Do our cricketers really improve by playing county cricket?

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May be they do.

Or maybe they just learn to speak english with a better accent, and many get awed.

This idea that county cricket will do wonders to a bowler is casually mentioned a number of times here, and I am just trying to get a better understanding on whether this presumption is still valid.

Don’t get me wrong. I know county was considered the ultimate dream of all cricketers from sub-continent and from other places. In the times of Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas and even so recent as Waseem and Waqar’s early days. In its peak days, the county fans would see Viv Richards, Ian Botham, Imran Khan and Michael Holding going head to head in Surrey.

The reason:
(1) The english weather is unique and it allowed the bowlers and batsmen to have a varied experience compared to their homeland.
(2) Best of the best cricketers from all over the world used to come to England and play each other. Thats a sure bet to increase your skills.

Not any more:
(1) The weather conditions remains the same. But most of world cricket is not played in England anymore. Gone are the days when three successive world cup finals were played in Lords. If anything, the major cricket activity is now in Asia and Australia.

(2) English team itself is quite mediocre and hence their local talent can’t be much better. County system has lost a lot charm as major international players are playing more and more international cricket for their respective countries and thus have little time to play county cricket (or are not released by their national cricket boards).

The protective policies of county teams also puts restrictions on the number of international players they can invite. All this must mean that the quality of county cricket has gone down several notches, compared to mid 70’s and 80’s.

Yes, England still has good sporty pitches, plus playing county cricket will still mean a lot of money for a promising Pakistani or Indian player, and he can enjoy his summers in England and learn to speak English with a good accent.

But in pure cricketing terms, how much does a cricketer really improve their cricketing skills by playing in county cricket?

[This message has been edited by Pristine (edited June 04, 2002).]

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Something I posted in another thread (I'll contribute more later, I've been itching to trash county cricket for some time now):

[quote]

Saqi and Razzler are playing county cricket. Trying to get "experience and exposure" in English conditions while playing with extremely mediocre level of players.
This whole county thing pisses me off so much. I remember in 97 after Pakistan won the World Series Cup, Pakistan could realistically claim to being the best side in the world. But immediately after the series, Wasim, Waqar and Mushy went on county duty leaving Pakistan with its second best bowling ensemble. That was a time when we really could've pushed ourselves towards excellence. The W's were in amazing form, Mushy was doing great, and Saqi was also starting his rise to the top. And remember this was a time when Pakistan won matches without Anwar or Malik. But our batting though without stars stuck to the job at hand.

I think county cricket is responsible for the demise of some of our players. Examples being Saqlain (I know I'm treading into dangerous waters but most people will agree that Saqi is not the same) and Waqar.
[/quote]

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I can't wait to see Razzaq smash the balls all over the ground in the 20 over matches.
Now that'll bring in the crowd.

I've always thought cricket should be somewhat like Football, and have renoun clubs (for which intl. players play side by side and are cheered apon), then selection for the national team.

As for those two.. I don't see the harm in playing. It's their choice, and if they want to, good for them. I actually think the English team is not selected properly, and there is talent in County Cricket, but they are hidden.

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I think playing in the English county system can do no harm.For a starter it is quite competitive and therefore brings the best out of the players. Secondly our players are playing under different conditions and therefore gaining valuable experience. All our previous players gained by playing in these counties. There are still a number of overseas players there, albeit not as many as in the good old days. Remember Imran was a very ordinary bowler when he first joined the county scene and learned his trade there. As for the English team being mediocre, well they have been that way for a long time. Overall it does not do any harm to these players by playing in these counties. It also helps them financially thereby letting them concentrate more on cricket.

[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited June 05, 2002).]

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we all saw how afridi performed last year....
but when he came back, he was the same old afridi....

saqlain, notably the best county performer, makes hmself look so ordinary in international matches (recently)....

abdur razzaq is already a star all rounder....
his figures of 9-1-25-3 in the last county match he played, show how well he is performing....

and we saw azhar taking 8 wickets in an innings playing for surrey, but i doubt he'll take half as many against aussies....

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I think its good for the crickters but its annoying when they miss out on international matches!!

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County cricket should only help players who are young and inexperienced, I can understand Razzaq going to England but Saqlain has already been experienced why him?

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[quote]
Originally posted by ehsan:
I think playing in the English county system can do no harm.
[/quote]

:~)

I don't think it does any harm. I take it as practise sessions with some mediocre opponents. It surely does make them a pot of money which is always a good way of keeping them from taking those calls from bookies.

But, having said that, I do question their wisdom to miss their national committments to play county circuit. That is unfathomable.

And, even if the national team is not playing, I bet Razzak and Saqlain will improve their skills more by playing with the extremely talented cricketers of PIA vs Habib Bank on un-cooperative wickets in Hyderabad and Faisalabad, rather than to play Middlesex vs Warviskshire. County cricket is no more what it is cracked up to be, in my humble opinion.

It would seem from some of the above posts (I am not a stats person myself) that even those who conquer all in county circuit still do not improve that much when thrown back in the rigorous international competitions.

9

Agreed pristine.
One more point ,Playing too much of cricket may burn out players also.As it is now a days international calender has so much cricket.Previously non-english teams used to have a big quite period between march to September and did make sense to go there and make some fast bucks and learn.But now a days with so much of cricket I dont think playing County cricket is of any great help.

[This message has been edited by andha_qanoon (edited June 05, 2002).]