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Post by moderator1 on Feb 8, 2015 7:47:59 GMT
We've been contacted by a member who is deeply perturbed and needs the forum to help him face an agonising choice. It seems that he was visited by the Spirit of Cricket last night - a vague amorphous presence with that changing-room smell of sweat, farts and the over-industrious use of Lynx, and a disconcerting visage that appeared to present different faces according to whether he viewed it from the North, South, West or East - who told him he had been specially favoured and would be granted one wish, and one wish only.
"Which shall it be?" said the Spirit to our bemused friend, "Victory to England in the ICC World Cup for the first time ever? Or shall it be glory in the Ashes, sweet revenge on Mitchell Johnson, the humbling of Clarke, Smith and Haddin? One of these must you choose and I shall return in one week's time to seal your doom"
With that he vanished, leaving behind nothing but a few scorched sheets of the 1982 Wisden and the faint sounds of an ancient wax recording of Sir Henry Newbolt reading from his own Vitai Lampada. Naturally our member is anxious to make the right choice. Will you help him please?
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Post by leedsgull on Feb 8, 2015 9:41:17 GMT
Very theatrical moderator but thank you for introducing this poll. Until recently I would always favour test cricket over other versions. However I think that the Ashes has been devalued by the recent frequency of matches. I remember England winning the Football and Rugby Union World Cups and even Andy Murray has now won Wimbledon so the Cricket World Cup seems the only major trophy to elude this sceptred isle.So on this occasion I have voted to see a World Cup win.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2015 14:18:38 GMT
I read a piece somewhere else which pointed out that England cleared their schedule for the winter in order to concentrate single-mindedly on preparing for the World Cup. We've played 17 ODIs since we last played a Test match - so clearly Team England and the ECB think it is super important.
The same piece also quoted Jimmy Anderson's words at the end of the last domestic season: "The advantage we’ve got over the next few months is we can concentrate solely on one day cricket ... and really focus on improving as a one-day side ... make sure our skills are in order for doing well in the World Cup ... at the end of it there’ll be no excuse."
So I'm thinking I'd like England to win the World Cup because otherwise we cancelled a winter of Test cricket for nothing.
To be honest, I don't really care who wins the Ashes next summer, although I do care about the margin of victory. That is to say, I don't want either side to win 5-0 or even 4-1.
Big innings for Warner and Smith and Johnson bowling like a demon, lots of runs for a rejuvenated Cook and an ever-maturing Root and ol' Jimmy Anderson reverse swinging merrily would make for great Test cricket. 2-2 with one to play and may the best team win at The Oval would be truly fanatastic, with cricket emerging as the ultimate winner whatever the result.
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Post by invicta1977 on Feb 12, 2015 9:25:51 GMT
The Ashes, for so many reasons (not least because I have a last day ticket for The Oval).
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Post by theleopard on Feb 12, 2015 17:02:00 GMT
I think the World Cup is generally boring; it lasts far too long and weeks of it are spent going through the motions of eliminating the weakest teams. Plus on this occasion it is played in the (European) night-time and I am afraid I cannot stay up or get up to watch/listen to cricket in the night. I admit my interest will be roused if England progress to the semis but otherwise I would just shrug my shoulders if they were eliminated and resume waiting for April 2 to come around.
However, a home Ashes series is one of the few I actually feel passionate about. I really dislike seeing Australia beat England in Test matches. I would like England to hammer Australia (though of course a thrilling series-clincher in the last Test would do nicely).
Therefore you can probably guess that this poll was not difficult for me to decide over.
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Post by flashblade on Feb 12, 2015 18:06:39 GMT
I think the World Cup is generally boring; it lasts far too long and weeks of it are spent going through the motions of eliminating the weakest teams. Plus on this occasion it is played in the (European) night-time and I am afraid I cannot stay up or get up to watch/listen to cricket in the night. I admit my interest will be roused if England progress to the semis but otherwise I would just shrug my shoulders if they were eliminated and resume waiting for April 2 to come around. However, a home Ashes series is one of the few I actually feel passionate about. I really dislike seeing Australia beat England in Test matches. I would like England to hammer Australia (though of course a thrilling series-clincher in the last Test would do nicely). Therefore you can probably guess that this poll was not difficult for me to decide over. I absolutely agree, leopard. My feelings are also exacerbated by my indifference to the 50 over format. |
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Post by moderator1 on Feb 13, 2015 13:45:44 GMT
Poor leedsgull. Only 12 members seem to care which of his wishes will be answered by the Spirit of Cricket. Is that what the World Cup deserves, or the Ashes? Maybe someone will look at this and feel inspired to vote.
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Post by moderator1 on Feb 15, 2015 8:33:40 GMT
Sixteen votes, eight each for winning the World Cup and winning the Ashes. There were some strong statements of preference on either side, but not enough interest. Perhaps the Spirit of Cricket will let leedsgull have both wishes.  |
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Post by invicta1977 on Feb 20, 2015 11:36:15 GMT
Anyone from the top column feel like transferring their vote?
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