Will cricket ever return to its golden era?

[JaDed]

Correction: Three wc encounters we won against so called manhandling us team

 

[JaDed]

You forgot the bigger menace - rogue umpires like Bucknor, Benson, Billy - the three B's and ofcourse the likes of Darrell Hair, Harper etc. Infact the best thing that happened to world cricket was getting rid of these and permanently fixing the scourge of dodgy umpiring. Its been years since I have heard fans complain about umpiring. DRS is the best thing that happened to Test Cricket. It took test cricket to a completely new level.
​

The only thing I miss from the 90s is the Aussie commentators - Tony Grieg, Bill Lawry ( what a legend ) and Ian Chappel.

I miss a good Wi and SA team too.. also peak Sachin but lol at “golden” time .

 

[sweep_shot]

Correction: Three wc encounters we won against so called manhandling us team.

Check head to head record.

During those days, bilateral ODIs mattered too. Teams used to take those seriously and used to play their full teams. It is not like today's time where players are too busy with Mickey Mouse franchise leagues.

Cricket was golden before BCCI ruined everything.

 

[mominsaigol]

Cricket needs to do 2 things.

1) Find a way to ensure pakistan vs India 5 match odi series are a recurrent theme.

2) Host more one day tournaments but ensure the integrity of the world cup doesn't get damaged. Maybe One day leagues?

3) go back to the one ball era. This 2 new balls era has killed bowlers interest. Most bowlers just wish to be t20 or test specialists. No one in interested in bowling a 10 over t20 spell.

One ball ensured that any 40 avg batsmen were great and terrific batsmen. Now everyone's mama averages 50

 

[uppercut]

Check head to head record.

During those days, bilateral ODIs mattered too. Teams used to take those seriously and used to play their full teams. It is not like today's time where players are too busy with Mickey Mouse franchise leagues.

Cricket was golden before BCCI ruined everything.

Go check what was written in Pakistani newspapers when Pakistan lost to India for the very first time in 1992 WC, then there was 96 and Wasim Akram still gets hounded (25 yrs later) for missing that QF match and ofcourse we all know about the death threats to him and his family and the extreme measures that were taken to ensure that the irate mobs did not harm the players when they returned. Then after 99 when there was a mini riot and possibly a parliament enquiry. Then there was 2003 WC match which Tendulkar is on record saying that he got reminded off many months before the actual match. I am not even going to list the numerous public TV todo(breaking) incidents. And on and on..... what was the most over the top, extreme response in any of the Bilaterals ?



​

 

[sweep_shot]

Go check what was written in Pakistani newspapers when Pakistan lost to India for the very first time in 1992 WC, then there was 96 and Wasim Akram still gets hounded ( 25 yrs later) for missing that QF match and ofcourse we all know about the death threats to him and his family and the extreme measures that were taken to ensure that the irate mobs did not harm the players when they returned. Then after 99 when there was a mini riot and possibly a parliament enquiry. Then there was 2003 WC match which Tendulkar is on record saying that he got reminded off many months before the actual match. I am not even going to list the numerous public TV todo(breaking) incidents. And on and on..... what was the most over the top, extreme response in any of the Bilaterals ?

​

During those days, there was no T20 or any Mickey Mouse franchise league. Teams were all playing their full teams even during bilateral ODIs. There were classic tournaments like Sharjah Cup, Sahara Cup, Australian tri-series, South African tri-series etc.

Cricket was not experiencing oversaturation of cricket back then. So, things were more enjoyable and natural.

 

[uppercut]

During those days, there was no T20 or any Mickey Mouse franchise league. Teams were all playing their full teams even during bilateral ODIs. There were classic tournaments like Sharjah Cup, Sahara Cup, Australian tri-series, South African tri-series etc.

Cricket was not experiencing oversaturation of cricket back then. So, things were more enjoyable and natural.

My point is that the intensity and pressure of a truly big match is evident from those incidents that I posted. Nothing even remotely compares to the Ind-Pak WC encounters to any other meaningless ODIs. You have no idea. There is a reason why the useless tri-series and cola/pepsi/hajmola/kitply/rothmans series completely vanished from the scene and this happened way before T20 become popular. The only survivor is the Ind-Pak WC event every 4 yrs. These are the hard facts.​

 

[JaDed]

Check head to head record.

During those days, bilateral ODIs mattered too. Teams used to take those seriously and used to play their full teams. It is not like today's time where players are too busy with Mickey Mouse franchise leagues.

Cricket was golden before BCCI ruined everything.

I’m confused manhandle means you want me to go check head-head?
Didn’t you say ODI wc is most important? I would assume other than than that final of a tournament , heck we even won that silly Sahara tournament once.

Maybe you should google the meaning of manhandle before throwing it out like a dullard.

 

[Hitman]

Pakistan - Top team


I don't need stats for this. I saw these teams live in the 90's. Your stats tend to be biased because you use a lot of filters (based on your bias).

Pakistan, a top team in the 90's?

1. Lost 1 Test series to Australia away from home 0-1 in 1990.

2. Lost 1 Test series to West Indies away from home 0-2 in 1993

3. Lost 1 Test series to South Africa away from home 0-1 in 1995

4. Lost 1 Test series against Sri Lanka at HOME when they were still minnows 1-2 in 1995.

5. Lost 1 test series in Australia away from home 1-2 in 1995

6. Lost 1 Test series at HOME to South Africa 0-1 in 1997

7. Lost 1 Test series away from home to Australia 0-1 in 1998.

8. Lost 1 Test series to at HOME Zimbabwe 0-1 in 1997.

9. Got WHITEWASHED 0-3 in Australia in 1999.


Guys this is the record of Test series lost by Pakistan in the 1990's. If this was a top team of that era, than please give me the definition of what a top team really is?

 

[uppercut]

Pakistan, a top team in the 90's?

1. Lost 1 Test series to Australia away from home 0-1 in 1990.

2. Lost 1 Test series to West Indies away from home 0-2 in 1993

3. Lost 1 Test series to South Africa away from home 0-1 in 1995

4. Lost 1 Test series against Sri Lanka at HOME when they were still minnows 1-2 in 1995.

5. Lost 1 test series in Australia away from home 1-2 in 1995

6. Lost 1 Test series at HOME to South Africa 0-1 in 1997

7. Lost 1 Test series away from home to Australia 0-1 in 1998.

8. Lost 1 Test series to at HOME Zimbabwe 0-1 in 1997.

9. Got WHITEWASHED 0-3 in Australia in 1999.


Guys this is the record of Test series lost by Pakistan in the 1990's. If this was a top team of that era, than please give me the definition of what a top team really is?

ohh boy someone got properly owned !!!

Prediction: ODI's >>>> Tests

 

[mominsaigol]

Pakistan, a top team in the 90's?

1. Lost 1 Test series to Australia away from home 0-1 in 1990.

2. Lost 1 Test series to West Indies away from home 0-2 in 1993

3. Lost 1 Test series to South Africa away from home 0-1 in 1995

4. Lost 1 Test series against Sri Lanka at HOME when they were still minnows 1-2 in 1995.

5. Lost 1 test series in Australia away from home 1-2 in 1995

6. Lost 1 Test series at HOME to South Africa 0-1 in 1997

7. Lost 1 Test series away from home to Australia 0-1 in 1998.

8. Lost 1 Test series to at HOME Zimbabwe 0-1 in 1997.

9. Got WHITEWASHED 0-3 in Australia in 1999.


Guys this is the record of Test series lost by Pakistan in the 1990's. If this was a top team of that era, than please give me the definition of what a top team really is?

Pakistan has never once been a top team. I've also said this since I've come here.

Pakistan was always a mid card team that kept falling lower and lower into a rut.

If they were a top tier team, you'd see them win more cups or at the very least dominate more series be it test, odi and t20 over the years.

To be fair to Pakistan, they were a top tier T20 side during the early era of T20. Asian teams were the quickest to adjust to T20 when it was new.

Odi and test? No shot in hell.

I don't wish to get pepper sprayed by Pakistani fans but Imran Khan got very very lucky in 1992.

Younis Khan was the only captain who didn't get lucky and was a solid captain, but had oathgate not occurred, I can't see YK being a good odi captain or good overseas test captain, he was one of the reasons Pakistan's top order was a circus in 2014-2015 due to his stubborn insistence to represent pak once last time

 

[CerebralPatriot]

We were so close to it in 2019.

We had a stable team with an attacking opener in the form of Fakhar. Sharjeel too was poised to make his come back and if he did, these 2 together would have taken our cricket to new heights

Our middle order was the perfect blend of classy youth and gritty experience as well as having all rounders like Imad who gave us perfect balance

Amir leading the bowling line up with shaheen as his deputy was the perfect combo ruined by Misbah just to ensure Rizwan got his buddy Imran khan back in the test team.

If we were allowed to let this team grow I guarantee we would have at least 1 more T20 World Cup in our cabinet as well as being a top 3 test team

But alas those with the real power chose to destroy our beautiful team just to appease

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Indians treat cricket history like their fake news whatsapp chats. On some threads they elevate sachin because they say they knew they were going to lose evry match so were happy that at least he scored. On others they say something else.

Anyway here is w/l in tests in 1990s.



here is ODI W/L ratio



here is w/l in ODI for multi team tournaments



Now you add in during the 90s Pakistan won a world cup at the start of the 90s and reached the final of one at the end and also won an Asian test championship on what planet are they not a top team?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Here is the icing on the cake for test match cricket @sweep_shot you may enjoy this.

look at Indias record in 90s away from home



But they will claim Sachin scored runs under pressure .

What pressure? These guys were the toilet paper of cricket.

 

[uppercut]

But they will claim Sachin scored runs under pressure .

What pressure? These guys were the toilet paper of cricket.

How did that work out in the most important matches of the 90s including one crash out in the 96 WC QF .. lol ?

Hint: World Cups.

PS: Here come the excuses to "prove" that there is no real "presshure" in WC matches. It only exists in pepsi/cola trophies



@Hitman

 

[DeadlyVenom]

How did that work out in the most important matches of the 90s including one crash out in the 96 WC QF .. lol ?

Hint: World Cups.

PS: Here come the excuses to "prove" that there is no real "presshure" in WC matches. It only exists in pepsi/cola trophies



@Hitman

Well done you won a few random games. You can have a sticker from me.

Hitman is a test cricket purist. I'm sure India's poor away record led to him take some drugs to numb the pain.

But after seeing this record he will for sure suddenly become an ODI afficionada

 

[uppercut]

Well done you won a few random games.

Random games that Wasim Akram is still hounded 25+ yrs later

You can have a sticker from me.

Hitman is a test cricket purist. I'm sure India's poor away record led to him take some drugs to numb the pain.

Me too .... but we are under no illusion that India was a great touring side.

what happened in the 1989 test tour of Pakistan ? lol

 

[Rajdeep]

The question asked in OP is fair one but needless rant against India by usual suspects were quiet unnecessary. Blaming India seems to be an easy excuse for boards that just want to sit and eat pie with BCCIs money. Want to revive the glorious days of 90s ODI cricket? Then go ahead and do it. Why would you want others to do the work for you? Who is stopping PCB or BCB to organize tri series in Morocco, Sharjah or wherever like they used to do in 90s? No we wont and only want bailouts from BCCI but will still complain.

You know why these boards don't want to organize those tournaments? It is bcoz there will be no sponsor willing to take rights of such meaningless tournaments. Plus the players themselves are not willing to play ODIs. Heck Pakistani fast bowlers don't even want to play test cricket and only content with T20s.

So blame your boards/players and ask them to revive 90s style cricket and set an example rather than sulking about India 24*7.

 

[rpant_gabba]

Certain things do need to change.

1) For starters odi cricket should go back to the one ball rule only. The 2 new balls rules allowing for 350 to 450 scores is annoying and takes the fun away. 1 ball was a challenging era and I'd like to return to a time where batters who are avg 40 with 80SR are considered ATG, Rather then fraud stats now days where every Tom dick and Harry is avg 50+ with 95 SR's.

The 2 new balls have made stats irrelevant compared to the past era.

Agree. The two ball rule was a wish list from Aus/Eng. completely ruined the game IMO

2) Secondly more bilaterals and more odi tournaments are needed. Odi is my favourite format and I'm tired of seeing it often brushed aside for t20. I understand leagues make money and all but it's no excuse, at the very least icc must give equal importance to both formats.

Thank Shahank manohar for too many tournaments. Regardring bilateral ODI's its upto team to schedule it

3) ICC and BCCI really need to make an effort and have bilaterals between India and pakistan be hosted again. Heck compromise and have the 2 sides play in UAE if it's such a hassle, But these 2 boards need to realise that bi laterals will bring alot of revenue and will bring back ODI cricket. These sides don't need to play test, but do need to play odi and t20 amongst each other.

It is beyond BCCI and ICC. I for one, not in supportive of it. That discussion will derail the tread,

4) We need less tournaments, not more. Seems like every year theirs a new tournament coming up and it's annoying. The beauty of every 4 years for odi and every 2 years for t20 and unknown dates for champions trophy should be maintained.

Agree. Shashank Manohar the cultprit again

5) Pakistan is doing a good job playing Test cricket but other sides need to play more. Recently it's been aus, Eng and india galore, so it's good to see pak and NZ dominating, but all sides need to start playing more and more test cricket. Besides Test does generate revenue, that much ik, since you can literally host tv ads and YouTube ads all day non stop.

Then how come Pak was not able to get a bid for the paltry amount they were asking for?

 

[BouncerGuy]

A golden era will come once Afghanistan or Bangladesh wins the ICC trophy. Till then we have to bear what is going on.

 

[sweep_shot]

A golden era will come once Afghanistan or Bangladesh wins the ICC trophy. Till then we have to bear what is going on.

Golden era is gone due to T20.

I think only way to bring back golden era is to just have Test and ODI.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Golden era is gone due to T20.

I think only way to bring back golden era is to just have Test and ODI.

People here wanna watch t20 only. They do because it is very exciting and takes less time to be completed.

 

[mominsaigol]

People here wanna watch t20 only. They do because it is very exciting and takes less time to be completed.

Also generates the most revenue.

People have jobs, and have lives.

By next year even I won't be able to watch, talk or keep up due to life interfering in my plans.

Hence watching test or an 8 hour odi match is not feasible for many.

But watching a 3 hr t20 game is very doable but also very entertaining and something people would make time for.

The sad thing is t20 cricket is my least favourite favourite format. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but I do feel odi and test are better formats.

I still disagree with the notion that t20 cricket isn't real cricket. It is, It's a different format, but I do think a succesful t20 player doesn't hold the same weight as a succesful odi or test player.

For example sky isn't really measured ampungst Indian greats.

 

[Devadwal]

This is golden Era of test cricket .​

Most teams are winning the away from home Which was almost impossible before 20 years.

NZ winning in india

Bangladesh winning in Pakistan and a test in westindies

England winning in NZ

India winning in Australia ( won one - 2 test a most of away tour's and easily best sway touring team currently)

Westindies earlier won a test in australia and drawn the series .

And Pakistan finally win at home .( Against England)

​

 

[Devadwal]

@Buffet what is actuals reason of team's are competing very well away from home now compared to 90s

Are bowler's becomes more skillful or Any other reasons?

 

[jnaveen1980]

@Buffet what is actuals reason of team's are competing very well away from home now compared to 90s

Are bowler's becomes more skillful or Any other reasons?

Result oriented pitches make that possible. Pink ball test at the Gabba had something in it for pace bowlers. Shamar Joseph used it to the fullest extent.

 

[Buffet]

@Buffet what is actuals reason of team's are competing very well away from home now compared to 90s

Are bowler's becomes more skillful or Any other reasons?

Pitches are better for bowlers so 1-2 bowlers on song can win the game. When pitches are too flat, normally it's very hard to win games for vistor. Not all pitches are better but over all more result oriented pitches are present.

Do you really think NZ would have won 3 tests in indian on slow traditional turners? Same way SA has been giving crazy pitches and then SL happened. On more traditonal pitches, home teams will dominate more often. Pitch with assistance, you bring the visitors in play. Eng has lost many matches because they went for green mamba.

Exception was flat pitches of Pakistan where they lost, but that's due to batting being weak otherwise you can always force draw and not lose tests on that kind of pitches. You can see what happened in 89 tour of Pakistanfor Indian team. Total dead pitch so even a horrible touring team like India drew 0-0 and it was 4 tests in that series. I am glad we don't see that kind of cricket. Cricket is far more pleasant to watch now.

 

[BouncerGuy]

What is the golden era we are talking about actually??? 90s cricket??

 

[Buffet]

What is the golden era we are talking about actually??? 90s cricket??

In my experience most people remember their younger days of watching cricket as golden era. Some one who watched 80s normally think that was golden era.Some one who started watching in 90s thinks 90s was golden era. Not true for everyone, but normal trend has been that way.

All eras have different challenges. I don't think there was any golden era any time.

 

[shoaibqadir]

I guess it is not seeming to be true in near future. Cricket after 2015 WC is no more in its real form. Now cricket is more like money making machine, so eveyrone is using it to generate income.

Still Test Cricket has some glory

rest is just money ............