3rd Test: West Indies v South Africa at Bridgetown, 21-25 Apr 2005

[Pete]

Originally Posted by John

I think there is an obligation to the fans to be a bit more adventerous.

I only said it as a neutral Winning is the most important thing really. Yuh get no points for playing pretty.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by John

I think there is an obligation to the fans to be a bit more adventerous.

This is an appalling thought: if people take an interest in what cricketers do that's fine; if they want to get emotionally involved in what a particular team does that's tolerable. If only it stopped there: the idea that some self-appointed minority of cricket followers who annoint themselves "fans" should be able tio make demands of players and teams... or that players and teams should have sporting "obligations" to any beyond their team-mates and coach... is nothing short of pernicious.

That's a mantra that has only one end: sport as circus.. in the manner of the so-called "wrestling" of my youth. What comes next after fans demanding certain styles of play? Fans demanding that their favourite celebrity players get to play? Go down that road and we'll end with Robbie Williams bowling to Kylie in the Ashes!

If the folk watching don't like the way one team plays cricket they should go off and find a team that shares their vision of how the game should be played. If they can't find one they should perhaps just accept that they know **** all about the sport and consider the possibility of appreciating the game as it is played rather than dreaming about the way it is NOT played.

[John]

The comments I made yesterday about players having an obligation to fans. Absolutely right. Cricket is a form of entertainment and players are aware of that. Various things have been done over the years to make cricket more exciting. Where would cricket be without the one day game?
People have voted with their feet and the World cups have gained massive interest since 1975.
Test matches are still my favourite but I believe we have to move with times. Mangement and players should be aware of the auidence. SA were 100 runs ahead 8 wickets it would hardly be a major risk to play a few more attacking shots. Rather than playing out madiens to Wavell Hinds.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by John

Cricket is a form of entertainment and players are aware of that.

Cricket is absolutely NOT a form of entertainment. It is a sport which some may find entertaining.. but that is not the same thing. TAke away the fans and you still have the sport... take away the single minded focus on playing the game of cricket (e.g. by introducing "playing to the gallery) and you've merely got theatre.

Next step, as I suggested, is a crcketing equivalent of WWF wrestling.

ps. Some people find watching bombs explode entertaining (lots do, if the popularity of Hollywood movies is to be believed): doesn't make the IRA / Bin Laden or any other bunch of terrorists "entertainers".

[John]

So Rachael if it isn't a form of entertainment why do we watch it? I don't want to reduce it all to entertainment but that plays a part.
Cricket can be many things entertaining being one of them. Because I know when I am bored ie yesterday evenning. SA in a great position and blocking out the likes of W. Hinds. Now this may have been acceptable twenty years ago but not now.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by John

So Rachael if it isn't a form of entertainment why do we watch it?

I was once in classroom where a small child was trying to come to terms with the idea of absolutely EVERYONE going to church EVERY Sunday.. to services that might have seemed, to youngsters, to go on for EVER. Her damning verdict was along the lines of "I wouldn't have bothered, that doesn't sound much fun".

Not everything in life has to be entertaining to be deemed worthy of our time and effort!

[Occasional Fan]

West Indies folding up disastrously, now 107-7 in their second innings, still 141 short of requiring SA to bat again. And in comes Powell without a helmet - Andre Nel doing the decent thing and pointing out the omission. Makes one wonder if anyone is in the WI dressing room at the moment, or if they've already gone to the bar!

[John]

Rachael you still haven't explained to me why you watch it?
WI eight wickets down and not providing much entertainment.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by John

Rachael you still haven't explained to me why you watch it?

I've particular things I like to watch.. as has everyone.. but if I'm up for some cricket I'll follow the old adage of "there are no boring things, only boring people": I'll take the trouble to find an angle on proceedings that interests me.

Sure.. given the chance I'd watch bowlers like Lindwall, Wasim Akram, Bedser, Underwood and Warne bowling to batsmen like Gower, Mark Waugh, Laxman, Lara and Tedulkar... but in truth I do, at all points, trust that those I'm watching give not one jot for my feelings in the matter: if I find the proceedings not to my taste (e.g. when good bowling is getting massacred, or thugs are smashing boundaries by recourse to little more than brute force) I generally recognise that as a failing on my part (not theirs) and get on with life.

[John]

Originally Posted by Rachael

old adage of "there are no boring things, only boring people": I'll take the trouble to find an angle on proceedings that interests me.

Well I am envious cause boredom has played quiet a part in my life (And other people's life). I wish I could of rid myself of it but I have not. And people who suffer from boredom tend to vote with their feet. Thats why they have tinkered with the one day game to make it more exciting.
So sport if wants to keep it's auidence has to bear in mind that quiet a big proportion of that auidence might tend to get bored.
SA have just won.