India vs England

[KM]

Hales looks a talent.

Confused tactics and selection by England in that game though, we picked 5 bowlers to the detriment of the batting line up - then bowled Wright for 3 overs...

India actually looked arsed, and a big crowd turned up.
That is weirdly sad to see after the test series just gone.

Obvious where the enjoyment for Indian cricketers and supporters lie.

Nothing to do with replacing Sehwag, Sachin, Zah who were probably our worst fielders.

The criticism of the team have been brutal since the series has ended.

But hey why think sensible, when you can make assumptions like that?

It's actually funny that a bunch of Brits are telling that Indian People don't care about test match while sitting in UK. It doesn't make sense.

 

[Red Pavan]

What is wrong with Sachin in the field?

 

[zing]

He's fat and slow.

 

[Utd heap]

Nothing to do with replacing Sehwag, Sachin, Zah who were probably our worst fielders.

The criticism of the team have been brutal since the series has ended.

But hey why think sensible, when you can make assumptions like that?

It's actually funny that a bunch of Brits are telling that Indian People don't care about test match while sitting in UK. It doesn't make sense.

Were all those empty seats at every single day of every single test match just an illusion?

Yet, the BBCI commentary reckoned 40,000+ turned up today, including a few bollywood stars.

There was an enthusiasm and energy there today that has been severely lacking in the test side for a few years now, you can't blame that simply on ageing players.
You don't have to be the best fielder to put a shift in, just look at somebody like Jonathan Trott, or even Monty's considerable improvement.

 

[kps88]

It's no surprise a night time 20-20 game attracts a bigger crowd and a few Bollywood stars.

Sorry but a test series against England is never going to be a sell out.

 

[KM]

People coming in to see a T20 match shocker. It's not a phenomena only exclusive to India.

Empty test matches my arse. The ground was relatively full for the Eden and the Mumbai match. It wasn't full but nor it weren't empty either.

Sehwag, Sachin and Zaheer were replaced by Raina, Rahane and Dinda. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why the intensity of the team is improved. Trott is just 31, compare that to Sachin who is 38 and Zaheer and Sehwag who are 34 and are probably unfit to play test cricket.

 

[Utd heap]

It's no surprise a night time 20-20 game attracts a bigger crowd and a few Bollywood stars.

Sorry but a test series against England is never going to be a sell out.

Well over here we manage to sell out every test series against every nation bar Bangladesh.
The smallest venue is 18,000, so it's a good effort, and Cricket is far from our national sport. Plus you have to pay a minimum of 40 quid a ticket.

It wasn't meant to be a huge criticism, i'm surprised you are even arguing that the test match crowds were not dissapointing?
I don't take any pleasure in it, a successful Indian (just like West indies) cricket team, is good for the sport.

 

[KM]

Well over here we manage to sell out every test series against every nation bar Bangladesh.
The smallest venue is 18,000, so it's a good effort, and Cricket is far from our national sport. Plus you have to pay a minimum of 40 quid a ticket.

It wasn't meant to be a huge criticism, i'm surprised you are even arguing that the test match crowds were not dissapointing?
I don't take any pleasure in it, a successful Indian (just like West indies) cricket team, is good for the sport.

Bullshit.

 

[Utd heap]

People coming in to see a T20 match shocker. It's not a phenomena only exclusive to India.

Empty test matches my arse. The ground was relatively full for the Eden and the Mumbai match. It wasn't full but nor it weren't empty either.

Sehwag, Sachin and Zaheer were replaced by Raina, Rahane and Dinda. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see why the intensity of the team is improved. Trott is just 31, compare that to Sachin who is 38 and Zaheer and Sehwag who are 34 and are probably unfit to play test cricket.

Well if they are unfit to play test cricket, or field at a required intensity, then then the Indian side deserves any criticism it gets from starting them in the first place. Weird logic.

 

[Utd heap]

Bullshit.

Extremely rare a test match is not sold out for the first 3 days in England, with usually limited tickets remaining for the fourth.
I failed to get tickets for any of the days at Edgbaston, or the Oval last year for the SA series such was the demand.

We've just sold all 5 days for the Ashes at the Oval - but that's not that relevant with it being Australia i suppose.

 

[KM]

Well if they are unfit to play test cricket, or field at a required intensity, then then the Indian side deserves any criticism it gets from starting them in the first place. Weird logic.

That's why most of us Indians have been criticizing the Indian Selectors for so long in this thread. Their is a lack of intensity not due to not caring about test cricket, but these are players whose fitness levels aren't acceptable for any form of cricket and that's why they shouldn't be selected.

 

[KM]

Extremely rare a test match is not sold out for the first 3 days in England, with usually limited tickets remaining for the fourth.
I failed to get tickets for any of the days at Edgbaston, or the Oval last year for the SA series such was the demand.

We've just sold all 5 days for the Ashes at the Oval - but that's not that relevant with it being Australia i suppose.

Well Australia is Australia.

I vaguely remember your series against West Indies and Pakistan and I don't think the stadium was sold out at all.

 

[kps88]

Well over here we manage to sell out every test series against every nation bar Bangladesh.
The smallest venue is 18,000, so it's a good effort, and Cricket is far from our national sport. Plus you have to pay a minimum of 40 quid a ticket.

It wasn't meant to be a huge criticism, i'm surprised you are even arguing that the test match crowds were not dissapointing?
I don't take any pleasure in it, a successful Indian (just like West indies) cricket team, is good for the sport.

But I assume getting a ticket to a 20-20 game would be harder if not just as hard? T20 always gets a full house. That's all I was saying.

I agree, I'm always impressed with the crowds and atmosphere England and Australia manage to draw for test cricket. It's great to see and, at the moment, it's better than what we can manage.

Indian crowds have dwindled over the years but it's not like we're playing in empty stadiums either.

 

[Utd heap]

Well Australia is Australia.

I vaguely remember your series against West Indies and Pakistan and I don't think the stadium was sold out at all.

If you are going off vague memories and assumptions, it would be an idea not to reply to a post calling it 'bullshit'.

I'll try and find some figures to back it up.

 

[KM]

If you are going off vague memories and assumptions, it would be an idea not to reply to a post calling it 'bullshit'.

I'll try and find some figures to back it up.

It'd be also an idea not to post something as a fecking fact when you've got no stats or figures to back it up.

 

[zing]

Heap, you're wrong about the team and partly right about the crowds.

Makes a huge difference to the team when Sehwag, Sachin and a few other players aren't in it.

The crowds not turning up.. lots of reasons for that. First thing, it's not very viable for middle-class Indian folk to take a day off and spend an entire day watching cricket. I'd be interested in seeing the demographic breakdown of people attending test cricket in England. I think quite a high percentage will be older people.

Second thing, the kids and teenagers are more into limited overs cricket. But I think that's the case everywhere, no? You grow into liking test cricket. There are teenage test cricket fans, but I myself got hooked on it at a much later age.

Third thing, the BCCI has this rotation policy which means that test matches are hosted all around the country. There are a few cities which are more classical in their appreciation of test cricket and you see fans turn up there always. But the sheer high number of venues means that those venues get far fewer matches.

Chennai, one such venue, last hosted a match in 2008(India vs England, when we chased 384). 2013 will be our next match, if rumours are true of Australia being given a test here are true.

It's system by the BCCI which I disagree with. They should take the limited overs games around the country and keep test cricket to the cricketing strongholds.

 

[Utd heap]

But I assume getting a ticket to a 20-20 game would be harder if not just as hard? T20 always gets a full house. That's all I was saying.

I agree, I'm always impressed with the crowds and atmosphere England and Australia manage to draw for test cricket. It's great to see and, at the moment, it's better than what we can manage.

Indian crowds have dwindled over the years but it's not like we're playing in empty stadiums either.

20/20 is still fairly in demand, but there are still tickets available at the majority of grounds for the ODI series Vs Australia.

As oppose to the test series which has near enough sold out already.

Test cricket is easily the pinnacle of both playing and watching in England.
From an outsiders point of view, i've not seen much evidence this is the case in India anymore.
It seems to be shifting anyhow. Hope i'm wrong.

 

[Utd heap]

It'd be also an idea not to post something as a fecking fact when you've got no stats or figures to back it up.

Are you always this aggressive

Living in England, and actively trying to get tickets to alot of Cricket in the last decade i felt put me in a fairly good position to talk about the interest in test match cricket in England.

I apologise i didn't turn up fully loaded with graphs for you,

 

[zing]

And KM, you are wrong about test attendance in England. Almost always sold out..

 

[kps88]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/may/21/england-west-indies-test-tickets

Found this article. Suggest that while some test matches do sell out in England, others can be quite the struggle and they have special give aways and charity tickets to fill up the grounds.

 

[KM]

Are you always this aggressive

Living in England, and actively trying to get tickets to alot of Cricket in the last decade i felt put me in a fairly good position to talk about the interest in test match cricket in England.

I apologise i didn't turn up fully loaded with graphs for you,

Tbf it's fairly irritating for me to see you and Colin come in this thread and then base your opinions as facts when it comes to Indian Cricket when you don't seem to know much about it from inside.

 

[Utd heap]

Heap, you're wrong about the team and partly right about the crowds.

Makes a huge difference to the team when Sehwag, Sachin and a few other players aren't in it.

The crowds not turning up.. lots of reasons for that. First thing, it's not very viable for middle-class Indian folk to take a day off and spend an entire day watching cricket. I'd be interested in seeing the demographic breakdown of people attending test cricket in England. I think quite a high percentage will be older people.

Second thing, the kids and teenagers are more into limited overs cricket. But I think that's the case everywhere, no? You grow into liking test cricket. There are teenage test cricket fans, but I myself got hooked on it at a much later age.

Third thing, the BCCI has this rotation policy which means that test matches are hosted all around the country. There are a few cities which are more classical in their appreciation of test cricket and you see fans turn up there always. But the sheer high number of venues means that those venues get far fewer matches.

Chennai, one such venue, last hosted a match in 2008(India vs England, when we chased 384). 2013 will be our next match, if rumours are true of Australia being given a test here are true.

It's system by the BCCI which I disagree with. They should take the limited overs games around the country and keep test cricket to the cricketing strongholds.

Yeah i can sympathise with the team arguement, and i know the 'star player' should he dropped/retire arguement has been done to death on here let alone in the Indian media i'm sure.

Interesting point you make about the venue rotation, i can definetly see that having an effect.

 

[Utd heap]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/may/21/england-west-indies-test-tickets

Found this article. Suggest that while some test matches do sell out in England, others can be quite the struggle and they have special give aways and charity tickets to fill up the grounds.

So we mildly struggle to sell out against the current worst side in Test match cricket, and got 28,000 against India on a Monday.

I'd say that supports what i was saying largely.

 

[kps88]

So we mildly struggle to sell out against the current worst side in Test match cricket.

Also mentions a very low attendance against Sri Lanka too.

 

[Utd heap]

Also mentions a very low attendance against Sri Lanka too.

Oh yeah.

Well fair enough, i don't mind revising my statement some-what.
I'd still put good money on England being the highest % of grounds sold out in test match Cricket.

It wasn't supposed to be a direct comparison anyhow, as there are always factors such as time of year, and if it is a work day etc.

I was just commenting that the lack of crowds in the test series just gone was both noticeable and dissapointing.

 

[KM]

Also important to know the steps taken by ECB to improve crowds at the stadium. "People's Monday" or cutting the price of admission. Not sure the BCCI are intelligent to do that.

ECB honestly are a great unit. Highly professionalized bunch of people.

 

[Utd heap]

Also important to know the steps taken by ECB to improve crowds at the stadium. "People's Monday" or cutting the price of admission. Not sure the BCCI are intelligent to do that.

ECB honestly are a great unit. Highly professionalized bunch of people.

Is it expensive to watch Cricket in India?

My Dad paid 75 quid for a normal seat against SA last year at the Oval, and he has to pay 85 for the same one against Australia next summer.

We do have occasional initiatives, and the 5th day is traditionally sold at 20 quid a ticket, but largely, it is very very expensive day out.

The difference being in England, that it is mainly a middle class sport, and attracts spectators with more income.
Much more the people's game in India.

 

[kps88]

It's a completely different experience in England, where it's more of a fun day out. You drink, lounge about, take in the sun and enjoy the cricket.

In India reserved seating means nothing so you have to get there early. You then get to your uncomfortable seat drenched in sweat and do your best to battle the heat with funny tasting soft drinks which don't go well with the dodgy restrooms. This has been my experience.

 

[KM]

Is it expensive to watch Cricket in India?

My Dad paid 75 quid for a normal seat against SA last year at the Oval, and he has to pay 85 for the same one against Australia next summer.

We do have occasional initiatives, and the 5th day is traditionally sold at 20 quid a ticket, but largely, it is very very expensive day out.

The difference being in England, that it is mainly a middle class sport, and attracts spectators with more income.
Much more the people's game in India.

No it's not that expensive(75 quid for a ticket ) but then the per capita income of India is much, much lower than England.

Also due to BCCI's policy of rotating the matches are often held in smaller cities where their will be a less inclination to go to test matches as compared as to the bigger cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata etc.

Another factor is the weather factor. In England you usually have pleasant weathers, In India you get temperatures like 45 degrees in Summer which makes it unbearable for the people to sit in the stadiums and watch cricket.

 

[shaggy]

I remember we had a low attending series against Sri Lanka, but it was widely seen as a warm-up to our big series against India when India where no.1 at the time, and it didn't carry much media interest at all.

 

[Donaldo]

It's no surprise a night time 20-20 game attracts a bigger crowd and a few Bollywood stars.

Sorry but a test series against England is never going to be a sell out.

India v England (Kolkata) 1982 ranks as the highest test match crowd in India ever iirc.

 

[Donaldo]

It'd be also an idea not to post something as a fecking fact when you've got no stats or figures to back it up.

I remember trying to get tickets for England v Windies in June. Aside from the fact that it was feck expensive, it was close to sold out.

 

[kps88]

India v England (Kolkata) 1982 ranks as the highest test match crowd in India ever.

I'm not talking about the state of crowd attendance now, not 30 years ago.

 

[Donaldo]

No it's not that expensive(75 quid for a ticket ) but then the per capita income of India is much, much lower than England.

Also due to BCCI's policy of rotating the matches are often held in smaller cities where their will be a less inclination to go to test matches as compared as to the bigger cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata etc.

Another factor is the weather factor. In England you usually have pleasant weathers, In India you get temperatures like 45 degrees in Summer which makes it unbearable for the people to sit in the stadiums and watch cricket.

Noone plays Test cricket in India in the summer.

The BCCI now has smaller venues earmarked for Tests BECAUSE the bigger venues have abysmal crowds.

Also important to know the steps taken by ECB to improve crowds at the stadium. "People's Monday" or cutting the price of admission. Not sure the BCCI are intelligent to do that.

ECB honestly are a great unit. Highly professionalized bunch of people.

The BCCI have multiple such initiatives. Free entry for Schools, charities, cutting the price of admission, all followed.

 

[Donaldo]

I'm not talking about the state of crowd attendance now, not 30 years ago.

Your point was that India v England was never going to be a sell-out. I just pointed out a fact.

 

[fishfingers15]

You know, I don't even care.

The point is Colin, you never cared. Yet you try to post here as if you know.

 

[crappycraperson]

Crowds for test cricket or any form of cricket before cricket matches on Indian Television became an ubiquitous thing are bound to be a bit more. Test cricket attendances in India have been historically low since the late 90s, they may be reaching a nadir now. In any case, I don' think there is any doubt that the ridiculous amount of cricket India plays induces cricket fatigue among the public.

I am not sure what the solution is as well. May be some social scientist draw up some numbers regarding people who used to attend test matches in India in the past but don't now.

 

[anver]

Bedi has no agenda. He hates the BCCI.

Ashwin just looked more threatening in one over than he did in whole of the series.

He went after Murali. Murali has nowt to do with BCCI. Then there was another outburst from him, against Gavaskar. Its the shekels that make him bark.

 

[zing]

Raina is awesome.

Liked the way he ran all the way to Awana and put an arm around him.

 

[KM]

Raina's attitude is the best in our team. Gives his all for the team always. Shame he'll never be a test match batsman.