West Indies, Pakistan the heroes and Banton and India the villains as English season ends

[Junaids]

As the English cricket season reaches its historic climax, it's fascinating how the cricket community has been polarised by the response to the Coronavirus Pandemic.

I argued against the summer of international cricket, but I was wrong, and the touring Pakistan and West Indies teams are now viewed by the English cricket community with thanks, respect and admiration.

County cricket has for the first time come down to a new climax. The full County Championship could not be played, and as the entire cricket community continues to mourn the shock loss of the champion fast bowler Bob Willis, it has been replaced by the Bob Willis Trophy.

Somerset - the erstwhile county of Mushtaq Ahmed, Azhar Ali and Babar Azam - have never won the First Class championship, although they won 4 One Day trophies in the era of Joel Garner, Viv Richards and Ian Botham.

Now they find themselves in the Final of the Bob Willis Trophy, the biggest match in their history. Only for their star player, Tom Banton, to desert his club and his contract to depart for the UAE to enter quarantine for his IPL team.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I've always loved Somerset County Cricket Club for their team spirit, their decency and their loyalty to the Club<br><br>So I am appalled that Tom Banton cannot find the time to play for his county in the most important match in their history<br><br>Shame on you, Tom</p>— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCleese/status/1305904149868011521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The outflow of anger at this act of desertion cannot be under-estimated.

John Cleese of Fawlty Towers and Monty Python is the greatest and most famous comedian in British history. His enraged Tweet summed up the anger and contempt of the cricket community.

None of us have forgotten that the original ICL contracts guaranteed release for players to meet commitments with their own country. The IPL was only born as an ambush marketing assault on the ICL, and now it is showing the same contempt and disregard to English cricket as it previously has to the West Indies.

It's fair to say that the English cricket season is drawing to a close with increasingly polarised attitudes to our international partners.

 

[Bhaijaan]

India is to Cricket what Gulshan Grower used to be in Bollywood movies of the 1980a-1990s.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

Atleast they are not leaving international cricket to play ipl ,the same cant be said about Kerry packer series.

 

[Junaids]

Atleast they are not leaving international cricket to play ipl ,the same cant be said about Kerry packer series.

That's not true.

Kerry Packer always released his players to play for their country. His Pakistani and West Indian players did.

The issue was that Australia and England refused to select their Packer players, and then reached a point where they refused to play against Packer players - forcing the West Indies and Pakistan to drop them or have their series against England and Australia cancelled.

 

[JattMaula]

Banton may not play many games for KKR.

 

[TrentDevil]

His record in FC is mediocre, doubt he would have made it to the playing XI. Also he's said it numerous times that playing in IPL is his childhood dream which something his U19 coach also said. These statements pretty much make it clear that he isn't much interested in Red ball cricket and shouldn't be forced into playing that rather than him becoming a liability later on

 

[pratiktc]

Lol, Banton is an international quality player with global demand.
Of course he will play in IPL rather than some two bit domestic match.

The people whining about it can only be people who have never played cricket at decent level or bitter small minded ex players. Rest of cricketing world knows well that intl and global leagues are higher priority

 

[Varun]

What a desperate thread.

You give Michael Holding a run for his money. And both of you would sing different tunes if you were given said money.

 

[MenInG]

He seems happy - the lure of $$$ - who could blame him? Wouldn't you do the same?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">IPL time. Can’t wait to get going!�� <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KKRiders</a> <a href="https://t.co/EtXPulCS6k">pic.twitter.com/EtXPulCS6k</a></p>— Tom Banton (@TBanton18) <a href="https://twitter.com/TBanton18/status/1306882640730034180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Bhaijaan]

He seems happy - the lure of $$$ - who could blame him? Wouldn't you do the same?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">IPL time. Can’t wait to get going!�� <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KKRiders</a> <a href="https://t.co/EtXPulCS6k">pic.twitter.com/EtXPulCS6k</a></p>— Tom Banton (@TBanton18) <a href="https://twitter.com/TBanton18/status/1306882640730034180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It's a great time to catch up with some of the top players in the world. Probably IPL's biggest USP. Don't know about quality of batting, bowling, fielding but for sure the number of active marque players in IPL beats any other league by a mile and from any young players POV, to be able to play alongside the best of the best is a great.

Money is always a factor but the learning on offer is a big advantage for IPL.

 

[Mamoon]

I love John Cleese and Fawlty Towers, but like most people of his generation, he lacks empathy and perception.

He does not have the intelligence to think like a 22 year old in today’s environment.

He watched Bob Willis play live in the 70s and 80s and idolized him, but Banton, who was born in 1998, cannot have the same feelings and emotions for Bob Willis. For him, he is just another former England great, and I bet he has barely watched him bowl beyond a few videos on YouTube.

Banton grew up in the IPL era, and his outlook on IPL is going to be completely different to the British people who are in the 40s and 50s, and of course in their 80s.

There is a reason why most of the English folks on his Twitter have actually condemned his stubborn condescending tone, although he has found a few like-minded narrow-minded people as well.

Moreover, in spite of India becoming “villains”, BBC TMS will provide exclusive IPL coverage.

 

[Mamoon]

Furthermore, the English are really naive if they think PCB toured this summer because they wanted to help England cricket or help cricket in general. That is complete nonsense.

PCB toured England because of selfish reasons. They used the situation to put ECB in position where they feel obliged to return the favor by touring Pakistan.

If PCB were scheduled to tour Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or Zimbabwe this summer, they would have refused and wouldn’t have done the “we are helping cricket” drama.

ECB is the only Big 3 member that still gives a toss about Pakistan cricket. BCCI is not interested in smashing us, and CA have reduced us from a 3 Tests main event to a 2 Tests warmup to the main event, thanks to our remarkably embarrassing performance in Australia over the last two decades.

In these circumstances, PCB cannot afford to disappoint ECB. Unfortunately, it appears that ECB have fallen for PCB’s act.

 

[viveks]

Money is an obvious reason. Also it's very possible that Banton has made T20 the main priority of his career, it's rare that a great t20 bat also becomes great in tests. It would be logical for him to make that choice. Obviously, some others have low cricket IQ and criticize him

 

[Junaids]

You're all missing the point.

Why can't the BCCI actually show some leadership and diplomatic savvy?

Couldn't they just say that as a goodwill gesture to the ECB and fans around the world they will release Banton to arrive ten days late?

Power is best exercised with friendship, and partnership.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

The outflow of anger at this act of desertion cannot be under-estimated.

John Cleese of Fawlty Towers and Monty Python is the greatest and most famous comedian in British history. His enraged Tweet summed up the anger and contempt of the cricket community.

.

How melodramatic. Give it a few weeks and no one will even care anymore.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

You're all missing the point.

Why can't the BCCI actually show some leadership and diplomatic savvy?

Couldn't they just say that as a goodwill gesture to the ECB and fans around the world they will release Banton to arrive ten days late?

Power is best exercised with friendship, and partnership.

What if Banton himself had no interest to play the game for Somerset?

 

[Mamoon]

You're all missing the point.

Why can't the BCCI actually show some leadership and diplomatic savvy?

Couldn't they just say that as a goodwill gesture to the ECB and fans around the world they will release Banton to arrive ten days late?

Power is best exercised with friendship, and partnership.

Did Banton express any interest in arriving ten days late and playing in this final? Was he forced to leave for the UAE against his wish?

 

[leg-side-flick]

People who only watch sports, forget that it's a job for the sportsmen.

How many of us will refuse to switch jobs, because we were with our old employers for a decade

 

[Indiafan]

You're all missing the point.

Why can't the BCCI actually show some leadership and diplomatic savvy?

Couldn't they just say that as a goodwill gesture to the ECB and fans around the world they will release Banton to arrive ten days late?

Power is best exercised with friendship, and partnership.

Ah yes, BCCI should force a young player to play against his wishes

 

[MMHS]

You're all missing the point.

Why can't the BCCI actually show some leadership and diplomatic savvy?

Couldn't they just say that as a goodwill gesture to the ECB and fans around the world they will release Banton to arrive ten days late?

Power is best exercised with friendship, and partnership.

I believe it's Banton who decided to join IPL camp on due date so that he can be considered for the season opener (I doubt if he'll be a confirmed starter) - had he wished to play the Final, a week or two delay wasn't a big deal. And, the situation is made tighter because of quarantine period, otherwise IICRC, in 2015 or 16 season, Shakib was allowed to join a week later so that he could play a domestic game.

 

[U$ofA]

You're all missing the point.

Why can't the BCCI actually show some leadership and diplomatic savvy?

Couldn't they just say that as a goodwill gesture to the ECB and fans around the world they will release Banton to arrive ten days late?

Power is best exercised with friendship, and partnership.

Fans around the world, really? Nobody cares about county cricket anymore. Which is why they are on handouts from Sky Sports via ECB. The moment that money flow stops, all these county clubs will go belly up.

County cricket is not something where people all over the world are waiting with bated breath for. A county game more likely has the retired guy show up at the ground because its quieter there than his home. I am sure the tv audience does not even register in the ratings.

By the way, just out of curiosity, what does Banton want to do? Has anyone checked on that?

 

[Junaids]

What if Banton himself had no interest to play the game for Somerset?

Did Banton express any interest in arriving ten days late and playing in this final? Was he forced to leave for the UAE against his wish?

Ah yes, BCCI should force a young player to play against his wishes

It’s not up to him.

He is employed by Somerset County Cricket Club. He is contracted to them.

 

[leg-side-flick]

It’s not up to him.

He is employed by Somerset County Cricket Club. He is contracted to them.

So Banton should play for Somerset against his own wish....

Your argument has moved from a Moral one to a legal one.

Why doesn't Somerset push for this thing then??

Also isn't Banton contracted with IPL as well

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

It’s not up to him.

Of course it is. He has the NOC from ECB to play in the IPL and he was allowed to put his name in the auction list knowing full well what the dates were. It's ECB's call whether they want to let him join his IPL team or not and they don't have a problem with it. Banton obviously doesn't have a problem because if he did, I don't think his IPL team would care much if he was a few days late. He probably wouldn't make their first XI anyway.

 

[U$ofA]

So Banton should play for Somerset against his own wish....

Your argument has moved from a Moral one to a legal one.

Why doesn't Somerset push for this thing then??

Also isn't Banton contracted with IPL as well

There are two possibilities, either Banton signed two contracts when legally he could not, as he was already contracted with Somerset. The other possibility is that he was free to sign other contracts and have the option of playing for the club of his choice.

I suspect it is the later and he has exercised that option.

 

[Hasan123]

You have to remember the IPL was not scheduled for this period and I think the same is with County Championship. Him playing in the County championship match could have affected his IPL chances. Banton has more of a chance to play in Englands LO team then he does of making the test team. Performing in the IPL and getting experience in India will help his LO chances.

Harsh to call him a villain.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Yes I am sure his county team will miss his FC batting avg of 25 when they take the field. Oh and btw this season he isn't averaging that much, I am sure a #11 can make up for his absence.

 

[naseem]

Not sure KKR will play him....not good against pace....


It's not his fault we all want 2 earn more

 

[HitWicket]

Yes I am sure his county team will miss his FC batting avg of 25 when they take the field. Oh and btw this season he isn't averaging that much, I am sure a #11 can make up for his absence.

He had their 3rd best FC average last season. He's also missing/missed 3 vital must win T20 games for them to qualify for the knockouts.

 

[HitWicket]

Fans around the world, really? Nobody cares about county cricket anymore. Which is why they are on handouts from Sky Sports via ECB. The moment that money flow stops, all these county clubs will go belly up.

This is a pretty awful take. Every domestic team in the world (IPL included) receives payouts from their national board.

 

[Markhor]

John Cleese has to look at it from an England POV.

Look I get the history and traditions of County Cricket, but the ultimate purpose of Domestic Cricket is to produce players for their national team.

Tom Banton playing in the IPL, mixing with and learning from the best white ball cricketers and coaches in the world, helps England's white ball prospects where Banton is most likely to be selected. The IPL for white ball cricket is how County Cricket was the finishing school for Test cricketers.

Banton playing the Final of Bob Willis Trophy, regardless of recent improved FC returns, doesn't really help English cricket when he has a remote chance of playing Test cricket.

 

[JaDed]

No issue being hated by Brits, the more they hate the better we are doing

 

[Titan24]

I am not sure why people are saying that Banton has a remote chance of playing Test cricket when he is just 21 and has only played 14 FC matches. Jos Buttler averaged just a bit over 30 in FC cricket and played more matches for Eng test side as a specialist test batsman than as a keeper.

If some English cricket experts, followers and fans are upset its pretty understandable as well because you want your young talent like Banton developing is longer formats game as well. As a Pakistani fan if for example Haider Ali would have left QAE trophy for a T20 league I would have had some questions as well.

At the same time I understand that players want to earn money but when 20-23 year old guys prefer T20 leagues when they have quite a few years to be going for those later than that definitely raises the questions regarding balance.

If every dynamic young batsman would prefer T20 leagues than the to establish his longer format game than we would only see players only having a game for longer format playing that. While the IPL schedule was altered for this year but, priorities being manifested by young players might need some alterations I think.

 

[U$ofA]

This is a pretty awful take. Every domestic team in the world (IPL included) receives payouts from their national board.

It's the reality/truth. You are saying the same thing by the way.

 

[hitthestump]

No issue being hated by Brits, the more they hate the better we are doing

'Better' is subjective bhai. The balance sheet may be looking good but at what cost to cricket?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

England's white ball success is primarily because the likes of Morgan played the IPL. There's no doubt about it. IPL money is what has brought real athletes to the game of cricket. Countries like NZ, a cricket career became a viable alternative to rugby due to IPl money and, lo and behold, NZ are producing faster bowlers than ever. Morgan's liaison with Bayliss goes back to the IPL. I'm a huge fan of Fawlty Towers but john Cleese, much like the OP, is still stuck in the 70's and is purblind to the extent to which has influenced even English cricket.

 

[Junaids]

Given what else has just happened in the sporting world, with someone whose club has paid him US$45 million per year since 2016 for him to sit on the bench, all that needs saying is:

Wales.
Golf.
Madrid.
In that order.

 

[Junaids]

England's white ball success is primarily because the likes of Morgan played the IPL. There's no doubt about it. IPL money is what has brought real athletes to the game of cricket. Countries like NZ, a cricket career became a viable alternative to rugby due to IPl money and, lo and behold, NZ are producing faster bowlers than ever. Morgan's liaison with Bayliss goes back to the IPL. I'm a huge fan of Fawlty Towers but john Cleese, much like the OP, is still stuck in the 70's and is purblind to the extent to which has influenced even English cricket.

None of us could care less about England’s white ball success - winning the 2019 World Cup wasn’t even our biggest cricket achievement of the summer of 2019 - winning the Headingley Test was a hundred times bigger and more memorable.

Banton is missing his club’s biggest ever game to pimp himself out for money in a Mickey Mouse League. It is the precise equivalent of learning that your mother has just accepted $1 million to spend the night with Harvey Weinstein, and your father is driving her to the hotel.

Money can buy you a lot of things, but still, it’s such a huge thing to do, to walk out on your childhood club on the biggest day in their history.

Especially when even before Somerset he was a junior at Warwickshire - Bob Willis’ last County.

Not too many 21 year olds manage to alienate two different clubs PLUS all of us who loved Bob Willis.

All to sit in quarantine in a UAE hotel room!

 

[Thunderbolt14]

None of us could care less about England’s white ball success - winning the 2019 World Cup wasn’t even our biggest cricket achievement of the summer of 2019 - winning the Headingley Test was a hundred times bigger and more memorable.

Banton is missing his club’s biggest ever game to pimp himself out for money in a Mickey Mouse League. It is the precise equivalent of learning that your mother has just accepted $1 million to spend the night with Harvey Weinstein, and your father is driving her to the hotel.

Money can buy you a lot of things, but still, it’s such a huge thing to do, to walk out on your childhood club on the biggest day in their history.

Especially when even before Somerset he was a junior at Warwickshire - Bob Willis’ last County.

Not too many 21 year olds manage to alienate two different clubs PLUS all of us who loved Bob Willis.

All to sit in quarantine in a UAE hotel room!

I completely agree with you but only because he is warming the bench. If he were going to play, I would have understood the decision in terms of grabbing eyes and making headlines which can be important for a young career, especially when the batting lineup he is trying to break into has as much depth as England’s.

But to not play cricket just for the money, rather than being there for your club, that’s very shallow minded and says a lot about the kind of cricketer be wants to be.

Some background on Banton: apparently he’s the son of a millionaire dad who has backed him throughout age group and now at Somerset with connections as well as the funding for the best coaches and opportunities. Seems he belongs to a money-friendly school of thought.

 

[JaDed]

'Better' is subjective bhai. The balance sheet may be looking good but at what cost to cricket?

Do you think county cricket ever cared about others ?Didn't they change their overseas quota in early 90's?

 

[U$ofA]

I have no idea what Banton wanted to do. But the important thing is, he gets to do what he wants to do and nothing is forced upon him.

Everything else is secondary.

 

[pratiktc]

Who is this US?

You, John Cleese and the three men and dog that watch County cricket?

Lol at how you condescend calling IPL a Mickey Mouse league and saying WC win was of no consequence. Both have done far more for attracting new generations towards cricket than

You can lament about changing times and priorities all you want, but don't presume to know what is the best choice to make for a young cricketer. It has taken a lot of development on central contracts, NOCs etc. for professional English cricketers to be in a position where they can decide how best to ply their trade rather than some stuffy Neanderthal from 1950s telling them what they can or cannot do.

 

[Junaids]

Who is this US?

You, John Cleese and the three men and dog that watch County cricket?

Lol at how you condescend calling IPL a Mickey Mouse league and saying WC win was of no consequence. Both have done far more for attracting new generations towards cricket than

You can lament about changing times and priorities all you want, but don't presume to know what is the best choice to make for a young cricketer. It has taken a lot of development on central contracts, NOCs etc. for professional English cricketers to be in a position where they can decide how best to ply their trade rather than some stuffy Neanderthal from 1950s telling them what they can or cannot do.

I'm not sure that you understood the complex issues of identity and belonging here.

It doesn't matter what sport you consider: teams less than 50-100 years old lack a history or an identity that leads to affiliation. It's why there is no such thing as "away fans" at IPL matches, whereas club football fans go all across Europe supporting their teams.

And that is how you know the difference between a real league and a Mickey Mouse league.

The Banton Affair has made those of us who follow English cricket question whether he is really English at all.

If you consider Lionel Messi, imagine that at 35 he returns home to Rosario to play for Newells Old Boys, whom he has adored since he was a kid. Then he gets a big money offer to play for New York City in the MLS, which would coincide with Newells' chance to win a first ever Copa Libertadores (South American Champions League) final.

It's obvious that he would stay with the team he has supported his whole life. Same with Maradona and Tevez at Boca Juniors. Same with Freddie Flintoff at Lancashire, or Nasser Hussain at Essex.

Johan Cruyff left Ajax Amsterdam for Barcelona, whom he played for and coached with distinction. But every Saturday and Sunday night he had the results phoned through to him for every Ajax team from the Under-8's to the senior team.

You can bet your life that Dom Bess and Jack Leach would be following every ball of the Bob Willis Trophy Final even if they weren't playing for Somerset in it.

And yet Tom Banton clearly doesn't care. He doesn't identify with his own club or his own country.

That's always a risk with the kids of ex-pats: my kids have grown up in Australia with an English dad and I have had to ensure that they do not grow up separate or unintegrated.

I chose my Pakpassion name in homage to Junaid Khan. But at the end of the 2014 County Championship season my team (Lancashire) called him up for a Relegation Decider against Middlesex. He was rubbish: he took 0-63 (out of 214 all out) and 3-84 (out of 341-8) and we went down. I have never forgiven him.

Affiliation and identity matter. And if you can't be bothered to play for your own team in the biggest game in their history, because you can sit in a hotel room waiting to play for an artificial team in an artificial league, then I seriously wonder whether you have a place in your own national team.

 

[Junaids]

Who is this US?

You, John Cleese and the three men and dog that watch County cricket?

Lol at how you condescend calling IPL a Mickey Mouse league and saying WC win was of no consequence. Both have done far more for attracting new generations towards cricket than

You can lament about changing times and priorities all you want, but don't presume to know what is the best choice to make for a young cricketer. It has taken a lot of development on central contracts, NOCs etc. for professional English cricketers to be in a position where they can decide how best to ply their trade rather than some stuffy Neanderthal from 1950s telling them what they can or cannot do.

I think my opinions are pretty much unanimous in Australia and England among grown-ups.

Little boys and girls may follow the artificial teams in the Big Bash and The Hundred. But grown-ups can tell the difference between hit-and-giggle wallpaper for morons and real cricket with real meaning and real history.

It's why Channel 7 has spent eight months trying to get rid of the TV rights for the Big Bash, and nobody wants to buy the rights and broadcast it.

I would have some sympathy if Jack Leach had to depart because he had a contract to play for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, developing skills that he could use for his country in a forthcoming Test series in India.

But selling out the club which gave you your career, in the biggest game in their history, to play clown cricket for an artificial team in a Mickey Mouse competition?.

 

[Donal Cozzie]

I absolutely love how Ireland's squad spent the guts of a month in a bio bubble also yet everybody just ignored it lol.

Talk about giving the WI money, touring Pakistan, countless tweets of thanks. Meanwhile barely even a footnote for ourselves, despite us even winning a game. Annoying to say the least.

 

[Junaids]

Who is in charge of the IPL?

A decade ago, I would imagine that the England and Wales Cricket Board chief would have just rung Lalit Modi and said "Lalit, we both know Banton won't be playing - can you just allow him to turn up a week later for the sake of goodwill between us and you?"

But now, I'm not even sure that anyone at the IPL even understands the depth of this scandal, let alone has the authority to fix it.

 

[Junaids]

I absolutely love how Ireland's squad spent the guts of a month in a bio bubble also yet everybody just ignored it lol.

Talk about giving the WI money, touring Pakistan, countless tweets of thanks. Meanwhile barely even a footnote for ourselves, despite us even winning a game. Annoying to say the least.

Fair point - sorry about that, and thank you!

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

I think my opinions are pretty much unanimous in Australia and England among grown-ups.

Little boys and girls may follow the artificial teams in the Big Bash and The Hundred. But grown-ups can tell the difference between hit-and-giggle wallpaper for morons and real cricket with real meaning and real history.

It's why Channel 7 has spent eight months trying to get rid of the TV rights for the Big Bash, and nobody wants to buy the rights and broadcast it.

I would have some sympathy if Jack Leach had to depart because he had a contract to play for Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy, developing skills that he could use for his country in a forthcoming Test series in India.

But selling out the club which gave you your career, in the biggest game in their history, to play clown cricket for an artificial team in a Mickey Mouse competition?

Wow this is really below the belt attack on players prioritising IPL to secure their future. You are also forgetting, a wise person with that money will invest in his skills. Test cricket cannot be forced down someones throat.
If Banton has interest, he will utilize IPL to mingle with the best in the world, absorb information and routines from those experienced and successful top tier players like Virat Kohli.. Get to do net practice with Kuldeep Yadav and Pat Cummins... and use the money to invest in himself to improve. Hardly think County cricket can provide all that.
And, then, go back to County after this experience as a better player.
And current year IPL is a one off thing because of COVID.. else it happens in a separate cycle year on year. Not sure why so much hoopla.

 

[Local.Dada]

Hated but rated I guess. Naseer Hussain and Artheton cannot stop raving about IPL performances of Bairstow,Butler,Woakes,Curran and Stokes and probably remember more stats and performances in the IPL than most Indians fans do

 

[BreadPakoda]

Genuine question - who is Tom Banton? Is he an upcoming batting star?

It took me a while registering Dawid (with a w) Malan.

 

[HitWicket]

It's the reality/truth. You are saying the same thing by the way.

So I'm not entirely sure what your point is? If every domestic team in the world would stop operating without money from their national body it's a fairly pointless statement...

 

[viveks]

I am not sure why people are saying that Banton has a remote chance of playing Test cricket when he is just 21 and has only played 14 FC matches. Jos Buttler averaged just a bit over 30 in FC cricket and played more matches for Eng test side as a specialist test batsman than as a keeper.

If some English cricket experts, followers and fans are upset its pretty understandable as well because you want your young talent like Banton developing is longer formats game as well. As a Pakistani fan if for example Haider Ali would have left QAE trophy for a T20 league I would have had some questions as well.

At the same time I understand that players want to earn money but when 20-23 year old guys prefer T20 leagues when they have quite a few years to be going for those later than that definitely raises the questions regarding balance.

If every dynamic young batsman would prefer T20 leagues than the to establish his longer format game than we would only see players only having a game for longer format playing that. While the IPL schedule was altered for this year but, priorities being manifested by young players might need some alterations I think.

T20 and Tests should be considered as different formats to a degree. If players think they can do both that's their choice but I also think it's smart to prioritize one over the other. If Banton wants to prioritize T20s that's his choice, not that he has no chance to play tests, but there's nothing wrong with doing so on a personal level. At the end of the day, players should decide what they consider important not the fans and the experts.

That said, all he did was miss one match where he probably wouldn't have even been picked. Leaving aside the intangibles("a historical game") it's a practically smart to decision to leave and he's not really indicating any sort of priority.

 

[HitWicket]

That said, all he did was miss one match where he probably wouldn't have even been picked. Leaving aside the intangibles("a historical game") it's a practically smart to decision to leave and he's not really indicating any sort of priority.

Again, people seem to be missing the fact that he's also missed/missed 3 vital T20 games for Somerset that were essentially all knockouts (along with likely additional knockouts if they won them all).

 

[viveks]

Apparently some people take a game played for entertainment so seriously that they questions someone's nationality for leaving their county side for a game they wouldn't have played and also call people who watch T20s(a different version of the same game played for entertainment) "morons"(as if Cricket is some sort of intellectually riveting game in the first place).

So much for being "grown ups"

 

[viveks]

Again, people seem to be missing the fact that he's also missed/missed 3 vital T20 games for Somerset that were essentially all knockouts (along with likely additional knockouts if they won them all).

According to this thread that is just "clown cricket" with "no history" anyways. So pretty sure none of the whining from the "Grown ups" has anything to do with that

 

[HitWicket]

Apparently some people take a game played for entertainment so seriously that they questions someone's nationality for leaving their county side for a game they wouldn't have played and also call people who watch T20s(a different version of the same game played for entertainment) "morons"(as if Cricket is some sort of intellectually riveting game in the first place).

So much for being "grown ups"

To add to my previous comment he'd also have been pretty much guaranteed to play in the Bob Willis Trophy final had he stayed.

 

[leg-side-flick]

But now, I'm not even sure that anyone at the IPL even understands the depth of this scandal, let alone has the authority to fix it.

This scandal is huge, I doubt IPL governing council will take it lightly....

Most likely a special general body meeting will be called by Jay Shah, with a special invitation to Mukesh Ambani.

Saurav Ganguly will personally brief the world on this....

P. S. Whenever you get time, please forgive Junaid Khan, he follows you religiously and probably didn't like that post.

 

[JaDed]

Who is in charge of the IPL?

A decade ago, I would imagine that the England and Wales Cricket Board chief would have just rung Lalit Modi and said "Lalit, we both know Banton won't be playing - can you just allow him to turn up a week later for the sake of goodwill between us and you?"

But now, I'm not even sure that anyone at the IPL even understands the depth of this scandal, let alone has the authority to fix it.

Raina, Malinga have pulled out from IPL this season.. if they can wwhen they are basically LOI players , the blame lies on Banton not IPL here, direct your posts to him, so much for scandal lol

 

[JaDed]

I absolutely love how Ireland's squad spent the guts of a month in a bio bubble also yet everybody just ignored it lol.

Talk about giving the WI money, touring Pakistan, countless tweets of thanks. Meanwhile barely even a footnote for ourselves, despite us even winning a game. Annoying to say the least.

Credit to Irish to still expect from Brits.