What has changed since you watched your first test match?

Thinking about this the other day.

Now it may be because I follow England and we were crap even by our own standards of crapness then but I distinctly remember test cricket in the mid 1980's being a lot harder to score runs in, every run had to be ground out - hundreds seem so much more worthwhile

The fielding also, there used to be no chucking yourself in the dirt to stop a 4

There is also a lack of perms & mullets that were around in 1985

Sh!thouse crowds at a lot of games too apart from the Ashes.

The first test I saw was on the Telly would have been 1964/65. So, in no particular order:

More results
Slower over rates
Higher run rates
Higher standards of fielding
Lower standard of behaviour among the players
More uninhibited crowds
More money, lots more money
Fewer decent finger spinners
Heavier bats
Helmets
Sponsorship

Bloody hell Bas, thought you were in your 40's not 60's!

JKLever wrote:Bloody hell Bas, thought you were in your 40's not 60's!

Oi! - I just have a good memory!

oh !

Apart from the above, the day of rest for Tests. Funny I was thinking about it the other day. It was so much a part of watching cricket back then, and now I struggled to recall it.

I would be extremely interested in knowing what the impact has been on the game. More injuries for sure. Fewer draws as batting teams don't get that day off to size up the game better (I know the argument works both ways)?

Basil wrote:The first test I saw was on the Telly would have been 1964/65. So, in no particular order:

More results
Slower over rates
Higher run rates
Higher standards of fielding
Lower standard of behaviour among the players
More uninhibited crowds
More money, lots more money
Fewer decent finger spinners
Heavier bats
Helmets
Sponsorship

What Bas said .... with emphasis on faster run rate and slower over rate.
A paradox in itself!

Sledging and abuse is also the norm today in all categories of cricket.

furriner wrote:Apart from the above, the day of rest for Tests. Funny I was thinking about it the other day. It was so much a part of watching cricket back then, and now I struggled to recall it.

Good call!

JKLever wrote:

furriner wrote:Apart from the above, the day of rest for Tests. Funny I was thinking about it the other day. It was so much a part of watching cricket back then, and now I struggled to recall it.

Good call!

Aye, it was like watching two separate matches sometimes, with the last two days played out in front of miniscule crowds.

Massive pitch invasions at the end of the game, and players running for their lives.
In my day - pretty much JK's - it was the Windies that were virtually invincible rather than the Aussies.
And the crowds were almost exclusively male.

I remember...

When they actually allowed fire crackers into Eden Gardens and the whole outfield would get covered in smoke.

When the BBC actually showed cricket -- with that kick-arse theme tune to boot.

When a fat, unfit git could actually get into an international team.

When people wore large spectacles / glasses instead of contacts.

Also, remember how simplistic the interface graphics used to be for scorecards during televised games?

What has changed since you watched your first test match?

I have more pubes.

Dello wrote:...I have more pubes.

And you have a forum. Forummers even.

Dello wrote:What has changed since you watched your first test match?

I have more pubes.

I have less hair.

lifes a bitch...

We are no longer sh!t

Massive improvement in TV coverage. (When I first watched they only had a camera at one end so every second over you viewed from behind the batsman)

We are no longer sh!t

Improved TV coverage also meant more replays of umpiring mistakes (unless umpires didn't make mistakes before)

We are no longer sh!t

This has changed......

Helmets and other protective equipment

Cowdrey had a towel under his shirt and wore a jumper for protection against Thommo and Lillee in 74/75 ....

Batting gloves that had green rubber spikes on them...

the pink plastic "protector"...

Lanka/Zimmers/Yarpies/Bangers (re)admited to Test ranks.

More ODI nations then ever before.

Better TV coverage.

More money for players.

Decline in bowling stocks.

No spectators in ties and hats?

you are now able to argue with people on the other side of the world about whose side has the biggest tossers

G.Wood wrote:you are now able to argue with people on the other side of the world about whose side has the biggest tossers

And we have a winner.

the rise and sad fall of the windies
the fall and rise of the aussies
not much re england they were carp in the late 50s too
pakistan selects people not called Mohammed
batsmen consistently dominate the ball ('cept for TGM and tgm)
better ground drainage
white balls
coloured clothes, helmets, arm guards
bangles, zimbots admitted
saffies embargoed and then readmitted
we start playing tests against the Snoozies
no more mcgillvray
a great tradition was lost when the jellies allowed the Bills to finally win a shield

I can no longer sit on the grass at my local international cricket venue 'cos the hill has been replaced by grandstands.

WideWally wrote:I could sit on the grass on the hill at my local international cricket venue.

You can still do that at the WACA , WW ...Just don't try and drink beer

embee wrote:

WideWally wrote:I could sit on the grass on the hill at my local international cricket venue.

You can still do that at the WACA , WW ...Just don't try and drink beer

I'll make a note of that. Thanks!