How many people remember that.....?

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
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…in the early 80s and before that, we used to have a REST DAY in the middle of the Test Match.

I had almost forgotten about it…until this moment.

I mean it seems so crazy now…given that the total number of games (Test Matches + ODIs) per year in those days was probably 25% of today…yet the players needed to REST for a day in the middle of a Test.

On a related note, I personally think that we give the old generation too much credit…we worship players like Bradman, Sobers etc as if it is simply impossible that there will be another player like them.

Some former player recently compared Yuvraj’s hitting ability to that of Sobers…and I heard so many people scoffing about it in another forum.

The fact is that today’s generation is much more fitter and agile. The players ability to adapt to different formats and improvise is something which was not required in the old days.

Have a lot to say on this topic - but I will just be blunt and say - that Cricket generally sucked in the old days…and those people who romanticize those times need a reality check.

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Re: How many people remember that.....?

It was not only in early 80's. the practice lasted till 1989 i belive..i remember a very famous rest day in Bangalore in 87 where both teams went for a Dewali function and event of that function were important to swing the game and series for the visitors.

Engro chief resigns to join PTI?
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Actually the rest day was part of test matches until early 90's if I remember correctly. Use to be after the 3rd day of the match.

I remember sometimes it was frustrating to see 3rd or 4th day washed out with the weather remaining pretty pleasant during the rest day :)

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Re: How many people remember that.....?

I second some1's comments about the Old Test Cricket. I used to SUCK in old days at least TEST cricket. IMHO, Test Cricket is much more interesting now with most of the matches producing results.

As far as old players vs new players is concerned, I guess both side have valid arguments. You are right that current players are more fitter and agile. I remember old days when players had to leave cricket for months/years to recover from injury but on the other hand, more resources and technology is available to players in current era which help them in their fitness. Specially designed dresses, guarding equipment while playing, energy drinks, nutritionists 24/7, Trained Physio etc etc

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Re: How many people remember that.....?

Players from old generations can argue that since they lacked the facilities (designed dresses, guarding equipment while playing, energy drinks, nutritionists 24/7, Trained Physio etc etc) that current gen cricketers have the achievements should count for more. few of the things that players faced in 70's and 80's that post 1990 cricketers didnt was uncovered wickets all over the world, front foot bowling rule, count less numbers of short pitched balls, biased umpiring and also lack of camras and mikes on field that lead to more racial taunts in field.

I just checked the last time rest day was used in Pak, it was in Dec 1993 vs Zimb

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Re: How many people remember that…?

i didnt knew about test matches until 1999 :hmmm:

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Re: How many people remember that.....?

Currently, Test matches are played over five consecutive days, but they have in the recent past occasionally included a rest day after the third or fourth day of play. Historically, Tests have been scheduled for variable numbers of days, from as few as three days of play to "timeless" matches in which there is no limit to the number of days of play.

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Re: How many people remember that.....?

I know I started off with REST DAYS, but the bigger question I wanted to discuss is why do we simply accept without question the legendary status of some old players and consider it as blasphemy if somebody even hints at comparing today's players with them.

For example, most of us have not even seen Bradman bat on TV (or worse even on YouTube !), yet we become so easily accepting of his status in Cricket mythology & folklore. Yeah his 90+ average, but did the rival teams during those days have the ability to do a sophisticated video analysis to exploit his weak points....similarly there could be so many other mitigating points to his supposed greatness.

What is wrong with human evolution that it becomes impossible (in people's minds ) for our generation and future ones to produce anyone like the legends of old.
Why do we think :
(1) There cannot be another Bradman.
(2) There cannot be another Pele.
(3) There cannot be another Mohd Rafi.

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Re: How many people remember that…?

y there cant be another some1 some where :hmmm:

on serious note … yeah i do agree with what you say …
plus i wanna add … there shudnt be record of doing something first … like makin 1st century or 1st 500 runs …

its not the fault of person who did that 2nd time that he was born late …

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With no offense, such words need to be avoided as they must only be reserved for God / gods of one's religion.

Though I understand that some people in India do the silly act of practically worshiping Sachin and Amitabh, who are nothing more than human beings, otherwise they wouldn't get ill or unfit but would give 100% perfect performance in EVERY single match or movie they are involved in, respectively. We all know this is not the case in reality.

p.s. It has been irritating for me whenever I heard people calling players and GOD and beautiful women as godess ...etc. even if they don't mean it, it seems insulting for the players himself and also for GOD. Just my personal opinion and I might be wrong for people who have different thinking.

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Why must you make everything a religious debate?

Nevermind, ofcourse you do. You're one of those 'I submit myself to this fiction' people.

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Re: How many people remember that.....?

^ As I said, it is how I usually felt about the use of such words as mostly they are used for Gods. Usually I remain quiet on such matters, but this time I felt the need to mention my views on this subject. I also mentioned in my post that my perspective might be wrong. But I did not personally attacked the person or tried to offend him. I am sure he might come up with a reply which is convincing for me and help me learn more about the use of such words.

And I don't intend to judge him or anyone on the basis of using such word, as judging anyone's personality and intentions is not my right.

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Re: How many people remember that.....?

Alright, I have just checked the meaning of the word "Worship" in the dictionary, and realized that it also has a meaning: **to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thing). **I apologize to brother Some1 for my mistake of pointing out something without checking from an authentic source and also deviating the topic from the original discussion. I should have checked it before saying anything.

@Topic. I agree to your point of view. Thanks for sharing.

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Re: How many people remember that.....?

^ And you had to check the dictionary for that.... ...ever heard the word "hero-worship" my friend ?

Like I suggested to you in another thread, you need to loosen up a little....you don't have to be uptight and finicky about every little detail.

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Re: How many people remember that.....?

^ Thanks for the advice.

Timepass -April 2012
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Re: How many people remember that.....?

I blame the "submission" for this behavior.

Timepass -April 2012
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I would like to mention here that I really appreciate your way of responding in most of your posts. Very logical and to the point (MashaAllah). I have learned a lot from some of your posts in the past and I would like to learn more from you in the future (InshaAllah).

I agree with you that at times I think too much about minor details. I am working on it, and hopefully would improve with time. Kindly remember me in prayers.

May Allah (s.w.t) bless you and your family with all the blessings of this life and hereafter.

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and they made u mod of kk? GS is on a downward spiral

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:faizy:

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Yes the rest day sucked but I believe bowlers of the late 70s and 80s were more awesome, the West Indian quartet, Thompson, Lillee, Imran, Hadlee etc. plus we have not seen the like of allrounders - Imran, Kapil, Botham and Hadlee since that era. Wasim, Pollock and even Flintoff are not quite in the same class of those great all-rounders.

I don't think I have seen a better batsman than Viv Richards in my life time. He had supreme reflexes. His power was awesome, he hooked devastatingly and no one-else looked as majestic and princely at the wicket as Viv did back in those days.

In Imran Khan's famous words, ' Viv aisa batsman tha jisse bowling karte huey waqai khauf aata tha!'

And don't forget guys like Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge NEVER wore a helmet in their playing days.... it is simply unthinkable in modern era!! Hence Wisden's famous quote about Viv Richards, 'He took on the world in a cap'

We don't just romanticise about any old player only the great ones and it is a fact that the truly gifted amongst them - Bradman, Sobers, Richards, Imran, Lillee, Hadlee, Holding, Marshall, Garner, Gavaskar (water-tight defence, arguably the best ever), Miandad, Border etc. - if they had access in their heydeys to the protective gear, fitness facilities and technology/neutral umpires (most of them, batsmen and bowlers (and hence their averages) suffered because of poor and biased umpiring on various tours!!) **of today they would have I believe raised the bar even higher with their brilliance and supreme talent. **Imran Khan was the first captain to go for neutral umpires in a test series, the Pak-India 89 home series, all 4 tests were drawn.

(ps. I am not saying that we are not producing any great players anymore - Lara, Tendu, Dravid, the two W's, McGrath, Warne, Murali, Gilchrist, Ponting etc. clearly stand out from the rest - only that the brilliant players of old were (equally) truly great and even 'greater' in some instances)