RIP Test Cricket
NZ Cricket announce that a test has been cut from the schedule for this summer's tour by Sri Lanka (again? don't we play anyone else?) and replaced by two 20/20 internationals. The reason? Concerns about the weather.
It's good to see NZ cricket are so on the ball that they can forecast likely weather five months away. Consistency in their decision-making is also at an all-time high as lately they have been scheduling test matches in late March / early April when NZ weather is even better (yeah, right - the last test in NZ, against West Indies in Napier - that's sunny Hawkes Bay people - had what? about 2 days play out of 5?).
And of course if the weather is so much of a concern why play any cricket at all? If it's pissing down with rain they won't be playing 20/20 internationals either.
This is one seriously fkd up decision. NZ already plays the least number of tests amongst the major playing nations. Between now and Nov 2007, they have TWO tests scheduled. And, despite the latte crowd that invade the shorter versions of the game, there are a few out there who prefer tests - go and check out the boards at Sportsfreak (where I learned of this) or Pandasport to see the negative reaction.
And one final point - this news came via the website Cricinfo. I may not have been thorough, but searching both the Herald and Stuff websites to try and find anything else on this has come up with a big fat zero. Richard Boock must be on holiday, as no comment on this in the NZ (print)media is almost as unfathomable as the actual decision by NZ cricket.
It's good to see NZ cricket are so on the ball that they can forecast likely weather five months away. Consistency in their decision-making is also at an all-time high as lately they have been scheduling test matches in late March / early April when NZ weather is even better (yeah, right - the last test in NZ, against West Indies in Napier - that's sunny Hawkes Bay people - had what? about 2 days play out of 5?).
And of course if the weather is so much of a concern why play any cricket at all? If it's pissing down with rain they won't be playing 20/20 internationals either.
This is one seriously fkd up decision. NZ already plays the least number of tests amongst the major playing nations. Between now and Nov 2007, they have TWO tests scheduled. And, despite the latte crowd that invade the shorter versions of the game, there are a few out there who prefer tests - go and check out the boards at Sportsfreak (where I learned of this) or Pandasport to see the negative reaction.
And one final point - this news came via the website Cricinfo. I may not have been thorough, but searching both the Herald and Stuff websites to try and find anything else on this has come up with a big fat zero. Richard Boock must be on holiday, as no comment on this in the NZ (print)media is almost as unfathomable as the actual decision by NZ cricket.
posted by Rob Crawford at 8:23 AM
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