2 Divisions for Test Cricket

[Googly]

There are 10 full member nations and in four of them their cricket is in decline.
Pakistan have huge problems, not least of which is an inability to play home games.
West Indies cricket is in decline and they only appear competitive in T20. That will also change because the big nations have really learnt how to play it now and the natural athleticism and flair of the West Indians has been matched.
SA have massive problems with quota systems. It's being felt in the national side with one or two selections, at franchise level in 3-4 positions, at age group level in 4-6 positions. If someone could access accurate stats on how many top schoolboys have been overlooked and how many who believe they are good enough to actually leave and try their luck elsewhere, I believe it would be staggering. There may well be thousands. It's not just individuals who are leaving, it's entire families. If you've followed the student demonstrations and understand the repercussions, you will know it spells the beginning of a sharp decline in SA fortunes- socially, economically and in sport. They have knowingly copied a model from Zim that has had a shocking outcome for all but a tiny elite and some real low level folk that will do their Masters' bidding for a subsistence wage.
Zim is proof of what SA could end up like in the not too distant future, but with a lot more hate and bloodshed. Quota is less of an issue because most of the whites have fled, but sport and the economy will never be the same again. The regime has the advantage of 3 decades of independence so the majority of the population are born-free's that are too young to ever make a comparison. They are malleable enough to believe a lot of nonesense about much of our history.
As Eugene said, all these countries have one thing in common and that's inept, thieving, corrupt boards. It's certainly something that the ICC could put their foot down over. If they insist on control over finances there's no choice but to agree.
There's certainly been enough evidence of what's happened here for them to take action and they haven't bothered, but with 4 of the 10 members in direct trouble it surely is time for a rethink.

[Flakeman]

Kriterion, one of my mates has just returned from Penn State and he was the running back. He says there is no fitness required, BUT some of them are obviously great athletes. Rugby is better to watch but if I lived in USA id probably play it !

[Kriterion_BD]

Kriterion, one of my mates has just returned from Penn State and he was the running back. He says there is no fitness required, BUT some of them are obviously great athletes. Rugby is better to watch but if I lived in USA id probably play it !

My third cousin played minor club cricket in England and before that played with Talha Jubair in Bangladesh. He says Sachin Tendulkar was half as a good a batsman as I am. And I believe that because my story is fictional as fuck. Well I did have a cousin play for some club in england, but the rest is as honest as a Fox News broadcast.

Sorry I don't buy your story for the following reasons.

Penn st is a major football school, meaning your friend was either heavily recruited while in high school or walked on, which is fairly rare. Either way, he'd have to be DAMN good football player. Tom dick or harry might be able to walk on to Akron Polytechnic, but not to a historic powerhouse like PSU.

Now if your buddy played in high school, he'd likely have done whats called two a days. Practicing in the summer twice daily. Its not cricket where you do throwdowns in the nets. Its running full sprints, weight training, etc. Every summer, at least a few kids die from heat stroke. Its so rigorous, I would never let my kid play even though its my favorite sport.

If I were you, I'd have a conversation with your friend about not filling your ears with crap that when you repeat on the internet, its embarassing.

[Flakeman]

Take a walk mate, why would I lie? He played RB for Penn State University. 2nd string i believe. Dont get your little panties tied up in a knot ! Your pissing off quite a lot of people on here ive noticed. Dont get yourself banned lile Bavuma Rabada

[Kriterion_BD]

Take a walk mate, why would I lie? He played RB for Penn State University. 2nd string i believe. Dont get your little panties tied up in a knot ! Your pissing off quite a lot of people on here ive noticed. Dont get yourself banned lile Bavuma Rabada

Being banned from here isn't exaclty on top of the list of things I'm too worried about, so if you want to ban me, please proceed. I do appreciate your concern about my underwear...its good to know my comfort is important. However, as a lifelong freeballer, I must say that I only wear underwear outside the house.

Football doesn't require fitness? I literally cannot fathom how someone could believe that. If Richie Benaud told you bowlers don't need legs, would you just shrug your shoulders and say "That Kriterion idiot doesnt know jack shit, but if Richie says bowlers don't need legs, it must be true!" If someone was a white supremacist racist, I could conceive how someone might be one. It actually makes superficial sense if one is a moron that white people could possibly be racially superior. But I don't fathom how the hell someone would think a sport that is BASED on running not require fitness. Like does it makes sense for Nobel prize winners to not require any intelligence?

[ZIMDOGGY]

Firstly, i guess this depends on your definition of 'fit'.
An NFL/Americam football player is certainly not as fit over an entire match as a soccer player or a league player etc, but I'd back the Running back in a 100m race.
Explosive power is the NFL game.

Secondly,
I have to lean towards what Flakemans saying.

You may have heard of the aussie league player (Jarryd Hayne) who's having a crack with the 49ers' at the moment. One of the bigger sports stories of 2015 in the aussie media, almost certainly the biggest (all frenzied hype).

There were a few interviews where Jarryd himself said he had to stop focusing on fitness, and his training became more on fast twitch power.

There are some concerns in the NRL that if he fails, he may not have the fitness to return to his league best.

[Flakeman]

Thanks Zimdoggy.

Kriterion please stop taking things so personally mate. Your just looking the fool here. Its obvious it doesnt require that much fitness as with the age long breaks after every play. The Jarryd Hayne story is a perfect example.

[Jemisi]

Gee things can get bitchy when there is no cricket.

[eugene]

Rugby players need more endurance for the most part and take more hits during the game, but the hits in NFL are much worse. Having someone wearing a helmet diving headfirst at your knee is not something I would fancy. And the concussion rates in NFL seem much worse than Rugby.

But anyway, debating which sport is better is pointless. I never understand the need to run-down one sport, just follow the ones you enjoy. I for one follow everything from handball to bandy. Haven't got into Tchoukball yet however.

[Flakeman]

Tiddlywinks?