Is the Shield irrelevant now when it comes to picking Australian Teams

[western royboy]

A quick look at the players missing from the couple of Shield games on at the minute tells me that the Selectors have already picked their team and even their squads for the majority of this summer.

So the question to you all is;

Are the Blind Mice simply ignoring the Shield and going with the talent coming out of the Centre Of Excellence instead of the tough hand to hand combat of the Shield?

[crownie]

A quick look at the players missing from the couple of Shield games on at the minute tells me that the Selectors have already picked their team and even their squads for the majority of this summer.

So the question to you all is;

Are the Blind Mice simply ignoring the Shield and going with the talent coming out of the Centre Of Excellence instead of the tough hand to hand combat of the Shield?

It can't just be about picking the team on those who have performed the best for instance how well do you think Klinger would of gone at test level and they would of never picked Stuart Clark who did well a test level.

You have to trust that they know who the players for the future of cricket can be and that their stats at state level dont have to be great to end up being a good cricketer, give them the experiecne of Shield and once they show some promise get them a taste of test cricket. Of course if a young player like Hughes has excpetional numbers at a young age you have to take notice of them, otherwise i think the main thing for the middle aged players is consistency over 3-4 seasons rather then one massive season like Hayden and Martyn had to do when they got dropped the first time.

[MARVELDC]

Unfortunately I say that the shield is irrelevant. Considering players like ponting refuse to play for their state, his state being Tasmania..........or is it N.S.W???? no one seems to know.

The selection criteria SHOULD be based on state performances, but that seems to be gone now. There were some players like ponting who never played one state game in the 2008/2009 season.

In the old days, if you didn't play for you state when you could have, then you did NOT play for Australia. That rule should be brought back!!!

[LondonCalling]

Shit no.

The calendar is already packed 12 months of the year, with meaningless ODIs, IPL, T20, etc. Why would you want the Husseys and Pontings to play even more meaningless cricket against an increasingly deteriorating standard of competition?

[crownie]

Unfortunately I say that the shield is irrelevant. Considering players like ponting refuse to play for their state, his state being Tasmania..........or is it N.S.W???? no one seems to know.

The selection criteria SHOULD be based on state performances, but that seems to be gone now. There were some players like ponting who never played one state game in the 2008/2009 season.

In the old days, if you didn't play for you state when you could have, then you did NOT play for Australia. That rule should be brought back!!!

well these arn't the old days anymore, some players do deserve to be rested with the amount of cricket played these days. We dont need another Greg Chappell incident.

[bungwahl]

Unfortunately I say that the shield is irrelevant. Considering players like ponting refuse to play for their state, his state being Tasmania..........or is it N.S.W???? no one seems to know.

The selection criteria SHOULD be based on state performances, but that seems to be gone now. There were some players like ponting who never played one state game in the 2008/2009 season.

In the old days, if you didn't play for you state when you could have, then you did NOT play for Australia. That rule should be brought back!!!

You can't just make things up and pretend they are fact. I can't remember Ponting ever saying he wouldn't play for Tassie anymore. In fact the major reason why the Pontings, Husseys, Johnsons, etc rarely play for their state sides is that there is far too many pointless international fixtures played these days and Cricket Australia prefers these players to rest where possible.

I imagine a lot of the national side players would be keen to play more Shield games if they hadn't been tied up with pointless ODI series - 7 matches vs England? 7 matches vs India? And I'm going to throw in the Champions trophy as well - just a money-making tournament for TV

[The 747]

A quick look at the players missing from the couple of Shield games on at the minute tells me that the Selectors have already picked their team and even their squads for the majority of this summer.

Yep I imagine they have. Although some eye catching performances might see someone drafted in.

The Shield is not irrelevant but making players who are proven international class who travel all round the world playing CA organised cricket play every domestic game is of no worth IMO. If it fits with their program they will play and only then.

Pretty safe to say we don't need Ponting to turn out for Tasmania to be sure he still knows how to bat.

[Spikey]

Unfortunately I say that the shield is irrelevant. Considering players like ponting refuse to play for their state, his state being Tasmania..........or is it N.S.W???? no one seems to know.

I can't remember one time when Ponting has said no to Tassie. It's usually CA saying no to Tassie

[XFactor1979]

another case and point, i really doubt mitchell johnson will ever line up in a game for wa whether it is domestic first class, onedayers or twenty20

the only real window wa might ever get to see johnson line up for them is if wa qualifies for the champions league twenty20 tournament. but wa needs to be in the final of the domestic twenty20 for that

[Belnakor]

Punter played a shield match about 2-3 years ago, got a ton if i remember correctly, it was like a man against boys.

[Selective Retention]

I can't remember one time when Ponting has said no to Tassie.

04/05 in the one day comp. Tassie gunning for their first trophy in over 25 years needed to win the last regular season game to assure their spot in the final. There was a gap in the international schedule so all the Aus players were available.

Tassie v. South Australia
Victoria v. New South Wales

Ponting chooses to attend his wife's university graduation instead of playing against SA. Tassie lose in a close game to SA.

The next day, if Victoria beat NSW they make the final against Queensland. Luckily NSW beat them and the final, well that is history :thumbsu:

Fair to say there were a lot of pissed off people at the time though.

[krisholio14]

It is absolutely irrelevant.

If it was relevant, Brad Hodge and Chris Rogers would be absolute monties for the test team.

[XFactor1979]

another ugly side of domestic cricket is the fact you open grounds such as the mcg (90000), the gabba etc and you have 12 people (all pensioners) go and watch these "up and comers", recently dropped from the national team or 'has beens' play the game

maybe the sheffield shield games should be played on smaller sized grounds, suburban ovals?

[roostersgal4eva]

I agree with that Xfactor - smaller suburban grounds should be used for Shield Cricket

Not sure where we could play it in SA TBH?


I think Sheild Cricket is now irrelevent and really there is a 'why bother' feel certainly from watching it at times

[XFactor1979]

its a shame shield cricket is irrelevant

in the past it was a symbol of interstate rivalry (along with its a knockout)

everyone wanted to beat up nsw and everyone complained that nsw cricketers were guaranteed automatic selection to the national team.

[kenrosewall]

I personally prefer domestic cricket to international cricket at the moment to be honest. Maybe its because I know a few of the Tassie players and therefore have a vested interest in seeing them play well, but I also love the interstate rivalry. Maybe it's due to the fact that Tassie has no other professional sporting teams.

[Zeke]

I love getting along to Bellerive for the 4 dayers.

Nothing better than sitting up on the hill with a beer watching the Tassie lads go about their business.

[Sealz]

Pretty sure Punter played a shield game early last season... against the red backs I believe... I work right next to Bellerive and went down in my lunch break to watch him get a ton... he got out for 98 or something....but then made a 100 odd in the second inning...

I think the amount of international cricket these guys play is having a massive impact on them representing their state... They need to have a rest at some point...

Listening to ABC Radio on the weekend they were saying how the WACA had to change there rules to stop Mitchell Johnson from Winning state player of the year... He was clearly their best player... but has never bowled a ball for WA...

[bouncing back]

the shield comp is really underrated. some terrific cricket is played. and it's proven itself by developing so many top test performers.

[clees]

Shield cricket is of top class IMO. Look at Queensland v West Indies the other day. A second string bowling lineup from a mid table team and they clearly outclasses a test playing nation. If you teams like Vic or NSW into the test arena they would have to be in the top few teams. Probably behind Aus, South Africa and India. Just look to the extent they dominated the Champions League.
A Match like Vic v NSW is going to be of much better quality and entertainment than any test you are going to see in Aus this summer. Lets face it, we probably have some Grade cricket teams that could compete with the windies/NZ these days

Also, going down to final at the Junction oval last year was much more pleasant then watching a shield match at an empty G, you also get to meet the big name past players, which doesnt happen at the G. I would be all for having it as the perminant home ground for the Vics

[The Great Barry Besanko]

Was amazed when Hilditch was justifying Hussey's selection by saying he's in good form and that good form in any form of cricket is important. But one-day cricket is truncated. The best bowlers don't bowl every over, ordinary all rounders fill the plugs, fields are restricted etc.
Extraordinary. One century in 30 innings doesn't cut it. And of course he may well score runs as any other handful of Shield would against this Windies.

This series a great chance to give someone else a go.

[Gough]

I would point to Simon Katich as a player who benefits greatly from playing Shield cricket. Going back to play for NSW when not required to play one day cricket, he has been able to continually play cricket at a high standard and maintain his test cricket form.