Comments on: A post in which I am the cricketing version of David Hilbert

By: David Barry

David Barry — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:45:48 +0000

I certainly hope the theory has merit in football. Then the Eagles might win the flag again, now they’ve lost Judd and Cousins. I’m not holding my breath.

I don’t think the idea has much merit in cricket. There may be personality clashes, and these have led to players missing out on selection, but the loss of a superstar is almost always bad. I would much rather have Warne than MacGill, for instance. And Warne is a useful example here – it’s clear that he didn’t get along with Steve Waugh all that well, but they put aside their differences on the field.

I think the Bulldogs will be a worse team without Mason. We’ll see how it goes next season.

(In defence of the idea in that article, we only beat the West Indies after Allan Border retired, and only won a series in India after Waugh retired.)

By: Julian

Julian — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 11:56:42 +0000

I would be interested in knowing whether this theory has any merit in cricket: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22801590-23214,00.html

Obviously there aren’t trades at a national level, but is there anything to it on a domestic level? Or on retirement at an international level?

By: martinleslie

martinleslie — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:37:20 +0000

Scratch that. Credit has run out.

By: martinleslie

martinleslie — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:35:13 +0000

Hi dad,

I’ll arrive in Brisbane at 8:20am on 22nd of Dec. I’ll probably come home straight away and then spend some time in Brisbane early January.

Have you got me a ticket to come back to the US of A yet?

Our apartment phone must not be working for some reason. I don’t think i’ve heard it ring for weeks. You could try my mobile if you want. I’ve got lots of credit that will run out soon. Number is (plus whatever you need to stick on the front).

By: the real mum

the real mum — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:58:04 +0000

I,ve lots of ideas , will discuss them with you when you’ re home. Do you arrive on 22nd Dec in Bris ? What time ? Are you stay ing any time in Bris? Sorry this is probably a misuse of your blog but my E-mail wont send and the phone line is eternally busy Looking forward to seeing you.

By: the real mum

the real mum — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 07:48:04 +0000

Marty

By: David Barry

David Barry — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:42:19 +0000

More Charles Davis: the toss. It used to be advantageous (57-43 before WWII), but isn't anymore (51-49 "in recent years") because captains aren't choosing to bowl first often enough.

By: David Barry

David Barry — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:13:31 +0000

Unfortunately my database isn't going to have ball-by-ball data, just the raw details you get in a summary scorecard. So some of these will be impossible for me. Indeed, ball-by-ball data is pretty rare before Cricinfo came along, so even the big statisticians of the world only do analyses on them with matches from the last ten years or so. Nightwatchmen are bad for the team. See Charles Davis. Warne was ranked as the #10 bowler all-time by Davis in Wisden Australia 2005/06 - link (with some now partly dated discussion). If he took country-by-country analysis, Warne was fifth. Spinner's averages tend to be higher than those for quicks - in my head I always use an adjustment of 5 runs or so. McGrath actually got his average up to 7.5 by the end of his Test career.