Cricket or, Not Football
Only the second test series loss of Ponting’s career, the first being the ’05 Ashes when the Poms had the ball swinging more than ‘60s Bowie, and the media is all over him like mint-induced saliva on a Kookaburra. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Dick Ponting is by any means a great captain, or even a very good one, but by the same means, he’s not terrible. It’s just that Australia hasn’t had a tactically sharp captain since Mark Taylor (which is why it was such a shame that Warne was passed over for the top job; sure, he was a complete twat off the field, but I can’t but think that he would have brought some innovative ideas to the table as captain). So as the pencils are being sharpened on the 450 or so ‘Australian cricket is crumbling’ articles being prepared for the weekend, let’s take a quick look at the issues surrounding Australian cricket.
Captain Dick
He is a very good batsman, even great at times (although not in the Lara or Tendulkar class) but he does lack certain instincts for the game. His captaincy record is great by the numbers, but he is too reactionary and unimaginative as captain and probably misses someone like Darren Lehman for the left-field, “let’s finish this six-pack and open the bowling with Damien Martyn” ideas. Make no mistake, he made a poor decision about whom to bowl and when, although it did happen after the tea break, so perhaps he was worded up by team management.
Ponting seems like a stubborn little prick and I can’t really see his captaincy improving. I also doubt he’d ever step aside as captain, although that actually may extend his batting career. If a change was made, Michael Clarke is the only real alternative and he does seem to have some of that “cricketing savant” about him. Plus, he is banging Lara Bingle, so he’s got that going for him, which is nice. The selectors have given him some experience captaining in one day and twenty20 matches in then past, and will again this summer, and he will be watched very closely. Let’s hope he shows some spark.
Over Rates
Slow over rates, the apparent reason for the bowling of Michael Husey's pies, have been in a problem in test cricket for a long time. If no-one can get the overs in, are we simply expecting too much? These days we have more stoppages due to third umpire decisions, equipment changes, bad sportsmanship, giant powerade trucks, etc. but how about this for a solution; start earlier or turn the frickin’ lights on and we play until the 90 overs are done.
Winning in India
Australia has only done this once since 1964. Shane Warne, the greatest spin bowler ever, notoriously struggled there. This team, with no spinner, an out-of-sorts top order (Hayden, Ponting, Clarke) and a pace attack that has yet to define itself, was never going to win. The 2-0 score line isn’t as bad as it suggests and the team showed some spirit in tough situations, especially the bowling, which was a big concern. Let's not read too much into this just yet.
All-rounders
Even though I had high hopes, the Cameron White experiment is over. I thought with the emergence of his batting and the potential of his Kumble-style bowling, he was going to emerge as Australia’s next all-rounder. What I forgot, however, was the golden rule, that all-rounders must be worth their spot as specialist. In that regard, Shane Watson might be ok yet. He has looked like the selectors golden boy in recent times but he probably had his best series in India (which isn’t necessarily saying much). If his body holds up, and the top order can give him some protection, he will give Andy Symonds a big run for the no. 6 spot. (That is, if Symonds doesn’t piss off to play IPL twenty20 and fish for Barra permanently for about half a mill a game.)
The Spinner(s)
Ever since Stuart “contingency plan” MacGill went down with Carpel Tunnel syndrome, or RSI, or gout, or whatever the hell it was, the selectors have been in all-sorts. Panicking, they sent for Cameron White as a replacement, and then played him instead of the other selected specialist spinner, who we all know now was Jason Krejza. White struggled, the selectors persevered, I hoped, Ponting hardly bowled him, Krejza got his chance when the Aussies had nothing to lose, he took 12-for and we found our spinner. With that haul, Krejza’s confidence will be through the roof and the spinning spot is now his to lose. What I liked about his performance was his confidence. Warne and all the greats have often said that temperament is the key to a good spinner: He was getting smashed, but he kept his head and kept throwing them up. Can’t wait to see who his South African bunny will be.
Everything else
Simon Katich looks to have sewn up his spot as an opener, although he bats slower than Ricky Ponting bowls… Hayden is in his annual “Just when I looked washed up I’ll make 250 against New Zealand and get another 15 tests to my name” mode… Brad Haddin needs some runs, I would have thought… I’m enjoying the Mitchell Johnson era and am still looking forward to the Phil Jaques era… Shane Watson could challenge for Greg Blewett’s title of “best technique player who constantly gets bowled between bat and pad”… What ever happened to Ben Hilfenhaus, an Australian bowler who could actually swing the ball?... I miss Mark Waugh’s slip catching… I think it’s time to have both Husseys in the Australian middle order… Peter Siddle looked just OK: I’m reserving judgement… New Zealand and South Africa up next: Paging Shaun Tait, paging Shaun Tait…
Only the second test series loss of Ponting’s career, the first being the ’05 Ashes when the Poms had the ball swinging more than ‘60s Bowie, and the media is all over him like mint-induced saliva on a Kookaburra. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Dick Ponting is by any means a great captain, or even a very good one, but by the same means, he’s not terrible. It’s just that Australia hasn’t had a tactically sharp captain since Mark Taylor (which is why it was such a shame that Warne was passed over for the top job; sure, he was a complete twat off the field, but I can’t but think that he would have brought some innovative ideas to the table as captain). So as the pencils are being sharpened on the 450 or so ‘Australian cricket is crumbling’ articles being prepared for the weekend, let’s take a quick look at the issues surrounding Australian cricket.Captain Dick
He is a very good batsman, even great at times (although not in the Lara or Tendulkar class) but he does lack certain instincts for the game. His captaincy record is great by the numbers, but he is too reactionary and unimaginative as captain and probably misses someone like Darren Lehman for the left-field, “let’s finish this six-pack and open the bowling with Damien Martyn” ideas. Make no mistake, he made a poor decision about whom to bowl and when, although it did happen after the tea break, so perhaps he was worded up by team management.
Ponting seems like a stubborn little prick and I can’t really see his captaincy improving. I also doubt he’d ever step aside as captain, although that actually may extend his batting career. If a change was made, Michael Clarke is the only real alternative and he does seem to have some of that “cricketing savant” about him. Plus, he is banging Lara Bingle, so he’s got that going for him, which is nice. The selectors have given him some experience captaining in one day and twenty20 matches in then past, and will again this summer, and he will be watched very closely. Let’s hope he shows some spark.
Over Rates
Slow over rates, the apparent reason for the bowling of Michael Husey's pies, have been in a problem in test cricket for a long time. If no-one can get the overs in, are we simply expecting too much? These days we have more stoppages due to third umpire decisions, equipment changes, bad sportsmanship, giant powerade trucks, etc. but how about this for a solution; start earlier or turn the frickin’ lights on and we play until the 90 overs are done.
Winning in India
Australia has only done this once since 1964. Shane Warne, the greatest spin bowler ever, notoriously struggled there. This team, with no spinner, an out-of-sorts top order (Hayden, Ponting, Clarke) and a pace attack that has yet to define itself, was never going to win. The 2-0 score line isn’t as bad as it suggests and the team showed some spirit in tough situations, especially the bowling, which was a big concern. Let's not read too much into this just yet.
All-rounders
Even though I had high hopes, the Cameron White experiment is over. I thought with the emergence of his batting and the potential of his Kumble-style bowling, he was going to emerge as Australia’s next all-rounder. What I forgot, however, was the golden rule, that all-rounders must be worth their spot as specialist. In that regard, Shane Watson might be ok yet. He has looked like the selectors golden boy in recent times but he probably had his best series in India (which isn’t necessarily saying much). If his body holds up, and the top order can give him some protection, he will give Andy Symonds a big run for the no. 6 spot. (That is, if Symonds doesn’t piss off to play IPL twenty20 and fish for Barra permanently for about half a mill a game.)
The Spinner(s)
Ever since Stuart “contingency plan” MacGill went down with Carpel Tunnel syndrome, or RSI, or gout, or whatever the hell it was, the selectors have been in all-sorts. Panicking, they sent for Cameron White as a replacement, and then played him instead of the other selected specialist spinner, who we all know now was Jason Krejza. White struggled, the selectors persevered, I hoped, Ponting hardly bowled him, Krejza got his chance when the Aussies had nothing to lose, he took 12-for and we found our spinner. With that haul, Krejza’s confidence will be through the roof and the spinning spot is now his to lose. What I liked about his performance was his confidence. Warne and all the greats have often said that temperament is the key to a good spinner: He was getting smashed, but he kept his head and kept throwing them up. Can’t wait to see who his South African bunny will be.
Everything else
Simon Katich looks to have sewn up his spot as an opener, although he bats slower than Ricky Ponting bowls… Hayden is in his annual “Just when I looked washed up I’ll make 250 against New Zealand and get another 15 tests to my name” mode… Brad Haddin needs some runs, I would have thought… I’m enjoying the Mitchell Johnson era and am still looking forward to the Phil Jaques era… Shane Watson could challenge for Greg Blewett’s title of “best technique player who constantly gets bowled between bat and pad”… What ever happened to Ben Hilfenhaus, an Australian bowler who could actually swing the ball?... I miss Mark Waugh’s slip catching… I think it’s time to have both Husseys in the Australian middle order… Peter Siddle looked just OK: I’m reserving judgement… New Zealand and South Africa up next: Paging Shaun Tait, paging Shaun Tait…
posted by the captain at 7:44 pm
2 Comments:
Having both Husseys in the middle order would require the selectors to pick three Vics within 5 tests or so of eachother. Never, ever going to happen. After all, they picked 5 years' quota worth of Victorians in India alone.....
First of all (pseudo CJ), you're not in fkn London, I am, and last time you were meant to be here in Europe, you bailed.
Secondly, and having met Brad Hadden at the Temple Walkabout during the last Ashes series, it's fair to say that he's a self obcessed prick, and until he pulls his head out of his arse, he wont be scoring any runs.
"I am Brad Haddin, here, look at my license!!!"
Whatever, Brad!
I'm not siding with the doom-merchants and predicting the end of Australian competitiveness like many others, but Ponting is probably the most shitful captain we've had since Graham Yallop.
Let him concentrate on batting, get someone with some cricketing nous to run the show and I think we'll be in a better place.
One thing (of the trillions) I don't get though is that there's been zero focus on the coach, what's all this about? I just don't think he's much chop, and I think we're suffering a good deal because of this.
Buchanan was our cricketing Zen-Master, I don't think this could be over-emphasised enough. Actually, it could be, but let's not let strict truth get in the way. I could have used a Britney-Timberlake analogy, and none of us need/deserve that.
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