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Kookaburra ball experiment is scrapped

Fleagle said:
I do think the kookaburra was a step too far. But English County cricket does have a problem with the way that second rate 70 mile an hour bowlers and spinners who don’t actually spin it prosper. It’s not just to make the step up to the higher level that you need real pace or genuine turn. It also makes for better championship cricket if it’s a bit harder to take wickets and you need real quality to do so.

Of course, the main reason for this is probably that they play it all in April and September. I also think the way they only ever mark pitches down if they spin, but not when 15 wickets fall to seam on day one or where they end up 700 plays 600-5 after day four, doesn’t help. Red ball cricket is better if you have to do more than just bat twice and get the higher score. It shouldn’t be too easy to bowl a side out. And as a season finale, especially in division 1, whatever some of the individual matches might have been like, this was one of the best in years. And one of the best attended. Even if a sizable part of that is down to Surrey who seem to be practically the only county to enthusiastically market the competition (and it’s still relative of course - all the other formats get more). There is a balance to be struck. But I agree the kookaburra ball gets that balance wrong.
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It's the English climate that leads to greener pitches and I'd argue we should encourage seam movement rather than minimise it. When in Rome.... As for spin bowling we're hardly going to encourage it if whenever a club prepares a pitch conducive to spin they're penalised. Hard pitches are required to encourage and develop real pace bowling- we're never going to produce them in early spring. Typically Key has given little thought to the issue proclaiming that use of the Kookaburra will solve the issue. He's a classic example of empty vessels making the most noise.
 

I believe the meeting to discuss this is tomorrow but the way the media are talking it looks like the Kookaburra will definitely be consigned to history.
 
Eggman said:
It’s staggering how he went from a second rate, smart arsed commentator on Sky, to the job he has now.

Was he the only one who applied ?
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We lose in the Ashes and England’s record under him against the other of the “big 3” will be drawn two home series and lost two away which isn’t good enough and should bring his position under review.
 
Voice of fair play said:
Exactly you have to make matches of county cricket competitive to respect the people paying their money to attend.

I am not one of those who have a go at Rob Key as think since his appointment the English test cricket team has been both a brilliant watch and improved performances

However this particular idea and his defending it at times has been indefensible.

It clearly didn’t work from the very start and now rightly scrapped

4 day cricket imo needs competitive entertaining games and this idea achieved the exact opposite
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And probably wrecked a few bowlers careers!
 
In a nutshell it was supposed to make our future England bowlers become more skillful in Australia as the theory was they would be used to bowling with a kookaburra.

All it has achieved were high scoring draws and some worn out bowlers...and a nice payday for Andrew Strauss and his pointless High Performance Review.
 
Big Jeff said:
Would you care to explain please?
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Machine-made so little variation or imperfections, a much flatter seam, and goes soft more quickly, meaning it's a lot less friendly to English seam bowlers and conditions, and when it ages it becomes lifeless. This was supposed to get seamers prepared for Australia and promote spin. Except they don't release test match bowlers to the Championship anyway, meaning that all it did was make average bowlers look terrible and average batsmen look like Bradman.

We'll still lose 5-0. It was never about the ball.
 
Beau Peep said:
Machine-made so little variation or imperfections, a much flatter seam, and goes soft more quickly, meaning it's a lot less friendly to English seam bowlers and conditions, and when it ages it becomes lifeless. This was supposed to get seamers prepared for Australia and promote spin. Except they don't release test match bowlers to the Championship anyway, meaning that all it did was make average bowlers look terrible and average batsmen look like Bradman.

We'll still lose 5-0. It was never about the ball.
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But I take it the Aussies use it with no issues?

And they seem to adapt to our ball when they come here.

I’m sure there’s loads of other factors I am unaware of like pitches and weather.

Thanks, I am wiser but still confused.
 
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