arent you worried about cricket as a sport

[jf1gp_1]

the thing that worries me most about cricket is the absence of batsman or bowlers i want to watch irrespective of country or rivalries to look forward to basically those special players. 2003 world cup win against pakistan was special not because sachin got those runs but because we got those runs against akhtar, waqar and wasim. we won because we not only overcame a tough score but an extraordinary bowling attack (yes wasim was more or less done by then but he was there). In the previous decade, Aussies(when no 1) kept coming up with replacements who were better than than the ones retiring, every kiwi bowler could bat or batsman could bowl, SA only produced alrounders, subcontinent had disilva, jayasuriya, murli, india had exceptional middle order, inzi, anwar and ofcourse pak always had one bowler or the other to showcase. Even WI had lara or a wayward but pacy bowler. what do we have today? ignoring players who are 35- or on the verge of retiring- Aussies have clarke India maybe kohli or pujara; SA steyn; SL,NZ, WI, pak have nothing; England has few like cook and KP but where is the rivalry ? today when i watch a game there is nothing except result of the game to look forward to. Is cricket dying ?

[BeautifulGame]

2003 World Cup knock was special because it came against Pak after 3 years of tension. Not because it was against past their sell by date Wasim and Waqar . As for cricket dying its matter of perspectives I suppose. I went 2 T20s last week and witnessed 2 of the biggest attendance at chepauk in years. Hardly evidence of dying I would say

[bhumika]

That's what happens when players from opposite teams party and booze together. players nowadays are too social. Tell me if you going to party and booze with would you bowl an aggressive spell against me you will see me more like friend than a opposite player.

[rkt.india]

the thing that worries me most about cricket is the absence of batsman or bowlers i want to watch irrespective of country or rivalries to look forward to basically those special players. 2003 world cup win against pakistan was special not because sachin got those runs but because we got those runs against akhtar, waqar and wasim. we won because we not only overcame a tough score but an extraordinary bowling attack (yes wasim was more or less done by then but he was there). Is cricket dying ?

That attack was not really extraordinary. Apart from Akhtar, both Waqar and Akram were at the fading end of their careers. So, they both were nowhere near at their best. That total would have been tough to chase at their prime.

[NareshK]

I feel cricket is thriving mostly in India. Not so much in Sri Lanka, West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand. Their boards are struggling, stands are empty, people are turning to other sports. Cricket is in the down slide even in Australia and England even though they will always have an audience for the sport. The game itself is way too long and we should be happy it still has a following. An ODI game goes on for about 8 hours. You need to put aside a whole day just to watch a game which is too much to ask. T20 could be a good option and probably only way game can spread but most people associated with cricket dont seem to take this format seriously and dont want to push it too much.

[G_B_]

I feel cricket is thriving mostly in India. Not so much in Sri Lanka, West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand. Their boards are struggling, stands are empty, people are turning to other sports. Cricket is in the down slide even in Australia and England even though they will always have an audience for the sport. The game itself is way too long and we should be happy it still has a following. An ODI game goes on for about 8 hours. You need to put aside a whole day just to watch a game which is too much to ask. T20 could be a good option and probably only way game can spread but most people associated with cricket dont seem to take this format seriously and dont want to push it too much.

I assure you cricket is very much on the up in england. The 90s in england, those were the black days.... there is tremendous investment in the sport. Money comes from people watching. I would say 1/3 of the adult male population in the UK are into cricket and view it as the primary summer sport. also, what other sport is taking place in pakistan and sri lanka? Are pakistan back on top of the hockey world? Are sri lanka making a break through in rugby? Cricket in the windies especially has had a huge revival as a result of the T20s. WI will probably never be a test great nation again. But T20s and ODIs is where they will be capable of winning trophies.