The Associates thread

[Kangaroos4eva]

Afghans have India 2 down for forty odd.

 

[mikey127]

Scotland giving Ireland a pasting

 

[t_94]

What were ireland doing today? Not good signs after losing to Randwick Petersham either. Need to improve quickly in the last warm up game.

 

[PTizzle]

Pretty shocked by the Scotland/Ireland result, the Scots have a fair few handy players but Ireland would have been backing themselves to win comfortably.

 

[Seldom Seen Kid]

Woeful stuff from us yesterday and not good signs in general since we began the build up.

My two biggest fears about this team have always been that the top order have an infuriating inability to convert starts and accumulate big scores and our death bowling. Stirling is way out of form and the rest of the batsmen just aren't able to kick on. The bowling figures in general looked ok from yesterday and Young seems to be stepping up but the leaking of runs at the end of innings is a huge concern.

Fingers crossed all of our bad performances our out of the way before the big one starts or it could get embarrassing.

 

[The Speaker]

Ireland's batting line-up may need to be rejigged after the WC.

Wilson as captain, Stirling down the order...

 

[t_94]

Woeful stuff from us yesterday and not good signs in general since we began the build up.

My two biggest fears about this team have always been that the top order have an infuriating inability to convert starts and accumulate big scores and our death bowling. Stirling is way out of form and the rest of the batsmen just aren't able to kick on. The bowling figures in general looked ok from yesterday and Young seems to be stepping up but the leaking of runs at the end of innings is a huge concern.

Fingers crossed all of our bad performances our out of the way before the big one starts or it could get embarrassing.

Still got a chance to get some form tomorrow against Bangladesh, but will need a huge effort in all departments. The batting on paper looks decent but like you say in games is a bit fragile. Bowling lacks penetration.

 

[The Speaker]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/content/story/828365.html

Good to see the ICC is trying its hardest to get games for Associates.

 

[ag6858]

I'm on my way to West Indies v Scotland. Hopefully the Scots put up a good performance. Wouldn't mind seeing Gayle go big though.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

I'm on my way to West Indies v Scotland. Hopefully the Scots put up a good performance. Wouldn't mind seeing Gayle go big though.

He's an entertaining batsmen in the short form and Scotland looked in good form against the Irish with the bat and ball, so maybe an upset, hope you enjoy it.

 

[Seldom Seen Kid]

Ireland's batting line-up may need to be rejigged after the WC.

Wilson as captain, Stirling down the order...

Porterfield has been an outstanding captain for a number of years but he isn't consistent enough with the bat to be guaranteed his spot as an opener every time so I would agree with that.

Wilson had a good year temporarily captaining Surrey and probably didn't get the full time gig purely because of his Irish commitments and is probably next in line for the captaincy along with KOB. Dockrell is the long term successor.

Still got a chance to get some form tomorrow against Bangladesh, but will need a huge effort in all departments. The batting on paper looks decent but like you say in games is a bit fragile. Bowling lacks penetration.

Yep, our inability to take wickets in the middle overs goes hand in hand with our struggles at the death. Leave good sides with wickets in hand and they will punish you.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/content/story/828365.html

Good to see the ICC is trying its hardest to get games for Associates.

It's a joke really. There's no way we get a fair crack at qualifying under that system as the big guns just don't have time in their calendars to play any more than a one off ODI against us or the other associates. Triangular or quadrangular tournaments against Afghanistan, Scotland & UAE are fine (and as the standard improves, actually exciting and meaningful games) but there's no way that gives us a shot a making up the rankings gap to the top 8.

Decent start this morning against the Bangers, hope we can keep it up.

And in better news, Cricket Ireland continues to grow the domestic professional game with more central contracts given out

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

I know this has had a bit of discussion, but will be the best way to ensure that affliate and associate national teams get more exposure to higher quality cricket instead of a sporadic tournament every 4 years. A two-tier system? More funding? Something needs change internationally otherwise teams like Ireland, Scotland and even Zimbabwe will struggle to be internationally competitive.

 

[ag6858]

Great start by Scotland. Gayle out for 1, Samuels gone for a duck. Windies 3/59 off 14.2.

 

[ioppolo]

I'm on my way to West Indies v Scotland. Hopefully the Scots put up a good performance. Wouldn't mind seeing Gayle go big though.

Bet you were disappointed.

 

[Marklar_33]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/content/story/828365.html

Good to see the ICC is trying its hardest to get games for Associates.

I'd love to see a Triangular Series return every summer in Australia, and the third team be an Associate every second year. Yes, I know they're uncompetitve at times, and it's all about the mighty $$$, but for the good of growing the game, let the neutrals play mid week and you still get 4-5 matches against the other nation regardless!

 

[Torz]

What was Anamul Haque doing for the Bangers?

25 off 72.

 

[The_Reaper]

I'd love to see a Triangular Series return every summer in Australia, and the third team be an Associate every second year. Yes, I know they're uncompetitve at times, and it's all about the mighty $$$, but for the good of growing the game, let the neutrals play mid week and you still get 4-5 matches against the other nation regardless!

Given that we now have the Matadors as a one day cup in September I think it might be worth inviting an associate team every year to take part.

 

[Underarm]

I'd love to see a Triangular Series return every summer in Australia, and the third team be an Associate every second year. Yes, I know they're uncompetitve at times, and it's all about the mighty $$$, but for the good of growing the game, let the neutrals play mid week and you still get 4-5 matches against the other nation regardless!

At the moment, against Australia they would be uncompetitive ALL the time. Which does nothing to help their cause.

They need to be playing Windies, pakistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe to boost their rankings in games where they stand a small chance. Unfortunately, there is no incentive for them to play Ireland/Afghanstain as if they lose they increase the chance of their place being taken in the top 8; And there is nothing really stopping them from refusing tours.

Would love for us to play a 3 match series before the Ashes against Ireland as a warm up.

 

[The Speaker]

At the moment, against Australia they would be uncompetitive ALL the time. Which does nothing to help their cause.

They need to be playing Windies, pakistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe to boost their rankings in games where they stand a small chance. Unfortunately, there is no incentive for them to play Ireland/Afghanstain as if they lose they increase the chance of their place being taken in the top 8; And there is nothing really stopping them from refusing tours.

Would love for us to play a 3 match series before the Ashes against Ireland as a warm up.

The countries you mention there have been the ones actually bothering to play the Associates.

 

[The Passenger]

I think rather than incorporating a Tri Series including an associate or affiliate nation, a three match ODI series leading into the summer would probably be better. The crowds aren't going to be great anyway, and it's not a huge money spinning time of the season. December and January are $$$ time for Cricket Australia and they understandably want to cash in.

The pre-season series you could even do something like dress up a bit. Call it the "Associates challenge" or some shit like that, and with a bit of timing you might even be able to get NZ and SA playing a 3 ODI series against an associate nation at the same time. So you could have Aus v Afg, SA v Ire, NZ v UAE all at the same time. Probably not feasible to have it every year, but every second year I'm sure it could be worked in.

But then again, it's questionable whether the ICC, BCCI, CA and ECB actually want these associate nations to improve. To me it looks like a lot of lip service.

 

[The Speaker]

But then again, it's questionable whether the ICC, BCCI, CA and ECB actually want these associate nations to improve. To me it looks like a lot of lip service.

The ICC is beholden to the big nations. The BCCI doesn't care about them because there is no money in it for them. The ECB is not interested because it's to their advantage (see: Morgan, Joyce, Hamilton, etc.). CA is mostly worried about itself.

 

[The Passenger]

Yeah good point. Pretty much sums it up unfortunately.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

I think rather than incorporating a Tri Series including an associate or affiliate nation, a three match ODI series leading into the summer would probably be better. The crowds aren't going to be great anyway, and it's not a huge money spinning time of the season. December and January are $$$ time for Cricket Australia and they understandably want to cash in.

The pre-season series you could even do something like dress up a bit. Call it the "Associates challenge" or some shit like that, and with a bit of timing you might even be able to get NZ and SA playing a 3 ODI series against an associate nation at the same time. So you could have Aus v Afg, SA v Ire, NZ v UAE all at the same time. Probably not feasible to have it every year, but every second year I'm sure it could be worked in.

But then again, it's questionable whether the ICC, BCCI, CA and ECB actually want these associate nations to improve. To me it looks like a lot of lip service.

One of my favorite tri-series was back in 2004 l believe and it was Zimbo's, India and Australia, and the Zimbo's pushed both sides in a few matches and could have won them with a bit of luck.

 

[t_94]

Good to see ireland get the win today and Scotland to push West Indies right down to the wire.

 

[The Speaker]

I recommend listening to the most recent Idle Summers podcast - brings up everything wrong with the ICC approach towards the World Cup.