My point, simplistically, is that if you're playing your red ball cricket in April, you're picking Darren Stevens, if you're playing in August, you might be picking Rashid. So the shift in when you have cricket might not have any impact on averages overall, but different players might do well or badly, different players might not be sele…
My point, simplistically, is that if you're playing your red ball cricket in April, you're picking Darren Stevens, if you're playing in August, you might be picking Rashid. So the shift in when you have cricket might not have any impact on averages overall, but different players might do well or badly, different players might not be selected. This could be actual differences in conditions, or perceived.
I'm too lazy to look into this properly but I would be interested to compare the average weather for domestic first class and Tests in the Test nations. I did have a look at comparing average temperatures for Warwickshire in the Championship last summer (16 C) with that in the Tests (21 C). I don't know how much this will change the play due to pitches, overhead conditions, ability to spin the ball, etc. but there is a difference there.
To come back to the comparison of the last two decades in England, there has been a clear drop in player quality. I agree that it's probably not white ball cricket as there is probably not much difference in quantity, though talented players are probably more likely to go white ball only now. It could be a change in quality or quantity of academies, A teams, international coaching, or simply selection. It may also just be random.
The key point is that whatever has gone wrong with English Test cricket, it looks like it is a thing that has gone wrong, rather than is fundamentally wrong. So before saying that the solution is to scrap half the counties or go to franchises, as several have over the last few months, I think the ECB need to look at what has changed. Also, what improved English cricket compared to the '90s.
My point, simplistically, is that if you're playing your red ball cricket in April, you're picking Darren Stevens, if you're playing in August, you might be picking Rashid. So the shift in when you have cricket might not have any impact on averages overall, but different players might do well or badly, different players might not be selected. This could be actual differences in conditions, or perceived.
I'm too lazy to look into this properly but I would be interested to compare the average weather for domestic first class and Tests in the Test nations. I did have a look at comparing average temperatures for Warwickshire in the Championship last summer (16 C) with that in the Tests (21 C). I don't know how much this will change the play due to pitches, overhead conditions, ability to spin the ball, etc. but there is a difference there.
To come back to the comparison of the last two decades in England, there has been a clear drop in player quality. I agree that it's probably not white ball cricket as there is probably not much difference in quantity, though talented players are probably more likely to go white ball only now. It could be a change in quality or quantity of academies, A teams, international coaching, or simply selection. It may also just be random.
The key point is that whatever has gone wrong with English Test cricket, it looks like it is a thing that has gone wrong, rather than is fundamentally wrong. So before saying that the solution is to scrap half the counties or go to franchises, as several have over the last few months, I think the ECB need to look at what has changed. Also, what improved English cricket compared to the '90s.