Essex facing allegations of “match irregularities” in county cricket last season

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hattrick

hattrick

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Essex facing allegations of “match irregularities” in county cricket last season

Well this is going to divert the attention of all involved in English cricket. I must be honest I am trying to think why players in county cricket would be involved with this, is just to make some extra money.

The article has one quote which sums up the conservative nature of those running English cricket.

"The County Championship season may have begun in glorious weather, but this story will rock the game in this country, where followers and administrators have long considered it immune from and above such gambling-related corruption."

Cricket does not need this in any nation and this will only fuel the fact that 20/20 Cricket is a perfect bet of the gamblers.

English cricket rocked by 'spot-fixing' allegations at Essex - Telegraph
 
Re: Essex facing allegations of “match irregularities” in county cricket last season

Not sure it will create too many ripples in England as the main focus (as always) is the football. However, the media will spin it out, if they can.

It seems the issue is to do with a performance, a player either getting a duck, dropping catches or conceding a certain number of runs. Very hard to police and even harder to prove - unless they have taped or written evidence.

I have little doubt that these things happen (the IPL must surely be a fervent breeding ground for this type of activity) mainly due to the nature of spread betting. The question is what can you do to stamp it out? A majority of players are fine, never going to be interested but a small number will be tempted for what ever reason.
 
Re: Essex facing allegations of “match irregularities” in county cricket last season

The guy in question is Mervyn Westfield, who is understandably insisting that he is innocence (which is his unless proved different).

Particular attention is being paid to his bowling figures, 0-60 off 7 with four wides and two no-balls. I would guess that it's the extras being called into question. A fellow Essex player raised the alarm so something must have seemed odd. Then again it could just be someone with a grudge or an axe to grind.

Logic dictates that if the allegation playing wise is against Westfield, then Kaneria is the alleged fixer? He would presumably have the contacts seeing as there appears to be links back to Asia where the game was shown live.
 
Re: Essex facing allegations of “match irregularities” in county cricket last season

As you said, it is almost certain that 'spot betting' takes place in one shape or another today. It is very hard to prove, however, it is not impossible.
 
Re: Essex facing allegations of “match irregularities” in county cricket last season

LIONS then DAYLIGHT;396594 said:
As you said, it is almost certain that 'spot betting' takes place in one shape or another today. It is very hard to prove, however, it is not impossible.
Click to expand...

Indeed, not impossible but difficult. You have a bad day, you have a bad day - we've all been there where nothing goes right. The only real way to catch them is by getting phone records, written evidence, money transfers or analysing betting pattern.

Moving on, if Kaneria is found guilty then it could impact the summer tests. The Pakistan government could well throw a wobbler and refuse to tour - we will see.
 
Re: Essex facing allegations of “match irregularities” in county cricket last season

Yes it is interesting, in a perverse type of way. Everyone involved in cricket doesn't like to see things like this happening; fixing may make easy money, but how much respect do you sacrifice to get it.
 
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