By R.A. Ratwatte –
R.A. Ratwatte
I have just returned from what was a trip of a lifetime. I was in Australia and New Zealand watching the cricket world cup. A dream come true for me and a dream which involved much expense and lots of planning and organizing.
I watched 6 games and all of them were totally one sided except of course for that absolute humdinger when the Kiwis played the Proteas in Auckland! More on that later and there was a brief moment when Sri Lanka flattered to deceive against Australia in Sydney and of course that magnificent spell of fast bowling by Pakistan against the Aussies in Adelaide and Shane Watson in particular.
What struck me most was just how regulated and controlled the game has become. Compulsory power plays, two new balls which make it mandatory to play fast bowling all rounders, smaller boundaries and bats that could pass for missile launchers….
Captains have hardly any initiative left and bowlers, oh what a maligned species! Your field setting are controlled and you can’t do much except go through the motions. For example in the middle of a powerplay over if you want to do something different you can’t! That is why I take my hat off to that magnificent spell of fast bowling by the Pakistanis! The Australian may have been the best fast bowler of the tournament and he was very impressive but that spell by the Pakistani…it captured my heart!
The Semi Final in Auckland was the best game of the tournament! It was a real privilege to be at the ground and to watch the support the Kiwis’ gave their team. They cheered every ball, they had personalized cheers for every player and they were so good natured through it all. They are a great sporting nation and if only they had won the world cup it would have done more for the game than the ICC could ever hope to achieve.
The combination of T20 and obsessive controls implemented by the ICC have transformed cricket into something that is unrecognizable to the purist. The famed “glorious uncertainties” have gone forever. For example was there a single unpredictable result in the entire world cup? A couple of bludgeoning assaults by a few batsman, Ireland living upto expectations and of course that great semi final in Auckland excepted.
Further plans to restrict the world cup to fewer nations will make it even more boring and of course achieve the money grabbing ambitions of the ICC.
The current people running the game are killing it. This is a fact and should be addressed by the elder statesmen of the game before it is too late. We still have people who played the game for its Real values, the like of Ian Chappel, Rod Marsh, Dennis Lillee, Clive Lioyd and The Nawab of Pataudi or numerous other equivalents, should get involved and save this great game before television and money grabbers destroy it forever.
Pasel / April 2, 2015
Nero Fiddled While Rome Burned” , every time Country in war or crises put the cricket in the spot light and hide all the problems to the public
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Javi. / April 2, 2015
Marrakala Croak’et by Lankian style too.
Mustafa Kamal quits as ICC president after World Cup snub
Mustafa Kamal has quit as International Cricket Council president and accused the body of acting “unlawfully”.
Kamal said his decision came after he was denied the right to present the trophy to winners Australia after Sunday’s World Cup final in Melbourne.
Instead, it was presented by Indian ICC chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan.
Kamal, a Bangladesh national, had previously criticised the umpiring at the competition after his country’s quarter-final defeat by India.
He said Bangladesh’s 109-run loss appeared to have been “pre-arranged” and there was “no quality in the umpiring” – a claim denied by the ICC.
“The main reason for my resignation is that I can’t work with those who can act unconstitutionally and unlawfully,” Kamal said on Wednesday.
“These type of people should be away from cricket, otherwise cricket will be spoilt, cricket will not move forward.
“I’m sure people will find out why I have resigned and they will unearth the truth – who are these people, what are they doing, and how they are running ICC.”
The ICC later confirmed Kamal had tendered his resignation, but said his letter contained “no complaints” against anyone in the organisation.
“Mr Kamal said he was stepping down on personal grounds and offered his apologies to all associated with the ICC,” a statement said.
The ICC president has become a largely honorary position since changes to the ICC constitution in 2014 handed control to the so-called ‘Big Three’ nations of England, India and Australia.
The ICC Board will consider the vacant position at its meeting in Dubai on 15 and 16 April.
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Javi. / April 2, 2015
Lankian’s after independence.
lankians started monkey at Royal/Thomeian thinking they were now kings – but most did not know a nappy so they hired ball guards `to be` and the Japanese who were clueless- like the IEEEE instead of fire wire just ignored it- the pol pittha pol atte game.
Now its time to hang the ball guards because it is firmly in arab hands- the muslim gown like the sarema – no underwear- they are always holding onto the three is a very funny thing we see in Europe.
You don’t monkey a game just take what you can excel and brings in the funds not promoting school drop outs as directors into shipping, tea etc.
At the higher level of director /director in western markets it is not cricket that clicks the deal- but many more secret business relationships that continue to live.
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Amarasiri / April 2, 2015
R.A. Ratwatte
RE: What Have They Done To Cricket?
Thanks for your observations on the Cricket “World Cup” 2015.
Once, I explained to a european Continental, how the game of cricket was played. He found only 3 people active, the bowler, the batsman, the wicket keeper, and a selected few “ball chasers”, called fielders. He wanted to know about the other players of the 22 in the game. Explained that the “ball Chasers” wait until the ball comes near them to chase and pick up the ball.
What about the others? They wait until they get their turn to bat.
For how long do they play? Days or for a day?
His comment was, “Stupid Game”.
My Comment was “Stupid Men Chasing a Stupid Ball”
Well, that is the entertainment and fun. So, TV, Internet and Advertising will drive this.
Does it matter there are a few changes to this entertainment? I do not think so.
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Rajash / April 2, 2015
It’s already destroyed. For test matches read Ashes. ICC thinks that only Austrlia and Englan can play test matches and a five test series. That is also becoming a one sided affair.
T20 and IPL are masala cricket. you muigh as well go and watch american baseball.
Mushtaq Kamal the Bangladeshi ICC President has quit. He alleged that there was a dubious no ball decision in the Bangladesh v India QF, that may have robbed their SF place. Of course the Admimistrators and sponsors want Inida to progeresss as far as they can at teh Expense of the other minnows.
ICC is now proposing a 4 day test match rather than a 5day test match. So he test match is also going to be a fast space game. They will tinkle along with test macthes as well.
to your list of administrators who can save the game you may also add Kumat Sangakara for sure
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Jagath Fernando / April 2, 2015
Rajitha
The game has got commercialized to such an extent that there is no turning back.
TV guys call the shots and the larger boards will make the final call.
Jagath
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Javi. / April 2, 2015
Lankian coconut_heads!!
Even the FDI companies at India don’t want croak’et at work.
Its a lost game of the british army in the rubber estates.
Football is where the money is and the interest.
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Suresh Murugaser / April 2, 2015
Hi Rajitha
Seeing the game from an Administration point of view at the Tamil Union (which has 8 National players in it!!), I can write a book on the perilous state of the Premier League game in SL. In fact, I have put down my thoughts in a document to the powers-that-be at the SLC. Unfortunately, with the new lot taking over, I wonder what will happen to it, although I have been assured that it will be taken up. Let’s see!!
Just one of the things raised in it were that players’ daily match fees for local matches had been reduced from Rs 4,500 to Rs 2,500. With the cost of living the way it is here, one wonders how players are going to survive on this! After all, its because of the players that the game exists, not because of the Fat Cats in the SLC!!
Cheers
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Javi. / April 2, 2015
“”What Have They Done To Cricket?””
Its what happens when it goes into maraklla hands whether they have portugese names or buddhist names.
“For when the One Great Scorer comes
To mark against your name,
He writes – not that you won or lost –
But how you played the Game.”
(from the poem “Alumnus Football”)- GARTLAND RICE.
“Money to the left of them and money to the right
Money everywhere they turn from morning to the night
Only two things count at all from mountain to the sea
Part of it’s percentage, and the rest is guarantee”¹
(from the poem “Alumnus Football”)- GARTLAND RICE.
EVEN ENGLISH FOOTBALL DOES NOT PERMIT WHAT ICC MUSTAFA DID- THE UMPIRE/REFEREE DECISION IS FINAL.Same WAY LANKA FIRST WON WORLD (Cricket in the 90’s under coach from downunder- Whatmore!! nothing more at 50’s after he left with your insults.)
WITH CALCUTTA FIRE- WEST INDIES ANOTHER SIMILAR PLANTATION NATION GAVE THE AWARD- AS UMPIRE NOT THE PRESIDENT OF ICC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/32144906
Mustafa Kamal quits as ICC president after World Cup snub
Mustafa Kamal has quit as International Cricket Council president and accused the body of acting “unlawfully”.
Kamal said his decision came after he was denied the right to present the trophy to winners Australia after Sunday’s World Cup final in Melbourne.
Instead, it was presented by Indian ICC chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan.
Kamal, a Bangladesh national, had previously criticised the umpiring at the competition after his country’s quarter-final defeat by India.
He said Bangladesh’s 109-run loss appeared to have been “pre-arranged” and there was “no quality in the umpiring” – a claim denied by the ICC.
“The main reason for my resignation is that I can’t work with those who can act unconstitutionally and unlawfully,” Kamal said on Wednesday.
“These type of people should be away from cricket, otherwise cricket will be spoilt, cricket will not move forward.
“I’m sure people will find out why I have resigned and they will unearth the truth – who are these people, what are they doing, and how they are running ICC.”
The ICC later confirmed Kamal had tendered his resignation, but said his letter contained “no complaints” against anyone in the organisation.
“Mr Kamal said he was stepping down on personal grounds and offered his apologies to all associated with the ICC,” a statement said.
The ICC president has become a largely honorary position since changes to the ICC constitution in 2014 handed control to the so-called ‘Big Three’ nations of England, India and Australia.
The ICC Board will consider the vacant position at its meeting in Dubai on 15 and 16 April.
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