I know it'll never work in the States, but test cricket is one the few sports I make time for. If a local game ever made it to day 5 it's probably a close match and the stadiums would have free...
Exemplary
I know it'll never work in the States, but test cricket is one the few sports I make time for. If a local game ever made it to day 5 it's probably a close match and the stadiums would have free admission to fill out the crowds. So I'd go with my grandad and his friends and there's be endless debate on every ball. It's something I kept doing with my friends all through college.
I know almost everyone is watching sport for those epic moments and its formatted to maximize that. There's football (soccer) and hockey that's extremely kinetic and engaging over almost 2 hours of play. Baseball and T-20 cricket has plenty of methodical planning punctuated with explosive instances. Motorsport has squishy meat computers battling in marvels of engineering at tremendous speed. American football... is a sport I guess.
But test cricket for me is a war of attrition. It is to T-20, what Le Mans is to a drag race. Imagine how any other sport would change if it was played near indefinitely. You need to minimize risks, preserve players and stamina, plan days in advance. Seems boring, but when the pressure builds and the fatigue sets in, you start seeing the cracks and it's a treat too watch. It's all still civil but you watch players get a little more desperate, snarkier and chaotic. And when it's really down to the wire, you start being critical of thousands of past choices.
But most importantly for me, those epic moments in other games become epic stories. A good test batsman will tank hours of abuse while building score an inch at a time. Cleaver bowlers don't just take wickets but can absolutely stonewall any momentum. Low order batsmen get absolutely bullied but they can claw out just enough just enough to clutch a game. And wicket keepers being eagle eyed GOATS that snap in for those split-second hero plays.
Never expected to get so worked up about this but its an absolutely wonderful game that I'm sad to see fade away with the rise of T-20 and IPL. I completely understand its not for everyone, but if you want to give it a shot look up some highlights from the recent Ashes test tournament. It was a fun series and things got a little spicy at the end.
Test cricket is the greatest, most compelling and tactical sport that there is and I will die on that hill. T20 something I have on in the background or maybe on my 2nd monitor while I'm doing...
Test cricket is the greatest, most compelling and tactical sport that there is and I will die on that hill. T20 something I have on in the background or maybe on my 2nd monitor while I'm doing something else. But I'll clear day long blocks of my schedule to watch a test.
I miss the days of the test match being on and you could go to town do shopping. Catch glimpses of the game on tvs while out then get home and not much has happened but you are still hooked on the...
I miss the days of the test match being on and you could go to town do shopping. Catch glimpses of the game on tvs while out then get home and not much has happened but you are still hooked on the game.
I don't really follow cricket anymore but damn do I miss it. Your explanation really got me thinking about the classic test match again.
I never made it 9 innings through an MLB game live when I lived in the US, and I've also never made it through a T20 matchbin AU. I can't imagine a whole 5 day match.
I never made it 9 innings through an MLB game live when I lived in the US, and I've also never made it through a T20 matchbin AU. I can't imagine a whole 5 day match.
I grew up with baseball but I find Cricket much more compelling to watch. There is always something happening but it unfolds at a slow enough pace that you can always track it. It’s also a...
I grew up with baseball but I find Cricket much more compelling to watch. There is always something happening but it unfolds at a slow enough pace that you can always track it.
It’s also a phenomenal sport for statistics nerds. It’s a match made in heaven for fantasy sports.
For context I am American. This comment thread has a lot of people speaking definitively about something they know very little about. While I agree test cricket has very little chance of going...
For context I am American. This comment thread has a lot of people speaking definitively about something they know very little about. While I agree test cricket has very little chance of going mainstream due to time commitments, T20 is awesome and imho better than baseball to watch. lots more action, better pacing and built in mechanics for very exciting games regularly (chasing is such a cool concept). I made the switch about four years ago to watching the IPL on Willow and absolutely love it. Let’s go CSK!!
The current product that the MLB gives us is horrible for many reasons. The excessive use of analytics, players either hitting home runs, striking out, or walking is boring as hell, the umpires...
The current product that the MLB gives us is horrible for many reasons. The excessive use of analytics, players either hitting home runs, striking out, or walking is boring as hell, the umpires inserting themselves too much into games, and more. It is nice that they have shortened games, but there is still a lot more that needs to be fixed. Personally, I feel analytics need to go. They have completely ruined the game. Games just aren’t exciting like they were 20+ years ago. I think America would be fine with a 3 hour game like cricket if there was more excitement to it. Look at football, those games easily last more than 3 hours (mainly due to commercials) and people watch them constantly. If it is a product people enjoy, then they will watch it.
I think T20 cricket absolutely has a chance of taking off in the US. The rules are easy enough for any baseball fan to understand. Jomboy on Twitter summarized them as: "which team can score the...
I think T20 cricket absolutely has a chance of taking off in the US. The rules are easy enough for any baseball fan to understand. Jomboy on Twitter summarized them as: "which team can score the most runs before 10 ours or 120 'pitches' faced".
"360 degree baseball". I started watching T20 a few years ago. It's tough to follow in the U.S. because there's not much coverage, but I followed India in the last World Cup and it was really fun.
"360 degree baseball". I started watching T20 a few years ago. It's tough to follow in the U.S. because there's not much coverage, but I followed India in the last World Cup and it was really fun.
I've followed an IPL team for a few years and was kind of excited that they bought my "local" franchise in MLC, until I found out all the matches were going to be played in Texas and North...
I've followed an IPL team for a few years and was kind of excited that they bought my "local" franchise in MLC, until I found out all the matches were going to be played in Texas and North Carolina.
I hope the league will succeed if only so more US based talent can find success and the sport's profile is raised here, but I doubt I'll go out of my way to watch it.
I’ll be watching when I can. I need to learn much more, but I find it to be more compelling than soccer. I don’t follow most traditional American sports anymore.
I’ll be watching when I can. I need to learn much more, but I find it to be more compelling than soccer. I don’t follow most traditional American sports anymore.
I know it'll never work in the States, but test cricket is one the few sports I make time for. If a local game ever made it to day 5 it's probably a close match and the stadiums would have free admission to fill out the crowds. So I'd go with my grandad and his friends and there's be endless debate on every ball. It's something I kept doing with my friends all through college.
I know almost everyone is watching sport for those epic moments and its formatted to maximize that. There's football (soccer) and hockey that's extremely kinetic and engaging over almost 2 hours of play. Baseball and T-20 cricket has plenty of methodical planning punctuated with explosive instances. Motorsport has squishy meat computers battling in marvels of engineering at tremendous speed. American football... is a sport I guess.
But test cricket for me is a war of attrition. It is to T-20, what Le Mans is to a drag race. Imagine how any other sport would change if it was played near indefinitely. You need to minimize risks, preserve players and stamina, plan days in advance. Seems boring, but when the pressure builds and the fatigue sets in, you start seeing the cracks and it's a treat too watch. It's all still civil but you watch players get a little more desperate, snarkier and chaotic. And when it's really down to the wire, you start being critical of thousands of past choices.
But most importantly for me, those epic moments in other games become epic stories. A good test batsman will tank hours of abuse while building score an inch at a time. Cleaver bowlers don't just take wickets but can absolutely stonewall any momentum. Low order batsmen get absolutely bullied but they can claw out just enough just enough to clutch a game. And wicket keepers being eagle eyed GOATS that snap in for those split-second hero plays.
Never expected to get so worked up about this but its an absolutely wonderful game that I'm sad to see fade away with the rise of T-20 and IPL. I completely understand its not for everyone, but if you want to give it a shot look up some highlights from the recent Ashes test tournament. It was a fun series and things got a little spicy at the end.
Test cricket is the greatest, most compelling and tactical sport that there is and I will die on that hill. T20 something I have on in the background or maybe on my 2nd monitor while I'm doing something else. But I'll clear day long blocks of my schedule to watch a test.
I miss the days of the test match being on and you could go to town do shopping. Catch glimpses of the game on tvs while out then get home and not much has happened but you are still hooked on the game.
I don't really follow cricket anymore but damn do I miss it. Your explanation really got me thinking about the classic test match again.
As bad as baseball is to watch, cricket seems 1000x worse. This is doomed to fail.
I never made it 9 innings through an MLB game live when I lived in the US, and I've also never made it through a T20 matchbin AU. I can't imagine a whole 5 day match.
I grew up with baseball but I find Cricket much more compelling to watch. There is always something happening but it unfolds at a slow enough pace that you can always track it.
It’s also a phenomenal sport for statistics nerds. It’s a match made in heaven for fantasy sports.
For context I am American. This comment thread has a lot of people speaking definitively about something they know very little about. While I agree test cricket has very little chance of going mainstream due to time commitments, T20 is awesome and imho better than baseball to watch. lots more action, better pacing and built in mechanics for very exciting games regularly (chasing is such a cool concept). I made the switch about four years ago to watching the IPL on Willow and absolutely love it. Let’s go CSK!!
The current product that the MLB gives us is horrible for many reasons. The excessive use of analytics, players either hitting home runs, striking out, or walking is boring as hell, the umpires inserting themselves too much into games, and more. It is nice that they have shortened games, but there is still a lot more that needs to be fixed. Personally, I feel analytics need to go. They have completely ruined the game. Games just aren’t exciting like they were 20+ years ago. I think America would be fine with a 3 hour game like cricket if there was more excitement to it. Look at football, those games easily last more than 3 hours (mainly due to commercials) and people watch them constantly. If it is a product people enjoy, then they will watch it.
I think T20 cricket absolutely has a chance of taking off in the US. The rules are easy enough for any baseball fan to understand. Jomboy on Twitter summarized them as: "which team can score the most runs before 10 ours or 120 'pitches' faced".
"360 degree baseball". I started watching T20 a few years ago. It's tough to follow in the U.S. because there's not much coverage, but I followed India in the last World Cup and it was really fun.
I've followed an IPL team for a few years and was kind of excited that they bought my "local" franchise in MLC, until I found out all the matches were going to be played in Texas and North Carolina.
I hope the league will succeed if only so more US based talent can find success and the sport's profile is raised here, but I doubt I'll go out of my way to watch it.
I’ll be watching when I can. I need to learn much more, but I find it to be more compelling than soccer. I don’t follow most traditional American sports anymore.