Home Conditions: Unfair advantage or true test of ability?

[howzdat]

Whilst looking ahead to the forthcoming Natwest T20 games that England will host against the West Indies I happened to conjecture briefly on the potential impact that timing, overhead and atmospheric conditions could possibly have on the results of the games.

In similar vein I think we can add a few more factors e.g. the type of pitches that will be prepared and the type of ball that will be used. I want to take this opportunity to explore these matters and any others that contributors regard as falling into the same category under this topic. So here goes...

Reviewing the soon to be concluded England vs India series of games, it is quite apparent to me that on home soil England presents quite a formidable challange to any touring team! And I mean bloody formidable! Some of the games have been embarassingly one-sided - and India being the number-one cricketing nation to boot! Nor is Sri Lanka a shabby team but they too performed badly. And yes I know that both of these teams are in a rebuilding phase.

English bowlers seem to have mastered the art of what we hear them calling 'reverse swing'; and on their own grounds and in their local conditions this has proven lethal to all visiting teams this season! And although the pundits opinion is that in the Test matches Swann has not been as affective as they would have hoped, he hasn't really needed to be because the seamers have swept the opposition away.

So while one could specifically ask: "Does playing in England present the opposition with an unfair challenge?", it would be fairer, perhaps, to discuss the issue of 'home conditions' in a more general sense.

Admittedly one cannot dictate the weather but English playes - batsmen and bowlers - are more accustomed to adapting their game to climactic conditions; and a pitch can be prepared to suit the home team.

So what are your views on the topic of home conditions: Do they or can they represent an unfair advantage? or are they just another aspect of testing ability?

[BallOil]

nice post... as a professional you have to adopt to the condition and play accordingly. As for home advantage , it is their right to prepare the wickets to suite em. Having the local fans in them ears is a plus too but they still have to go out there and perform. Anyways, both teams do play home and away series so that evens up things ..

My question though, is West Indies selecting the best XI to representing us to negate the home advantage?

[howzdat]

Cheers BallOil. If I read your post correctly your question is about whether the WI selectors are picking the best representative eleven to take advantage of home conditions?. if so, I too wonder about this.

The WICB appears to be attempting to focus on this via a curators workshop - none too soon in my opinion. However like you I believe that the 'solution' ought to have two essential elements: (1) Pitches suited to our playing strengths; (2) Team selection that acknowledges those strengths and rewards excellent performances under those conditions. With this in mind I do hope that the result of the initiative will not be more of the same sort of tracks that are ill-suited to what ought to be our strengths.

I also am of the opinion that it is the prerogative of a home team to instruct their curators to prepare whatever track they like. The opposition has to battle and prove its' mettle under all conditions - after all it is meant to beTesting cricket!! The recently concluded series' in England were a bit of a disappointment from a neutral standpoint, but what became clear to me is the sheer class of those touring teams who in the past have been to England and excelled!

Home Conditions: Unfair advantage or true test of ability? Let's discuss!

[howzdat]

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[BallOil]

howzdat?

What about Bangladesh home advantage?

[howzdat]

howzdat? What about Bangladesh home advantage?

Hi BallOil, I don't really have a problem with home advantage, it was just that during the series against India it became evident that for a team to perform outstanadingly away from home nowadays is a real achievement.

The pitches being spin-friendly reflects Bangledesh playing to their strengths; West Indies batsmen have to demonstrate their class and deal with the conditions. But not only thebatsmen, the bowlers too have to come to terms with the conditions and maximise their abilities.

Look at the current one-day series in India in which England is getting a hammering! Can one conclude that overnight they have become 4-0 'worse' than India? Don't think so but their all-round cricketing abilities are getting a real testing and they are beng found wanting in Indian conditions! So I think that ability has an enormous part to play. To illustrate this point I look at Chanderpaul in the current first test against Bangledesh, in his first tour game he is 48 not out in a total of 123/4. Class always rises! A player simply has to back his game under all conditins and impose himself on the opposition so as to even out the advantage/disadvantage of unfamiliar conditions.