Indian cricket has often toyed with the idea of hosting Ranji Trophy matches at neutral venues. Earlier it was only the knockout games, towards the end of the season, but this year all matches will be played at neutral venues.Opinion has always been divided on this topic. Home advantage plays an important role in a teams fortunes, and so resistance to the idea of neutral games is understandable. In fact, it was at Sachin Tendulkars behest that knockout matches were moved from neutral venues back to home and away. The pitch, the crowd and the comfort of playing at home cannot be replicated elsewhere.Its not that those in power arent aware that people in, say, Punjab are unlikely to turn up to watch a match between Gujarat and Karnataka. They must also know that its likely to be a logistical nightmare to make every team travel the length and the breadth of the country in an already packed schedule (Ranji teams each play eight four-day matches in nine weeks). So why have they chosen to take a path that looks set to be a struggle from the outset? For the answers, we must delve into the underlying factors involved.Pitch preparation Two key elements determine the quality of cricket on display: one, the quality of the teams involved, and two, the quality of the playing surface. By putting teams in three tiers, with relegation and promotion, the BCCI has ensured the quality of teams in any given tier is largely uniform. Barring a couple of matches here and there, most games are between equally matched sides.But in spite of the BCCIs best efforts, the quality of pitches hasnt changed over the years. Since pitch preparation is the host states prerogative, the quality of the pitch has solely depended on the teams strengths and on their position in the league phase. The first aspect above is acceptable, while it is debatable whether the second is.Often we see that when the hosts need a win to avoid relegation or qualify for the knockouts, the pitch isnt good enough to last four days. Last season there were as many as 29 matches that finished inside three days, of which the hosts won 19; the hosts won six of the nine games that finished inside two days. On the other hand, if the hosts need only a draw to stay relevant, the same pitch becomes a road. While theres nothing wrong in allowing the hosts a fair amount of say in pitch preparation, the situation as it currently stands is not ideal in terms of developing the skills of the next generation of Indian cricketers.By moving to neutral venues, the issue of pitches doctored to suit the demands of the host team is neutralised completely. Since pitch preparation will be out of the teams domain, they will be forced to strive harder to pick well-rounded cricketers.India is blessed to have different-natured pitches across the country. For example, the pitches in Dharamsala, Indore, Lahli in Rohtak, and Moti Bagh in Baroda are seamer-friendly; those in Chennai, Rajkot and Hyderabad can easily be made perfect for spinners; and Mohali, Wankhede and Eden Gardens can be good for batsmen. It would be great if every team is scheduled to play their matches on different kinds of surfaces. That will encourage players to construct their game so it suits all conditions, and ultimately it will separate the wheat from the chaff. Home advantage? An important argument for not hosting matches at neutral venues is the lack of crowd support. Theres nothing worse than showcasing your skills in empty stadiums. People are unlikely to turn up in numbers to watch a match in which their home team isnt involved.However, while theres merit in this argument, the fact is, crowds havent been turning up for Ranji games anyway. Ive played matches in which as many as ten current or former international players turned out but there werent more than a handful of people watching.Unfortunately there has been an apparent lack of interest or affinity towards state teams in this country, at least in the big cities. It does change a little at smaller venues but only a little. So if people arent turning up in any case, the argument that home support is missing at neutral venues becomes moot. In my opinion, hosting matches at neutral venues provides an opportunity for the BCCI to change this too. It will take concerted efforts to bring in crowds, but that sort of effort has been lacking from most state associations thus far anyway.The Cricket Association of Bengal has shown the way by getting people in for the Super League Cup final between two club sides last month. Yes, the match was broadcast live and there was novelty around the pink ball, but it wasnt just that, for a lot of Ranji games are broadcast live too. The match was publicised quite heavily in the local media and people were not just made aware of the fact that entry was free but also encouraged to become a part of history. Eden Gardens saw close to 15,000 people come in across four days, which is incredible given the attendance - or lack of it - for even Ranji finals.Its important to get the marketing right. All Ranji matches are played on weekends now. In addition to free entry, make games a great day out for the people who take time out to show up. More importantly, make matches a fun family day out. Allow kids to play on the ground during breaks or after the end of the days play. Run contests that involve the cricketers who are playing. And so on and so forth.Sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone to make things happen. By hosting Ranji games at neutral venues, and taking the onus on itself, away from the state associations, the BCCI has made a start towards doing just that. Peter Moylan Jersey . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Braves Jerseys 2019 . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. https://www.cheapbraves.com/1083o-brian-mccann-jersey-braves.html . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Jeremy Walker Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Billy Hamilton Jersey . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . MILWAUKEE -- It was the Giannis and Jabari show Thursday night for the Milwaukee Bucks.Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and Parker added 28 in leading Milwaukee to a 108-97 victory over the Chicago Bulls.Milwaukee led the entire game and held a 24-point advantage early in the fourth quarter but had to hold on to snap a three-game losing streak, its longest of the season.Antetokounmpo has totaled 88 points and 35 rebounds in his last three games, and Parker has reached at least 27 points in four of his past five.If were just being judged on points, then theyre playing really well, Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. But its not all about points. Unfortunately, thats all you guys write about. Its a team game, but it comes down to winning and doing your job. Both of those guys did their jobs tonight.Chicago lost for the fifth time in seven games and dropped its third straight on the road despite 21 points from Jimmy Butler and 20 from Dwyane Wade. The Bulls also got 19 points from Taj Gibson in the opener of a home-and-home between the teams on back-to-back nights.The Bucks went up 95-71 on a dunk by Antetokounmpo with 10:01 remaining. Chicago cut the deficit in half by scoring the next 12 points, with 10 of them coming from Wade. His two free throws trimmed the margin to 95-83 with 7:14 to go.Milwaukee led by at least eight the rest of the way, marking just the second time this season the Bucks never trailed in a game.I think everybody did a great job keeping the lead, Antetokounmpo said. Its hard to keep a lead for 24 minutes, for a half. Its hard sometimes.The Bucks biggest lead of the night was 27 on a dunk by Tony Snell that made it 58-31 with 3:40 left in the second quarter.The advantage was 64-45 at halftime, as Antetokounmpo (20), Parker (17) and Mirza Teletovic (10) combined to outscore Chicago by two points.Milwaukee shot 80 perrcent (8 for 10) from 3-point range while Chicago was 1 for 9 (11.dddddddddddd1 percent) from beyond the arc in the first two quarters.They were too comfortable early, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. We didnt want to give them dare shots, we wanted to keep them out of the paint, and they were hitting them.TIP-INSBulls: Rajan Rondo returned to the starting lineup after missing Tuesdays game against Minnesota because of a right ankle sprain. ... Butler has 79 points in his last three games and has scored at least 20 in 18 of his last 19 outings. ... Chicago lost at Milwaukee for just the fifth time in the last 15 games.Bucks: There was a moment of silence following the death of longtime TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager, and Milwaukee players wore Sager Strong T-shirts during pregame warmups that resembled the outfit he wore at the recent ESPYs. Even mascot Bango donned a funky blue sport coat and plaid pants in Sagers honor. ... Michael Beasley missed his first game of the season with a left foot sprain.STRONG DIVISIONMilwaukee improved to 12-12, making the Central Division the only one in the NBA with every team at .500 or better.LETS PLAY TWONot only does Milwaukee play Chicago on consecutive nights, the Bucks also play back-to-back games against Cleveland on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then against Washington on Dec. 23 and Dec. 26. Scouting reports are easy, quipped Kidd.TRADE TALKMilwaukee traded Michael Carter-Williams to Chicago for Tony Snell on Oct. 17. Carter-Williams has missed the last 22 games for the Bulls with knee and wrist injuries, while Snell has started all but two games for the Bucks.UP NEXTBulls: Begin a three-game homestand Friday night against Milwaukee.Bucks: Play at Chicago on Friday. ' ' '