This isn't rankings, numbers and all that. Doubt too many people log on to web sites to check rankings and averages before they decide whether to go to a match / watch it elsewhere, or ignore it altogether. Purely from a "worth watching" perspective, and assuming 1st choice elevens:
1. England 2. Australia 3. Pakistan 4. South Africa 5. Sri Lanka 6. India 7. West Indies 8. New Zealand
To be honest, only 1 and 2 above (and 3, to a lesser extent) are the really interesting teams. The rest, well, they are there, so had to be ranked somehow.
I disagree with your presumption of 'worth watching' never mind the ranking. Individual players are worth watching. But cricket is a game thats worth watching when two teams make it so.
Even going by your assumption, England at # 1 ahead of Australia? Come one.
............................ "The prisoner Pierre Laval is in no danger of dying"
While individual players are worth wathing (or not), teams as a whole are also worth watching (or not), based not only on skills but also on how they approach the game. The skills part does cover individual players as well. So I think the more comprehensive criterion is teams rather than individuals. I do agree with you about two teams making a game worth watching (or not) - very true.
Yes, I absolutely find the English team more interesting and worth watching than Australia - perhaps not by a whole lot, but over all yes. England has more of that 'creative spark' element which can light up the game - of course Aussies have that too but over all it has more to do with efficiency. In terms of individuals as well, England has more players that I'd willingly watch and would look forward to watch, any time any day.
Flintoff Pietersen Flintoff ummm...Flintoff did I say Flintoff yet? that guy that cant catch ...you know funny head ...has a pommy relative locked away somewhere..KY..something like that Thicko (for his footwork) Key (in an eating contest) Vawn ( for his facial expressions) That bloke with the freakishly big lips and the spot on his head GBH (but not if he's Harmlessone) CoJones ( in the nano second he isnt injured) Pigsy (only joking) Monty ( for his fielding) Fred
Ozzies you'd want to watch
TGM tgm Punter Gilly Paris Dung ( he's so purdy) Marto MtFTB (not emptybee) NLWL Dizzy (doing his Happy Gilmore batting milestone celebration) MacGill
Originally posted by Hey Jude...: This isn't rankings, numbers and all that. Doubt too many people log on to web sites to check rankings and averages before they decide whether to go to a match / watch it elsewhere, or ignore it altogether. Purely from a "worth watching" perspective, and assuming 1st choice elevens:
1. England 2. Australia 3. Pakistan 4. South Africa 5. Sri Lanka 6. India 7. West Indies 8. New Zealand
To be honest, only 1 and 2 above (and 3, to a lesser extent) are the really interesting teams. The rest, well, they are there, so had to be ranked somehow.
I must say that I find all test cricket between the teams listed above interesting (even New Zealand!).
I agree that Australia are not the most interesting though. The main reason being that you assume they are going to win every test they play. This does reduce the interest somewhat although you can hardly blame them for this.
I like watching Australia. A fine bunch of cricketers and play with a must win attitude - mostly unafraid of losing (a must criterion of any great team). But they don't have the same flair as the West Indies of yester years
I agree that a full strength English team is an absolute treat to watch! It's just amazing how they have changed in just in the last 3 or 4 years. The emergence of the likes Flintoff, Strauss, Harmison and the inclusion of Kevin Pieterson has really made this team a lot of fun to watch!
Originally posted by fcxx: I agree that a full strength English team is an absolute treat to watch! It's just amazing how they have changed in just in the last 3 or 4 years. The emergence of the likes Flintoff, Strauss, Harmison and the inclusion of Kevin Pieterson has really made this team a lot of fun to watch!
Precisely. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed watching a team as much as I did the English team in the last Ashes.
Unfortunately, it all seems to be going downhill. Jones is out, Flintoff has looked jaded and over worked, Vaughan (a very worth watching batsman, in my opinion) is out as well....
Originally posted by Hey Jude...: But they don't have the same flair as the West Indies of yester years
Jude bhai, would you like to elaborate? because i didn't watch the W Indian teams of the 1980s so i would like to know in what way they were different from the current Aussie team.
Originally posted by Hey Jude...: But they don't have the same flair as the West Indies of yester years
Jude bhai, would you like to elaborate? because i didn't watch the W Indian teams of the 1980s so i would like to know in what way they were different from the current Aussie team.
It is kind of hard to put in words, fcxx. The WI pace bowlers were very exciting to watch, and then you had guys like Viv, Grenidge, Lloyd etc - the whole team had this huge "aura" about it. Of course Aussies have been a great unbeatable side for many years, but relatively speaking, for me at least there hasn't been that same aura, that same level of excitement about them as the WI - there is a greater element of efficiency than flair. It is all relative of course and Aussies have been a fine side to watch too, of course.
Originally posted by Hey Jude...: But they don't have the same flair as the West Indies of yester years
Jude bhai, would you like to elaborate? because i didn't watch the W Indian teams of the 1980s so i would like to know in what way they were different from the current Aussie team.
It is kind of hard to put in words, fcxx. The WI pace bowlers were very exciting to watch, and then you had guys like Viv, Grenidge, Lloyd etc - the whole team had this huge "aura" about it. Of course Aussies have been a great unbeatable side for many years, but relatively speaking, for me at least there hasn't been that same aura, that same level of excitement about them as the WI - there is a greater element of efficiency than flair. It is all relative of course and Aussies have been a fine side to watch too, of course.
England has more of that 'creative spark' element which can light up the game - of course Aussies have that too but over all it has more to do with efficiency. In terms of individuals as well, England has more players that I'd willingly watch and would look forward to watch, any time any day.[/QUOTE]
Obviously you haven't watched cricket for a long time. lol
Originally posted by Hey Jude...: But they don't have the same flair as the West Indies of yester years
Jude bhai, would you like to elaborate? because i didn't watch the W Indian teams of the 1980s so i would like to know in what way they were different from the current Aussie team.
Originally posted by Hey Jude...: This isn't rankings, numbers and all that. Doubt too many people log on to web sites to check rankings and averages before they decide whether to go to a match / watch it elsewhere, or ignore it altogether. Purely from a "worth watching" perspective, and assuming 1st choice elevens:
1. England 2. Australia 3. Pakistan 4. South Africa 5. Sri Lanka 6. India 7. West Indies 8. New Zealand
To be honest, only 1 and 2 above (and 3, to a lesser extent) are the really interesting teams. The rest, well, they are there, so had to be ranked somehow.
I wouldn't put the Kiwis last. We girls like watching Fleming, Vettori and Bond... Then again, the last two rarely show up...
England's one day team has plenty of 'creative spark' that's for sure. Tell us the one about all the Poms being super keen to see their one day team in Action!
If you want to talk about making the best use of the list you have available I think Sri Lanka have just got their noses in front on this count though I don't expect too many Poms would agree on this point!
Watching the likes of KP and Flintoff is good stuff, other than that I cannot see too much excitement generated by other English bats. As far as bowling goes at the moment there is too much of sameness about the English attack and a lack of a variety, a bit like SA. On the bowling front I like to see variety and on that count prefer to see OZ, Pakistan and India since they have some quality spinners on show as well.
Should add Sri Lanka are a good team to watch as well.
