New talent

the trouble is that it would end up a plethora of random names, one or two or whom might go on to greater things in so many years that none of us will still be around here to bask in the reflected glory.

Mind you, there was a young 18 year old bowler at Leics I tipped for good things a few years ago, and apparently he had quite a good day on Friday....

I'm all for a thread on it, probably best in the General section. I don't think we'd create an entire new section for it, but a perpetual thread would be good.

My only other slight concern is that the last time we had a long thread about up and coming players, I seem to recall that half the names being bandied about were already playing Test cricket :/

Originally posted by Clobber My only other slight concern is that the last time we had a long thread about up and coming players, I seem to recall that half the names being bandied about were already playing Test cricket :/

Hmmmm ........... yes, it does require an IQ slightly higher than that of a duck to realise that up and coming means just that - not already arrived.

We've got a couple of decent looking players in Hampshire in the U15s that look useful.

And does that mean we have to identify someone from the club level? Won't FC cricket do it?

Originally posted by Sledger On a slightly different note , is there too much coaching of kids in England?  I continually read of coaches asking bowlers to get side on and batsmen playing classically straight bats with a high elbow. I've always thought there's more ways to play the game , Mike Proctor and Brian Lara seemed to agree.

My brother coaches and I think he would agree with you.  He absolutely hated the ECB coaching programme, designed as it is to produce cloned coaches, let alone cloned players.  It is not that there is too much coaching, coaching in its purest sense allows an individual to find the best way to develop.  But coaching 'by the book' seems to be the ECB model ..... my brother was a class bowler before he nearly lost a leg in a late teen accident ... but to pass his badge had to master the most bizarre instruction for playing the pull shot.  I pull a mean cricket ball, but in trying to copy the method in the ECB text I forever got my feet in a tangle!

So - not too much coaching, just too much text book coaching.  My brother tells a great story of a nipper bowling off the wrong foot.  He was criticised by an opposing coach for not correcting it following a game where the lad took 7 for next to nothing.  "He bowls fast, takes wickets and tore throught your lot ..... you correct him"

Originally posted by Sledger I haven't seen schoolboy cricket for many years , not because it isn't enjoyable , it's a treat , but because all my mates' kids are 30-odd!  Poor excuse really , I should be watching their grandkids!    On a slightly different note , is there too much coaching of kids in England?  I continually read of coaches asking bowlers to get side on and batsmen playing classically straight bats with a high elbow. I've always thought there's more ways to play the game , Mike Proctor and Brian Lara seemed to agree.

Proctor's wrong  footed approach seemed to work!

Phillip Hughes is another guy with a unique technique and nobody seems to appreciate that it really does work for him. Chanderpaul is another that comes to mind.

Yer dead right Spin. The amount of pace Lee generates from such a conventional action is quite phenomenal. I like the way Bond and Steyn bowl as well, allows them to move the ball a great deal and they get a hell of a lot of pace. There are many orthodox, technically correct players who just don't perform.

I think we all agree , the joy of cricket is the infinite variety , the ability to surprise. The first time I saw Malinga I thought it nothing short of miraculous that the ball consistently was gun barrel straight and I still find my eyebrows at my hairline with practically every delivery! (I might be grey , but I've still got plenty!).
            WG , great to hear that your brother coaches the game with a commonsense attitude. The first priority as I see it is the kids must enjoy the game firstly and as they mature then address any issues that will improve his/her game. I was never more than average at the game , but it brought me great pleasure for 45 years ,(old) man and boy.

Wasim Akram saw Sohail Tanvir as a young player and did not tell him to change his wrong footed approach. Tanvir has shown sparkles of brilliance at IPL and international cricket. He's not a bad player, certainly he plays the way that suits him.

I don't think Sohail has a weak technique. The way he bowls can and has proven to work and Proctor is the no. 1 example. He needs to work on his game more because he has potential

2020 is taking over cricket, England are going to stop  playing 50 over cricket at the limited overs level and after 2011 WC the ICC are going to review the state of 50 over cricket. Ominous signs for ODI cricket lovers, like myself, but it's a good thing for someone like Sohail who does well in 2020. Techniques and styles will have to change a lot.

My problem with what England have done is that if they do not end up dropping ODIs from the international circuit, then no one in County Cricket will be playing 50 over cricket, which doesn't make a lot of sense. 
        I do however think that 50 over cricket will be dropped and it's just nonsense to me. We've had it for over 30 years now and it has established records and statistics. Everything that Sachin or Wasim has done has been done in vain.

40 and 50 over cricket are very similar, so for mine it's not the worst decision. However, if they dropped both of those but the ICC kept ODIs as is, then you'd be picking guys for ODIs on the basis of their longer form (4 and 5 days games) and 2020 performances. That's not very useful. Picking guys for 50 over cricket on the basis of their 40 over performances isn't a massive thing and you're right there.

Dropping ODI's?

Fingers crossed,I'm hoping for the idea to flop........

Originally posted by milkman It's inevitable bladescape, makes me sad... I have a lot of good memories of some top games in the past. Nothing like a thrilling day/night game at the MCG. The should just change ODIs to 40 overs per side and have 15 of those overs as powerplays/fielding restrictions.

I got a tape of the match where Bevan and ...McGrath I think? won the match at the very end.

I really like watching that one again,a pity I didn't see it live!