Monday, 12 October 2009

Hoggard's Run

Matthew Hoggard must feel like he's appearing in a 70s sci-fi flick, sacked by Yorkshire in part for breaching the directives on age. 

In this new dystopia of county cricket, clubs fielding young players are 'incentivised', thus producing teams full of future champions.

That never works. Sport is a genuine meritocracy, a talentocracy if such a word exists. Mike Tyson could be heavyweight champ at 20, George Foreman at 46. Tendulkar can be an international at 17 and 36. A generation artificially ramped into county teams will be weak, not strong.

The IPL demands young players, too, but then the IPL is not culling at the other end. It runs on nous and star power. It runs on merit and talent. Its the only way.
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6 comments:

  1. namya13 October 2009 at 00:41

    It's ridiculous.. Look at McGrath at 39.. Yorkshire have changed Hoggard's name to Haggard, that too after being their leading wicket taker in the previous season.. Well done Sirs.

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  2. Rob13 October 2009 at 05:08

    Still, Jenny Agutter. So its not all bad.

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  3. Brit13 October 2009 at 05:19

    There's also - and I appreciate that these are the most despised, bottom-of-the-food-chain entities in cricket - the county supporters, who wouldn't mind, you know, if it's alright with Team England, to watch the best players now and again.

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  4. Mark13 October 2009 at 06:46

    Didn't Yorkshire unceremoniously dump Fred Trueman at the end of his career too?

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  5. Sreehari13 October 2009 at 07:28

    Hi

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  6. Patricia15 October 2009 at 09:29

    Whenever I go to a cricket match or watch one on TV the older players are often the best. Robert Croft, Shane Warne a year or two ago, Ramps, Dominic Cork, Justin Langer and many more. They must surely be teaching by example.

    And Hoggard is still young.

    Some good could come out of this. Surrey are in need of a youngish fast bowler . . . .

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