Back To The Past..>

[Ernest]

Never since I joined world-a-team in April 2004 have I found cricket to be such a miserable pastime, there really has been nothing to talk about but Hair umpires and the ICC.

I have been a cricket supporter for many years - but this is worse than the Packer affair.

I think an answer would be to go back to the days when a host nation provided the umpires, I think that has a lot of advantages.

One I think is that home umpires would take even more care when making decissions over teams from other countries (not saying that Hair did not).

In fact when I was a youngster I did feel at times that the umpies did lean more towards the visiting sides, however this was just a minor feeling.

It would also cost less if umpires did not have to globtrot all the year round.

can anyone else see the merit in what I am saying? - things surely can't get worse - I myself would trust umpires from other nations, I never questioed then in the past.
Anyone agree?.

[Speedboy Salesman]

I must admit, cricket is being dragged around in the papers the last few days.. The Daily Mail said "Cricket descends into farce" and there were many more headlines around. Anyway, the papers really devote the entire sport section to football (yawn... Shevchenko joins Chelsea, Rooney and Ronaldo actually like each other blah blah blah £30 million this) it seems the English tabloids were waiting to knock down cricket. Hey as Spike from Hi-De-Hi says "That's my four penneth"

[Wanderer]

This certainly is the closest thing to crazy we have ever been (sorry Katie)

This debacle has even achieved something neither the Ashes nor the World Cup could; Make it to the headlines of American newspapers.

Tuesday's Los Angeles Times ran the story on its front page, relegating a bomb blast in Moscow, Saddam Hussein's trial, the deaths of four US troops in Iraq and the West Asia conflict to its inside pages. This was the headline:

"When a match becomes a scandal, that's just not cricket".

But, getting back to your suggestion Ern. Isn't the reason why there are now neutral umpires exactly because of the fact that touring teams were "suspicious" of home umpires?....

[Ernest]

This may sound corny speedboy - but cricket was far better to watch some years ago, players had respect for umpires and could not argue with them.

The captain was allowed to have a quiet word which as a rule was enough - I wish I could turn back time.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

But, getting back to your suggestion Ern. Isn't the reason why there are now neutral umpires exactly because of the fact that touring teams were "suspicious" of home umpires?....

That's true wanderer - but having seen what has happened with neutral umpires I wonder if countries won't be gland to go back to the old system.

Sorry for mentioning Hair(I wanted not to mention what is happening) but had to English umpires been officiation, hair and the Pakistan team would have been thousands of miles apart.

I think it makes sence "warts and all".

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

This certainly is the closest thing to crazy we have ever been (sorry Katie)

GROAN.... I like Katie Melua too.

[Wanderer]

You're right Ern.

Originally Posted by Ern

players had respect for umpires and could not argue with them.

Isn't this still the case? I mean the captain can still make a "polite" query on whatever...But they're not allowed to argue with the umpire, on or off the field, right? They get fined for dissent...right?

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

You're right Ern. But they're not allowed to argue with the umpire, on or off the field, right? They get fined for dissent...right?

Yes right wanderer - but when I said "back to the past" I meant to the values also - players did not argue nor show dissent like they do now (from all nations) and appeals were more genuine because there was more respect for the rules of the game.

All it takes is some mutual respect for one another - and some trust in the umpires to hept bring about a better attitude towards the game.

[cantplaycantalk]

It was much better in the old days, well I have one word to say to that Bodyline!

Of course you could just take it back to using bottle tops on the ball, or you could go back to the farce that was the foot dragging rule on no-balls, or even further to overarm bowling.
How about the infamous underarm ball to prevent the batsman from having a chance of scoring the 6 needed to win the game?
The aluminium bat throwing incident?
Mike Gatting and the Rana incident, plus all the other "home" umpires who made touring such fun for the away team.
"Somerset players do it on grass!" - mmm yes they did but that was better perhaps left to the police to find out themselves without making it into a bumper sticker
Or even WG Grace refusal to be given out because the crowd had come to watch him bat.

Rose tinted glasses boys, never get them confused with real life.

[Wanderer]

That shipped has sailed Ern...

Blame it on money? I dunno, maybe just the way the world is nowadays. Remember back when we were young.. )

Children respected parents...nowadays we have strict children and obedient parents.
People respected the law...nowadays people think they are above the law.
People respected the rights of others, now they only think about their own.

Anyhow, I am getting side-tracked. And giving away my age too!