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General Cricket => Players => Topic started by: justnotcricket86 on November 07, 2012, 11:24:13 AM

Title: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: justnotcricket86 on November 07, 2012, 11:24:13 AM
Anybody seen or heard of this lad? Brilliant article in the Guardian this morning and wondered if anyone had seen him about. Sounds totally wrong what's happened to him

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/nov/06/maurice-holmes-english-murali-spin
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: Ciaran on November 07, 2012, 11:26:33 AM
I remember hearing about him in 2008 I think, people spoke so highly of him I thought he was a shoe in for the England team in the future. Still young enough to have a shot at the top leagues though!
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: justnotcricket86 on November 07, 2012, 11:35:13 AM
The confusing thing is that the ECB checks are not recognised by the ICC - hence the likes of Singh/Ajmal playing for their country. He passed the test but they failed him second time round for a shuffle in his run up! Only the ECB could do that
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: Red Ink Cricket on November 07, 2012, 11:39:57 AM
maybe a little bit of coverage will help his case. It would be a shame to loose such a 'different' bowler. If his action is legal then get him playing. if its not work with him to get it right. dont discard him.
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: tim2000s on November 07, 2012, 11:42:55 AM
We have 2,000 members here. Why not start a petition to the ECB to do the right thing over it?
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: ajmw89 on November 07, 2012, 11:43:38 AM
What annoys me is that instead of recognising and embracing any unorthodoxy, certain boards (namely ECB and CA) seem to shun it and do whatever they can to stamp it out.
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: ItsJustCricket on November 07, 2012, 11:50:17 AM
Poor bloke - he needs to emigrate! Really unfair, and absolutely pathetic of the ECB in my opinion.  All these people crying out for more talented young English spinners as well - what a disgrace!!
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: Dan W on November 07, 2012, 11:51:22 AM
Reads like a very one sided article.


If he was foreign I'm sure everyone would be up in arms (pun unintended) that his delivery wasn't approved legal.


Doesn't sound particularly like it's been handled in the best possible fashion though - would LOVE to see him play.
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: trypewriter on November 07, 2012, 11:56:44 AM
Reading through it, it reminds me of the Harold Rhodes debacle. His was another career unfairly blighted (turned out he had hyperextension of the elbow joint).
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: ItsJustCricket on November 07, 2012, 12:00:22 PM
Since when was it against the laws to bowl a doosra too slowly?! Honestly, it sounds like they're making up the rules as they go along.  There must be some vendetta or ill feeling behind the scenes that hasn't been made public yet...
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: Vantage_Cricket on November 07, 2012, 12:03:27 PM
Shocking to be honest, with all of these new shots being allowed from a batsman's point of view - it would be great to see something different from a bowler.
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: Simmy on November 07, 2012, 12:04:31 PM
cant understand how it can be illegal if hes not past the 15 degrees bit and being told no for bowling the ball to slow wtf?
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: Dan W on November 07, 2012, 12:04:42 PM
No-ones said it wasn't...though the article admits (yet somewhat glosses over) the fact he couldn't replicate his match pace/action in the trial.

There's definitely a whiff of fishyness about it all though!
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: trypewriter on November 07, 2012, 12:05:44 PM
harold rhodes

Although facing strong competition from bowlers such as Brian Statham and Fred Trueman, Rhodes might have expected to play many more Tests. But doubts about the legality of his bowling action emerged, and in the 1960 season, playing for Derbyshire against the South Africans, he was "called" for throwing – bowling the ball with a bent arm that straightens in the delivery – by the umpire and former Test batsman, Paul Gibb.[1] Later in the 1960 season, he was no-balled again by Gibb, and by Syd Buller. He took 78 first class wickets in the season and took two five wicket innings.
Rhodes was then subjected to a long and detailed examination of his action by MCC committees; he was eventually cleared in 1968 when it was declared that he had a "hyper-extended arm".[1] But by then, his Test career was long gone, although he had continued to bowl successfully for Derbyshire across the 1960s. In the 1961 season he topped Derbyshire's bowling with 101 and took six five wicket innings. Against Oxford University he achieved a hat-trick that year. He took 68 wickets in the 1962 season and took five five wicket innings. His best season of 1965, saw him take 119 wickets at the low average of 11.04 runs per wicket, and he was top of the English national bowling averages for that season.
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: Buzz on November 07, 2012, 12:13:28 PM
Reading through it, it reminds me of the Harold Rhodes debacle. His was another career unfairly blighted (turned out he had hyperextension of the elbow joint).

really glad you brought Harold Rhodes up. he was a quality bowler and also the best coach I have had. lovely. bloke
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: 19reading87 on November 07, 2012, 12:15:50 PM
I believe he played for Barnt Green in he Birmingham league whilst at Warwickshire but never took a hat full of wickets. I can ask around mates to see if anybody knows anything
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: Kulli on November 07, 2012, 12:23:27 PM
Since when was it against the laws to bowl a doosra too slowly?! Honestly, it sounds like they're making up the rules as they go along.  There must be some vendetta or ill feeling behind the scenes that hasn't been made public yet...

I presume that was because he bowled it at speed X in games, but only speed Y in the trials, thus creating skepticism over whether he was unable to bowl it quick without throwing it.
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: uknsaunders on November 07, 2012, 12:32:37 PM
I believe he played for Barnt Green in he Birmingham league whilst at Warwickshire but never took a hat full of wickets. I can ask around mates to see if anybody knows anything


not sure it's the same guy Reds:-

http://barntgreen.play-cricket.com/profile/statistics.asp?id=10805211
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: magicman84 on November 07, 2012, 01:01:50 PM
This article is a page filler, nothing more.

He's a top bloke and I have played with him and against him. Fact is he is just not good enough.

He could only just make it into Vine's 1stXI and played half the season in the 2ndXI.
Title: Re: Maurice Holmes - Guardian Article
Post by: Kulli on November 07, 2012, 05:52:37 PM
Interesting article, but only from the point of view of the suspicion 'mystery spinners' are viewed with both here and in Oz, rather than as an individual case.

http://www.ecbtv.co.uk/video/20110506/warwickshire-v-lancashire-day-3-kerrigan-spins-lancs-top_2276246_2354799 (http://www.ecbtv.co.uk/video/20110506/warwickshire-v-lancashire-day-3-kerrigan-spins-lancs-top_2276246_2354799)Clip of him bowling here after 1:40