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Cricket - what to do?

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RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
So, I'll be honest, I actually don't mind the Aussies put under pressure and losing the odd game. As someone who grew up in the era of AB as skipper, its basically all I knew. Any win was a bonus. Hell, we sometimes had ticker tape parades for a draw!

But what's the score now? The Australian sporting public has high expectations, and the last think Cricket Australia want, as they strive to outdo AFL in terms of junior participation, is a losing national team - the brand on which the sport relies so much.

So what's happening in India? Obviously we are coping with the losses of McGrath, Warne and Gilchrist. But is this current result just a case of struggling to win in India? I think we only won their once when we were at our 'peak', so a loss may not be the sign of a down turn we suspected?

In saying that the performances have been disapointing. Lee and Hayden as the old stagers. The spinner of course. The bowlers as a whole. And our ability to grind out decent partnerships.

Do we make changes? Personally, I'd love to see Shaun Marsh thrown straight into the team now. Probably for Katich. I don't think Haydos has much left in him, and wouldn't bother with him in one dayers, but if we can squeeze a season or two out of him (with runs), then I'd be happy. And if Shaun had half of the grit and determination of his old man, I'd be stoked. Jacques is probably the next most likely, or do they bring in young Phil Hughes from NSW

Punter, Clarke and Hussey are fairly much main stays in the middle order, but I'd love to see David Hussey in there somewhere. If you could decent overs out of Clarke and David Hussey I'd happily have the latter at 6. But I think Pup's back is stuffed, so that's unlikely. Luke Pomersbach is a gun in waiting and I would love to see him in there soon, but possibly first the 1 day team on a permanent basis.

6 is a key spot. Not sure if Symmo's the man, and I think Watto's more an upper order batsman. He may force out some good runs down the bottom there, but I don't think he has the mental toughness for a test all rounder yet. Its not just about being able to bowl 40 overs in the match, but also about turning up in both innings, not just one. Symmo's probably the best of the options at the moment. Ashley Nofke should not be discounted though, as another seamer option. Capable batsman and a quality seamer.

Now. Wicket Keeper. Sadly, I don't think Haddin's up to it. His batting doesn't seem to be and neither does his keeping. Chris Hartley is probably the best keeper in the country and is a capable bat, (no where in the Gilly mould, or even Haddin), but could develop into a gutsy lower order partnership builder ala Healy. We could throw Ronchi in there, but again don't think the keepings there yet.

To the bowlers. Stu Clark is quality. Johnson is inconsistent. Lee? Just out of form? After bursting onto the scene in a blaze of glory he dudded quickly. But seemed to turn things around when McGrath left. Can he get it back? But funnily enough, I think we actually have some depth at the moment in the pace department. Siddle, I hadn't seen before the test, looked competent. But Tait's there, although he fulls into the Watson mould for me. The two Tassie Tigers, Brett Geeves and Ben Hilfenhaus are leading contenders, Hilfy in particular. Steve Magoffin from the West is one that has been a consistent wicket taker for a while and deserves further consideration as well.

The spinners. Hmmmmm. Well, from the get go, if your picking a one day spinner than Xavier Doherty from Tassie is the man. Haurtiz probably the next option. But we're talking the real stuff. And first we have to consider, do we need a spinner? I say no. We need to pick our best bowlers. We could pick Warnie wherever because he got wickets wherever. Now we don't need to. But the two I'd be looking at are Beau Casson and Aaron Heal. And sticking with them. No point picking McGain (old), White (doesn't spin) or Krezja (temperment).

I remember the selectors back in the struggling mid-late 80s decided to just pick tough as nails crickets to show a bit of heart. Thus under AB they picked Boon, Hughes, Geoff Marsh, Steve Waugh and Healy. We're probably not at that stage yet, but it would be could to forget the flair for a while and pick good hard cricketers.

Oh, one final element. Captain. Whilst I see no way that Punter would do it, I think its time to let Clarke take over the skipperhood. I saw something in those 20/20 games that I liked. I know they are a completely different game, but it has a certain instinct for the game, field placings and bowling changes.

The timing of all this is interesting, due to the tour to England next year. Not a great learning ground, but still. Is it worth picking the same non-performing elder statesmen like last time (Dizzy, Hayden)?

My test team for the summer:

1 Matt Hayden
2 Shaun Marsh
3 Ricky Ponting
4 Michael Clarke [c]
5 Michael Hussey
6 David Hussey
7 Ashley Nofke
8 Brett Lee
9 Chris Hartley
10 Ben Hilfenhaus
11 Stuart Clark

12 Beau Casson
 

PaarlBok

Rod McCall (65)
To be honest, I think your lot will smack us like usually and everything will be fine again. We currently struggle to get Dale Steyn back and without him I see a uphill battle. As long as they play under Mickey Mice we have no change against the Aussies. You need some hard nose coaches like Jennings and players like Big Mac, Vinnige Fanie to crack your lot.
 

Virgil

Larry Dwyer (12)
Your still going to smash us.
Think you might want to look at a new captain, wont happen of course but Ponting has been very poor in that regard.
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
Rumours of our demise have been greatly exaggerated IMO. This current test has been a prime example- India pile on the runs and its the end of the world for Australia. However, when we get into bat we show its just a flat track, and had no movement for anyone.

Saying that, I think our bowling atack is not what it used to be. I also think, though, that with the exception of Cameron White we are playing our best 11 men, and this is where I disagree with you Noddy.

Openers- Katich and Hayden have earned their spots and are starting to score some runs. I dont know how you advocate dropping Katich- in his 6 tests back in the side he has averaged 53, which for an opener is outstanding. Whilst Shaun Marsh is a promising player, I would still have him behind these two and Jaques in the pecking order.

Allrounder- Watson has really stepped up this series, and we need to give him a bit of time to grow into the role. Remember how long it took Symmo to start scoring runs/taking wickets? He is a top line bowler (which Symonds never was) and arguably a better, more mature and consistent batsman. I am a big fan (unlike certain others in this forum), and I think to drop him now would be an unfounded mistake.

Wicketkeeper- Jeez you are tough on Haddin. The guy has played 5 tests, and is averaging 35. Keeping is reasonable, and will only get better once he gets used to bowlers, conditions etc. Hartley? No thank you, I would say Ronchi would be well above him in the pecking order. But Haddin still is the best keeper in the country.

Bowlers- Johnson, Lee and Clark are the three best fast bowlers in the land. No question. But with who do you fill the final spot? I am a big fan of Ashley Noffke, and agree he should get a gig. Why waste a spot with a sub-standard spinner who will only get tonked? Clarke and Katich are handy spinners if thats whats needed, but an all-pace attack seems our best option at present.

So my team would be:

Katich
Hayden
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Watson
Haddin
Noffke
Lee
Johnson
Clark

Lets not jump the gun though. They could well come out and trounce India in the next test and retain the trophy. Stranger things have happened on the subcontinent...
 

Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
Agree about the part-time spinners barb - Sehwag took a Michelle in our innings FFS! The spotlight has shifted from the specialised spinner in Australia until someone of Warne's talent or Macgill's work ethic is found. IMHO.
 
T

Turban

Guest
Lifted from Fox sports some interesting pre-match shit-stirring from the Indians? Or something more sinister? Or are the Aussie journalists scratching around for a story about the Big Bag BCCI to get the public behind a losing team?

Pretty interesting final test, the series has been a bit lack luster so far, lets hope this one's a cracker and Dhoni has the balls to play for a win.



Cricket

Banned Gambhir may play
By Malcolm Conn in Nagpur
November 06, 2008 AUSTRALIA fear banned India batsman Gautam Gambhir may play in the series-deciding Test beginning in Nagpur on Thursday, threatening another meltdown in world cricket.

Ricky Ponting is worried Gambhir will be chosen despite International Cricket Council appeals commissioner, South African judge Albie Sachs, upholding his one-Test suspension.

"It's going to be an awkward situation for me to be put in tomorrow if we went out to do the toss and the guy who has been rubbed out has his name on the team sheet," Ponting said on Wednesday.


The latest outrage from cricket's billion-dollar bullies is reminiscent of India's behaviour in Australia last summer, when India had umpire Steve Bucknor sacked after losing the Sydney Test and twice threatened to go home during the Harbhajan Singh racial abuse controversy.

If India attempts to force the issue by including Gambhir in the team for a Test Australia must win to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it would face forfeiting the match by selecting an ineligible player.

Cricket Australia claimed on Wednesday night that Gambhir's possible selection was a matter for the ICC, a spokesman saying: "Cricket Australia assumes the ICC would act accordingly."

CA and the ICC refused to speculate on the outcome if India attempted to play Gambhir. The ICC denied Indian claims it must respond to an official complaint from the Board of Control for Cricket in India within 48 hours.

"The situation is that he has a one-match ban and that's it," an ICC spokesman said. "There is no right of appeal to the appeal.

"According to the ruling all member countries signed up with, that's final and binding. Due process has been gone through and the matter is closed."

Despite the ICC's unequivocal stance, the Australians are planning for all contingencies.

"We have to be prepared for both," Ponting said. "That he is going to play or he isn't going to play."

The Australians can only watch in bemusement at yet another bout of Indian hysteria surrounding the worst-behaved team in the world over the past decade. Seriously? :nta:

"Obviously a decision has been made that India is not happy with," Ponting said.

"It will be interesting to see where the next 24 hours heads."

Such is the force of India in particular and, as a result, the Asian bloc with the unquestioning support of lackey Zimbabwe, that even forfeits are overturned by the ICC board when it has no power to do so. Pakistan forfeited a Test to England in 2006 by refusing to play after they were charged with ball tampering but in July the ICC board, with absolutely no jurisdiction, changed the result to a draw.

India's latest outrage came on Wednesday when Sachs rejected Gambhir's appeal and upheld the penalty of a one-Test ban imposed by match referee Chris Broad during the third Test, which ended in a draw on Sunday.

Gambhir was suspended for striking Shane Watson with an elbow to the ribs while taking a run on the opening day of the Test in New Delhi.

He was charged with a level-two offence for acting against the spirit of the game but should have been charged under 2.4 of the ICC's code of conduct for making deliberate physical contact.
 

Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
Gambhir's had a match fine last year for some reason too. It was a pretty blatant elbow and while most of the mature Indian commentators are shrugging it off, the BCCI is the only board in the world arrogant enough to demand the ICC review an incident outside the rules. Pakistan's bid to get their forfeit overturned was done in the surety that India, the Lanks, and Zimbots would back them. That's just the way it is in world cricket at the moment.

If India were stupid enough to pick Gambhir today they'd lose the series. Even without him they've got enough talent floating around to win.
 

Virgil

Larry Dwyer (12)
The BCCI shouldnt have even been allowed to take it this far, no doubt the ICC were relieved they backed off. Otherwise they would have had to show the world again how impotent and gutless they are.

Anyway India won the toss and are batting.
Krejza in for Clark.
 
T

Turban

Guest
Virgil said:
The BCCI shouldnt have even been allowed to take it this far, no doubt the ICC were relieved they backed off. Otherwise they would have had to show the world again how impotent and gutless they are.

Anyway India won the toss and are batting.
Krejza in for Clark.

Every where I've read this arvo says Clark in the team, you got a link Virgil, I'm looking for some info about it but can't find anywhere apart from snippets in blogs.

The whole Gambhir thing was just a beat up by the media. He was never going to take the field and Sachs had a go at the Aussie's too for antagonising the young fella so much. The Aussie's have maintained their record of getting one dangerous opponent banned per series. What ever happened to the good old Aussie Mantra "What happens on the field, styas on the field"?
 

Virgil

Larry Dwyer (12)
Turban said:
Virgil said:
The BCCI shouldnt have even been allowed to take it this far, no doubt the ICC were relieved they backed off. Otherwise they would have had to show the world again how impotent and gutless they are.

Anyway India won the toss and are batting.
Krejza in for Clark.

Every where I've read this arvo says Clark in the team, you got a link Virgil, I'm looking for some info about it but can't find anywhere apart from snippets in blogs.

The whole Gambhir thing was just a beat up by the media. He was never going to take the field and Sachs had a go at the Aussie's too for antagonising the young fella so much. The Aussie's have maintained their record of getting one dangerous opponent banned per series. What ever happened to the good old Aussie Mantra "What happens on the field, styas on the field"?

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/indvaus2008/engine/current/match/345672.html

great start initially from India, but you guys strike back with 2 quick wickets including Dravid for 0.
 

Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
Yeah the wicket of Sehwag was just typical Sehway - looking ominous, and then goes for the little whack square of the wicket and chops it on.
 

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
Turban said:
Virgil said:
The BCCI shouldnt have even been allowed to take it this far, no doubt the ICC were relieved they backed off. Otherwise they would have had to show the world again how impotent and gutless they are.

Anyway India won the toss and are batting.
Krejza in for Clark.

Every where I've read this arvo says Clark in the team, you got a link Virgil, I'm looking for some info about it but can't find anywhere apart from snippets in blogs.

The whole Gambhir thing was just a beat up by the media. He was never going to take the field and Sachs had a go at the Aussie's too for antagonising the young fella so much. The Aussie's have maintained their record of getting one dangerous opponent banned per series. What ever happened to the good old Aussie Mantra "What happens on the field, styas on the field"?
I'm sure the Indian team and media would have turned the other cheek if someone like Symonds had elbowed Sharma...they'd be like hyenas on a carcass. Or like a team on the first chartered aeroplane outta there. And I believe the match referee is responsible for the sanctions after a game, not the other team. Then again, keep it on the field - maybe the bowler gets a free shot with the elbow at Gambhir?
I'm tired of this victim mentality from other teams about big bad Australia beating up on them. None of the teams are angels anymore, get over it and tuck the elbows in.
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
Great work by the man. Fantastic persistence. Loved the way he flighted the ball and really attacked.

I remember 4 years ago Allan Border was calling for him to be picked to go to India. He was 21 and had only played 4 or 5 first class games then. Quite an eye that AB. In saying that Jason has gone of the rails a bit since then. He's a bit of a loose cannon.
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
Noddy said:
Great work by the man. Fantastic persistence. Loved the way he flighted the ball and really attacked.

I remember 4 years ago Allan Border was calling for him to be picked to go to India. He was 21 and had only played 4 or 5 first class games then. Quite an eye that AB. In saying that Jason has gone of the rails a bit since then. He's a bit of a loose cannon.

Did hear from a very reputable source that the reason he left NSW for Tassie was that he got booted for a drug problem. Apparently he likes the snow as much as old Dell...
 

Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
Noddy said:
Great work by the man. Fantastic persistence. Loved the way he flighted the ball and really attacked.

I was amazed Ponting left him on when he was getting belted. But then when none of your other bowlers look like taking a wicket, what can you do?


cyclopath said:
Then again, keep it on the field - maybe the bowler gets a free shot with the elbow at Gambhir?

Jeez - Watson would kill him! And probably find a way to injure his elbow at the same time :) Can you imagine if Hayden / Symonds / Watson got a free shot at any of the Indian blokes? It'd be carnage....
 
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