Be brave and smile, ECB tell England players

[Varun]

LONDON: England’s new Test captain Joe Root and One Day counterpart Eoin Morgan must provide crowd pleasing cricket and bear a sunny disposition so as to attract new players to the game, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said Monday.

The ECB is taking steps to significantly boost the number of players at grassroots level — which has stagnated over the past five years — and the England cricket team is seen as a useful weapon in that regard

Tom Harrison, chief executive of the ECB, said the England cricketers and their director of cricket former England skipper Andrew Strauss knew what was expected of them.

“Andrew Strauss and the England team are very clear that part of their responsibility is playing brave cricket — this commitment to playing an exciting formula of cricket every time they go on the park is linked to (the participation strategy).

“Joe Root and Eoin Morgan understand their responsibility to play exciting cricket for future generations to connect with and for fans to get behind.”

Harrison, who has been in the post since January 2015 and installed Strauss at the expense of Paul Downton, said even if England were to lose if they went down fighting the reaction would be kinder.

“It’s a very deliberate strategy,” said Harrison.

“It doesn’t work every time but we understand you’re more likely to be forgiven for having a bad day if you’ve tried everything to win a game as opposed to trying not to lose it, which is a key difference.

“Ever since Andrew took the job as director of cricket he saw the link between successful England teams, and I mean successful by approach as much as results, was key.”

Harrison, who played cricket for Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, said the days of England trying to grind out a one-off Test victory are over.

“People like the fact the team is taking calculated risks, at very competitive limits, but also with a smile on their faces,” he said.

Source: https://arysports.tv/be-brave-and-smile-ecb-tell-england-players/

 

[MenInG]

I like the idea but then we want our cricketers to carry their hearts on sleeves

Real emotion is what makes it worth the while not contrived expressions of happiness

 

[Pantani]

That won't work. The problem is cricket is only played in private schools.

In Australia I remember growing up in primary school, CA ran an outreach program where some people would come and get us to play cricket.

In high school we had three nets as part of the facilities and we were also visited by NSW cricketers, I remember on one occasion Mitchell Starc came to give us a talk, this was years ago though, maybe 2009 or 2010.

I went to public schools, totally government funded, no fees, etc.

Similar things do not exist in England's public schools and so cricket is dying there because it is exclusively played only by the wealthy and not by the common people. Having cricket broadcast exclusively on pay TV exacerbates the problem.

 

[HitWicket]

I like the idea but then we want our cricketers to carry their hearts on sleeves

Real emotion is what makes it worth the while not contrived expressions of happiness

Not entirely sure the point of the article was that they were being encouraged to 'look happy', but to just play an exciting brand on cricket (or continue to do so in the case of limited overs cricket).

 

[HitWicket]

That won't work. The problem is cricket is only played in private schools.

In Australia I remember growing up in primary school, CA ran an outreach program where some people would come and get us to play cricket.

In high school we had three nets as part of the facilities and we were also visited by NSW cricketers, I remember on one occasion Mitchell Starc came to give us a talk, this was years ago though, maybe 2009 or 2010.

I went to public schools, totally government funded, no fees, etc.

Similar things do not exist in England's public schools and so cricket is dying there because it is exclusively played only by the wealthy and not by the common people. Having cricket broadcast exclusively on pay TV exacerbates the problem.

To be fair on them I know at least in my local area Chance to Shine (a charity) try and get volunteers into every local primary school during the summer to get them playing cricket. Given the topic the following programme launched today is also pretty relevant : http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/1087798.html.

 

[leatherface58]

Stepford Wives to get a British gender-flipped remake starring the English Cricket team.

 

[Rayyman]

The last thing you would expect from an Englishman is to be brave and smile.

 

[dildildalwalla]

I disagree with the ECB telling them to smile...but I do agree that they need to smile more but that can only happen if they actually enjoy their cricket. All throughout SA and then the home series against Pakistan and finally Bang and IND, the English lads have looked like they've been dragged onto the cricket field against their wish.

I miss the days of Freddy, KP and co, lads who had charisma and could attract large crowds through the force of their personalities alone.

 

[dildildalwalla]

To be fair on them I know at least in my local area Chance to Shine (a charity) try and get volunteers into every local primary school during the summer to get them playing cricket. Given the topic the following programme launched today is also pretty relevant : http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/1087798.html.

A step in the right direction but its a too little to late. Most normal schools, i.e. non private and non grammar or independent schools, just dont have the funding to afford cricket pitches, turf or astro or cricket nets and cricket equipment. Funding for sports is terrible across the UK in geenral, equipment centric sports more so (cricket, tennis, hockey etc).

Add to that the complete lack of cricket on TV and the sport is confined to a small, wealthy niche.

 

[aloo paratha]

The last thing you would expect from an Englishman is to be brave and smile.

Last thing I'd expect from an American as well.