Unpopular Cricket Opinions

[Scotland]

Michael Bevan says hi, there are sliding doors moments in many cricketers careers, rarely one thing goes against you, in the case of both, they both had reputations as being difficult on tour. When you are living with the same group of blokes on tour for 10-11 months of the year, blokes that are 50/50 need everything going their way. If you are perceived as being difficult, you don't get the second chances. It is as simple as that.

Bevan is a funny one because he was a mainstay of the ODI for so long. He can't have been that bad, surely. His test record didn't match his shield record, though. He's unlucky to have missed the golden age of 'needing' an all rounder in the test team.

 

[western royboy]

Bevan is a funny one because he was a mainstay of the ODI for so long. He can't have been that bad, surely. His test record didn't match his shield record, though. He's unlucky to have missed the golden age of 'needing' an all rounder in the test team.

At Test Level he had a black mark against his name because of the short ball and he was a bit intense, very similar to Hodge.

 

[Borisdog]

Michael Bevan says hi, there are sliding doors moments in many cricketers careers, rarely one thing goes against you, in the case of both, they both had reputations as being difficult on tour. When you are living with the same group of blokes on tour for 10-11 months of the year, blokes that are 50/50 need everything going their way. If you are perceived as being difficult, you don't get the second chances. It is as simple as that.

I don't know Hodge, but I've had my fair share of dickheads in crews of people I've managed in my work.
It can't be over-stated how much good getting rid of a dickhead, well-performing or not, does for the dynamic of a group as a whole.
Those who reckon it shouldn't/doesn't matter clearly haven't seen the damage a dickhead can do to a group.

Whether Hodge was or wasn't a dickhead I'll never know, but if he was and that's why he didn't get more of a go then I'm fine with it IF and only IF the selectors were honest with him and told him so. Even dickheads deserve that, however a lot of dickheads really fail to see that they're the problem - even when told.

 

[Damon_3388]

Bevan is a funny one because he was a mainstay of the ODI for so long. He can't have been that bad, surely. His test record didn't match his shield record, though. He's unlucky to have missed the golden age of 'needing' an all rounder in the test team.

The thing is, apart from a few good (lucky) bowling turns against the West Indies (who were clueless against wrist spin in the '90s), he wasn't really that good or regular a bowler.

He had plenty of chances at Test level - 18 Tests, and a batting average under 30, and no centuries. That record was never going to cut it in the Australian Test side in the late '90s/early 2000s.

 

[Damon_3388]

I find Virat Kohli more likeable than Ian Chappell.

 

[eth-dog]

I find Virat Kohli more likeable than Ian Chappell.

Damning with faint praise.

 

[Nuke Fremantle]

Hazlewood is a long way from the finished article. Got a pitch he liked in Brisbane but has been innocuous since.

 

[Scotland]

I find Virat Kohli more likeable than Ian Chappell.

I find everyone more likeable than Ian Chappell.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Based on the above posts I guess my unpopular opinion is that I like Chappelli and enjoy his commentary.

 

[Scotland]

Yeah not finding Chappelli a dull, narcissistic bell-end probably puts one in the minority.

 

[Damon_3388]

Hazlewood is a long way from the finished article. Got a pitch he liked in Brisbane but has been innocuous since.

People were expecting a fast bowler who just turned 23 today (born 08/01/1991) to be "the finished article"?

 

[ioppolo]

People were expecting a fast bowler who just turned 23 today (born 08/01/1991) to be "the finished article"?

24

 

[smiddy9]

I like Virat Kohli as a bloke!!

 

[Damon_3388]

24

Forgot what year it was

Still, point stands. Hazlewood (and Starc) is assumedly many, many years away from peaking. Hell, Mitchell Johnson didn't peak until 32-33 years old, and we've got Ryan Harris becoming one of our best ever Test bowlers (statistically) in his 30s, too.

 

[Jak!x]

People were expecting a fast bowler who just turned 23 today (born 08/01/1991) to be "the finished article"?

I still think he'll end up the best of Pattison and the NSW junior quicks (Cummins, Haze and Sandu)

 

[The Speaker]

Based on the above posts I guess my unpopular opinion is that I like Chappelli and enjoy his commentary.

I am also in the camp that thinks he is a good commentator. I think both opinions on Chappelli are unpopular with the opposite camp. Probably a 50/50 split.

 

[Nuke Fremantle]

Forgot what year it was

Still, point stands. Hazlewood (and Starc) is assumedly many, many years away from peaking. Hell, Mitchell Johnson didn't peak until 32-33 years old, and we've got Ryan Harris becoming one of our best ever Test bowlers (statistically) in his 30s, too.

He was getting talked up big time after the Gabba, it wasn't warranted. Depending on the steady rehabilitation of others his spot is under pressure.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

I think this is one of the worse test series that I have seen.

Its just dull and lifeless and the pitches are a big part to blame.

 

[western royboy]

I am also in the camp that thinks he is a good commentator. I think both opinions on Chappelli are unpopular with the opposite camp. Probably a 50/50 split.

I think it is fair to say that Ian Chappell polarises people. There is no middle ground.

 

[Mkcaptain]

Although Chappell does waffle on a lot, at least what he waffles on about is nowhere near as ridiculous as when Slats, Healy and Warne get sidetracked. However I completely sympathise with people who cannot stand him

 

[anthc]

I think it is fair to say that Ian Chappell polarises people. There is no middle ground.

I like Chappelli. .he says it as it is no beating round the bush, Slater and brayshaw are arse clowns

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Based on the above posts I guess my unpopular opinion is that I like Chappelli and enjoy his commentary.

That just shows you're a rare cricket watcher who wants to listen and learn. Well done.

 

[Hellgood]

Chappell's ok. He's a stubborn bastard and I can't say I agree with everything he says, but there's none of the 'lololol is that your private chopper Tubs/Heals/Slats' type pantomime crap. His articles on cricinfo are usually pretty insightful too. I can see why he rubs people up the wrong way as he is bloody minded with very little time for hearing any alternate points of view, but I guess that kind of arrogance/conviction is a trait of successful captains. My experiences as captain in sports so far haven't been all that good because I second guess myself a lot - overthinking things and their potential implications, whereas a guy like Chappell can just walk in and say 'right, this is what we're doing, if we carry it out it will work and if you don't like it there's the door'. People are happy to get behind that sort of decisive confidence.

 

[Gough]

Chappelli has a cricket pedigree that can't be faulted, he might be belligerent, you might always agree with him, but he's always worth listening to.

 

[Kram]

I like Mark Waugh on TV.