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5th test the oval


All this talk about the ball is ridiculous it happened with Australia in one of the earlier tests where they got a ball that started to do more
Aye its a protocol issue rather than a partisan one, but one I know that England fans would have been fuming if on the receiving end with a ball that looked comparatively pristine and started turning round corners, and it would be understandable if they were.

It's not either sides fault or indication of anything sinister but it seems like a pretty scattergun resolution to the problem. And also the more it happens that these not new balls start to gave a similar effect to a new ball, the more it will become (as was apparent in this test) basic best practice for teams to try and get the ball changed all the time. Think it needs a rethink.
 
Aye its a protocol issue rather than a partisan one, but one I know that England fans would have been fuming if on the receiving end with a ball that looked comparatively pristine and started turning round corners, and it would be understandable if they were.

It's not either sides fault or indication of anything sinister but it seems like a pretty scattergun resolution to the problem. And also the more it happens that these not new balls start to gave a similar effect to a new ball, the more it will become (as was apparent in this test) basic best practice for teams to try and get the ball changed all the time. Think it needs a rethink.
I think a few things can be changed:

1. Find a manufacturer who can produce a ball that will last the course and standardise them around the world.
2. Just use the same ball until the 80-over cut-off point is reached - only to be changed if it is literally falling apart or so badly damaged it is unfeasible to carry on using it;
3. Have a box of balls, marked in 10-over increments, that can be agreed for use by both teams prior to the game starting, should a change of ball be absolutely necessary.
3. Limit the number of requests for a ball change to three per innings - same as reviews.
 
"Another one?"

Not seen one poster on here, self included, anything other than delighted at England's win and series as a whole
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Brilliant tweet that, the only test one team dominated was the draw.

The other four could have been quite easily four different results, am I right in thinking all four went to Day 5 and the last session?
 
"Whingeing Poms" they call us
If a mardy 6yr old was eloquent enough, thats exactly how it would read.
If, for instance a batsman can take a bail off to mark his guard, which many do these days, think Chanderpaul started that years ago a bowler surely has the right to use the bails for something else, as long as they are replaced correctly.
The ball change?..thats up to the umpires, the only criteria I know of is that the replacement ball has to fulfill the criteria of a the same or similar amount of overs bowled as the current ball.
Seems some Aussies can't even retain the ashes in what was a great series with any amount of good grace.
Aye. They have the nerve to call us Whingeing Poms! 🤣🤣


They really are the souhern hemisphere Mags! 😉
 
It’s in their hands. If India prepare wickets like the raging turners last time they win. It wouldn’t matter if it was bazball or not. If they are bit more balanced flat and taking reasonable spin then it could be a good series.
Always think we have a very unbalanced view of balanced in England.

At Headingley and Old Trafford combined only five in 72 of the wickets fell to spinners. And that’s more than sometimes at those two. Only the Ahmedabad day nighter had a comparable ratio the other way when we were in India last time and that was something of a joke pitch. The rest were much more “balanced” numerically than a typical English seamer.
 
I think a few things can be changed:

1. Find a manufacturer who can produce a ball that will last the course and standardise them around the world.
2. Just use the same ball until the 80-over cut-off point is reached - only to be changed if it is literally falling apart or so badly damaged it is unfeasible to carry on using it;
3. Have a box of balls, marked in 10-over increments, that can be agreed for use by both teams prior to the game starting, should a change of ball be absolutely necessary.
3. Limit the number of requests for a ball change to three per innings - same as reviews.
The umpires choose the ball that is closest to the existing ball, could understand the fume more if it was us who chose it.

And agree with the last point, think they have similar in the county championship in terms of how many times you can ask. Although if there is damage to the ball, sometimes its down to the umpire rather than the bowling team to decide/ask
 
Always think we have a very unbalanced view of balanced in England.

At Headingley and Old Trafford combined only five in 72 of the wickets fell to spinners. And that’s more than sometimes at those two. Only the Ahmedabad day nighter had a comparable ratio the other way when we were in India last time and that was something of a joke pitch. The rest were much more “balanced” numerically than a typical English seamer.
Also wicket preparation is literally part of the game and a huge part of its continued attraction and every nation does it including ours. Keeps things fresh and interesting. It's not some devious backdoor tactic to have a pitch designed to favour the home side.
 
The umpires choose the ball that is closest to the existing ball, could understand the fume more if it was us who chose it.

And agree with the last point, think they have similar in the county championship in terms of how many times you can ask. Although if there is damage to the ball, sometimes its down to the umpire rather than the bowling team to decide/ask
Exactly - I couldn't agree more.

My post was more in response to another one where it was suggested that maybe things have to change. The points I made were just my thoughts on how it could be done to try to quell the cries of 'conspiracy' coming from the toys-out-of-the-pram brigade Down Under.
 
Exactly - I couldn't agree more.

My post was more in response to another one where it was suggested that maybe things have to change. The points I made were just my thoughts on how it could be done to try to quell the cries of 'conspiracy' coming from the toys-out-of-the-pram brigade Down Under.
I got that, only issue is if you picked a ball per 10 overs, then some degrade faster than others, so you might have a ball that is 40 overs old and been battered about, change it for another ball that is 40 overs old but in much better condition. I don't think there is many fairer ways to do it as there is currently.
 
I got that, only issue is if you picked a ball per 10 overs, then some degrade faster than others, so you might have a ball that is 40 overs old and been battered about, change it for another ball that is 40 overs old but in much better condition. I don't think there is many fairer ways to do it as there is currently.
Yeah, I see where you're coming from which is why I tried to mitigate that scenario by saying the replacement balls should be agreed on by both teams (and possibly graded for an average amount of wear and tear over a set number of overs).

The teams would have to accept that they could get a ball that is significantly better or worse than the one being replaced.

Either way, I'm sure the team that suffers more because of the change will still bleat about it.

Your last sentence is spot on.
 
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