but plenty of groups of people in their 20s. I also liked the museum (that I think is a new addition) and the fact that stands F and G have become the Mark Alleyne and Jack Russell stands. My favourite was a large piece of wall art with the crest of every club in Bristol and Gloucestershire on it. The message in the middle was thank you to all affiliated clubs for their support. Some of these clubs are tiny villages in the heart of Gloucestershire. Minor things but I think Glos have done a lot to ensure they try and forge links in the community and stuff like this, plus the free after tea initiative helps.
For Somerset, I know Leach took the wickets, but the first spell Siddle bowled in the second innings was brilliant. I thought he was past it to be honest, but he really gave Bracey the run around. He probably should have had him LBW without scoring. The 5 man attack they had in this match is still the best in the country to my mind. Not sure the strength in depth is there, but if the batting can become more consistent, I wouldn't bet against them having a very good second half of the season.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on May 12, 2022 13:58:11 GMT
Both openers gone now. Glos have got three loanees in their side today. Chappell and Wheal are good additions (all be it, the later has looked a bit rusty today) but I am always wary of bringing players in for one game. They've been really unlucky with injuries. Payne, Dent and Nassem Shah are especially big absentees. Without Payne and Shah (and now Amir) our bowling attack has been a bit toothless. On the plus side, even though Glos have been behind the curve in every game, they've remained competitive and haven't folded.
I am going on Saturday. I'm hoping this pitch isn't as flat as the one we played Surrey on!
The team Somerset have picked looks a good one to me. Top order are finding a bit of form and Gregory, Overton and Davy have all missed parts of the season and I guess they will be close to peaking. Somerset look a much stronger team when those three are in it, although I do think they miss a genuinely quick bowler. Marchant de Lange hasn't really had an impact with the red ball.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Apr 11, 2022 7:58:10 GMT
I followed quite a lot of the Gloucestershire game either on the stream or on the radio. I don't think Glos had a lot of luck really. The first day was definitely the hardest day for batting, not necessarily because conditions were much worse, but because they were off and on again for rain. Bracey did really well to defend when conditions were in the bowlers favour and then counter attack when he was in and running out of partners. Without that innings, Glos would have been toast.
Losing Naseem Shah yesterday, who was probably the bowler who was most likely to transcend conditions was also bad luck. Glos might have had enough to win if he'd been fit enough to bowl.
Higgins had a great game, and it's good to see him back in the runs. He was however involved in two key moments. The wicket of Berg off a no ball on day two, and dropping Taylor with 4 balls left yesterday might have swung the game towards Glos.
Lots of runs scored this round. Probably not as exciting for spectators, but England would benefit if this was a long term trend. Pitches were good last April too. If I was conducting this ECB review, I would be speaking to groundsmen to understand why pitches seem to be at their best at this time of the year.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Apr 7, 2022 14:19:07 GMT
The top division is too close to call I reckon. I'd be surprised if Glos, Kent or Northants won it (in fact I'd be amazed if the later don't finish bottom) but any of the rest of them could win it and really it depends on England call ups and in Yorkshire's case, possible sanctions.
If you had to push me, I'd probably go for Hampshire. Ben Brown looks like exactly the kind of player they need. The chink in their armour is their opening batters but if they have decent seasons, then I expect Hampshire to be really close.
I reckon Lancashire will do well too, but I think Alex Davies is a big loss. I know Phil Salt has replaced him, but Davies is a better red ball cricketer at the moment (I am amazed Warwickshire haven't picked him). I reckon Warwickshire over-achieved a touch last year, and whilst I think they will do well, I don't expect them to win the title this year unless a couple of their batsmen really have breakthrough years (which the likes of Sam Hain have been threatening for a while).
Surrey will score plenty of runs, but I think there are better bowling attacks, Essex might struggle to fill voids that may or may not be left by Harmer and Lawrence and sadly. I agree with your Somerset assessment Wareham, although I think Renshaw and Siddle are good signings.
Glos have recruited really well and it feels like they've really got their act together after some really depressing years. They are progressing on the pitch, have £3.5m cash reserves, made a profit last year, are attracting good players from other counties, have a core of home grown talent and players who are around the England set up. The acquisition of Steve Snell from Somerset looks really astute. They've got plenty of strength in depth and their bowling attack is full of variety. The signing of Gohar is probably the most exciting one we've made in a decade. I can't remember Glos ever having a an attacking spinner (although those with a few years on me might remember the likes of Mortimore and Allen). Dent, Harris, Bracey, GVB & Higgins should represent the basis of a decent top 7, but Glos will need the likes of Hammond, Charlesworth, Scott and Lace to start to deliver too if Glos are going to do anything more than survive.
In Division Two, Notts look nailed on for one of the top two spots don't they? I reckon Durham might finish second, but Middlesex and Glamorgan might be in with a shout too. Given that the division has shrunk by two, it feels like there is some decent quality in that division this year. Even Leicester and Derby (who are thought were sunk when they lost Matt Critchley) seem to be reasonably well run.
My local side are Worcester. I found it astonishing that Alex Gidman was shortlisted for the Middlesex job. They have gone backwards in all formats since Steve Rhodes left. They have a decent bowling attack on paper, but it would help a lot if they could get Josh Tongue and Pat Brown fit. Other than Jake Libby and Ed Barnard, I am not sure where the runs are coming from.
Is it time for the annual structure chat? With a couple of exceptions, there are plenty of runs around today. This was the case last April too. I wonder whether it's preparation time that affects the quality of pitches, rather than the time of year? If counties (and the dreaded franchises) are playing every week, it must be difficult for groundsmen to find the time to prepare a suitable surface.
Getting rid of the hundred would help, but that isn't going to happen. Change is clearly coming. I think the least bad scenario is two divisions, one of 12 and one of 6 with promotion and relegation between each. I am a little bit concerned that they might go with the same set up but with no promotion and relegation. It's relatively easy to pick 3 counties who might even welcome this change (Derby, Leicester, Northants) but finding another 3 to chop is much harder. I can't see a franchise model happening. Where would the ECB find the money to buy off the counties?
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Dec 20, 2021 21:27:09 GMT
England Lions are also in Australia. Should we maybe be looking at playing one or two of them? Would Saqib Mahood help in the bowling? Ben Foakes and James Bracey are there as well. Last week Bracey hit 113 and Foakes 73 against Australia A. They sent them all home at the end of the one off match. Mahmood is still out there along with a few others playing in the big bash, but Foakes, Bracey and Livingstone are not among them. This tour is going to end a few careers. I think we need to ensure that some of our promising youngsters are not left with a load of mental baggage. The problem is, some of the batters are doing just enough to stay in the side. Burns and Buttler definitely fall into that category. The latter has two hundreds in 50 tests and we have both a better keeper and batter in Foakes waiting in the wings. Burns is a different matter. He's not good enough but I don't think we have better options waiting in reserve. As I see it, county cricket isn't producing ready made test quality batters. The talented guys that have come into the team need coaching but the England set up has people that act as mentors. That needs to change. Guys like Crawley, Hameed, Pope and Lawrence are going to have to learn on the job and they need help. They need coaches to improve their technique (in contrast with the likes of Trott and Strauss who were older and ready for test cricket). I'm not sure I'd drop Pope. We can't ruin him. If he can't make it then no one will. We haven't produced a test quality batter for a decade. He has to work out. Which is the least bad option? I heard Root interviewed today and he was clearly really annoyed with Anderson and Broad and the lengths they bowled. Is it sacrilege to say that I think it's a criticism that it's been possible to level at both of them at times? I certainly feel like we're getting close to the end of their England careers. I think whatever we do, we'll lose 4 or 5 nil. The catching is terrible. No one in the side is improving. The bowlers struggle with no balls. The coach has to go after this series. I suspect root is in for the chop too. We need to regularly pick an attack that can take wickets in all conditions. That means picking a spinner, finding a left armer and some reliable 88mph plus bowlers. We need to decide if leach is up to it and if he's not, let's have a look at Parkinson or Crane. Even if stokes isn't fit, we have to pick a spinner. I would guess the likes of Mahmood and Garton might come into the equation. Hopefully archer is back too. The batting isn't going to improve over night but I think we just have to accept that a first class record is basically irrelevant when it comes to test cricket potential. We need to look for players that score against pace and spin, have workable techniques and temperaments. Obviously the first class structure needs looking at. I reckon I'd go back to 9 in each division. Maybe play the extra 2 games abroad. The ECB have plenty of money so they can pay for it. Might be worth using the kookaburra for matches played in April, early may and September. I also think we could try centrally contacted groundsmen. We have four of the greatest players England have ever produced in this side and have had for most of the last 4 years. It's embarrassing that despite that England are so bad
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Nov 19, 2021 17:58:10 GMT
I think it’s very, very different. Of course Rafiq posted something wrong and something which would upset many people. He did it as a 19 year old though that probably isn’t a plausible excuse except perhaps 19 years olds now will probably be more aware of the dangers of whatever social media he used then. Back then it was all in its infancy and it’s dangers not so well known. It also probably took him about a minute to compose and post. I’m guessing there because I haven’t seen what he posted and I’m not on social media. But it likely took very little time to do that and being 19 he probably wouldn’t have thought too much about what he was doing. Immediately this was known he apologised to the Jewish community and his apology was accepted by the board who represents Jews. He did something wrong, he apologised when it came to light and his apology was accepted. Harm, but probably not too much, was limited by his immediate apology. I am in no way excusing him or trying to defend him. What he did was wrong. But, returning to the main issue of racism at Yorkshire CCC and in the wider cricket community it doesn’t compare. Indeed, too much concentration on this will be a deflection away from the main issue. Yorkshire CCC are guilty of ... Trying to cover up the rampant racism that has been festering in their club for many, many years. The previous chairman, when forced to answer, accepted that there was institutional racism at Yorkshire over a long number of years. ... Some executive officers in a leadership role tried to cancel the whole investigation when it was looking to uncover unpleasant truths. Nothing was done about this until the whole story started to unravel. ... It looks likely until Rafiq whistle blew this could have continued for many, many years unchallenged. ... Some of the most racist people whose names were redacted on the first draft to emerge are still in post and presumably drawing a very nice salary. (As they are contractually due, I am sure). I’m sure this will soon stop but it hasn’t to date. ... We have learnt about aspects of culture at Yorkshire in their academy and the breath-taking arrogance of players who may well continue to take the field next season and act as if they were engaging in “banter”. All quite, quite different from a short, minute long (?) post of a 19 year old. That list is just off the top of my head, given time I could double it. Yorkshire are the tip of the iceberg I’m sure and I expect other counties to be eating humble pie over this winter. I welcome Somerset’s statement on their website as a first step towards ensuring their house is in order. I look forward to seeing something from Hampshire CCC about this ex-Yorkshire and England player who made life miserable for Rafiq. He hasn’t been named but I suspect I know who it is. He is obviously keeping a low profile... and obviously no apology there. So, in short, I agree with jack. It’s not about any individual, it’s about stamping out racism in cricket. But to compare what Rafiq did and what Yorkshire CCC did over a number of years, knowingly, is just plain wrong. Racism has to be called out for what it is. Wrong. I don't disagree with the majority of what you've said. From what i've read, it seems that it was going on at YCCC from everybody, whether they be White, Black or of Southern Asian descent like Rafiq. The aim of stamping racism out of Cricket, should be applauded, but by the same token, if you're going to try and 'Whistleblow' and take up the role of victim, then it'd be best if you didn't have a history of it yourself. Turns out I can't let this slide. I really can't agree with your assessment. I am not aware of any racist comments made by a black Yorkshire player. One racist comment has been made more than a decade ago by an Asian. The rest of the smears made against Rafiq are exactly that and frankly the non apology made by Ballance is reason enough for him to lose his job. On the other hand, maybe a hundred allegations have been made against white players and administrators, many of them corroborate or admitted to by the perpetrator. Asian and black participation in county cricket and in the national team is woeful and basically brushing it off on the basis they are equally culpable is unfair and unhelpful.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Nov 19, 2021 14:44:28 GMT
Or he's been caught out for being disingenuous and insincere. In his statements he has mentioned stuff that was allegedly going on a decade ago, yet at the same time he has been found out to have been doing the exact same thing. No different to a bully complaining about being bullied. Gary Ballance wrote that "unacceptable" things were said in all directions. Guess we`re finding out what he meant. Doubt if we`ve heard the last of any of it. Rafiq is not perfect. But he has apologised for a mistake he made at the age of 19. Gary Ballance didn't apologise for his many transgressions. In fact, the night before Ballance was named by the mail, Azeem was contacting journalists asking them to ensure Ballance had the necessary support. To me, that is an indication that one person made a mistake that he has learnt from and the other is showing no contrition. Matthew Hoggard said some horrendous stuff. When he learned that it'd had an impact on Azeem he called him and apologised. This predated the enquiry. Azeem accepted this and Hoggard was praised in last weeks enquiry. I find it astonishing that anyone's takeaway from this last week is that Azeem's evidence is null and void because he said something racist as a 19 year old. What about the myriad of evidence other ex players have given in the last few weeks? This is not an isolated incident. The fact that Azeem also said something bad doesn't mean we can forget the whole thing. I'm sure I'm not going to change anyone's mind on this so I will withdraw from the debate but I implore anyone who feels that Rafiq's stupid comment renders his views meaningless to watch the testimony he gave to the select committee.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Nov 19, 2021 7:38:39 GMT
You both misunderstand. He says that he is not the same person as the one who sent the texts. However, that get out clause does not apply to anyone else. Yes it does. Copious people have apologised for past offenses this week and people, including Rafiq have moved on. The people that I think will lose their jobs have been unapologetic and have demonstrated racism over a number of years whilst holding leadership roles. I am not going to pretend that I am not disappointed by Rafiq's abhorrent messages but a one off mistake made by a 19 year old doesn't lesson the impact of a decade of systemic and sustained racism. Having been through what he's been through, I am sure Rafiq is well aware that his words will have been incredibly hurtful to the Jewish community. If we step back from individuals for a minute, doesn't this demonstrate cricket has an even bigger problem? The resolve of administrators to stamp racism out of the game must be hardened by this.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
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Post by jackthegas on Nov 18, 2021 17:55:29 GMT
You are absolutely discrediting him and your question suggests you are doing so without fully engaging with his testimony. He was asked this question directly by a member of the select committee. Taken from the BBC live text. Rafiq has been asked why he returned to Yorkshire for a second spell with the county. "It's something I've been asked a lot. "In my first spell, there were things that happened that I didn't see for what they were. I was in denial. "In 2016 I started well and I was training with Derbyshire. They didn't have the finances to offer me a contract. I was in a position where putting food on the table was difficult, so that is why I went back. "For a person of colour to accept you are being treated differently because of your race or religion is tough to take. You are always asking, 'why?' "I didn't want to believe it. After the loss of my son, I couldn't look the other way." I am not discrediting him at all. It was a genuine question, also a bit of an observation. I myself am a 'Person Of Colour' and if I received 'inhumane' abuse at my workplace or anywhere else, I wouldn't go anywhere near it again. I just find it odd that considering the 'inhumane' abuse, apparently goes as far back as to when he was in his teens, he still went back there, to endure it again. Why 'inhumane' not inhumane? Many domestic abuse victims go back to an abusive partner. Still doesn't excuse the behaviour of the perpetrator.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 313
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Post by jackthegas on Nov 18, 2021 17:02:35 GMT
I am in no way trying to discredit Azeem Rafiq's claims. However I do find it odd that if the abuse he allegedly received was so 'inhumane', why did he leave and come back? You are absolutely discrediting him and your question suggests you are doing so without fully engaging with his testimony. He was asked this question directly by a member of the select committee. Taken from the BBC live text. Rafiq has been asked why he returned to Yorkshire for a second spell with the county. "It's something I've been asked a lot. "In my first spell, there were things that happened that I didn't see for what they were. I was in denial. "In 2016 I started well and I was training with Derbyshire. They didn't have the finances to offer me a contract. I was in a position where putting food on the table was difficult, so that is why I went back. "For a person of colour to accept you are being treated differently because of your race or religion is tough to take. You are always asking, 'why?' "I didn't want to believe it. After the loss of my son, I couldn't look the other way."
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 313
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Post by jackthegas on Nov 16, 2021 19:00:31 GMT
It was a harrowing watch. I thought Rafiq was a very credible witness and I felt both sympathy and admiration for the bloke. That it took a man losing a child and his professional contract as a cricketer to work out that he was subject to prolonged, systematic racial abuse is evidence that this is a very deep rooted problem. The fact that cricket needed someone with nothing to lose to feel empowered to put his head above the parapet is a travesty. How some of the individuals named today move forward with their careers, I don't know. What is the right course of action here? Sacking Gary Ballance? Feels like a bit of a scapegoat to me and individuals clearly aren't the extent of the problem, but given that Yorkshire have done everything they can to sweep this under the carpet and discredit Rafiq, I think they may have no choice but to discipline individuals as well as overhaul the culture. Certainly Moxon and Gale will have to go and should have been removed months ago.
I though Yorkshire's former chairman seemed like a decent, honest bloke but a hapless leader. He felt Moxon and Arthur and the Head of HR had to go but failed to convince the Trustees of the Colin Graves estate that course of action was appropriate. That is clearly a moment for strong leadership and he should have resigned on the spot and made a very loud noise about how ineffective Yorkshire's corporate structure was. He stated that he didn't know much about the character of senior people at Yorkshire because he couldn't meet them due to the pandemic. That isn't good enough. He should have made it his business to scope people out virtually. I find it staggering that he had no knowledge of a 2015 report into racism at Yorkshire.
The ECB should have been finished a long time ago. Harrison is politician who doesn't engage with fans and only cares about the balance sheet and bottom line. Taking a bonus with all of this going and having made redundancies and cut the pay of employees last year is abhorrent. The ECB should have commissioned a wide ranging, independent enquiry at least six months ago. It should still do so in my opinion. It should also set up an independent body to deal with complaints of racism, bullying, harassment and sexism. It has to do more to restore the trust of players and spectators of all backgrounds.
Someone mentioned Joe Root. This is where we all have to do some soul searching in my opinion. I can categorically state that I have never turned a blind eye to someone calling another person a racist name. Root has questions to answer on that front. However, have their been times when someone has said something inappropriate and I have turned a blind eye? Not to the same extent, but yes. Definitely. I bet we can all relate to some of the following: the racist uncle that you roll your eyes at? The inappropriate joke at the pub or in the changing room? Not stepping in when someone is taking the p*ss out of someone's weight? Some of the stuff written on this forum over the last year with regard to the BLM movement has been ignorant at best in my opinion. At time I have challenged it, but at other times it has worn me down and I have just ignored it. That is not so different to Root failing to challenge his mate is it? It's not enough to just not be racist anymore.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 313
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Post by jackthegas on Oct 20, 2021 8:15:00 GMT
We're second bottom of the fair play league which, given who our manager is, is the least surprising part of this season. When you have a manager who spends half his life whinging about referees and has a questionable disciplinary record both on and off the pitch, is it any wonder 50:50 decisions go against us (if indeed they were questionable red cards)? Yet another reason B***** shouldn't be anywhere near this club in my opinion.
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jackthegas
David Pritchard
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 313
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Post by jackthegas on Oct 5, 2021 11:08:21 GMT
The end of the season was good in Div 1, but I found myself travelling to Taunton and Edgbaston for my cricket fix rather than New Road and Bristol. The cricket in Div 2 and 3 was meaningless. Next year it sounds like Div 2 will have something riding on it as it will determine who ends up in Div 1.
I do wonder whether it's time for a rethink. Like it or not, the Hundred is here for good. Could we move to 3 divisions of 6 and retain the BWT as a knockout competition with fixtures played at the same time as the hundred? Everyone would be guaranteed 11 fixtures, if you included some minor counties (the first round could be played before the CC starts as a bit of a pre-season friendly), most would play 12, which is only two fewer than the current structure. It would ensure the integrity of the CC is maintained, but would also mean there is some red ball cricket played at the height of summer, all be it without several players. Not everyone would be able to win the CC, but everyone would be in with a shout of winning the BWT. The 50 over stuff could then be pushed back into April where I think the white ball means the pitch becomes less relevant.
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