-
IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.
Cricket
- Thread starter mb64
- Start date
RemoteTiger said:
Well said. I too continue to enjoy test cricket - and aspire to us mixing it with the top teams again - ie India and S Africa.
I have a different view regarding Ponting. I actually think that Ponting - and his predecessor - have too much influence in certain areas. I don't like to see his hand in team selection. Kreyza and Hauritz are two of his victims and Hilfy and Doherty are two of his beneficiaries. (To talk up Hilfy, who took 1 for a lot in Perth was ridiculous.) In fact, Ponting is a lousy captain of spinners. Apart from Warne, who did what he wanted, no spinner has done any good under him.
I also reckon the obvious love that Langer has for Ponting (and to a lesser extent, Hussey) makes it almost impossible for him to be our batting coach. In addition, Hilditch has no bottle and I am looking forward to seeing Chappell's hand in some selections.
Finally, Smith may or not make it. But how is he different to a young Cam White? I'd certainly have White ahead of him today - I had no confidence that Smith was going to hang around in Melbourne.
The problem is that the commentary teams and print media are very Sydney-centric. I'm very happy with Khawaja, because his technique looks strong - totally different kettle of fish to Phil Hughes. Fair dinkum, he was averaging less than 30 in first class cricket when he was selected this year. Poor old Klinger and Marsh obviously don't tick the right boxes...
lukeanddad said:
Agree on Ponting's influence on selections. McGain is another victim for no good reason. It shows Hilditch's lack of spine by the way he doesn't stand up to him.
Agree also on White it beggars belief how White can be sidelined for not being a good enough batsman or bowler but Smith gets an undeserved chance. I find the inconsistency almost staggerring.
RemoteTiger said:
Agree. Went to Boxing Day and couldn't help admiring the way England went about their business. It isn't like the footy - I'd be shattered if Richmond copped a hiding like that.
LeeToRainesToRoach said:
No, can't agree. It was horrible. They thrashed us on the ground - and their fans thrashed us in their grandstand...
Our response to 'Swann will tear us apart' ('Love will tear us apart') was the scintillating; 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi' and the ever-versatile 'You are a Wanker'...
ARCHYBOY said:
Can't agree here. You have to have a compelling reason to send the opposition in Test Cricket. All othr things being considered, the state of the pitch would have been first and foremost in Strauss' decision making on whether to bat or bowl.
If there had been few signs of early life in the pitch, I have no doubt that England would have batted first, and hoped the pitch would take spin late. They certainly had a better attack than us for batting first and trying to win in the first innings, given our ongoing search for a spinner.
lukeanddad said:
I see your point, but can't get too fired up any more. Various developments have tempered my enthusiasm for international cricket.
LeeToRainesToRoach said:
I agree. What an indictment of the current administration of the game.
LeeToRainesToRoach said:
Well, look at it this way, we were pathetic ... and still 220k+ came to watch the first 3 days. I reckon the latent interest in cricket has never been higher. We would have got 350k for the test if we had made 250+ in the first dig.
Administration is very weak at present. Its a shame we are pre-occupied with using former players for almost every admin position. We need good, commercial managers and decent marketers to run the gams. Footy clubs have worked out in the past decade that you sort out off-field stuff first (eg Collingwoord, Geelong) and then worry about getting the on-field stuff right.
lukeanddad said:
Would've gone again had the match been a contest.
While draws aren't good for modern cricket's marketability, there is something wrong when Tests are being concluded in just over three days. Smash & bash cricket has had a pervasive influence.
LeeToRainesToRoach said:
It is true what you say about players being in an era of one day & 20/20 cricket not learning the correct batting technique's nor mental discipline to bat long periods.
However there is also a strong case that curators are being told to prepare flat boring pitches that last 5 days so boards can rake in gate & TV money. (this obviously wasnt the case in the past 2 tests).
Streak said:
Absolutely streak. As Strauss said at the toss the pitch was under-prepared.
& as you say any "normal" chance he could use Swann in the 4th innings he would take.
While it was a good toss to win, it was pretty disturbing to see our quicks bowling gun-barrel straight on the same pitch as the English quicks made us look silly.
I reckon Saker has done a very good job; there is no question that the English bowlers (a) shine the ball differently, and (b) hold it differently when they bowl. Our quicks are quicker, but 145km/hr gun barrel straight is a lot easier than 138 and moving late.
I reckon Saker has done a very good job; there is no question that the English bowlers (a) shine the ball differently, and (b) hold it differently when they bowl. Our quicks are quicker, but 145km/hr gun barrel straight is a lot easier than 138 and moving late.
Well done England on winning the Ashes in Australia, really hurts to see England have such a convincing win over us at the MCG. I went the 3rd day which was already pre organised but hard to get excited about after first two days with the main reason going to see Ricky Ponting bat at the MCG for last time.
Unfortunately it is probably time for Ricky to retire as he is very much a former shadow of his former self and even when he tried to grind together an innings and work hard he still was knocked over cheaply. I would have liked Ricky to get a farewell test but unsure if that will happen.
Clarke for his bad form at the moment is probably the obvious candidate with Haddin for captaincy, Katich if he was 2-3 years younger would have been a certainty but at 35 we need to look for other top order options. White is thought of having the best cricket brain in domestic cricket but isn't recognised to be even considered for a test spot.
The batting for Australia is causing huge problems and it is hard to see where we can get 300 runs from to be competitive, though not a fan of Hughes and Smith they need to be given time in the short term to make a convincing job of an opportunity (the same as North, Clarke and Hussey were given when out of form) the depth in batting is not great but hopefully young talents like Khawaja, Mitch Marsh, Maddinson, Hill, Keath, Lehmann, Nobes and Lynn make mountains of runs in shield that force them into the test team rather than getting in we the odd 100 and an average of 40. Players like Fergusson, White, Bailey and Shaun Marsh maybe considred close to test team but that shows how bad cricket is in country when they are averaging only 40 and not 60 and they not make hundreds.
10-12 years ago we had enormous depth in batting with players like Langer, Hayden, Martyn, Cox, Blewett, Hodge, Lehmann, Love, Maher and Divenuto for example all making plenty of runs in shield cricket yet could not break into the test team or waiting for a 2nd opportunity, because of the depth. There is nobody in shield cricket at this quality at the moment waiting to get in.
The bowling side of things there is depth but everybody is a 3rd seamer. There is really no spearhead like McGrath/McDermott or quality swing bowler like Fleming/Alderman. The only different bowler is Johnson as he is a bit quicker and left armer. There is not much difference in Hilfenhaus, Harris, Siddle (Harris & Siddle maybe more Merv Hughes clones), Cameron, McKay as all are really 3rd choice quicks/seamers like Paul Reiffel , Kasprowicz, Bichel type bowlers. Hopefully some of these come on as well are youngster like George, Starc, Heazlewood and Pattison come on as a spearhead, though they are all aged under 21 so we need to be patient and Starc, Pattison, Heazlewood have had some serious injury problems this year.
We will struggle to win the Ashes back if we reduce shield cricket season to 5 games a year and have more 20/20 games as maybe proposed by the ACB.
Finally an omen in 1986/87 we lost the Ashes in Australia losing them outright in Melbourne in less than 3 days. That side though did contain
Marsh, Boon, Border, Jones, S. Waugh and Hughes who would play big roles in winning the Ashes back in England in 2 years as well as McDermott and Reid who were better players 4 years later when we thrashed the Poms at home. Unfortunately looking at current test side it is hard to see many players be playing in 2013 and 2017 maybe a more likely target.
Unfortunately it is probably time for Ricky to retire as he is very much a former shadow of his former self and even when he tried to grind together an innings and work hard he still was knocked over cheaply. I would have liked Ricky to get a farewell test but unsure if that will happen.
Clarke for his bad form at the moment is probably the obvious candidate with Haddin for captaincy, Katich if he was 2-3 years younger would have been a certainty but at 35 we need to look for other top order options. White is thought of having the best cricket brain in domestic cricket but isn't recognised to be even considered for a test spot.
The batting for Australia is causing huge problems and it is hard to see where we can get 300 runs from to be competitive, though not a fan of Hughes and Smith they need to be given time in the short term to make a convincing job of an opportunity (the same as North, Clarke and Hussey were given when out of form) the depth in batting is not great but hopefully young talents like Khawaja, Mitch Marsh, Maddinson, Hill, Keath, Lehmann, Nobes and Lynn make mountains of runs in shield that force them into the test team rather than getting in we the odd 100 and an average of 40. Players like Fergusson, White, Bailey and Shaun Marsh maybe considred close to test team but that shows how bad cricket is in country when they are averaging only 40 and not 60 and they not make hundreds.
10-12 years ago we had enormous depth in batting with players like Langer, Hayden, Martyn, Cox, Blewett, Hodge, Lehmann, Love, Maher and Divenuto for example all making plenty of runs in shield cricket yet could not break into the test team or waiting for a 2nd opportunity, because of the depth. There is nobody in shield cricket at this quality at the moment waiting to get in.
The bowling side of things there is depth but everybody is a 3rd seamer. There is really no spearhead like McGrath/McDermott or quality swing bowler like Fleming/Alderman. The only different bowler is Johnson as he is a bit quicker and left armer. There is not much difference in Hilfenhaus, Harris, Siddle (Harris & Siddle maybe more Merv Hughes clones), Cameron, McKay as all are really 3rd choice quicks/seamers like Paul Reiffel , Kasprowicz, Bichel type bowlers. Hopefully some of these come on as well are youngster like George, Starc, Heazlewood and Pattison come on as a spearhead, though they are all aged under 21 so we need to be patient and Starc, Pattison, Heazlewood have had some serious injury problems this year.
We will struggle to win the Ashes back if we reduce shield cricket season to 5 games a year and have more 20/20 games as maybe proposed by the ACB.
Finally an omen in 1986/87 we lost the Ashes in Australia losing them outright in Melbourne in less than 3 days. That side though did contain
Marsh, Boon, Border, Jones, S. Waugh and Hughes who would play big roles in winning the Ashes back in England in 2 years as well as McDermott and Reid who were better players 4 years later when we thrashed the Poms at home. Unfortunately looking at current test side it is hard to see many players be playing in 2013 and 2017 maybe a more likely target.
WA selection in yesterday's T20 an indication of our malaise. No offence to Mick Lewis but unless WA cricket has implemented king Herod's policy towards 1st born males , couldn't a young fellow have been found to give an opportunity to ? As it was , Lewis was ok but spinner/all rounder Sprat , very ordinary. Young Beaton though , looks promising...
National team - All coaching staff , starting with chief coach Neilsen , ought to be on notice &/or have their contracts terminated after WC2011. The people that gave Neilsen , a 3 year extension , even moreso , need to go. Agree Saker seems to have done a great job with England but we were seduced previously by Cooley,when maybe the lollies were just as influential. We need a badass as coach , someone prepared to push & challenge players as required, rather than coddle them.
National team - All coaching staff , starting with chief coach Neilsen , ought to be on notice &/or have their contracts terminated after WC2011. The people that gave Neilsen , a 3 year extension , even moreso , need to go. Agree Saker seems to have done a great job with England but we were seduced previously by Cooley,when maybe the lollies were just as influential. We need a badass as coach , someone prepared to push & challenge players as required, rather than coddle them.
mk33 said:
Reckon that's a good point. Cook and Bell started young and were initially out of their depth against us, but are now vastly better players. The role of the selectors is crucial in identifying the right young talent to be given a sustained crack at the top level.
Also reckon Ponting deserves a couple of Tests down the order to prove he still has what it takes. Could be invaluable strengthening the tail as a #6. North and Smith haven't cut it in this series.
