Following on from the WUM article below, I came across a few Yorkshire fans who had read an article about British Asian cricketers under achieving.
This is not a race attack - I am half English, half Sri Lankan.
It did make me think - Bopara, Patel, Kabir Ali, Saj Mahmood, Ajmal Shahzad, Adil Rashid... I will stop!
Going back in time - Ramprakash is the most obvious.
The only ones who springs to mind as a success is Monty Panasar and Nasser Hussain.
There are plenty more.
Even Shafayat was an England U19 star poised for greatness. Now lucky to get a game at Hampshire.
So, when you consider the obvious in built talent that Asians have for the game, why are these guys failing?
Is it the system? Pressure? Society? Coaching?
Bearing in mind the success of black English footballers, surely our society cannot be blamed?
Your thoughts would be welcome...
British Asian players
posted on 18/9/12
Ajmal Shahzad made his England debut at 16? He only started for Yorkshire at 23.
posted on 18/9/12
Yorkie not his age but his bowling average for his first test
posted on 18/9/12
If you can give me examples of players being dropped after one test despite impressing as Shah, Kabir and Shahzad did I would be interested to know who they are? Fair enough both Kabir and Shah may not have been world beaters but Kabir came in when the English bowling was weak and his one day career was ended after a couple of expensive spells against Sanath Jaysariya (not the first bowler to experience that)
posted on 18/9/12
Interesting post above kash, well researched.
posted on 18/9/12
But Kash - if their was an issue with race, why play them in the first place.
I remember a county pro called Simon Brown who used to top the bowling averages ecery season. Played one test if that for England. Never got a chance. One of them things.
You may have a valid point with Kabir. Regarding Shah - was that 80 odd against India? I am wracking my brain but was he only in the team to cover soneones absence? Trying to remember.
I just think you can call the English cricket team many things - South Africa B team ... But surely not racist or prejudice...
Bopara had tonnes of chances.
Taylorvwho averages 50 in CC was just dropped after 2 tests, the first of which he scored a well regarded 30 odd - OK not a big score but well regarded in the context of the game.
He is 5 ft 4, white with blonde hair. Dropped - Not even in the squad. Yet Patel goes - Who in my personal opinion is a complete bits and pieces average player in all formats.
posted on 18/9/12
Kash,
Shah did impress after one test yes, but after that his following nine innings produced one 50, not exactly impressive.
Neil Mallender played two tests against Pakistan, i think around 92, he got 10 wickets at an average of 21 and never played for England again. It does happen to players.
Kabir Ali is just not test class, it's that simple. Watch him bowl. He played on a green top at leeds, and, if you watched him bowl he got some of those wickets with terrible balls and got lucky, this coming from a fan of his at the time.
I see Patel and Monty have been picked, despite Patel having an average record and not performing in tests when played before. I also see taylor has not made the cut and is on a lions squad, despite what was said about him above.
I can't see how this is anything to do with colour of skin other than an excuse for the players failings.
posted on 18/9/12
Just done some research. Kabir gor 5 wickets in the match at 27. 3 first innings 2 second.
The other bowlers were - Martin Bicknell - A man many considered to have bern very underused by England. James Kirtley, who in total played 4 matches at an average of 29. The other boelers were a young Anderson and the fool that is Flintoff.
Captain I believe was Hussain.
Not trying to make a specific point, but Bicknell and Kirtley hardly got a good go in the team and with thise being older maybe they got the nod.
My ony guess is tgat Gough
posted on 18/9/12
... Is that Gough and company were injured as that is a poor bowlibg line up.
posted on 18/9/12
Bearded, Mallender is actually a good example and yes Shah did come in for someone injured against India
I agree Kabir Ali has proved to be nothing more than a decent county bowler largly due to injuries but when he was picked for England at the time i'm sure he was like the county leading wicket taker.
Monty record is there to speak for itself but let's not forget the harsh battle he had against Ashley Giles who was not even in the same league as Monty but biased management kept selecting Giles over Monty.
posted on 18/9/12
Well you are right in that kabir does have one of the best strike rates in CC cricket, however in both tests and One dayers he fell short, very short. Rashid would be a better example to use as he was treated badly ( nothing to do with colour).
Shazad got 4 wickets against Bangladesh which is hardly the stuff of dreams, i reckon i could have got 4 wickets against them a few years ago and my knees hardly allow me to get to the wicket to bowl nowdays !
sadly some players are tried and fail at the very top. It's not called test cricket for nothing.