The Cricket Thread

[sunshine]

I feel absolutely certain that, if her weight was having a significant impact on her performances, someone in the England set up would have said to Anya Shrubsole during the fourteen years she has been representing her country at the highest level that she needed to lose a few pounds. Perish the thought that those in charge of the diet, fitness and conditioning of elite level sportswomen might just have more of a clue about Shrubsole than the armchair experts contributing to an online golf forum.

And has anyone even stopped to consider the possibility that Shrubsole’s weight might be aligned to a medical condition? Nah, thought not.

She can get away with it because the standard is so low. It’s not “elite” level athletes at the top of their game.

Do you think if a female tennis player turned up at Wimbledon in that condition she would get very far?

 

[Billysboots]

She can get away with it because the standard is so low. It’s not “elite” level athletes at the top of their game.

Do you think if a female tennis player turned up at Wimbledon in that condition she would get very far?

You’re comparing apples with pears.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

She can get away with it because the standard is so low. It’s not “elite” level athletes at the top of their game.

Do you think if a female tennis player turned up at Wimbledon in that condition she would get very far?

She is competing at the elite level for her sport and sex and has done for a number of years and been for a number of years

 

[Billysboots]

She is competing at the elite level for her sport and sex and has done for a number of years and been for a number of years

Exactly, Phil. She’s competing at the top level in her sport. She’s been “getting away with it” very successfully for nearly fifteen years. If her weight and fitness hampered her to any great extent she’d either have been told to rectify it or been ditched long ago.

Introducing Wimbledon into the argument is laughable. The fitness required to play the two sports is entirely different, as anyone who has played either sport to a decent standard will doubtless attest to. It’s rather like pointing to a jockey, invariably tiny and waif like, and saying they wouldn’t last three minutes in the ring with a heavyweight boxer. Well of course they wouldn’t. They’re not a heavyweight boxer, and Shrubsole isn’t a tennis player.

 

[Dando]

She is competing at the elite level for her sport and sex and has done for a number of years and been for a number of years

She can get away with it because the standard is so low. It’s not “elite” level athletes at the top of their game.

Do you think if a female tennis player turned up at Wimbledon in that condition she would get very far?

She’s got a central contract so she’s clearly elite level

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Compared to what? Sorry but women's cricket is monkey tennis to quote Alan Partridge. If they want equal pay, let them face England's bowling attack or even a decent one and see how long they last.

 

[sunshine]

You’re comparing apples with pears.

Because tennis is competitive and the athletes need to be at the top of their game (which includes peak physical fitness), and cricket is not?

 

[Billysboots]

Because tennis is competitive and the athletes need to be at the top of their game (which includes peak physical fitness), and cricket is not?

Stop being pedantic. Of course someone of Shrubsole’s physical stature isn’t going to rock up at a tennis Grand Slam. But that doesn’t mean she can’t play international cricket, something she’s been doing rather successfully for nearly fifteen years, in exactly the same physical condition.

 

[sunshine]

The immediate post before the above quote talks about Warnie RIP as being one of the greatest sportsman of all time, and he was far from an ideal Renaissance model figure.

I don’t know the lady in question, but judging her sporting ability by her looks is pretty archaic.

As a counterpoint from the men’s game, I offer Warnie, David Boon, Botham, Allan Lamb, Merv Hughes. From other sports I offer Shane Lowry and John Daly.

Top female sportspeople are there to compete at an elite level, not to titillate men.

Just rereading this thread, and this is really quite a sexist post. And it has several likes ?‍ So sexism is alive and well on here.

And then you reference a load of players from the 80’s which is totally irrelevant (things have moved on in the last 40 years) which makes you appear like a dinosaur.

And then you reference two male golfers, which is totally irrelevant, which makes me think you are trolling.

Oh dear

 

[Billysboots]

Just rereading this thread, and this is really quite a sexist post. And it has several likes ?‍ So sexism is alive and well on here.

And then you reference a load of players from the 80’s which is totally irrelevant (things have moved on in the last 40 years) which makes you appear like a dinosaur.

And then you reference two male golfers, which is totally irrelevant, which makes me think you are trolling.

Oh dear

Sexist? How?

And as for trolling, perhaps re-read your own words, which provide a far better example.

?

 

[AmandaJR]

Embarrassing we're paying for these clowns to play cricket. You see it in the ladies football too. Better standard at Sunday league.

Is this a wind up? If not please explain how you're paying for it?

 

[Slime]

The hypocrisy, by some, on this thread is utterly laughable.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

I’ve had a good look at this thread as there have been potential “issues” hi lighted,
My take on it is that people have made observations and judgements about female sports persons prowess based on their physical image.

Fortunately other posters have made the point that certain sports, do not require a specific body shape and those of us who are of a larger stature are fully able to compete at elite level if we have the ability

Cricket and golf, darts and weightlifting are different from sprinting, tennis and football,

We need to be mindful that we don’t criticise individuals who may not fit the “normal” body image for a particular sport

Thread reopened

 

[IanM]

Women's cricket has come on leaps and bounds in the past few years. There's a difference in power that (relatively) diminishes one day batting and fast bowling somewhat. Even so, the outcomes of matches are still as good.

For the record, Sarah Taylor could Keep at a high level in men's games regardless. Her technique is better than some batsmen who have been handed gloves! (No names mentioned)

 

[IanM]

She can get away with it because the standard is so low. It’s not “elite” level athletes at the top of their game.

Shall I give you a list of very overweight male cricketers who got to the top of the World Game?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I didn't know we had so many interantional/ county standard cricketers on this forum.

 

[Neilds]

Wouldn't like to be a bowler in the Pakistan v Australia test Nearly the end of the 4th day and only 8 wickets have fallen! 2 big hundreds for Pakistan and now Australia have 2 batsmen out in the 90s. In the Pakistan innings, Nathan Lyon bowled 52 overs for 1 wicket.

 

[sunshine]

Shall I give you a list of very overweight male cricketers who got to the top of the World Game?

Sorry I don't see the relevance as we are discussing the Women's World Cup (or at least I was - but everyone seems to keep trying to compare with the men's game).

But please go ahead - however, no former players, this is about the modern athletic professional game!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Anya Shrubsole is an elite high level female Cricketer and has been at the top of her game for a number of years

She has proven herself countless times when playing the highest level she can including in the World Cup final where she was Player of the Match

Her body shape has been the same throughout that and the England cricket coaching team don’t appear to have any issues with her fitness or athleticism and it’s certainly not harmed her ability to perform at the highest level of Womens Cricket , even in the recent game I believe she was the most economical bowler in the game.

 

[RichA]

Sir Viv is 70 today.
One of the cricketing gods as I was growing up. Still looking pretty good.