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[six and out]

I love the way the Oz structure works. Test players/hopefuls turning out for their club side.

https://twitter.com/CricketAus/status/922247411510030336

[well past my peak]

I love the way the Oz structure works. Test players/hopefuls turning out for their club side.

https://twitter.com/CricketAus/status/922247411510030336

Agree, was discussing this on the weekend, unfortunately we had a wash out in Brisbane grade (sorry QLD premier) so didn't get on, but otherwise would had a few current test players taking on the locals, can't think of too many other sports where you get the chance as a good club player to mix it up with the best in the world.

[csnew]

I love the way the Oz structure works. Test players/hopefuls turning out for their club side.

https://twitter.com/CricketAus/status/922247411510030336

Playing devil's advocate...How is this any different to a Club cricketer dropping 4 divisions down to smash a bit of easy bowling?
I'm sure the opposition thought the same, what a waste of a Saturday. Only difference is they saw a test player get some easy runs

[Biggie Smalls]

Playing devil's advocate...How is this any different to a Club cricketer dropping 4 divisions down to smash a bit of easy bowling?
I'm sure the opposition thought the same, what a waste of a Saturday. Only difference is they saw a test player get some easy runs

If you are a test player you are a first class player when no tests are being played . If you are a first class player you are a grade player when no first class games are being played . So  a test player with no test or first class cricket to play can play grade .
Or to put it another way ....all players must have a club . They play at the highest grade unless higher honors call. Test players are just first grade players who have been called up to higher honors and are busy with representing their state or country too often to fulfil their grade duties very often . If only it was like the good ol days where those pesky state and national selectors wouldnt pinch players all the time...then internationals would be playing first grade all the time.
Whichever way you look at it , these players belong to a grade club and can play for them as much as they want/are available to do so . If you dont allow them to play where does it stop ? Are state 2nd xl players not allowed either ? Are former test or former first class players not allowed?  If so, what constitutes as 'former' ? 10 yrs ? 20 yrs ? 5 yrs ? 1 day ?

[Biggie Smalls]

Playing devil's advocate...How is this any different to a Club cricketer dropping 4 divisions down to smash a bit of easy bowling?
I'm sure the opposition thought the same, what a waste of a Saturday. Only difference is they saw a test player get some easy runs

Or to answer your question another way .....
There are rules that prevent a 1st grade player dropping 4 grades . There are no rules preventing test player dropping down to play for their club ( in fact , it is encouraged whenever possible). So the difference is the rules .

[well past my peak]

Pre T20 Gravy train, international players would retire spend a season or two playing state cricket, retire then spend a few years back playing solely club cricket, it was  not uncommon to have  ex-internationals sliding down through the grades helping the young ones come through,
as I said T20 killed that, now players will play for as long as they can in the cash up circus until the body breaks.

[GoodLeave]

Playing devil's advocate...How is this any different to a Club cricketer dropping 4 divisions down to smash a bit of easy bowling?
I'm sure the opposition thought the same, what a waste of a Saturday. Only difference is they saw a test player get some easy runs

Guess it depends on what discipline you are. I bet watching the ball whistle past your nose is much less fun that watching the ball whistle back over your head to the boundary.

[Kulli]

Guess it depends on what discipline you are. I bet watching the ball whistle past your nose is much less fun that watching the ball whistle back over your head to the boundary.

First one is usually over a bit quicker though.

[six and out]

Playing devil's advocate...How is this any different to a Club cricketer dropping 4 divisions down to smash a bit of easy bowling?
I'm sure the opposition thought the same, what a waste of a Saturday. Only difference is they saw a test player get some easy runs

I do take your point but i like to think of it the other way round..... the club/grade players get the chance to test themselves against the best, whether it be the ball whistling past their noses or bowling to top quality batters. It is then that you truely find out what you are made of.

Remember, it doesn't always go the way of the pro's.... Maxwell got naff all playing for his club side... got cleaned up after 4 balls... and imagine the feeling that bowler would have got from that.

[ppccopener]

Anyone else looking forward to a change with BT sport coverage?

We are getting Matt Smith and Alison Mitchell who I think is very good.

On the field Graham gooch called Woakes a fantastic cricketer....can he see what some cannot ?

[justnotcricket86]

Not a fan of Alison Mitchell at all, Smith is good though.

Will miss Athers personally, and the occasional 15mins cameo from Bumble.

[ppccopener]

Yes Athers is excellent, very good writer as well for the times
I do think it was getting a bit stale thou with sky
Rumours they were dumping both am and Gower last year proved wrong.

[rickjames]

Not sure how this has reached 36 pages already; I've quite liked nothing thinking about English cricket for 4 weeks since the season ended...

[moonball]

And now what is your team / squad without Stokes?

Cook
hammeed
Stoneman
root
malan
stokes
bairstow
ali
woakes
Roland jones
anderson

Squad:

westley
broad
foakes
buttler
wood
crane

squad of 17

yes ive dropped broad but i think TRJ has bowled much more attackingly and looks in much better form at the moment he also hasnt gone at a stupid high run rate either and stregthens the batting which is our weakness too

[ppccopener]

Trj would def be on the tour but he is out injured which mAkes selection harder