View Full Version : Shaun Tait
The Real Deal
5 Nov 2008, 18:09
Huge fan of Tait- want him back in the Aussie team soon! When he's on form he's one of best bowlers going round. Who thinks he should be playing when Australia gets back home this Summer?
he's not exactly setting the world on fire in the Shield games at the moment.
davey_magik
5 Nov 2008, 18:21
FC form is what he needs.
We won't just throw him into the Test team again like last time.
Hilf and Geeves > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tait
Hilf and Geeves > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tait
When fit mentally and physically theres no better bowler in the country then Tait, but he cant be chosen until atleast the one dayers.
When fit mentally and physically theres no better bowler in the country then Tait, but he cant be chosen until atleast the one dayers.
I agree...The one dayers will be his return.
Bomber Bears
5 Nov 2008, 21:44
No better bowler?
Disagree
No semblance of control, the occasional wickid ball amongst alot of rubbish - blah
Would've been handy in the 70's, in days when pitches werent as good and the loose cannon could thrive, but on todays pitches, particularly in test cricket, th eloose balls just get creamed, whilst the wickets dont do enough for him to be effective.
Still if he gets fit could be worth a shot ahead of Johnson. Siddle and Bollinger currently next in line it seems.
The Sim Dog
5 Nov 2008, 21:58
One day matches yes. Tests I'm not sure. Problem for him is maintaining his pace and focus throughout the day. The way he bowls if he tires and falls below 140kph or so his bowling will be massacred.
DoubleO7
5 Nov 2008, 23:20
Tait rarely bowles under 140 kph when tired.
The Sim Dog
5 Nov 2008, 23:28
Even when he got down to low 140s last year he looked a completely different bowler. I know he was having his mental troubles at the time which eventually saw him take a break but it's hard to go on much else.
I do hope he can become a great test bowler for us. Is certainly capable of giving some of the spark back we lost with Warne and McGrath.
aussie1st
6 Nov 2008, 05:30
It's not his pace that is a concern in the Test arena, it's his line and length. Unlike Johnson he doesn't have the advantage of being left handed and getting some of those lucky wickets. So the problem for Tait is the opposition know they only have to see off a few good balls from him and the rest they can punish.
Anyway first he needs to make an impact in FC and hes yet to do that to warrant selection in the Test side.
Get him in the one-day side this summer, see how he's handling the scrutiny and pressure again, then make a call on whether he joins the test team in South Africa - his Shield form permitting of course.
I don't want to see him in the home tests this summer after what happened last time, his test return would be better made overseas if it happens.
Would be all for him playing ODI;s hi seems to bowl knowing he only has 10 overs (in maybe 3 spells) and gives a really good effort. As for 4 days circket hasn't be setting the world on fire.
Noffke, Nannes, Geeves, Magoffin and Hilf are all in better form than Tait atm.
Weaker than Graham Thorpe and Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Tait has once again confirmed he will concentrate on the shorter forms of the game.
What is interesting in this article is he states that Sheffield Shield cricket is not even a high priority, never mind test cricket.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24655589-23212,00.html
Tait focused on limited-overs
SLING king Shaun Tait is prepared to shelve his Test aspirations to make a successful international comeback as a limited-overs specialist.
Tait has made the shock revelation after realising his turbulent career would be best served in targeting the shorter forms of the game.
He again showed he's one of the most devastating bowlers in the country when he clean bowled Adam Gilchrist with a searing inswinger in his return to Australian colours.
Playing his first match for Australia since taking a self-imposed break to overcome physical and mental exhaustion, Tait looked sharp in taking 1-28 from his four overs in a 64-run loss to the Gilchrist-led All Stars.
The speedster, who took 23 wickets at 20 in the 2007 World Cup, admitted one-day and Twenty20 cricket had now overtaken Tests as his focus.
He even sat out South Australia's Shield match against Western Australia with hamstring tightness to focus on the Twenty20 friendly and the domestic one-dayer in Adelaide.
"If you look at my results, traditionally the shorter form of the game I've probably done better," said Tait, who's taken five wickets at 60 in three Tests but 33 at 23 in 18 ODIs.
"I'm 25 years of age and I still don't want to rule out having another crack at four-day cricket - which I haven't gone that well in this year - and maybe one day Test cricket again.
"But at the moment, I have been focussing on the shorter form of the game more and with the way cricket is heading in the future it's probably not a bad way to be.
"The one-dayers are pretty important to me, and Twenty20 is the way forward."
Tait would be the only player in the country putting a bigger price on Australia's coloured uniform than the baggy green at present but it's a calculated and practical approach.
Best used as a shock bowler by South Australia, Tait thrives in short, sharp spells and also has more success when batsmen must attempt to score rather than stonewall and pick up his loose deliveries.
He also has more success getting the white ball to swing, both traditionally and reverse.
Former Test wicketkeeper Gilchrist felt Tait had lost none of his signature pace, although the boy from the Adelaide hills is showing less interest in the radar-gun since his return.
"To be back in the Aussie squad was brilliant, I'd been looking forward to that game for a while now," he said. "It came all right, unfortunately, we lost the game though."
Doesn't have the mettle for test cricket... much better he concentrate on the shorter forms of the game, which he will continue to excel at.
Any attempt to play both and he'll be back "exhausted" on his couch in Adelaide within 6 months.
King Elvis
16 Nov 2008, 11:55
Disagree with the 'mettle,' comment, but definitely think that concentrating on One Dayers is a good move for him.
He looks lethal with the white ball, but not so much with the red.
The article states it- in Tests, the opposition only really have to see him off, and he doesn't put enough constant pressure on to force them to play him, where as, obviously, in the One Dayers, they have to score from him.
DoubleO7
16 Nov 2008, 14:10
It's pretty obvious. The guy want's money without doing much work. Play an ODI, get your cheque and go home.
The 747
16 Nov 2008, 14:12
It's pretty obvious. The guy want's money without doing much work. Play an ODI, get your cheque and go home.
Ah yeah ok. :rolleyes: That's why he plays Shield cricket then.
King Elvis
16 Nov 2008, 15:31
It's pretty obvious. The guy want's money without doing much work. Play an ODI, get your cheque and go home.
Obviously - that's why he pulled the pin; not because he felt like he completely let everybody down.
ODI's yes.
Cant see him in the Test Side tbh.
achancely
16 Nov 2008, 15:34
Doesn't have the mettle for test cricket...
Stupid comment.
He looks lethal with the white ball, but not so much with the red.
but look at the crap attack he's surrounded by.
aussie1st
16 Nov 2008, 15:37
Hes got a pretty good FC record. It's not often you find bowlers taking 17 4 fers and 7 5 fers. But hes probably made the right choice as I do see him more suited to the shorter form of the game until he gets more consistency into his bowling.
Magpies696
16 Nov 2008, 16:07
he bowling well but he bowls to many wides or no-balls
Stupid comment.
Accurate comment actually... as perfectly illustrated by his mental capitulation during and after the Perth test last year.
I find it very interesting that he categorically stated that he wasn't suffering from a mental disorder (ie mood swings, depression, anxiety) when he walked away from the game. He was simply "exhausted". It got too tough for him so he quit.
Test cricket is an incredibly tough caper, both mentally and physically. To do it successfully you have to have talent and a resilient character able to cope with expectation and adversity.
Tait has the talent but I don't think he has the resilience to succeed at test level when things get tough.
The 747
16 Nov 2008, 16:12
he bowling well but he bowls to many wides or no-balls
If you can take multiple wickets in the first 2 overs of a match wides and no balls don't matter. :rolleyes:
Kruuuuuuuuuuezer
16 Nov 2008, 18:45
I would love to see Tait in both the one day and the test teams but i recon he needs to have some time in the ODI before we slot him into the test side
Nearly took Theo Doropoulos's head off just then.
How about we settle down kids.
achancely
16 Nov 2008, 18:58
Accurate comment actually... as perfectly illustrated by his mental capitulation during and after the Perth test last year.
I find it very interesting that he categorically stated that he wasn't suffering from a mental disorder (ie mood swings, depression, anxiety) when he walked away from the game. He was simply "exhausted". It got too tough for him so he quit.
Test cricket is an incredibly tough caper, both mentally and physically. To do it successfully you have to have talent and a resilient character able to cope with expectation and adversity.
Tait has the talent but I don't think he has the resilience to succeed at test level when things get tough.
This kind of post deserves a vulgar and blunt response, but since I've been asked not to, I won't give it.
Suffice it to say your words are reminiscent of the sick macho redneck mentality that sadly still permeates some Australian sport.
That you choose to say such insensitive and thoughtless things about a young man who struggled with depression suggests not only do you not understand depression and similar problems, you also have been fortunate enough not to have to help someone who has had such a problem.
Count yourself lucky, and maybe shut your mouth in future because your utter ignorance is offensive.
Just maybe you should read posts more carefully in the future... :rolleyes:
Tait was not suffering from depression, or any other mental illness or disorder. His body was sore, he was exhausted, he'd had enough, so he walked away from all forms of the game.
He publicly stated this himself... but don't take my word for it.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/09/2240545.htm
Tait ready to bounce back from hiatus
Australian pace bowler Shaun Tait says he is determined to return to the top of Test cricket after taking a lengthy hiatus from the game, but quashed rumours he was diagnosed with depression.
Tait was suffering burnout in January when he decided to take an extended rest.
He says the game affected him mentally as well as physically, but he has bounced back.
"Obviously the injuries of last couple of years have taken its toll, body was in pretty bad shape really," he said.
"I mean training, games and even waking up in the morning on days off, the body was just sore all the time, so I thought it sort of got to me mentally as well.
"It was just, I had enough, [I] actually haven't been diagnosed with depression at all. I mean the body was sore and I took a break, simple as that."
He is undergoing a special 12-week course to get him back on track, and he says he is keen and feeling good again.
"I've been doing a little bit of fitness work and stuff... but I haven't bowled since the break," he said.
"[At] this stage, it's sort of 12 weeks of just flat out basic strength work for the body, a bit of fitness, bit of running and in the gym, just to get the body so there's no stone unturned."
I lost a best mate to depression so do not lecture me about this horrific condition. I know more about the condition than most having spent the better part of 10 years supporting him before he took his own life. Read my posts on other boards on depression before you dare to judge me on this topic.
Just maybe you should check facts before having the gall to label others as ignorant.
"It was just, I had enough, [I] actually haven't been diagnosed with depression at all. I mean the body was sore and I took a break, simple as that."
The key statement from Tait's mouth in isolation, just in case your reading comprehension skill fail you again.
achancely
17 Nov 2008, 06:00
And just maybe you should realise people with mental illnesses don't necessarily want to talk about them with the whole world.
Nice line about caring for someone with depression - if that were true, your argument wouldn't be so shallow and you wouldn't be so quick to judge based on a line in a newspaper.
Get off the moral high ground, you lost it with your ridiculous comments already.
Tait's problem was resilience not depression.
Depression and burnout are massively different and thankfully Shaun had the insight to publicly clarify exactly what his issues actually were.
Your ignorance astounds me.
Russian
17 Nov 2008, 20:49
We have an SRP board, this isn't it. Stick to cricket or enjoy the festival
Tait could not take a test wicket on the WACA.. FFS if he is out best bolwler then we are really in trouble. With Siddle, Hilf, Geeves and a couple of young blokes coming through IMO Tait will never play another test for Aust.. well he doesn't deserve it yet. Also he is a bit fragial mentally.
Cooldude
18 Nov 2008, 15:02
To be fair, he was treated very very unfairly by Ponting's baffling captaincy in that WACA test. He was the fourth bowler who only seemed to get a bowl when the ball was 20 odd overs old
Never say never, if he puts up the performances then he deserves the opportunity. Just hope there's better captaincy to fully utilize his strengths
King Elvis
18 Nov 2008, 17:48
To be fair, he was treated very very unfairly by Ponting's baffling captaincy in that WACA test. He was the fourth bowler who only seemed to get a bowl when the ball was 20 odd overs old
Never say never, if he puts up the performances then he deserves the opportunity. Just hope there's better captaincy to fully utilize his strengths
Didn't it come out that Taity hurt himself in the warm up?