Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: Mother Dog!

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  • giovanni tiso,

    You're watching the wrong game Gio, if you'd be following the White Ferns, you'd be delirious!

    They're not playing until tomorrow, and tomorrow's game is not televised. That said, I did watch the White Ferns yesterday, and enjoyed it fine, but if it had been contemporaneous to the India-NZ test no way I would have watched it. First of all, this is test cricket, and second of all, the talent on display is just something else. Especially on the part of the Indians obviously.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    It'll lay ya out for 5 days at a time.

    Usually 2-3 days if NZ is involved.

    I think this current match will only go three days if India decide to bat for that long. Jeez, there were times I wish I weren't so obsessed by cricket. Certainly my blood pressure would be a lot lower right about now.

    Certainly, there is something about tennis and cricket, especially, that can engender itself to good writing- maybe it's the subtleties and inherent eccentricities about both games (because there is something bizarre about cricket, and to a lesser degree, tennis, when it comes down to it).

    I just wished sometimes more sports writing matched the obsession with eloquence, rather than just being middle of the road punditry. I guess this is partly the result of the player/commentator phenomenon.I think it goes back to the old player/coach analogy, in that the greatest players don't necessarily make the greatest coaches, nor do they make the most eloquent commentators. As the current Channel 9 Commentary team for cricket bears out.

    In fact, sometimes I'm really conflicted about the way sport is covered- look, I was disappointed as anyone by NZ's igmonious exit from the 2007 RWC, but hell, the tenor of the coverage made it utterly unbearable to watch the news or read the newspapers for almost the next week. If sport does act as a microcosm of society, I guess we shouldn't be surprised when it reflects the worst aspects as much as it reflects the best.

    Football (or "soccer" as we seem to call it New Zealand and the few other countries around the world where it's not the national sport) has a strangely entangled relationship with literature too- for every hundred turgid ghostwritten biographies of overpaid, overrated and oversexed Premier Footballers, occasionally there's a work that brings it all into context.

    One of the most fascinating bios is Garry Nelson's Left Foot Forward: A Year in the Life of a Journeyman Footballer, not least because it actually gets to the heart of what it's probably like for the majority of professional footballers. It's a real "grounds eye" view of proceedings. Meanwhile, the Damned United, about manager Brian Clough's ill-fated 40 day tenure with Leeds, is brutal, vicious, dramatic stuff, albeit partly fictionalised.

    And say what you will about Nick Hornby (and I'll most certainly join you), but Fever Pitch did a lot to put the spotlight on the ordinary football fan (or sports obsessive in general) and the sense of self-loathing and self-justification that it comes equipped with in between the fleeting moments of euphoria- and it's worthy too, because it anticipates the formation of the Premier League, and what that ultimately meant. Also, it's interesting how different Arsenal are viewed now, too...

    Although I'm not a fan of boxing, it's probably the sport that has inspired the best books, films and literature out of them all. Norman Mailer's The Fight is some kind of New Journalism classic, but it's not even the tip of the iceberg. Unsurprising really. I mean, the whole sport could be seen as a goddamned metaphor.

    That excerpt of Tom Wolfe writing about Nascar blows my mind, though I'm not sure why- maybe it's the fact that NASCAR has been exclusively pigeon-holed as a "rednecked" obsession.

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    I assure you I have no prejudice against tattoos. Some of my best friends...

    My comment was an instinctive reaction to McCullum's dismissal, and I'm getting expensive therapy to deal with my issues.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    That said, I did watch the White Ferns yesterday, and enjoyed it fine, but if it had been contemporaneous to the India-NZ test no way I would have watched it. First of all, this is test cricket, and second of all, the talent on display is just something else. Especially on the part of the Indians obviously.

    I understand. But for me, echoing Megan's earlier comments, it's not the talent that I mostly watch for, though (code-shift) Masaga's playing brilliantly at the moment, it's the drama. That's why I don't watch the EPL football anymore, I used to follow Spurs but long ago I don't know any of the current players. The quality of play's still briliant, but I don't care what the result is.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    But for me, echoing Megan's earlier comments, it's not the talent that I mostly watch for, though (code-shift) Masaga's playing brilliantly at the moment, it's the drama. That's why I don't watch the EPL football anymore, I used to follow Spurs but long ago I don't know any of the current players. The quality of play's still briliant, but I don't care what the result is.

    Oh, completely agree. I'll watch the Phoenix before I watch an EPL game, and that's saying something. But even so, test match cricket, gee... where do you get more drama than that? It lasts for days, may not produce a result. Sometimes you turn around for five hours and bang! nothing happens. Then in five minutes the all game turns. It's epic. Even a boring and pointless test match can get epically boring and pointless.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    all game = whole game. It's interesting how my frequent inability to pronounce to leading "h" sounds translates into that particular typo.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    I've taken to following AFL... I still love rugby and cricket, but I needed a local team and there was no way in hell I was going to follow the Waratahs (they're crap and their supporters are painful) and I dislike League... Swans it is! (tip: AFL only makes sense if you've seen a few games live, it's too hard to follow on TV)

    But even so, test match cricket, gee... where do you get more drama than that? It lasts for days, may not produce a result. Sometimes you turn around for five hours and bang! nothing happens. Then in five minutes the all game turns. It's epic.

    No argument from me, I'd happily watch every session of a test were it not for family obligations...

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • 81stcolumn,

    Geez -

    If nerds didn't exist - we would have to invent them, otherwise who would we be superior to ? Sheep ?

    What 81st actually thinks.

    Whether it be crossing the line first or winning a trophy - if one cannot perceive the small achievements which exist in the moments that contribute to a sporting outcome one cannot “see” sport, in the same way that some will never “hear” poetry. In some ways surrendering sport to the spectacle is like confining the poet to rhyme and alliteration.

    Nawthshaw • Since Nov 2006 • 790 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Sport's as much in the doing as in the watching?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Although I'm not a fan of boxing, it's probably the sport that has inspired the best books, films and literature out of them all.

    The anthology I'm reading has a whole section devoted to Ali. But I think in terms of just wonderful sports writing baseball has inspired some wonderful ones.

    Also for those looking to pass the time, I just read this column by Jim Murray, If You're Expecting One Liners. Sorry that's it's not on one page.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Stewart,

    Hadyn,

    have you read Jim Bouton's Ball Four ?
    It is years ago that I read it and I remember it was about baseball, but I get the feeling that it wasn't 'great writing' although I'd like to re-read it & see if I get more from it these days.

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    At six wicket downs before lunch I'd have to say it's pretty average stuff.

    Great to see that Vettori is leading a fairly streaky recovery effort this afternoon. We like him as a captain.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    Great to see that Vettori is leading a fairly streaky recovery effort this afternoon. We like him as a captain.

    I've just been following it, jeez, you watch him bat and wonder how he can make any runs, but then you realise just so how freakishly effective his technique is because he hits it into places that are hard to protect. And he works so damn hard, too.

    I've just looked up his stats on Cricinfo. In his 17 tests as captain (so far), he already has 57 wickets at 28 and more than 800 runs at close to 40. That's incredible, considering the poor fortunes of the rest of his team.

    And I don't want to tempt fate, but Ryder is batting very solidly at the moment. So much talent. If he's able to keep the rest of his life in control, he could become one of New Zealand's finest. Guptil, notwitstanding today's lazy dismissal , also looks the goods too. I mean, both are only 23 years old.

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    And I don't want to tempt fate, but Ryder is batting very solidly at the moment.

    Fourth consecutive test fifty. If NZC stops handing him bottles of champagne at the end of games, he might kick the habit and become one of the greats.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    Fourth consecutive test fifty. If NZC stops handing him bottles of champagne at the end of games, he might kick the habit and become one of the greats.

    Absolutely. His batting this season, particularly his last few innings against India, has been just wonderful to watch. His sheer power and timing is freakish, but what's even more encouraging is that he looks like he has the ability to tone things down for test cricket when required, something McCullum hasn't quite been able to.

    Indeed, it's not as if our test top order doesn't lack for talent in Guptil, Taylor, Ryder and McCullum. Daniel Flynn and McIntosh look like they could be solid accumulators, too. Maybe it's (relative) youth and inexperience, but I can't help but feel there's the makings of a decent test side in the current squad.

    If only they didn't collapse with such monotonous regularity.

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I'm much more worried about the bowling than the batting, long term, that's for sure. And Ryder went into the ODI squad with a much better domestic four-day record than his one day one, suggesting he's always known well how to pace himself (Wellington fans know this well of course).

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    I can't help but feel there's the makings of a decent test side in the current squad.

    Another false dawn, I suspect. NZ cricket seems to have one or two per season. Please, God, prove me wrong! (and sorry God about dissing you in other threads. But this is really important)

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    If only they didn't collapse with such monotonous regularity.

    I've been thinking variants of that statement for most of my life. Twenty years, at least.

    Sigh.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    If only they didn't collapse with such monotonous regularity.

    Oh dear.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    Bloody hell. Vettori and Ryder take New Zealand from 61/6 to 246/6. And then two wickets fall in two balls. Still, that was some partnership between the two of them. Yet it only proves how docile the pitch was in the first place.

    At least Ryder's still in at the moment.

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    Now, if Ian O'Brien can just hang on to the strike.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Still, that was some partnership between the two of them. Yet it only proves how docile the pitch was in the first place.

    The typical catch 22 assessment of the New Zealand cricket fan :-)

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    Still, that was some partnership between the two of them. Yet it only proves how docile the pitch was in the first place.

    The typical catch 22 assessment of the New Zealand cricket fan :-)

    Ha! What is it about being a NZ cricket fan where even a lot of the small victories feel like defeats? There could a doctorate pyschology thesis in that....

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I can't believe the cool head that Ryder has on the field. I think I would have physically assaulted O'Brien just then.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    I can't believe the cool head that Ryder has on the field. I think I would have physically assaulted O'Brien just then.

    He brought his century with a 4, and then was caught out on the boundary. Mind you, with Martin at the other end, he really only had one option, which was to go for it.

    Still, a fine innings. That said 279 all out is not enough. Mind you, against this Indian side, anything less than 500 is enough...

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

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