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Cricket
- Thread starter mb64
- Start date
Navy Days said:
You don't think this Ashes series counted? As said before this series is the pinnacle for Australian Cricket an Punter was a monumental failure in it. No question.
Tigers of Old said:
You statement didnt mention the ashes & seemed to suggest he typically doesnt get runs when it counts.
mb64 said:
Not one series!
Ponting's batting average for the past TWO YEARS is around 37. This is what I expect Khawaja to average for the next two years.
Ponting's hard hands - and obsession with the hook shot- were only a minor problem when his eyes were good. But no doubt, he is regularly exposed now - even by mediocre bowlers.
He may do well at number 5 - as Sachin has - but please let's not rewrite recent history and suggest he has had one bad series
No doubt Hilditch says a lot of things that rub people the wrong way. Chappell inevitably taking over cant come soon enough.
But not sure how people on here that have asked for a generation change can have a dig at the selectors for pushing a potential young leader in Paine up as quickly as possible.
But not sure how people on here that have asked for a generation change can have a dig at the selectors for pushing a potential young leader in Paine up as quickly as possible.
mb64 said:
Haddin averaged 45 for the series and was probably our third best player (behind Hussey and Watson) - out of an ordinary bunch. Some on this site are advocating we get rid of two of our best three players (on current form)!
I'm happy to cut Clarke and Ponting (and Hughes and Smith, for that matter), but why get rid of Hussey and Haddin now? If anything, we need some maturity in the team while we are blooding good young kids. (If Paine is making runs, bat him at six! He may be a better keeper than Haddin, but Haddin has a very good test record.
Maybe he has,but he's 33 & his best is behind him.We have to look to the future.lf Haddin was outstanding with bat & gloves l'd be happy for him to stay on.Healy was going okay when he was retired & look what we got with Gilly.lukeanddad said:
lukeanddad said:
The reason Paine should be pushed up is he is a future leader. Of which we all know we have so few of. He needs as much experience as possible at a higher level. Paine also averaged 45 in India so in the few matches he has played he's shown as appetite for runs.
Paine is also clearly a better keeper than Haddin which shouldnt get overlooked.
Who would you have as skipper Lukeanddad?
jb03 said:
Khawaja will still play if Ponting goes on JB.
On Chappell, very true on his coaching record. His man management skills have often been given as a reason. He is though knowledgable on the game. Interesting to see how he goes.
Agree with those outs MB. Though Navy would drop Clarke as well with Hussey maybe going on to assist Ponting for a little bit.
He's not coaching, he's selecting, and he has the runs on the board there. He was the selector who pumped for 20-year-old Steve Waugh and four-gamer Ian Healy and was part of the panel that dumped Hilditch when he was vice-captain.jb03 said:
On the issue of needing experienced players, the age of the Australian squad is the major difference between now and the 86/87 thrashing. Then, AB was our oldest player at 31. Waugh was 21, Jones 25, Boon 26, Marsh 28, Reid 23, Hughes 25, and they all had a year or three of international cricket already behind them. Jones and Boon cut their teeth on Shield attacks like Garner and Hogg. I see two problems: the Shield standard has dropped because international players rarely participate, and older blokes are hanging on in the national side at the expense of blooding younger players. These guys won't step aside because they stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, or more. Say what you want about Michael Clarke, at least he has his priorities right.
Paine in for Haddin is a no-brainer. Paine is already 26. He's shown he's ready for Test cricket, performing exceptionally when he got the chance. Haddin is a very talented batsman but long term thinking must prevail. Shame Maddinson doesn't have the chance to press his claims today. Hopefully he can finish off the summer with a couple more Shield tons. If so, I'd have him in the squad for Sri Lanka in August. If you're good enough you're old enough, and it didn't hurt Stan McCabe or Neil Harvey to debut at 18. Ponting deserves the chance to move down the order and Hussey will probably stay but should probably go.
Australian cricket needs a thorough cleanout. Chappell is the only selector I'd keep. AB and Junior Waugh should be on the panel. Nielson should go. Cricket Australia should do an Essendon/Knights with him and Cooley re Centre of Excellence. We have to stop kidding ourselves.
Navy Days said:
Navy, on the captaincy, I would be loathe to introduce any new player - White or Paine - as a skipper. Instead, I would choose the best team and select a skipper from that lot. Note: this may be a short term solution (ie 1-2 years - see G Yallop post World Series!). To answer your question: one of Haddin, Hussey or Watson - the only three who stood up for (most of) the series.
Khawaja stays whether or not Ponting is there. I saw him for the first time in Sydney. Our bats were all rabbits in headlights (Clarke was absolutely mesmerised by that Anderson over - brilliant bowling); however, I enjoyed his soft hands. Usie will be a player.
As for Chappell; he clearly is not a good man-manager (his brother was a far better captain). However, chair of selectors is less about people management and more about talent management. I hope he can make hard decisions. The current chair is not up to it.