John Bracewell - Destoyer of NZ Cricket!

John Bracewell - Destoyer of NZ Cricket!

Interesting interview on Campbell live with McMillian. Says that Bracewell destroyed NZ Cricket (in nicer terms). To paraphrase Mcmillian at one point....

I also believe Steve Rixon was a stickler for that kind of thing. Can't remember who said it but may have been in both Larsen and Cairns books

Well Bracewell used to be an undertaker and he's just about buried NZ cricket.

I dislike Bracewell as much as the next guy but when comments are made like that they certainly need to be qualified, he with the help of Ric Charlesworth has bought to the end a great generation of NZ Cricket largely to the detriment of our TEST team. Yet our ODI cricket has remained strong to a point where we consistently are in the top 2/3 in the world.

It's ridiculous, there adults and should be allowed to do what ever they want before going out to play (with in reason, obviously can't be drunk or high etc) if it helps them play better.Gangsta!2008-10-06 22:08:30

But they are individuals as part of a team sport, Cricket is funny in that way i guess. An individual performance in a team sport

Yes, agreed our ODI team has remained strong....but who cares?

If you ask all the test playing nations they'd say they'd rather win a test match than an ODI anyday. Because TEST cricket is the ultimate challenge and is the toughest cricket in the world.

I would rather be good at one than sh*t at both

But even in team sports like cricket or rugby players should still be allowed to do whatever helps them perform best. Im not saying they shouldn't warm up with the team, or listen to team talks etc (they should), But in the moments when none of that is going on they should be allowed to listen to music or read a book or even have a quick sleep if they want.

Whipping teams like Bnagladesh or Zimbabwe inside three days in test matches is hardly a "Test". I measure Kiwi performances against SA, Aus & Eng, home or away and WI away. Tests are the consumate competition in Cricket.

Would chuck the sub continent teams (other than Bangladesh) into that list.

But as you say, Tests are the measuring stick of Cricket. IMO if you don't succeed in the test arena then you've failed as a team, and as a coach.
Gangsta!2008-10-06 22:19:12

And I'd rather be good at both then good at one, especially when the one your good at is the less cared about version.

I agree with what both of you have said that test cricket is the ultimate yardstick but i think you can separate the two. So when making comments about Bracewell you have to acknowledge the success he has had in the ODI arena. Also Astle, Fleming, Vettori in books released recently and in comments from Cairns and McMillan place as much of the blame at the feet of Charlesworth as they do at Bracewell and it seems to me that NZ cricket wanted to make Charlesworth an influential figure

To me tests are what cricket is all about, one dayers are just an added bonus.

Although I love all forms of the game (Right thru from Tests to ODI's to Cricket 6's to Double Wicket) and believe they bring there own unique brand of entertainment, I find test matches and First Class Matches MUCH more entertaining than there limited over cousins because the teams have to work so much harder for a victory.

You can fluke a T20 match and to a point a 100 over match however it is almost impossible to fluck a victory over 450+ overs.

And I believe if you fail at test cricket then you haven't succeeded as a coach or a team.Gangsta!2008-10-06 22:30:30

Have i disagreed with that? Im just waiting for you to acknowledge the good Bracewell has done instead of just being a typical NZer and saying oh look he is sh*t and has done nothing

He's done good yes, but only to our one day game, well he's done a lot of bad to our test game, which IMO is the important version of the game and therefore should be valued more than One Dayers.

didn't know that anyone under the age of 20 had even seen New Zealand play a test match against anyone except bangladesh

I've seen just about every single day of NZ test match cricket since I was about 9.

yeah, we're going through a spel when were firstly seemed to play Zimbabwe every test and then Bangladesh. If Zimbabwe hadn't been dumped out of the test arena, I guess we'd still be playing them and winning in 3 days, just like we do against Bangladesh.

It's a relief that we are so good at one day cricket. It kind of makes me feel okay about us being a non-existent test force.

I've been saying 'Bracewell Out' for a long time now. When England were here last summer i took a banner with me to both the T20 and ODI matches at Eden Park but both got taken off me at the gate by the f**king nazi Red Badge.

Only once he goes will i be able to properly support the Black Caps again.

IMHO support the team and not the coach.

I do support the team. I've been to every Black Caps match at Eden Park since 96 except one in 05 where i was overseas in Korea. All Tests, ODI's and recently T20's. I'll always support the team till the day i die, just don't support the current regime.

Good on ya!

Having done something similar (and making up for missing the most awesome NZ v SA series, by going to one in Brisbane) would you spare a few #$%^& words for Eden Park's attitude towards cricket fans:

http://content-eap.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/366665.html

I think the only time there has been a tally over 300 there was during a day game.

I got 1 C. McMillians Book this morning, and on the second page I'm already pissed off at Bracewell.