Lessons from Cricinfo

Cricinfo is perhaps a one of a kind website-  I don’t know if any other game has quite the same sort of website which covers all the goings- on in the sport. It is most likely that there are such sites out there but I tend to think cricinfo is fairly unique. The reason, I think is that cricket is a sport where one has tended to follow all international games – not just the ones in which one’s team is playing. So, an Australia- South Africa series is often followed even if one is English or Indian.

And this has meant a more intense experience on cricinfo where one can follow all sorts of “literature” on different parts of the game.

But what is most interesting on cricinfo is not the varying views of the experts and journalists but the varying views which come from the fans through the  comments section. And one can learn a lot from that. I probably have a bias towards India related games and tend to read more of the comments on those articles and some of those learnings from such comments are shared here

1.      When foreign teams lose in India it is because the pitches have been doctored to suit India

2.      When Indian teams lose in foreign countries it is because Indian batsman do not know how to play outside of India

3.      A game which finishes in 3 days because of the pacemen wreaking havoc is a great example of fast aggressive bowling

4.      A game which finishes in 3 days because of the spinners wreaking havoc is a great example of a bad pitch and poor curatorship

5.      India is in a position to influence technology over DRS (ref WC semi final lbw decision of Sachin against Saeed Ajmal) and get the decision they want.

5a. That is why India is so much against the implementation of DRS (It is a very morally superior position, one must admit)

6.      There is no discussion related to cricket in which it is not possible to make a reference to Sachin Tendulkar

7.      Sachin Tendulkar should have retired after the 2011 world cup. But given that he’s playing now, he should play for as long as he wants

8.      The only important series in cricket is the Ashes. Every other game happening all over the world is merely preparation for that series

9.      Don Bradman was a useless player because he played only in 10 grounds and if he played today in the “modern” world he would not even average 50 (the fact that no one else in that period scored at 99 is happily ignored by all those who make this argument)

10.  The argument that a player has improved his record in matches against the “minnows” can only be made for players from other teams. However, when someone makes that argument about players from your team simply point out that other players do the same

And finally, without being tongue in cheek – I think the best comments one gets in Cricinfo are from the column “It figures” by Anantha Narayanan – only for readers willing to get highly involved with numbers...but an excellent column and an excellent set of comments from which one can learn a lot.

But then, even if you are not that involved, you have still learned a lot today, haven’t you?