The Cricket Thread 2016

[JD]

There's plenty of coverage of the return of Mohammad Amir to the Pakistan test side. He's likely to play in the Lords test which starts on Thursday, ironically he's returning to the scene of his crime.

So fellow H&V'ers should he be allowed to play?

For me, he should have been banned for life from the game. Match fixing is wrong and he knew the risks when he joined the other match fixers such as Salman Butt.

One of the arguments put forward by the let him play "brigade" is that he was only 18 when he got caught in a tabloid sting. I just think that at 18 you know the difference between right and wrong.

There's also the question of ICC double standards. Lou Vincent, the Kiwi bowler received 11 life bans for admitting his part in match fixing. He cooperated with the fixing enquiry from the start and plead guilty. Why did they throw the book at him yet let Amir back in after serving his ban? Match fixing is match fixing and Amir should have got the same life ban.

He was 18 and was talked into it by his captain and the senior bowler in the side and, by all accounts, was told that all the players did it every now and then as a way of earning a bit of extra money.  I think he was put into an impossible position by people who he trusted and he shouldn't be denied his entire career because of it. 

Lou Vincent was a batsman not a bowler, but apart from that i agree, the penalty should be consistent for all.

[hipkiss92]

There's a very good article by Jonathan Liew on the Telegraph website on this.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2016/07/12/redemption-of-mohammad-amir-is-an-enlightened-cause-for-celebrat/

[paul_e]

There's plenty of coverage of the return of Mohammad Amir to the Pakistan test side. He's likely to play in the Lords test which starts on Thursday, ironically he's returning to the scene of his crime.

So fellow H&V'ers should he be allowed to play?

For me, he should have been banned for life from the game. Match fixing is wrong and he knew the risks when he joined the other match fixers such as Salman Butt.

One of the arguments put forward by the let him play "brigade" is that he was only 18 when he got caught in a tabloid sting. I just think that at 18 you know the difference between right and wrong.

There's also the question of ICC double standards. Lou Vincent, the Kiwi bowler received 11 life bans for admitting his part in match fixing. He cooperated with the fixing enquiry from the start and plead guilty. Why did they throw the book at him yet let Amir back in after serving his ban? Match fixing is match fixing and Amir should have got the same life ban.

He was 18 and was talked into it by his captain and the senior bowler in the side and, by all accounts, was told that all the players did it every now and then as a way of earning a bit of extra money.  I think he was put into an impossible position by people who he trusted and he shouldn't be denied his entire career because of it. 

Lou Vincent was a batsman not a bowler, but apart from that i agree, the penalty should be consistent for all.

I made no mention of Vincent, I was referring to Butt and Asif.

[JD]

I was referring to the post you responded to Paul, not yours.

[paul_e]

Ah ok, I thought the senior bowler bit might have caused some confusion somewhere.

I think the other key difference is that Vincent admitted to it when he was pretty much retired anyway, Amir was 18 so giving them the same sentence would have automatically been much harsher on Amir.  On balance I think they've got this spot on.  Where I think there is a major argument for life bans is doping and drug cheats because whilst the cheating might have stopped it's almost impossible to accurately judge the long term effects so even once they're clean it's impossible to be certain that they're not benefitting from cheating.  Match/Spot fixing is a financial crime and should be treated as such and lead to a criminal record, but it doesn't need additional punishment on the sporting side as there are no performance affecting consequences.

[AVH87]

Aamir and co conned a lot of spectators out of a lot of money thinking they were watching a Test match where two teams were focussed on winning, instead over 25% of one team were more interested in making extra money at any cost to themselves and the integrity of the sport.

They say time is a great healer, but something doesn't sit right about this guy steaming in tomorrow watched on by 30,000 at Lords and hundreds of thousands around the world. I'm pretty sure several of the England batsmen will be a bit more aggrieved at getting out to him too, rather than other bowlers, I expect them to feel a bit 'cheated', like when you get given out to a no-ball or adjudged LBW when you've hit it.

[PaulWinch again]

My view is that he was given a punishment, he's served that punishment and therefore time to move on. I'm far more prepared to be lenient with him, because of his age at the time and the influence of older players on him. Now I think we should be looking at life bans moving forward, because this case is high profile enough and education should have been improved.

Cricket needs talented bowlers and Amir is immensely talented, it's time to move on and let him play.

[PGW]

My view is that he was given a punishment, he's served that punishment and therefore time to move on. I'm far more prepared to be lenient with him, because of his age at the time and the influence of older players on him. Now I think we should be looking at life bans moving forward, because this case is high profile enough and education should have been improved.

Cricket needs talented bowlers and Amir is immensely talented, it's time to move on and let him play.

Totally agree with this. Looking forward to Test match at Edgbaston to see him perform.

[Villan For Life]

Pakistan have won the toss and are batting.

That is a good toss to win so we need to capitalise on the favourable day one conditions.

[PGW]

First blood to England...Bear Mr Woakes striking in his 2nd over
Masood ct Bairstow b Woakes 7
Pakistan 38/1 12.2

[PGW]

Woakes 2/9 now
51/2
Hafeez Ct Bairstow b Woakes 40

Rapidly becoming indispensable for England.

[PaulWinch again]

Very good from Woakes. We need to limit Pakistan here, because their bowling attack is strong.

[tomd2103]

My view is that he was given a punishment, he's served that punishment and therefore time to move on. I'm far more prepared to be lenient with him, because of his age at the time and the influence of older players on him. Now I think we should be looking at life bans moving forward, because this case is high profile enough and education should have been improved.

Cricket needs talented bowlers and Amir is immensely talented, it's time to move on and let him play.

Agree with this Paul.  If anything is going to be criticised, it should be the rules.  As the rules stand, he has served his ban and is available for selection again.  As an England supporter, although I would be sympathetic if one of our players was in that particular situation (given his age etc.) I would feel he had let his country down and would not want to see him playing international cricket for us again.  Would have no qualms with them playing county cricket and earning a living out of the game though.  I accept that the Pakistanis didn't feel that way and have picked him again, which they are perfectly entitled to do.     

[UK Redsox]

Blowers is on fine form. Sounds like he may have had a sherry already

Also, good to hear Ed Smith. I rate him as a commentator

[PaulWinch again]

I rate Finn but he's starting to frustrate me. He's out of rhythm completely, but I can't see any particular reason why.