The Kookaburra red ball shape problems reached the epitome of farce with at least seven premature changes through the combined first innings of Australia and New Zealand at the Waca. It's either a conspiracy, or something needs to be done regarding ball credibility. A New Year's resolution for the International Cricket Council perhaps? While on the topic of balls, the integrity of the speed gun needs attention. This season's rise of Neil Wagner (allegedly through low-flying seagull assistance) and Mitchell Starc into the rarefied 160km/h territory occupied by Shoaib Akhtar, Shaun Tait, Brett Lee and Jeff Thomson seems questionable, but not as dubious as the 173.9km/h recorded by Morne Morkel in the 2013 Indian Premier League.
4. Beware the live mid-innings cross
Sky Television are putting presenters such as Laura McGoldrick in parlous positions requesting live crosses amid the crowd at one-day internationals. There's nothing a dag at a loose end on holiday enjoys more than potentially placing a broadcast in jeopardy, as occurred yesterday afternoon in Christchurch. McGoldrick maintained her professional demeanour as a corpulent patron entered the shot and played with his guts and nipples behind her. British Sky TV reporter Alan Irwin would be difficult to trump for the ultimate presenter degradation as a purple sex toy was wiggled in his ear during the final day of European football's summer transfer window last year, but a contingent of supporters will see this as nothing short of aspirational.
5. Incinerate the flame throwers
We've seen this marketing mechanism used, particularly in Australia and England, presumably as a means to entice fans into savouring the experience. Let's put this another way ... if cricket needs flame throwers to keep the attention of fans after someone has whacked a six or taken a wicket, it's in dire straits. You have the added complication of players potentially getting torched, as Australian cricketer Aaron Finch discovered last year when he retrieved a ball from the boundary. He came back with singed eyebrows as a mini Cape Canaveral ignited in front of him.
6. A cricketing Christmas?
We're becoming a more secular country, so could a spot of international cricket rival Jesus' birth as a reason to celebrate December 25? What could be better than sitting down and watching bat versus ball after putting a fridge and oven through their annual beep test. It might remove a few from their families to be employed at venues, but a number of people's Christmases are staggered anyway over a week or so, and players are already present at venues. The Plunket Shield used to entertain holidaymakers on Christmas Day in the 1960s. Could it happen again, as it does for American sports fans through a series of cracking NBA basketball match-ups?
