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
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