Really we can go as far as those hinge lumps of wood those cowardly batsmen are allowed to wild, and uncovered pitches..
 
Next those bastards will want a stump removed!!!

To compare one batsman against another, regardless of era, it's just a matter of comparing both against the same opposition in the same conditions. 
For comparisons, it's pointless including developing nations (but I welcome the inclusion somehow) because it wrecks the comparison. If it's about comparisons with Bradman, then the other guy must also be compared against England, not against the Botswana one day side or how he went against the Kenya 4 day side.

Tests are 5 days. Where does that leave the spinners if they cut it to 4? They're often included for the extra turn on the 5th day. That's when their chances of wickets increase, same as the quicks opening on day 1 when it's a feisty pitch that hasn't settled. If it rains for so much as half a day it could mean an instant draw, when the 5th day could've got a result as it always has for generations. If it looks like any chance of rain in the weeks forecast, that could deter crowds knowing it's yet another draw. I'm sure there's countless fors & againsts.  I can comprehend the arguments for considering chopping it to 4, but I really hope they don't. If it means some countries don't face one another so often, so be it, but it's just my preference. I just think the 5th day is important enough to keep it.

Dman, I didn't read you going on about all the draws until after I posted. I evidently agree. :)

Sorry I got that wrong, it's over the forward schedule to 2023, so over 3 years.

The big thing with the scheduling is not gaining a day, it's locking in a Thurs-Sun schedule. 5 days are funky to design series around because you want to include weekends so it plays up with the breaks to the next test. The argument is 4 day tests will see a lot more 4 Test series as they can be scheduled easier. You play Test 1 & 2 back to back (3 days between) then a 10 day break to back to back Tests 4 & 5 and your series is over in less than a month.

They can't design 5 day Tests series in that time frame.

You might be onto something there, although instead of removing a stump they'd be more likely to get results in 4 days if they added a few extra stumps and/or made them twice as tall. Shouldn't give them ideas...

Oh and 8 a side... just imagine the boundaries!!!... 

To do that Thurs to Sunday ~and~ keep the Monday as the 5th day if needed, I'd suggest allowing each squad to have some extra players for rotation to help with shorter turnarounds. It would test depth & sort out the one player wonder teams when the hero has to be rested. Maybe wouldn't need the 10 day break. Anyway it was only a thought if it was a 4 test series scenario. A 3 test series would do in most cases, especially these days. First test could start on a Wed, 2nd test on a Thu, 3rd on a Fri. No lengthy breaks, just extra depth in the squads to get them through. Just crazy ideas, hopefully they'll leave it alone.

Look, I obviously have more confidence in curators... most of them... then you do. Most of the problems with pitches we see now in the past and will be in the future are not to do with what a curator can prepare, it's what what they're told to prepare.

I'm sure they could prepare a pitch to deteriate over 4 days like they do for domestic cricket if they're ALLOWED to.

It's just another example of how comparing stats is just a paper excercise anyway considering from the at least the 90's pitches have been designed for the batsman to contrive..... and wait for it.... 5 DAY TESTS.

4 day Tests may actually do more to bring bowlers back ion the game and introduce a genuine battle between ball and bat than anything else you can think of,

The can say all they like, for me I know that’s their way of encouraging faster run rates... less time so score faster if u wanna win... 
They don’t want a battle between bag and ball, they want 400+ runs a day and batsmen to get out playing just another big shot, not getting out playing a rash shot after being kept scoreless playing and missing for a half dozen overs courtesy of great bowling...

If tampering with the pitch so nobody can bat on it is how it will be sorted, 2 or 3 batsmen might get settled in for a while but mostly it'll be quick wickets falling & lower scores. No more double centuries. If the curators don't get the balance right, it'll be a draw or only need 2 or 3 days for a result. But if it rains, it screws it all up, unless the pitch looks more cratered than the moon surface. I suppose it's no different to how they're already doing it, especially in India with their special pitches prepared overnight for the opposition batsmen. I better let it go, but 4 day tests, it's weirding me out. In addition to 5 day tests, it would be interesting, as a replacement, please no.

Ultimately will end up a two way 50 over affair over two days... and with what we have coming through, anything beyond a 30 second period of concentration other than on themselves will be considered a test... 
#1984
#idiocracy
#thetimemachine...

HNY Comrades!!!...

They've only put the 4 day idea (for more than they've already scheduled) out there for discussion as far as I can tell. Pro's & con's like anything else. Whatever happens, happens & nothing we can do about it. It does remind me of the dawn of Super League, when Rugby League was turned into a plastic bag full of money being torn to shreds in all directions by a pack of wolves & never the same since. It hasn't happened to cricket yet, but from the moment they brought in day/night/pink ball tests, it's like one of the wolves got in the yard & spotted it, started howling & calling the rest of the mongrel things. Glad to hear some of the Aus test team speak out straight to the point "Nope. Don't like it". Hopefully for those that respect the history of the sport there'll be an ongoing majority across all test nations as well. 

Cricket has had extra formats introduced & most people don't have any concerns about that. Once they mess with the Test format too much, I just feel that their attempts at a step forward will turn into 2 steps backwards or worse. Vaughn reminds me of the sort of people that would bulldoze the pyramids, Nazca lines etc just to build another McDonalds. "People have to eat, people need jobs, think of the children..." (Zef, that wasn't a dig at you, at least you look at it from both sides)

As for the Kiwi team this time around, their new captain seems a good bloke, well spoken, very polite etc. They do miss their previous guy though, particularly his aggression as a batsman & competitive attitude that rubbed off on & inspired the rest of the team. Still surprised they wanted to bowl first the other day & start behind instead of taking control. They'll learn from it. 

The decision to bowl May have been made more out of fear of our attack rather than confidence in theirs.  If so, bad reason.

They virtually conceded the test before a ball was bowled... its not like the pitch looked like it had anything in it... it was a typical Melbourne drop in pitch with a little extra grass...  Of we’d have played a good side we’d all be bitching about a draw courtesy of yet another benign mcg test pitch.,.
Mayne they’re readying themselves for playing for 4 day draws... like India will do every time they bat second...

A Villi special on Official Page...newly added Ewan McGrady highlights has him intercepting an errant pass from Manly half back Des Hasler....though Villi would no doubt call him half wit

Remove the “Hal” part and you’d be spot on.,,

Apart from the fact that I think (and I'm not alone) fireworks are increasingly inappropriate in a fire season, they're also more and more boooooooooooring. FMD you seen one fireworks display you seen them all, only the size and noise and f***in' smoke differs.

I've been thinking for years why don't we use the best harbour on the planet for something different, I was thinking along the lines of the like the Vivid Festival write large or.... whatever technology brings.

And here's what technology brings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKnt_6I0m3s

Sydney, you've lost your spot. Keep doing fireworks and keep sliding.

Agreed, the opening ceremony of the previous Olympics showed what can be done...
Bit don’t worry Clover will build some ridiculous structure and tell us all how modern we are...

There is an increasing number of fireworks going off in private backyards...these are supposedly illegal...I bet the bloke in Brisbane who blew off half an arm wishef he would have heeded that. Very distressing for animals. Disney had a show where they projected on water vapour...very effective.. Surely it would make sense to put Vivid on in December so it could culminate with New Year's Eve spectacular. The excuse of losing the tourist dollar could not then be put forward

I hope it was recycled grey water or it’s an Outrage!!!...

It's possible. It was being hyped up that it was a fiery pitch in the lead up. 
The impression I've been getting all tour (on & off the field) from the kiwis - I've never seen a cricket team that needs a few angry pills before. They're seemingly timid, tentative, shy, considerate - almost as if they knew Aus wanted to bat first & the kiwi response was only too kind & generous to provide what Aus wanted. If the Kiwi quicks were causing the Aus batsmen any trouble, the kiwi's would probably bring on some part time spin to help them out, along with an apology. The kiwis have plenty of talent but something doesn't seem right. Anyway, it's a dead rubber starting Friday, but I'm still looking forward to it & we'll see how it goes. I prefer it when these 2 teams are competitive & take it to the wire. When follow-ons become optional, not so good. 

I just read that Aldi & Caltex have decided not to renew their sponsorship of the A League/Socceroos. 

Probably because Caltex is changing its name back to Ampol.....

Villa up 2 nil at halftime at Burnley

Surely we won’t blow it from here... I’m off to bed!

Cmon Villa

The real mock would've hit them hard to lose that 2nd half 3-nil. None of that lose the 2nd half 1-nil & still win the match baby doodle squirt attempt of yours! ;)

At least it was a technical loss...

QPR hammered 6 passed Cardiff....
Technical win!

The irony amidst it all....

Should also say, light-hearted crazy talk not meant to be ignorant of devastation happening, family & friends impacted as many others are, just can't see doom & gloom talk being helpful in any way like rain would. Some things are best left un-said. It's good for a lot of people that the cricket is on today...(which will be appreciated by many via radio).

“You know what, I’ve got a rule change in all cricket: No leg-byes, especially in T20s,” Waugh said in commentary for Fox Cricket.

“That should not be two runs.

“Why do you get runs? You missed the ball.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan challenged Waugh’s call: “It’s just a part of the game,” he said.

Lolol at Michael Vaughan... how dare someone consider a rule change that means less runs in a day!!!... “just part of the game” like 5 days fir a test match you twat???...