Cricket

[lukeanddad]

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.

Can I suggest that it is risky comparing the age of players now Vs then? For a start, the best two batsman in the world at present are older than Hussey. Throw in Dravid (37) and Sehwag (32), Gibbs (36) & Boucher (34).

Guys are hanging around now because of the $s. I am pro-generational change, but we can't have a top 6 with no experience...

 

[mb64]

Can I suggest that it is risky comparing the age of players now Vs then? For a start, the best two batsman in the world at present are older than Hussey. Throw in Dravid (37) and Sehwag (32), Gibbs (36) & Boucher (34).

Guys are hanging around now because of the $s. I am pro-generational change, but we can't have a top 6 with no experience...

Thats why we keep Ponting

 

[lukeanddad]

... or Hussey

 

[mb64]

... or Hussey

Definitely not,Ponting has way more credits than Hussey.

 

[Leysy Days]

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.

Agree that it would be unfair to have Paine or White as skipper straight away. But surely with Paine in particular showing he is more than capable at test level he should be introduced as early as possible so that he has the necesary experience to step into the breach in the near future if needed.

On your possible captains for the aforementioned reason Haddin makes no sense. Neither does Shane Watson who while extremely talented is one of the most self-involved & dumbest cricketers around. Has huge concentration issues as shown by his plethora of runouts & not being able to bat for long periods. As an all-rounder has plenty on his plate as it is. On Hussey he's had one good series after a long run of outs. Surely Ponting has more credits in the bank. It could be the shortest captaincy on record if Hussey fails in the next series.

Agree on Khawaja & also that Hilditch needs to go. Is there a person that puts his foot in it more than him. You & Spook also make some good points on Chappell in regards to what he may bring to a head of selectors role.

 

[Scoop]

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.

Not having a dig at the selectors Patsy just the manner that everything is being done.

Cannot have players going to the media barking out issues.

Think that Paine has to be in the Test Side in August.

 

[lukeanddad]

Agree that it would be unfair to have Paine or White as skipper straight away. But surely with Paine in particular showing he is more than capable at test level he should be introduced as early as possible so that he has the necesary experience to step into the breach in the near future if needed.

On your possible captains for the aforementioned reason Haddin makes no sense. Neither does Shane Watson who while extremely talented is one of the most self-involved & dumbest cricketers around. Has huge concentration issues as shown by his plethora of runouts & not being able to bat for long periods. As an all-rounder has plenty on his plate as it is. On Hussey he's had one good series after a long run of outs. Surely Ponting has more credits in the bank. It could be the shortest captaincy on record if Hussey fails in the next series.

Watson should bat at 6, where he is suited. He has the best technique in the side, but as you say, a bit of a dope. We can agree to disagree on Haddin/Hussey. As mentioned previously, if Paine is making runs, put him in as a batsman.

As for Ponting, he has many credits; I just believe he has used them up in the past two years.

 

[Leysy Days]

Watson should bat at 6, where he is suited. He has the best technique in the side, but as you say, a bit of a dope. We can agree to disagree on Haddin/Hussey. As mentioned previously, if Paine is making runs, put him in as a batsman.

As for Ponting, he has many credits; I just believe he has used them up in the past two years.

We'll agree to disagree on those pointsn L&D.

Though it doesnt make much sense to have Paine in the field when he is a better keeper than Haddin.

 

[Streak]

Watson should bat at 6, where he is suited.

Totally agree. If nothing else, we will not got momentum shifting run-outs of our openers.

As mentioned previously, if Paine is making runs, put him in as a batsman.

Also agree with this if Haddin needs to be retained.

 

[lukeanddad]

Though it doesnt make much sense to have Paine in the field when he is a better keeper than Haddin.

I am only trying to concede some ground by offering this concession.

My starting proposition is that Haddin has been in our top 3 this series - and one of the best for the past two years. He is very good, so why drop him? It would be an absolute insult to drop Haddin and retain (say) Clarke, Ponting, Smith. At 33, he has a good 3 years left in him (as was the case with Gilly.) Gilly was once in a generation, but Haddin is performing is his equal as a keeper. (By the way, Haddin did not have his best series behind the stumps; but did he miss any chances? I cannot remember if he did...

 

[mb64]

We'll agree to disagree on those pointsn L&D.

Though it doesnt make much sense to have Paine in the field when he is a better keeper than Haddin.

Exactly,Haddin should play the world cup & then make way for Paine as we start our rebuild.

 

[IanG]

I am only trying to concede some ground by offering this concession.

My starting proposition is that Haddin has been in our top 3 this series - and one of the best for the past two years. He is very good, so why drop him?

Cause he's 33 and his replacement is a possible future captain when Ponting finally retires.

 

[Rfc4Ever]

Paine will rain pain and will result in the aussies next reign of pain when we cane opposition rendering them insane which will be remembered in future down memory lane.

Off to work I go now...

 

[mb64]

Cause he's 33 and his replacement is a possible future captain when Ponting finally retires.

Exactly

 

[lukeanddad]

Cause he's 33 and his replacement is a possible future captain when Ponting finally retires.

Do you think you are getting a little bit ahead of yourself to cast a 'veteran' of 4 tests as the future skipper? I know we're ordinary at present, but fair dinkum, we don't even know if the boy is up to test match standard yet.

 

[mb64]

Do you think you are getting a little bit ahead of yourself to cast a 'veteran' of 4 tests as the future skipper? I know we're ordinary at present, but fair dinkum, we don't even know if the boy is up to test match standard yet.

lan is right,Paine shows great leadership potential & is likely to captain at some stage.You don't need to be a road scholar to work that out.

 

[poppa x]

After much drunken consideration:

1 Maddinson
2 Haddin - as a batter
3 Kwajah
4 Ferguson
5 Ponting (captain for the time being)
6 Watson
7 Paine - keeper
8/9/10/ choose from Siddle, Bolinger, Johnson, Pattinson
11 Choose from Beer and O'Keefe

To make up a 17 man touring squad add in Marsh, White, Clarke and Henriques.

It's a blend of youth and experience.

 

[mb64]

Interesting interview with Trevor Hohns this morning on SEN.Was asked whether he would consider being a selector again & he said yes.l would like to see him replace Hilditch & then find replacements for Boon & Cox.

 

[snaps truly]

l don't think Ponting is a great captain & l'm not fussed if he loses it.What l'm saying is he has been a champ & l think he still has plenty of runs in him if he moves down the order.

Agree with you mb, he hasn't been the best captain, but I believe he has been far from our worst. He would be great at six with Watson at five.

Kawaja will stay & bat @ 3,1 would get rid of Kattich,Haddin,Hilfy & Hussey so l would just keep Ponting for a bit of (experience) time & l think he'll make quite a few runs.lf he doesn't then l'd retire him.

Agree on all except Katich. From other posters it seems no-one is interested in keeping the cat, but I would keep him as there are doubts on Hughes and not many other candidates to open. His form has been below par for Katich this last year but he still averages over fifty since he became an opener. I'd keep him to open with Hughes which allows Watto to move down the order, and pray that Hughes sorts himself out so we can use Paine in the middle order and not as an opener of which he has some experience. Ponting and Katich should be moved on in a year or two when Maddinson would slot into opening and another young bat would come into the middle order.

Some posters have mentioned current form. Current form will mean nothing when we play play our next test in August, thats a long time in the future. My batting lineup for Sri Lanka would be; Katich, Hughes, Khawaja, Ferguson, Watson, Ponting, and Paine. p!ss Clarke and Smith off, not up to it at test level, pyjama cricket suits Smith's game and back to Shield cricket for the pup to try and make decent runs consistently..

The bowlers i'm not so sure on. Siddle and Johnson are probably worth persisting with for now. Beer or O'Keefe for the spinning gig, maybe both in the sub continent,and one other seamer, personally I would like to see Starc, Pattinson or Copeland given a crack. I reckon the race could be wide open for a couple of spots in the bowling attack.

 

[lukeanddad]

After much drunken consideration:

1 Maddinson
2 Haddin - as a batter
3 Kwajah
4 Ferguson
5 Ponting (captain for the time being)
6 Watson
7 Paine - keeper
8/9/10/ choose from Siddle, Bolinger, Johnson, Pattinson
11 Choose from Beer and O'Keefe

To make up a 17 man touring squad add in Marsh, White, Clarke and Henriques.

It's a blend of youth and experience.

Poppa, you have done very well with the batsman. However, I reckon you were probably skulling vodka by the time you got to the bowlers.

Starc ahead of Bolly. McDonald ahead of Johnson. (Johnson may get back if he learns to swing it consistently: he is 2km/hr quicker than Anderson/Bresnan, and nowhere near as consistent.)