'I recommend a six be turned into seven or eight runs'
A collection of some of the best comments from our readers through the week
25-Sep-2015
Was Brian Lara a genius? • Getty Images
By: Barry Hainsworth
Cricket is now a commercial enterprise and the fans and viewers are a cash cow, that's the harsh reality. Despite the money at the top, the international product is detached and expensive for youngsters and only T20 catches the casual fans' interest. Rugby's ballot to clubs for international tickets is an example of a game that retains links with its roots. Local clubs are competing for a smaller and smaller pool of players as the recreational game struggles to fit into modern lifestyles. We need a connection from top-down that we glimpse in Joe Root and we need less academy systems and more faith in clubs and local leagues to develop the next generation of players, the county system is the dinosaur that needs to change (not to franchises) but to real engagement with club cricket. Less bureaucracy and treadmill, more love of cricket and community.
Cricket is now a commercial enterprise and the fans and viewers are a cash cow, that's the harsh reality. Despite the money at the top, the international product is detached and expensive for youngsters and only T20 catches the casual fans' interest. Rugby's ballot to clubs for international tickets is an example of a game that retains links with its roots. Local clubs are competing for a smaller and smaller pool of players as the recreational game struggles to fit into modern lifestyles. We need a connection from top-down that we glimpse in Joe Root and we need less academy systems and more faith in clubs and local leagues to develop the next generation of players, the county system is the dinosaur that needs to change (not to franchises) but to real engagement with club cricket. Less bureaucracy and treadmill, more love of cricket and community.
By: waspsting
I too have thought about this topic in depth, too - and am in the same both vis-à-vis Djokovic and Federer. First off - in my mental framework there most definitely can (and are) sporting "genius". There are multiple and discrete elements of what we call "intelligence" - one of them is what psychologists call "spatial intelligence".
I too have thought about this topic in depth, too - and am in the same both vis-à-vis Djokovic and Federer. First off - in my mental framework there most definitely can (and are) sporting "genius". There are multiple and discrete elements of what we call "intelligence" - one of them is what psychologists call "spatial intelligence".
A sports "genius" is a genius in that dimension. Same way that a great mathematician is a genius in "logical intelligence". I see no problem with this.
Secondly, in sports, I think perceptions of "talent" and by extension "genius", get confounded by what I'll call "grit" or "efficiency".
"Hard work" and "Talent" are not mutually exclusive - but we, as an audience, tend to perceive it as so. This is an error in perception, not reality.
For example, we do not attribute Kallis, Steve Waugh or Border's success' to talent because they appear to be very hard workers. The reverse scenario is players like Lara, Gower or Mark Waugh.
But Lara worked hard on his game (so did Sobers). They were probably talented enough that even had they not, they would have had a fair amount of success... but its not "raw talent" that got them through.
"Raw talent" would be if you never, ever practiced but still delivered the goods.
In tennis, Federer is considered the genius, not Djokovic or Nadal. But Nadal was rallying with world #3 Carlos Moya when he was 14 years old and won more titles as a teenager than anyone in history (tied with Bjorn Borg).
No amount of hard work can achieve that without a HUGE amount of talent behind it.
In short, I think perception of genius in sport is based on the aesthetic quality on show. If you really look at how much of success comes down to "talent/genius" and how much comes down to "hard work"... its mostly hard work, but depending on their style, some players look more "talented". Its basically an illusion of style.
By: John Muir
The problem I have with this is that I can't equate genius with physical ability. Genius is a description of mental capacity. Many of the greatest players in all forms of sport were people of average intelligence - in some cases not even that. They did what they did through natural ability, not by having the mental capacity to become great players even though they were of average talent. Certainly they worked hard, but without that extra something which we call talent it would not matter how hard they worked, they would not have become outstanding.
The problem I have with this is that I can't equate genius with physical ability. Genius is a description of mental capacity. Many of the greatest players in all forms of sport were people of average intelligence - in some cases not even that. They did what they did through natural ability, not by having the mental capacity to become great players even though they were of average talent. Certainly they worked hard, but without that extra something which we call talent it would not matter how hard they worked, they would not have become outstanding.
Sports stars are extraordinarily talented, but that does not mean they have genius. Mike Brearley might be a genius, but his test average was still 22. There are some cricketers whose accomplishments on the field are much greater than Brearley's, who have difficulty forming a coherent sentence. Leave genius to the thinkers.
By: t20cric
A very sensible comment from Mohammad Amir. It's nice that he understands that despite millions of people all over the world want him back, he has to prove that he deserves to be back in the team by having good performances in domestic cricket. I really want to see him back but some deserving players who were consistent for all that time deserve to come before him. For example, Sadaf Hussain should get a chance in ODI and test before Amir due to a strong FC & LA average.
A very sensible comment from Mohammad Amir. It's nice that he understands that despite millions of people all over the world want him back, he has to prove that he deserves to be back in the team by having good performances in domestic cricket. I really want to see him back but some deserving players who were consistent for all that time deserve to come before him. For example, Sadaf Hussain should get a chance in ODI and test before Amir due to a strong FC & LA average.
By: Zain360
I just saw his bowling in that four-day match against Zarai Tarkaiati Bank and he swung the ball both ways and his bouncers were as accurate as Mitchell Johnson's or Wahab Riaz's..But the most impressive thing was his line and length..he bowled with equal accuracy and good pace from both over and round the wicket..and his fitness has also improved drastically.. So hoping to see him in action soon..
I just saw his bowling in that four-day match against Zarai Tarkaiati Bank and he swung the ball both ways and his bouncers were as accurate as Mitchell Johnson's or Wahab Riaz's..But the most impressive thing was his line and length..he bowled with equal accuracy and good pace from both over and round the wicket..and his fitness has also improved drastically.. So hoping to see him in action soon..
By: Ajikrish
I was also an avid collector of magazines during my school & college days and my prized possession then was the complete issues of Sport Star that covered the World Championship of Cricket which India won in 1985 (in addition to many issues of The Cricket International which I had requested my brother to buy from Bombay). I generously lent these to a college mate of mine in Trichur, Kerala to go through and that was the last time I saw the set. He bluntly refused to return them to me afterwards and then disappeared. I still rue the moment I decided to allow him to take it home and pray that he will see this post wherever he is now. I am planning to write to The Hindu to see whether they would be able to supply a set even though I have no hope.
I was also an avid collector of magazines during my school & college days and my prized possession then was the complete issues of Sport Star that covered the World Championship of Cricket which India won in 1985 (in addition to many issues of The Cricket International which I had requested my brother to buy from Bombay). I generously lent these to a college mate of mine in Trichur, Kerala to go through and that was the last time I saw the set. He bluntly refused to return them to me afterwards and then disappeared. I still rue the moment I decided to allow him to take it home and pray that he will see this post wherever he is now. I am planning to write to The Hindu to see whether they would be able to supply a set even though I have no hope.
By: harshthakor
To me on his day Kim Hughes could join any great batsmen with his exquisite flamboyance and feline grace. His batting in the 1980 Centenary Test at Lord's was sheer mastery which could compare with the best of Greg Chappell. I can never forget the sixes he hit off Chris Old. Kim displayed mastery against the great Carribean pace quartet like at Melbourne in 1981-82 when scoring an unbeaten 100. That knock arguably ranks amongst the top 5-6 of all time where he resurrected Australia from the grave. Kim on that day looked like a surgeon performing an operation. He also scored 131 n.o at Brisbane which saved the game against a great West Indian team in 1979-80. His driving exhibited great flourish as well as his cutting and hooking and he could master both pace and spin. Also mastered the turning pitches in India in 1979 averaging above 59 with a record 596 run aggregate. Above all a great sportsman. Sadly retired with his side in the doldrums in 1984-85 against the Calypsos.
To me on his day Kim Hughes could join any great batsmen with his exquisite flamboyance and feline grace. His batting in the 1980 Centenary Test at Lord's was sheer mastery which could compare with the best of Greg Chappell. I can never forget the sixes he hit off Chris Old. Kim displayed mastery against the great Carribean pace quartet like at Melbourne in 1981-82 when scoring an unbeaten 100. That knock arguably ranks amongst the top 5-6 of all time where he resurrected Australia from the grave. Kim on that day looked like a surgeon performing an operation. He also scored 131 n.o at Brisbane which saved the game against a great West Indian team in 1979-80. His driving exhibited great flourish as well as his cutting and hooking and he could master both pace and spin. Also mastered the turning pitches in India in 1979 averaging above 59 with a record 596 run aggregate. Above all a great sportsman. Sadly retired with his side in the doldrums in 1984-85 against the Calypsos.
By: king_julien
Jagmohan Dalmiya, he single handedly changed cricket and made not just India but the subcontinent 'the' power house of cricket. No one supported all subcontinent teams like he did.
Jagmohan Dalmiya, he single handedly changed cricket and made not just India but the subcontinent 'the' power house of cricket. No one supported all subcontinent teams like he did.
Pre-2000 Bangladesh were not a great side & even Kenya had better pedigree back then, but he ensured that Bangladesh get a Test status even when others argued that it's premature. Not just that he brought ICC knock-out tournament to Bangladesh in 1998.
He always gave support to all subcontinent teams and players behind the scenes much of it not even known. "I'm always going to be thankful to Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya, for his support" Shoaib Akhtar said in an interview in 2007, where he acknowledged his help. He brought World Cup to the subcontinent again in 1996 and when WI, Aus refused to play in Sri Lanka, he sent an Indo-Pak team to play there.
Also he was instrumental in the rotation policy for World Cups, earlier they were held only in England, he was also the one who proposed and got South Africa back in cricket in 1991.
By: Anton1234
It is of paramount importance that bat sizes need regulating. I came across pictures of the bats of various players like Dave Warner, Eoin Morgan and Jason Holder and was horrified to see how thick they were. These bats no longer looked like bats, rather resembled tree trunk. It is an absolute must that bats cannot exceed 30mm at its thickest point. Otherwise you run risk of what is happening F1. Better technology, not better drivers, equals disillusioned fans. For T20s and ODIs, a boundary cannot be less than 75 or 80 metres. I recommend a six be turned into seven or eight runs in limited overs cricket. People want to see big sixes in these formats, but they want to see sixes that are deserved. Regulating bats, having proper boundaries will ensure batsmen are scoring those sixes, not the bats. Awarding seven or an eight instead of six for a maximum will also enable better reward for greater risk. A two run difference between a six and a four is insufficient.
It is of paramount importance that bat sizes need regulating. I came across pictures of the bats of various players like Dave Warner, Eoin Morgan and Jason Holder and was horrified to see how thick they were. These bats no longer looked like bats, rather resembled tree trunk. It is an absolute must that bats cannot exceed 30mm at its thickest point. Otherwise you run risk of what is happening F1. Better technology, not better drivers, equals disillusioned fans. For T20s and ODIs, a boundary cannot be less than 75 or 80 metres. I recommend a six be turned into seven or eight runs in limited overs cricket. People want to see big sixes in these formats, but they want to see sixes that are deserved. Regulating bats, having proper boundaries will ensure batsmen are scoring those sixes, not the bats. Awarding seven or an eight instead of six for a maximum will also enable better reward for greater risk. A two run difference between a six and a four is insufficient.
By: Graham Turner
When Tony Greig was on Desert Island Discs, he recounted David Steele's debut at Lords. Before every test match there is a small ceremony where new test players are presented with their first cap. Greig had done this several times before but as he handed over the cap to DS he felt the back of his hand was wet: when he looked up, tears were rolling down Steele's cheeks. Greigy said 'I thought, thank the lord: a fighter.' And he was right.
When Tony Greig was on Desert Island Discs, he recounted David Steele's debut at Lords. Before every test match there is a small ceremony where new test players are presented with their first cap. Greig had done this several times before but as he handed over the cap to DS he felt the back of his hand was wet: when he looked up, tears were rolling down Steele's cheeks. Greigy said 'I thought, thank the lord: a fighter.' And he was right.