• CA Chief didn't sleep well after 20 wicket Day 1 of boxing day test

    From FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer@FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer@america.com to uk.sport.cricket on Fri Dec 26 22:47:23 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.sport.cricket



    Even though Melbourne test is enjoyable, they should have prepared a
    better pitch to last the test at least 4 days.


    ======================================================================


    https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ashes-boxing-day-test-2-day-cricket-australia-pitch-mcg-10441195/?ref=latestnews_hp

    rCyShort Tests are bad for businessrCO: Cricket Australia chief executive rCydidnrCOt sleep wellrCO after 20-wicket Day 1 of Boxing Day Test

    Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has suggested that the
    board may consider getting themselves involved in the pitch preparation
    to avoid the possibility of short Tests in the future.

    The fourth Test of the Ashes is racing to what looks like a two-day
    finish and while it left fans at the ground thrilled, it hasnrCOt
    impressed those with an interest in seeing a full fledged match. Cricket Australia has now said that the latter is also the case for the powers
    that be, with chief executive Todd Greenberg saying he had a sleepless
    night after Day 1, in which 20 wickets fell, thinking of the losses that
    they will incur.

    rCLAs mesmerising and fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a
    fan, we want Test cricket clearly to go for longer,rCY Greenberg is quoted
    as saying by SEN Radio.

    rCLA simple phrase IrCOd use is short Tests are bad for business. I canrCOt be much more blunt than that. So I would like to see a slightly broader
    balance between the bat and the ball. I thought yesterday slightly
    favoured the ball. The batters have some ownership in some of that, itrCOs
    not all around the pitch, but werCOve got some challenges.rCY

    Australia were all out for 152 in 45.2 overs on Day 1 but England ended
    up falling for 110 in 29.5 overs to actually let the hosts bat out an
    over of their second innings. Australia ended up batting for just 34.3
    overs on Day 2, being all out for 132 and thus setting England a target
    of 175 to chase and win their first Test of this series. England look
    set to do it on Day 2 itself, thus making this the second Test in this yearrCOs Ashes that will last just two days.
    Getting involved in pitch preparation

    Greenberg has said that Cricket Australia may consider getting involved
    in the pitch preparation process to avoid situations like these.
    Commentators and former players have been almost unanimously criticial
    of the pitch at the MCG for the fourth Test, on which Australia captain
    Steve Smith said there was about 10mm of grass before the start of the
    match.

    rCLHistorically we have taken a hands-off approach in all of our wicket preparation and allowed the staff and the conditions and those
    characteristics to be presented. But itrCOs hard not to get more involved
    when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially.

    rCLIrCOm not suggesting werCOre going to go around talking to groundstaff, but we do have to have a careful eye on what our expectations are over the
    course of a summer,rCY said Greenberg.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From John Hall@john@jhall.co.uk to uk.sport.cricket on Sat Dec 27 10:27:39 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.sport.cricket

    On 27/12/2025 06:47, FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer wrote:


    Even though Melbourne test is enjoyable, they should have prepared a
    better pitch to last the test at least 4 days.


    ======================================================================


    https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ashes-boxing-day- test-2-day-cricket-australia-pitch-mcg-10441195/?ref=latestnews_hp

    rCyShort Tests are bad for businessrCO: Cricket Australia chief executive rCydidnrCOt sleep wellrCO after 20-wicket Day 1 of Boxing Day Test

    Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has suggested that the board may consider getting themselves involved in the pitch preparation
    to avoid the possibility of short Tests in the future.

    The fourth Test of the Ashes is racing to what looks like a two-day
    finish and while it left fans at the ground thrilled, it hasnrCOt
    impressed those with an interest in seeing a full fledged match. Cricket Australia has now said that the latter is also the case for the powers
    that be, with chief executive Todd Greenberg saying he had a sleepless
    night after Day 1, in which 20 wickets fell, thinking of the losses that they will incur.

    rCLAs mesmerising and fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a
    fan, we want Test cricket clearly to go for longer,rCY Greenberg is quoted as saying by SEN Radio.

    rCLA simple phrase IrCOd use is short Tests are bad for business. I canrCOt be
    much more blunt than that. So I would like to see a slightly broader
    balance between the bat and the ball. I thought yesterday slightly
    favoured the ball. The batters have some ownership in some of that, itrCOs not all around the pitch, but werCOve got some challenges.rCY

    Australia were all out for 152 in 45.2 overs on Day 1 but England ended
    up falling for 110 in 29.5 overs to actually let the hosts bat out an
    over of their second innings. Australia ended up batting for just 34.3
    overs on Day 2, being all out for 132 and thus setting England a target
    of 175 to chase and win their first Test of this series. England look
    set to do it on Day 2 itself, thus making this the second Test in this yearrCOs Ashes that will last just two days.
    Getting involved in pitch preparation

    Greenberg has said that Cricket Australia may consider getting involved
    in the pitch preparation process to avoid situations like these. Commentators and former players have been almost unanimously criticial
    of the pitch at the MCG for the fourth Test, on which Australia captain Steve Smith said there was about 10mm of grass before the start of the match.

    rCLHistorically we have taken a hands-off approach in all of our wicket preparation and allowed the staff and the conditions and those characteristics to be presented. But itrCOs hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially.

    rCLIrCOm not suggesting werCOre going to go around talking to groundstaff, but
    we do have to have a careful eye on what our expectations are over the course of a summer,rCY said Greenberg.

    If the Test had gone the distance, I imagine that the third day (the
    Sunday) would have seen another 90,000 crowd, so that's a huge financial
    loss. And will CA also lose a proportion of the fees they charge the broadcasters, which would be a far larger loss?
    --
    John Hall

    You can divide people into two categories:
    those who divide people into two categories and those who don't
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alvey@Factman@gmail.com to uk.sport.cricket on Sun Dec 28 20:14:47 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.sport.cricket

    John Hall wrote:


    If the Test had gone the distance, I imagine that the third day (the
    Sunday) would have seen another 90,000 crowd, so that's a huge financial loss. And will CA also lose a proportion of the fees they charge the broadcasters, which would be a far larger loss?

    Appropriate Conspiracy Theory:

    CA has orchestrated all these dud pitches to shorten the Tests so that
    they don't keep bums off Big Bash seats.

    You heard it here first.
    --
    This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From John Hall@john@jhall.co.uk to uk.sport.cricket on Sun Dec 28 10:25:44 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.sport.cricket

    On 28/12/2025 10:14, alvey wrote:
    John Hall wrote:


    If the Test had gone the distance, I imagine that the third day (the
    Sunday) would have seen another 90,000 crowd, so that's a huge
    financial loss. And will CA also lose a proportion of the fees they
    charge the broadcasters, which would be a far larger loss?

    Appropriate Conspiracy Theory:

    CA has orchestrated all these dud pitches to shorten the Tests so that
    they don't keep bums off Big Bash seats.

    You heard it here first.



    I'm not sure if you're being serious, but surely the Big Bash games,
    though popular, are only going to attract crowds a fraction of the size
    of those for the Melbourne Test? And if CA really found the clash of
    fixtures to be a concern, wouldn't it be easier to just schedule the BB fixtures so that they didn't clash with the Test?
    --
    John Hall

    You can divide people into two categories:
    those who divide people into two categories and those who don't
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer@FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer@america.com to uk.sport.cricket on Sun Dec 28 02:26:59 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.sport.cricket

    On 12/27/2025 2:27 AM, John Hall wrote:
    On 27/12/2025 06:47, FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer wrote:


    Even though Melbourne test is enjoyable, they should have prepared a
    better pitch to last the test at least 4 days.


    ======================================================================


    https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ashes-boxing-day-
    test-2-day-cricket-australia-pitch-mcg-10441195/?ref=latestnews_hp

    rCyShort Tests are bad for businessrCO: Cricket Australia chief executive >> rCydidnrCOt sleep wellrCO after 20-wicket Day 1 of Boxing Day Test

    Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has suggested that
    the board may consider getting themselves involved in the pitch
    preparation to avoid the possibility of short Tests in the future.

    The fourth Test of the Ashes is racing to what looks like a two-day
    finish and while it left fans at the ground thrilled, it hasnrCOt
    impressed those with an interest in seeing a full fledged match.
    Cricket Australia has now said that the latter is also the case for
    the powers that be, with chief executive Todd Greenberg saying he had
    a sleepless night after Day 1, in which 20 wickets fell, thinking of
    the losses that they will incur.

    rCLAs mesmerising and fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a
    fan, we want Test cricket clearly to go for longer,rCY Greenberg is
    quoted as saying by SEN Radio.

    rCLA simple phrase IrCOd use is short Tests are bad for business. I canrCOt >> be much more blunt than that. So I would like to see a slightly
    broader balance between the bat and the ball. I thought yesterday
    slightly favoured the ball. The batters have some ownership in some of
    that, itrCOs not all around the pitch, but werCOve got some challenges.rCY >>
    Australia were all out for 152 in 45.2 overs on Day 1 but England
    ended up falling for 110 in 29.5 overs to actually let the hosts bat
    out an over of their second innings. Australia ended up batting for
    just 34.3 overs on Day 2, being all out for 132 and thus setting
    England a target of 175 to chase and win their first Test of this
    series. England look set to do it on Day 2 itself, thus making this
    the second Test in this yearrCOs Ashes that will last just two days.
    Getting involved in pitch preparation

    Greenberg has said that Cricket Australia may consider getting
    involved in the pitch preparation process to avoid situations like
    these. Commentators and former players have been almost unanimously
    criticial of the pitch at the MCG for the fourth Test, on which
    Australia captain Steve Smith said there was about 10mm of grass
    before the start of the match.

    rCLHistorically we have taken a hands-off approach in all of our wicket
    preparation and allowed the staff and the conditions and those
    characteristics to be presented. But itrCOs hard not to get more
    involved when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially.

    rCLIrCOm not suggesting werCOre going to go around talking to groundstaff, >> but we do have to have a careful eye on what our expectations are over
    the course of a summer,rCY said Greenberg.

    If the Test had gone the distance, I imagine that the third day (the
    Sunday) would have seen another 90,000 crowd, so that's a huge financial loss. And will CA also lose a proportion of the fees they charge the broadcasters, which would be a far larger loss?



    Yes CA lost even more money in TV broadcast advertising apart from the
    gate collections, since the test ended in two days.





    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From alvey@Hans.Andnees@gmail.com to uk.sport.cricket on Mon Dec 29 06:59:04 2025
    From Newsgroup: uk.sport.cricket

    John Hall wrote:
    On 28/12/2025 10:14, alvey wrote:
    John Hall wrote:


    If the Test had gone the distance, I imagine that the third day (the
    Sunday) would have seen another 90,000 crowd, so that's a huge
    financial loss. And will CA also lose a proportion of the fees they
    charge the broadcasters, which would be a far larger loss?

    Appropriate Conspiracy Theory:

    CA has orchestrated all these dud pitches to shorten the Tests so that
    they don't keep bums off Big Bash seats.

    You heard it here first.



    I'm not sure if you're being serious,

    Really? I'm always serious John. Except when I'm not.

    but surely the Big Bash games,
    though popular, are only going to attract crowds a fraction of the size
    of those for the Melbourne Test? And if CA really found the clash of fixtures to be a concern, wouldn't it be easier to just schedule the BB fixtures so that they didn't clash with the Test?

    Nope. CA's #1 priority is the welfare of the BB. Daylight second.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2