12th May 2016
Patrolling the Boundary – a view from the outfield
The Passing of Tony Cozier
Tony Cozier died on Wednesday at the age of 75. He was quite simply the Caribbean’s finest ever cricket writer and broadcaster, and was the chronicler of West Indies cricket for in excess of fifty years.
Here is my tribute to him for First Post.
David Oram
19th April 2016
Patrolling the Boundary – a view from the outfield
Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack
Last week my good friend Dennis Freedman of Can’t Bowl Can’t Throw fame wrote an article for First Post taking a swipe at English cricket’s Bible.
The whole of England probably hasn’t felt as sullied by an Australian since former Prime Minister Paul Keating wrapped his arm around Her Majesty the Queen.
You can read my response to Dennis’ piece on the pages of First Post here.
David Oram
5th April 2016
Patrolling the Boundary – a view from the outfield
The 2016 ICC World T20 tournament
For First Post during the T20 World Cup I covered and reported on the West Indies.
In his post match interview, West Indies captain Darren Sammy had strong words to say about the West Indies Cricket Board.
But his, and his fellow team-mates, dissatisfaction with the Board is not necessarily shared by all observers of Caribbean cricket.
Here is my view for First Post.
David Oram
30th January 2016
Patrolling the Boundary – a view from the outfield
So India are the Test World Champions. You’re kidding me, right? Really?
The morning after England had secured a Test series win in South Africa (who until that point had topped the ICC’s Test rankings table), the news emerged that India were now reckoned as the new ‘no. 1’ after South Africa’s defeat and dethroning.
This couldn’t be correct, surely? Is that the reward for loading home pitches and preparing raging bunsens to stuff South Africa in November/December?
I wondered if I’d woken up in some ridiculous alternate universe where the system to evaluate the world’s best Test cricket team was determined by weird, unfathomable algebraic equations that were both illogical and counter-intuitive. And perhaps even worse, completely lacking in accountability or transparency.
Nope. This, sadly, unbelievably, is Test cricket’s REALITY.
This is the ICC’s Test Rankings System, described recently by the Yorkshire Post’s Chris Waters as “an unfathomable waste of time”; and as “pointless” and “completely irrelevant” by Two Men Out’s Jarrod Kimber and Andy Zaltzman on ESPN Cricinfo.
Admittedly, it is pretty close points-wise in the rankings’ top half-dozen, with a DRS tracking-system perhaps being needed to determine between the placings; while at the bottom there is a huge modern bat-width between the teams on the lower rungs of the ladder.
But however close, I really don’t think many pundits, fans, or analysts seriously consider India to be Test cricket’s best team.
What I am going to suggest in this article is not only that they aren’t – but that they are identified as such because the system used is just plain wrong.
And I am going to offer two alternative, workable systems – and suggest that one of them ought to replace the current one.
In fact, in both versions of those alternative systems PAKISTAN come out on top. Indeed, perhaps oddly and coincidentally (or perhaps because they are similarly practical and reliable methods) those two systems actually provide identical placings for all ten Test playing countries: Continue reading
24th January 2016
Patrolling the Boundary – a view from the outfield
John Holder dropped me a line yesterday, sharing his views on Chris Gayle’s recent reply to his critics via instagram (which you can read here):
Hi David,
Gayle’s pathetic outburst after leaving the BBL, saying that his critics can kiss his black ass demonstrated clearly how arrogant and stupid he really is. Only someone lacking humility would say that the Aussie cricket public loves him would make that comment, even if it was true.
His comment to the female interviewer was unprofessional, totally out-of-place and NOT FUNNY. The £5000 fine imposed by his club should have been the end of the matter and Ian Chappell’s call for him to be banned by cricket boards around the world was hypocritical and way over the top. Chappell’s career was littered with instances of bad behaviour, one of which I witnessed, so he should have been the last person to criticise.
But after Gayle’s vulgar outburst, I would be glad if he was banned by boards around the world.
He would have been better putting his foot in his mouth.
Regards
John
Roland Butcher's Hook 