Bublu Bhuyan Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Link: http://cricket.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/may/20/slide-show-images-michael-holding-says-twenty20-not-cricket.htm T20 is not cricket; Pollard not a cricketer: Holding West Indies bowling great Michael Holding did not watch a single match of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean, refuses to call it cricket and doesn't consider Indian Premier League hot property Kieron Pollard a cricketer. A staunch critic of cricket's slam-bang format, Holding said he did not bother to watch the T20 World Cup even though it took place in the West Indies. "Not one ball. I don't watch Twenty20. It is dumbing-down cricket. They should find another name for it," said the 56-year-old Jamaican, who was called 'Whispering Death' in his playing days for his quiet approach to the bowling crease. Holding's views on T20 specialists like Kieron Pollard are no less acerbic. "Pollard in my opinion is not a cricketer," Holding told The Times, alluding to the fact that 25-year-old all-rounder, who is the costliest player on the IPL roster, may be a T20 star but is yet to make his Test debut. Post-retirement, the outspoken Jamaican quit the ICC Cricket Committee, the West Indies board and Allen Stanford's league after falling out with the authorities. Appalled at players chasing easy money, Holding blamed cricket boards and the International Cricket Council for not guiding the youngsters. "I can't say to a young man 'don't make a living', but they need responsible guidance," he said. "It is your parents who guide you and in cricket the parents are the boards and the ICC. They need to show some leadership. "It saddens me that the West Indies captain is allowed to show up one day before a Test series because he is playing for the IPL," he said, referring to Chris Gayle's late turning up in England last year after completing his IPL commitments. :hail::hail:
Bublu Bhuyan Posted May 20, 2010 Author Posted May 20, 2010 West Indies bowling great Michael Holding did not watch a single match of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean, refuses to call it cricket and doesn't consider Indian Premier League hot property Kieron Pollard a cricketer. "Pollard in my opinion is not a cricketer," Holding told The Times :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: What a legend! Straight shooting to the core.
The Outsider Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 In b4 IPL/T20 bhakts talk about his jealousy at not being selected as a commentator by Modi.
Bublu Bhuyan Posted May 20, 2010 Author Posted May 20, 2010 damn.. that's harsh.. That's why I love it (what he said). The harsher, the better.
SachDan Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 In b4 IPL/T20 bhakts talk about his jealousy at not being selected as a commentator by Modi. He's not one to mince words. Didn't Holding withdrew as commentator for a series in protest at the appointment of Hooper as captain, when he was returning from his self-imposed exile?
SRT195 Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 thats bull crap view of holding ... some traditionalist just cant digest any change ... for cricket to become a global sport T-20 is the only way, it will make cricket popular in other parts of the world & not remain refuge of few countries ... dont get me wrong Test cricket is the real deal ... but that does not mean that we cant bring innovations in this beautiful game to cater to interests in other parts of the world ...
Prudent Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Video: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/05/19/cricket.holding.interview/?hpt=T2
Precambrian Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Holding is a good commentator but these comments are right up (down) with his Murali is a chucker one. Pollard never has gone stating he is good for tests, so why the personal attack? He might be a legend but that is not license to have whatever he likes about anyone. Pollard is doing well in the format he has specialised in, if Holding doesnt like that, tough luck. If you don't like it, ignore it. It seems the t20 so called haters take it more seriously than the average t20 fan. Or is it all a case of sour grapes?
Bublu Bhuyan Posted May 20, 2010 Author Posted May 20, 2010 One reason why I like the guy is that he's one of those few people who aren't afraid to speak their mind. Jeff Thomson is another one that comes to mind, although his rants more or so doesn't make sense to me. The same goes for Bishen Singh Bedi. Bedi comes across as a rude person in general due to his outgoing personality, but I really love his attitude of telling it like it is. He believes Murali chucks, he doesn't hide it. Holding too holds the same view point as Bedi does regarding Murali.
Guest Hiten. Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 ****ing ridiculous. How can you insult one of the game's format, when you say you love the game ? If you don't love T20, so be it; why do you have to come out every other ****ing day insulting people who play/embrace this particular format of the game. I can't understand how can some of you sit here and applaud holding for this ridiculous statement. KP is a 23 years old cricketer and you're coming out (I don't need to mention that Holding is like an idol figure in West Indies) making a claim that KP is not a cricketer because he plays T20. So now that the verdict has been given by a man of holding's stature, why would KP even bother excelling in other formats when the man who knows more than him has said KP can only play "hit and giggle" cricket. I'm a fan of cricket so irrespective of the format(s), I will support it no matter what. I surely do not agree with the way IPL is being played and held, so my problem is directly with the IPL organizers and not the format that is being used to rake in money. BUT I do respect the world T20 and my national team embraces/plays this format; so give me one reason to not support them or the format they're playing ?
Serani Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 thats bull crap view of holding ... some traditionalist just cant digest any change ... for cricket to become a global sport T-20 is the only way, it will make cricket popular in other parts of the world & not remain refuge of few countries ... dont get me wrong Test cricket is the real deal ... but that does not mean that we cant bring innovations in this beautiful game to cater to interests in other parts of the world ... What is with the obsession of cricket becoming a "global" sport? It hasnt done any harm to cricket in the past.
Bublu Bhuyan Posted May 20, 2010 Author Posted May 20, 2010 I'm still to come in grips with these newly introduced phony ODI rules like free hit off no balls, powerplays, etc. I was so very cool with the previous 15 overs fielding restrictions rule. I'm not saying that the introduction of powerplays have had a negative impact on ODI cricket, it's just that I find it incredibly hard to come into grips with changes in cricket. And I despise this rule of free hit off no balls in ODI cricket. Maybe it has made the format a little more exciting, but I like it the way it used to be. Ah, how I miss those good old days .........
Gunner_Mania Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 What is with the obsession of cricket becoming a "global" sport? It hasnt done any harm to cricket in the past. You can't forever live in the past.
Serani Posted May 20, 2010 Posted May 20, 2010 Yes but why does cricket have to be global then? Personally I couldnt care less if China played cricket.
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