An indictment on English cricket

[westozfalcon]

I see Justin Langer has announced his retirement from 1st class cricket in Australia and will not be suiting up for WA next season.

Nobody can deny that he was a magnificent cricketer for WA and Australia but I reckon he played one domestic season too many.

Behind his decision he cited lack of that ‘fire in the belly’ and underlined this by saying that after being dismissed cheaply in a recent game he didn’t throw his bat against the wall and fume as he usually would after registering a feeble score.

What I found surprising was that he still intends to play for Somerset during the English County season – presumably without that ‘fire in the belly’ !

If I was the Somerset coach I’d be taking careful note of this.

Langer’s comments suggest that he doesn’t require a high level of motivation to play for Somerset and that County cricket just represents a bit of fun, easy runs and a nice pay cheque.

And we all wonder why English cricket is in the doldrums!

If more County sides blooded more young English cricketers instead of importing ageing players from overseas who see it as an opportunity to enjoy mild English summers, good beer and pocket a nice wad of cash we might see a serious and much-needed resurgence of the England team!

[the wonder elephant]

I see Justin Langer has announced his retirement from 1st class cricket in Australia and will not be suiting up for WA next season.

Nobody can deny that he was a magnificent cricketer for WA and Australia but I reckon he played one domestic season too many.

Behind his decision he cited lack of that ‘fire in the belly’ and underlined this by saying that after being dismissed cheaply in a recent game he didn’t throw his bat against the wall and fume as he usually would after registering a feeble score.

What I found surprising was that he still intends to play for Somerset during the English County season – presumably without that ‘fire in the belly’ !

If I was the Somerset coach I’d be taking careful note of this.

Langer’s comments suggest that he doesn’t require a high level of motivation to play for Somerset and that County cricket just represents a bit of fun, easy runs and a nice pay cheque.

And we all wonder why English cricket is in the doldrums!

If more County sides blooded more young English cricketers instead of importing ageing players from overseas who see it as an opportunity to enjoy mild English summers, good beer and pocket a nice wad of cash we might see a serious and much-needed resurgence of the England team!

nah we dont want to see that

[mal]

Meanwhile Jason Gillespie who has retired from Australian domestic cricket for 2 reasons
More family time
$$$$$$$$$$$IPL

Is intending to play in England county cricket after the IPL season ....????....????....????....????
So much for family time

[Rik E Boy]

Good post westoz. Yep, I'd be a bit concerned if I was involved at Somerset that's for sure. People retiring early to play for IPL?? Now how can you suggest $uch a thing mally?

regards,

REB

[heater31]

Meanwhile Jason Gillespie who has retired from Australian domestic cricket for 2 reasons
More family time
$$$$$$$$$$$IPL

Is intending to play in England county cricket after the IPL season ....????....????....????....????
So much for family time

no mal you have it all wrong, Dizzy retired to play club cricket for the love of the game and spend some quality time at the club bar which is named after him

[MightyEagles]

Meanwhile Jason Gillespie who has retired from Australian domestic cricket for 2 reasons
More family time
$$$$$$$$$$$IPL

Is intending to play in England county cricket after the IPL season ....????....????....????....????
So much for family time

Isn't he playing in the ICL?

[mal]

Meanwhile Jason Gillespie who has retired from Australian domestic cricket for 2 reasons
More family time
$$$$$$$$$$$IPL

Is intending to play in England county cricket after the IPL season ....????....????....????....????
So much for family time

Isn't he playing in the ICL?

I am calling them all
IPL
Indian Pathetic League

[RustyCage]

Meanwhile Jason Gillespie who has retired from Australian domestic cricket for 2 reasons
More family time
$$$$$$$$$$$IPL

Is intending to play in England county cricket after the IPL season ....????....????....????....????
So much for family time

Isn't he playing in the ICL?

He is, but still a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$ for doing zzzzzzzzzz most of the time

[Hondo]

This is a good point which gets missed in this sudden panic about IPL (remember - its Indian domestic cricket with invited internationals)

Players have been going through the motions / playing County Cricket for years for very good money

They play so long as it doesn't interfere with international commitments so no-one has bothered about it - now its in India and we think the world is about to end

I am waiting for the headline "Langer retires to play County Cricket"

I think Boof is also playing county cricket this season?

[heater31]

I think Boof is also playing county cricket this season?

nope he has retired from yorkshire also maybe last season?

[Aerie]

This is a good point which gets missed in this sudden panic about IPL (remember - its Indian domestic cricket with invited internationals)

Players have been going through the motions / playing County Cricket for years for very good money

They play so long as it doesn't interfere with international commitments so no-one has bothered about it - now its in India and we think the world is about to end

I am waiting for the headline "Langer retires to play County Cricket"

I think Boof is also playing county cricket this season?

The difference being County Cricket doesn't impact on your state or national duties and is often good practice for building your game. I don't think the same can be said for IPL/ICL...

[westozfalcon]

This is a good point which gets missed in this sudden panic about IPL (remember - its Indian domestic cricket with invited internationals)

Players have been going through the motions / playing County Cricket for years for very good money

They play so long as it doesn't interfere with international commitments so no-one has bothered about it - now its in India and we think the world is about to end

I am waiting for the headline "Langer retires to play County Cricket"

I think Boof is also playing county cricket this season?

The difference being County Cricket doesn't impact on your state or national duties and is often good practice for building your game. I don't think the same can be said for IPL/ICL...

That’s exactly what Australian cricketers see County cricket as – practice.

There is no passion involved. It is just a bit of fun in the mild English sun where blokes can accumulate easy runs against trundlers, enjoy a few jars of real ale and have a laugh with their teammates whilst getting their eye in for the upcoming Pura Cup or Test season in Australia. And the stupid Pommy sides just let it happen year after year at the expense of developing their own.

When was the last time a State side invited an overseas player to join their ranks? There was a spate of it in the 1980’s e.g. Imran Khan - NSW, Graeme Hick, Ian Botham – QLD; Wayne Daniel, Vic Marks – WA, Michael Holding, Patrick Patterson, Richard Ellison – Tasmania; Joel Garner, Jeff Crowe – SA; But it is almost unheard of now. Andy Flower was the last significant one I can remember.

Australia develops it’s own rather than giving a free kick to uncommitted imports who use the season as batting and/or bowling practice.

Justin Langer has by his own admission lost the dedication and drive for another Australian first class season and knows full well that if he goes in with a half hearted attitude next year for WA he will be savaged by opposition bowlers. But he knows he can waltz off to Somerset with his family in tow, knock up an easy 1300 + runs and come back home with a big fat paycheque.

These different attitudes of Australia compared to England with respect to their domestic competitions just demonstrates why the Aussies are so far ahead of the Poms in world cricket.

[Hondo]

Justin Langer on 5AA tonight explained that Somerset is a special project for him because this season they have the chance to become the first team to go from bottom in 2nd division to top in 1st division in 2 or 3 years (or something like that), all while he has been involved.

So it still sparks his passion button and gives him a goal to keep playing for them, so he says

He's not playing IPL this season because of his commitment to Somerset

WestOz after hearing Langer's interview I think you judging him too quickly

FWIW I agree with your general comments about English country cricket v our Sheffield Shield. As for why no internationals come here anymore - I think that's nothing more than a by-product of more international cricket being played these days so those guys can't get away from their international commitments. I bet the States would love to get them over here if they could.

[bulldogproud]

As alway, sport in England is played for fun and recreation. We do not have the silly 'inferiority complex' of thinking that because we are separated from the rest of the world so far geographically that we have to prove we are better than them in sport. Rule Britannia!

[smac]

As alway, sport in England is played for fun and recreation. We do not have the silly 'inferiority complex' of thinking that because we are separated from the rest of the world so far geographically that we have to prove we are better than them in sport. Rule Britannia!

Of course you don't have an inferiority complex, that would be reserved for those who aren't actually inferior...

[Grahaml]

Is it impossible for a player to not be motivated to play in Australia, but motivated to play in England?

We often see Australians play county cricket longer than australian first class cricket. Warne was another example. I think it has a lot to do with the chances they get to have a huge influence on the team and club over there that they don't get here.

I strongly suspect that the chance to nurture young players in a way our system doesn't allow helps keep these sorts of players interested after their own game doesn't drive them enough anymore.

Perhaps we need to be doing more to retain players like Langer by helping keep that passion for our own states and perhaps district sides by allowing them more influence as they wind down their own games.

This may well be an indictment on our own cricket system and a strength of English cricket.

[bulldogproud]

As alway, sport in England is played for fun and recreation. We do not have the silly 'inferiority complex' of thinking that because we are separated from the rest of the world so far geographically that we have to prove we are better than them in sport. Rule Britannia!

Of course you don't have an inferiority complex, that would be reserved for those who aren't actually inferior...

Thanks for biting, Smac bro, but that comment was very much tongue in cheek.

[smac]

As alway, sport in England is played for fun and recreation. We do not have the silly 'inferiority complex' of thinking that because we are separated from the rest of the world so far geographically that we have to prove we are better than them in sport. Rule Britannia!

Of course you don't have an inferiority complex, that would be reserved for those who aren't actually inferior...

Thanks for biting, Smac bro, but that comment was very much tongue in cheek.

As was mine, my friend, as was mine...

[locky801]

Must admit I have lost the fire in the belly as well, may as well retire from forums so I can watch the IPL, same goes for work, everything is IPL, cant blame some for trying to set themselves up for life but some of the stories and excuses for retirement coming out are absolute crap

[RustyCage]

Is it impossible for a player to not be motivated to play in Australia, but motivated to play in England?

We often see Australians play county cricket longer than australian first class cricket. Warne was another example. I think it has a lot to do with the chances they get to have a huge influence on the team and club over there that they don't get here.

I strongly suspect that the chance to nurture young players in a way our system doesn't allow helps keep these sorts of players interested after their own game doesn't drive them enough anymore.

Perhaps we need to be doing more to retain players like Langer by helping keep that passion for our own states and perhaps district sides by allowing them more influence as they wind down their own games.

This may well be an indictment on our own cricket system and a strength of English cricket.

I think with Warney and Booney they only ended their careers in the mother country because they had/wanted to fulfill their remainder of their contract with the county club.