May Test series have to end

Dave B

I couldn't agree more.

They argue for the primacy of test cricket and then devalue it in this way.

The reason that these ones in particular are scheduled so early is to ensure that there is room for the ICC World 20/20 as I understand it. This is while the IPL 20/20 is going on and the summer's english 20/20 cup. overkill anyone?

It's clear that the West Indies don't want to be here - none of them look interested and the ball nipping around in cold conditions doesn't make for a good spectacle - that said, I think the ongoing image of a grumpy Chris Gayle at first slip with 3 jumpers on is good value.

The West Indies are of course a replacement for Sri Lanka (who are coining it in at the IPL) who were a replacement for Zimbabwe. The WI should have said that they were happy to fill in but they weren't bringing the Wisden Trophy with them.

George Laird

Dear James

That was a fair rant, slightly understated in my opinion.

Unfortunately money is probably the driver at the crease.

You have hit the nail on the head when you talk about short term thinking, this has developed throughout society as crisis management.

This is the problem with Britain, too many people get into jobs that they are not capable of doing.

You could argue that this is slightly part of my theme of a corrupt Britain.

Not what you know but who you know.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

GJTory

James - rant accepted and seconded.

Winning handsomely is great.

I'm a little embarassed to have put the Windies through this series just because Sky demanded 7 test matches.

rmh

Both sides were undercooked and it was the Windies not giving a rats ass about the test that showed.

Isn't the IPL on now.....

Richard

Ah, finally - something important. Yup - it's a farce. I like the fact that they're touring but a good 6 weeks too early.

IdlingAway

Completely agree. It was embarrassing to see the empty seats day after day at Chester-le-Street. They couldn't even lower the prices because of the costs of the guarantee paid to the ECB to stage the Test.

The great Shane Warne virtually called the ECB incompetent in his lunchtime interview on Sky when he questioned why on earth you'd have the first Ashes test at Cardiff and not at Lords.

And then there's Stanford!

The ECB are doing a terrible job of stewarding the game.

Still - not the player's fault, they played well, and can't wait for Jimmy Anderson & Stuart Broad to rip into the Aussies!

Dorothy Wilson

If it has been as cold in Durham as here in the E Midlands it is a wonder the poor old West Indies team didn't die of hypothermia. How can anyone be expected to play a decent game of cricket in conditions like that?

The Huntsman

"The conditions are too extreme"

Poppycock.

Test cricket in hot countries is routinely played in temperatures which would be near the record books if they occurred in the UK. We have to play in such conditions and get on with it.

Just imagine the fury were any England Captain to complain about such: justly so.

We should have been playing the Ashes now, stealing a march on the Aussies and playing in conditions which suit our cricketers, not theirs, taking advantage of the propensity of the ball to swing at such times.

Instead we are about to enter a prolonged period of utterly unmemorable ersatz cricket, handing over home advantage as far as possible to Ponting and his troupe.

They must be laughing themselves to death.

Ian C

1) As a Sky Sports customer cricket in May is of no interest when the rugby seasons in both hemispheres are at their peak. Best to save resources as the cricket and rugby subscribers must have considerable cross over.

2) Botham, Gower and Willis were much better to watch than they are commentators. They played the game in a way that was much more enthralling that cannot be replicated in their commentary. In fact they are not very good at it.

3) C4 did a much better job when it was briefly theirs and had an agenda that made the full day interesting for both long term supporters and newcomers. And they had a good but shorter highlights show.

4) As a schoolboy in Yorkshire it was tough enough to get two days of cricket consecutively in May. 75 miles further north in Durham for a May Test.... not a bright idea!

5) Conclusion; the current Board need the same treatment as Mickey Martin and Gordo.

mongoose

James, I was at the match on Saturday, wearing a windproof jacket, and it was warm and pleasant for the most part. But yes, it's too early.

Rosie

I entirely agree - and not least about the Sky commentaries. By far the best solution is to have Sky on silently and listen to the BBC Test Match Special commentary - infinitely superior!

TGF UKIP

I too was at Durham on Saturday and I think it must have been a different Durham to the one Mongose was at. (Don't by any chance work for Durham Tourism do you, Mongoose?)

Let's just put it this way, until mid afternoon after which it chucked it down, the intermittent appearances of the sun were drawing as big a cheer as an England boundary or Windies wicket.

What was truly extreme, though, was the oppressiveness of the stewarding - out of all proportion. Needless to say, too, the local baseball hatted stasi were there routinely photographing the crowd from a gantry in the stands.

What cricket would have been like in Ulbricht's E. Germany.

TGF UKIP

James, "up in Newcastle for the football on Saturday." You poor sod and having to work in the same office as Hoskin.

Can't exactly be a household of joy and merriment, the Forsyth one.

Still Pompey have just done you a good turn.

Richard

Ian C - you are John Motson and I claim my £5. I want Tiger to get 1. He's not warm enough yet.