16-02-2019, 14:07
The flair players I mentioned .......... yes I think the modern game would only have improved their actual skills, but I'm not so sure their flair and rule-breaking would have been appreciated. Today we watch a heavily coached game. Try something out of the ordinary ......... you only get away with it if it comes off 100% ......... Players these days are pumped full of fear of failure and forced to repeat the mantra of playing the right way - and the coach gets to define that right way.
Of course coaching is a good thing, but you can't turn a melon into a peach. If boy's got a sweet touch and an eye for a pass, but is a bit weak and willowy, make him strong enough to use his touch and his pass, don't change his game and lose what made him special in the first place.
I NEVER thought of drawing a seam on a tennis ball, what a clever idea. Mind you I had got a proper cricket ball, but my dad didn't get me pads till I was in my teens. He still used to insist on me playing forward with my bat and non-existent pad together though ......... and he never offered easy catches for me to get him out. If cricket had just been fielding, throwing and catching you'd be able to find me in some old Wisden.
Of course coaching is a good thing, but you can't turn a melon into a peach. If boy's got a sweet touch and an eye for a pass, but is a bit weak and willowy, make him strong enough to use his touch and his pass, don't change his game and lose what made him special in the first place.
I NEVER thought of drawing a seam on a tennis ball, what a clever idea. Mind you I had got a proper cricket ball, but my dad didn't get me pads till I was in my teens. He still used to insist on me playing forward with my bat and non-existent pad together though ......... and he never offered easy catches for me to get him out. If cricket had just been fielding, throwing and catching you'd be able to find me in some old Wisden.