View Full Version : Tim Nielsen
Ill Chicken
25 Feb 2010, 17:38
"We've had a pretty good run and I'm not sure who they have been playing lately but they'd want to front up pretty well then, wouldn't they."
Good coach.
He's there because he's liked, not because he's a good coach.
Black Thunder
25 Feb 2010, 18:24
hmmmm, definately not the commnets you want coming from the national coach.
especially when you consider these are the lasts tests we play before trying to regain the ashes....
Plugger35
25 Feb 2010, 20:22
"We've had a pretty good run and I'm not sure who they have been playing lately but they'd want to front up pretty well then, wouldn't they."
Good coach.
http://images.tmuscle.com/forum_images/8/d/8de09-NotSureIfSerious.jpg
Don't know if Neilsen is talking about Tests, ODIs or T20s but either way they've only beaten pretty weak West Indies and Pakistan sides this summer. If he is talking tests then he must have a short memory as they lost the Ashes series only 6 months ago.
NZ might struggle to beat Australia in the test series but they won't be a pushover in the ODIs and T20s. They wouldn't want to be too cocky or they may get a surprise.
spookism
25 Feb 2010, 21:07
Too busy thinking about sex (I mean success)
King Elvis
26 Feb 2010, 09:53
He's there because he's liked, not because he's a good coach.
Liked by who?
The mail from a number of different places is that most of the senior players aren't fans of his at all...
TimeIsRunningOut
26 Feb 2010, 14:59
especially when you consider these are the lasts tests we play before trying to regain the ashes....
Pakistan in July.
Ill Chicken
3 Mar 2010, 19:24
Nielsen was right on the money.
Gazza_11
3 Mar 2010, 19:28
Pakistan in July.
And hopefully India
ManWithNoName
3 Mar 2010, 19:38
And hopefully India
Oh god, not again.
Gazza_11
3 Mar 2010, 19:41
Wait for it......in test matches this time. With the Ashes coming up, it might be good preparation in playing against good opposition, compared to the backyard novices we've been up against recently.
Although, it also has the potential to completely screw us over, seeing as we're gonna have to go play on flatties there and come back to play England in Brisbane.
BluesInTheSky
3 Mar 2010, 20:42
Flatties? Is that why Aussie batsmen struggle to make runs there? Or struggle to win test series in India? Grow up and take off your fan boy glasses.
mattymac
3 Mar 2010, 21:41
what a knob. srsly.
Damon_3388
3 Mar 2010, 23:08
"We've had a pretty good run and I'm not sure who they have been playing lately but they'd want to front up pretty well then, wouldn't they."
Good coach.
If he's really that clueless, it takes a 2 minute look on CricInfo to find out who New Zealand (the "they" he's talking about, I'm assuming) have played recently. NZ haven't been playing superpowers themselves (Bangladesh and before that Pakistan), but the Kiwis are definitely a better side (especially at home) than anyone we've faced all Summer.
King Elvis
4 Mar 2010, 09:06
Should've been sacked after we lost at home to the Saffers, and again after we lost the Ashes (where he apparently had a major say in the selections and tactics which failed us).
Why does he have a job when he is apparently disliked by a lot of the players, and unlike Buchannan, doesn't have a record of success to fall back on?
Ill Chicken
22 Jul 2010, 14:15
His comments for this test have been pretty average. Any chance of actually commenting on the game at present rather than referring continually to the plan beforehand?
King Elvis
22 Jul 2010, 17:25
He's just plain shit; once you accept that, you stop getting worked up about it.
He's just plain shit; once you accept that, you stop getting worked up about it.
I still seem to get worked up about it.
According to me coaching Australia must be the toughest job for any coach. Unlike 99.9% of all other teams, Australia is the only team that has players that are actually ready for the highest level (most times- what is Marcus North doing in the team!!!!).
This means the job is to ensure that they remain injury free, when they lose form understand the technical issue and sort that out and finally keep them mentally in a zone where they can deliver greater than 100%.
If you really look at it, barring the technical aspect the coach cannot play a role in most other areas and you need other specialists for those things. Thats why probably a Warne and many others feel that a Coach is a redundant entity at this level.
In case of Australia its more true than anywhere else because honestly tell me how can any one improve Hussey or Clarke they are at their best already.
Doodlesweaver
25 Jul 2010, 04:06
According to me coaching Australia must be the toughest job for any coach. Unlike 99.9% of all other teams, Australia is the only team that has players that are actually ready for the highest level (most times- what is Marcus North doing in the team!!!!).
This means the job is to ensure that they remain injury free, when they lose form understand the technical issue and sort that out and finally keep them mentally in a zone where they can deliver greater than 100%.
If you really look at it, barring the technical aspect the coach cannot play a role in most other areas and you need other specialists for those things. Thats why probably a Warne and many others feel that a Coach is a redundant entity at this level.
In case of Australia its more true than anywhere else because honestly tell me how can any one improve Hussey or Clarke they are at their best already.
I don't understand the first sentence. Surely not having to wet-nurse players should make the job easier?
And that's not true anyway, it's probably a full-time job trying to help Johnson get through puberty. Those teenage tantrums and all that sort of stuff can be very trying.
Selective Retention
25 Jul 2010, 15:19
He's a CA yes man, nothing more.
Surely someone like Shipperd would be 100x the coach. The Vics could coach themselves but he had a pretty good record with a so so Tassie team, getting them to a couple of shield finals, when he was in charge there as well.
Dixie Flatline
25 Jul 2010, 17:58
Nielsen should carry the can.
Our batsmen fail to put a price on their wickets and our bowlers don't know how to bowl to the conditions.
Hopefully the loss to Pakistan will force Cricket Australia to critically evaluate the set-up with the Ashes looming. England has its best chance in a long time to win the Ashes in Australia.
Nielsen has the easiest job in the world. Coaching players who probaly know more about the game then himself. Warne is 100% spot on about coaches. I cannot remember what he said off hand a I cbf finding it but it was along the same line.
King Elvis
26 Jul 2010, 02:45
Nielsen has the easiest job in the world. Coaching players who probaly know more about the game then himself. Warne is 100% spot on about coaches. I cannot remember what he said off hand a I cbf finding it but it was along the same line.
I've heard from numerous people, in both Victoria, SA and WA, that Nielsen is more of a hindrance than a help.
Doodlesweaver
26 Jul 2010, 20:13
I've heard from numerous people, in both Victoria, SA and WA, that Nielsen is more of a hindrance than a help.
This tour has been a pretty much unmitigated disaster. Won nothing in the other formats, plus drawn a test series against a team full of politics and rookies (with a very fine team of bowlers, I'll admit).
But nothing will happen. There won't probably be even a token scapegoat in North. But it will be panic stations after the Ashes.
Ill Chicken
26 Jul 2010, 20:31
There doesn't seem to be that much drive about the team in comparison to when Buck was running it.
Doodlesweaver
26 Jul 2010, 20:41
There doesn't seem to be that much drive about the team in comparison to when Buck was running it.
Yes, they seem so lifeless so often on the pitch. No tension at all out there.
That screams a lack of confidence to me.
King Elvis
26 Jul 2010, 22:01
This tour has been a pretty much unmitigated disaster. Won nothing in the other formats, plus drawn a test series against a team full of politics and rookies (with a very fine team of bowlers, I'll admit).
But nothing will happen. There won't probably be even a token scapegoat in North. But it will be panic stations after the Ashes.
You think?
The home Saffer Series was a disaster.
The Indian Series before that was a disaster.
The last Ashes Tour was a disaster.
**** all happened; we have a spineless and content Administration and Coaching setup.
Get AB in there somewhere, he wont tolerate this pathetic mediocrity.
mattymac
27 Jul 2010, 12:23
although his rubbishness is indisputable, its not just nielsen. its CA to the core. they're so bloody conservative and its such an old boys club. its almost impossible for anyone to lose their spot, whether coaching staff, admin or selectors. they're a bunch of underachieving nepotists. all scared to rock the boat with new ways of thinking. sticking to rigid selection formulas and matchplans and incapable of thinking on their feet and changing tack midcourse for fear of appearing weak/ appearing to have been forced by their opponents into backing down. its a 'not one step back' mentality that leaves us exposed when our opponents do find our range.
and it sh1ts me no end how none of them can admit failure. they make ad hoc decisions (eg- elevating watson to open the batting because johnson was having a brain fart and they scapegoated hughes) and then act as if it was the result of long term planning and never back down from it. generally we prefer to let injuries do the selection for us.
someone needs to come along with a big f'n broom and sweep out CA from top to bottom. there needs to be more accountability for not performing at all levels. players, selectors, coaching staff.
nielsen should go, hilditch and co should go, cooley is about as useful as tits on a bull now we all know it wasn't his masterly coaching but lollie spit that engineered the poms' prodigious reverse swing in 2005. ponting's days as captain must be numbered aswell.
we need a border or a simpson type figure who focuses on results and achievement not jargon and computer generated models and excuses and what not. unfortunately we're not gonna get one. it won't surprise me at all if the more flexible and merit based english set up triumphs in the ashes on our own turf. /end rant
Take Aim
27 Jul 2010, 13:24
Australia has been a moderate team for a year or two now.
People are still in denial.
Is changing the coach really going to make a difference? Is sacking the selectors really going to do much? Is changing the side every few games going to do anything.
The answer is no. In fact, doing all of that will probably make the situation worse.
By no means am I saying you have to accept losing. All I am saying, is that you shoud probably start getting used to it.
Really, apart from Ponting, there are no players in the lineup that strike fear into an opposition
King Elvis
27 Jul 2010, 13:32
The answer is yes, the Selectors have cost us at least two major series in the last couple of year, which should be enough to have them all sacked.
Take Aim
27 Jul 2010, 15:00
What two series have the selectors categorically cost us?
The Ashes were lost on the back of two shocking batting collapses. Yes, we should have played a spinner at the Oval. But did that lose us the match. No. The batting did.
The Australian public needs to reign back its expectation of the team. In all areas of life, one needs to be realistic. Yes, you can be optismitic, but at the end of the day, you still need to base your expectations on reality.
The fact of the matter is, this Australian team is prone to dramatic batting collapses, especially when the ball is moving. Hell, the ball doesn't even have to be seaming or swinging, a few months ago we lost 7/60 against New Zealand.
Until the batting is sorted it out, we will continue to lose just as many games as we win. Sorting the batting out will take time. Sacking selectors, sacking coachs, won't make a damn difference.
King Elvis
27 Jul 2010, 15:27
The South African series at home, without question.
They were a factor in the loss of the away Indian and Ashes Series as well.
How do you sort the batting out though mate?
By leaving North in the side? By refusing to tweak the order?
Take Aim
27 Jul 2010, 16:04
If you drop North, then he has to be replaced.
I don't think Smith is the answer at this stage. I'd toy with the idea of dropping Watson to 6 and reinstating Hughes, but at this point in time Hughes is recovering from shoulder surgery so that scenario is void.
Outside of that, I don't see Smith or Uwaja (sp) as viable options before 2 big series. I'd back North over both of those players. England are sending a very inexperienced attack under Australian conditions, and I'd back our current order to take the long handle to them.
The time has passed to make changes to this side outside injuries or unless there was a player that was in such red-hot form that they could simply not be ignored. At this point, in the off-season, there won't be many chances for these players to push for selection.
The best bet is to hold tight with the current order. Review the team after the Ashes, make the changes you need to following any retirements or omissions and then move forward.
As I said, it is harsh to drop North after 2 tests when he had very little prior preparation for the series, and especially after his work in NZ.
King Elvis
27 Jul 2010, 16:18
Yea, you're probably right mate, I guess I'd argue that we need to have the balls to make the big calls, but the reality is, those calls should've been made at the start of last Summer, where somebody like Khawaja or Hughes could settle in for 12 months before the Ashes.
Doodlesweaver
27 Jul 2010, 18:53
Yea, you're probably right mate, I guess I'd argue that we need to have the balls to make the big calls, but the reality is, those calls should've been made at the start of last Summer, where somebody like Khawaja or Hughes could settle in for 12 months before the Ashes.
In some ways I am inclined to agree that it feels like shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic and they really have missed the boat by not going with younger players after the Ashes. The SCG against Pakistan was a real turning point. If they had lost that one, heads might have rolled. (Though I doubt it). They've just lost a test match almost a match replay and not too much in the way of heads rolling will happen. Again.
However, if another team in the top 3 went on tour, lost the ODI series, then the 20/20 series then drew a test series against a team much lower in the rankings, do you think changes would be made to at least a couple of the members of the respective squads? I suspect they would have to be.
But our selectors prize continuity overall. Plus the skipper's form has been so poor that it's difficult to look at dropping other players when he is performing so poorly at 3.
And having a continual rotation of bowlers through injury gives the selectors the perfect excuse. Lack of experience, not our strongest teams, just coming back from injury, so on and so forth.
Ill Chicken
27 Jul 2010, 23:53
The issue with North is that he is a poor man's Brad Hodge or Martin Love or any other player that has come into the side for an intermittent period. North could have been moved on for Hughes at the end of last summer. Hughes could then have moved backed to the opening position once Watson's purple patch had worn off. Watson could have slipped back to five or six with Hussey, while Clarke should have been at number four at least two years ago.
From there they can push Hussey out after the Ashes which gives the option of Ferguson or Khawaja to come in. Even Klinger wouldn't be a bad option. Either way if they go with the young bloke, he is being groomed specifically to take the number three position once Ponting retires. From there all you have to worry about is Katich and then filling the number six position which could be Ferguson or Khawaja anyway. That would have the batting settled for the next couple of years anyway and the real opportunity here is that Paine looks good at test level, Haddin should be relegated to T20/ODI's.
Basically from my point of view, it looks as though Nielsen and the selectors have no foresight, pigeon hole players and don't play the best eleven. Shane Watson is going to get an extended run opening the batting, then they'll give him an extended run in the middle order, then they'll consider dropping him. So instead of looking for one opener in a couple of years, we'll be looking for two.
The bowling selections over the last few years, are another story completely and worse in comparison.
GreekLunatic
28 Jul 2010, 17:51
Tim Nielsen is a dud coach. The way he talks makes u feel like he has no clue what he is going on about. Its ironic our lowest score in the last years is under him.
Doodlesweaver
28 Jul 2010, 18:19
Tim Nielsen is a dud coach. The way he talks makes u feel like he has no clue what he is going on about. Its ironic our lowest score in the last years is under him.
You are not wrong. Look at this quote from after the first day debacle at Headingley.
""I would prefer that we were exposed to these experiences now than (for) the first time it happens to be in an Ashes series which everyone is going to be focusing on."
He is speaking as though this is the first time the Aussies have collapsed. And like we've never collapsed before in an Ashes series. Duh. There is spin... and there is stupidity.
"We have got a couple of young blokes who are playing in their second Test match, we have got a young bowling attack, we have got five or six players I think in this squad who are just starting their Test match careers, so I don't think it is a worry, it is exciting that they be exposed to this sort of pressure and understand that Test match cricket is not easy."
He always speaks about the 'youth' of our team. Which sounds lame if you look at the comparative ages and number of test matches played by the opposition, especially in this case. And if you consider that most of our players are closer to 30 than 20, (Smith is the only one without much first class experience) and at least 4 of them are over 30.
You are not wrong. Look at this quote from after the first day debacle at Headingley.
""I would prefer that we were exposed to these experiences now than (for) the first time it happens to be in an Ashes series which everyone is going to be focusing on."
He is speaking as though this is the first time the Aussies have collapsed. And like we've never collapsed before in an Ashes series. Duh. There is spin... and there is stupidity.
"We have got a couple of young blokes who are playing in their second Test match, we have got a young bowling attack, we have got five or six players I think in this squad who are just starting their Test match careers, so I don't think it is a worry, it is exciting that they be exposed to this sort of pressure and understand that Test match cricket is not easy."
He always speaks about the 'youth' of our team. Which sounds lame if you look at the comparative ages and number of test matches played by the opposition, especially in this case. And if you consider that most of our players are closer to 30 than 20, (Smith is the only one without much first class experience) and at least 4 of them are over 30.
Raise some good points there, arguably Paine and Smith were two of our better performed players in that series. Our bowling line up may be inexperienced but it is not youthful, Hilf 27 Bollinger 29 Johnson 28 have all played enough first class cricket to be experienced. The bowling sides looks promising considering we have Hauritz, Siddle and Harris all out of the side. The batting is horrendous, north needs to be dropped and replacements need to be found for Ponting, Katich and Hussey who all have 2 years in them at best.
I think coaches are hardly the issue for Australia, what surprises me as an outsider is the amazing lack of quality in the new comers to the team.
I remember an era when people like Bevan, Law, Moody, etc came on and performed right away and more than the above mentioned even Hussey, Katich etc came in and delivered right away.
But currently in the last couple of years the new comers have not had either the aura or the ability to play for Australia and would have never been selected in a team led by Waugh, Taylor or even by Ponting at the start of his captaincy.
I think either the supply chain is badly messed up or that selectors are perpetrating some kind of a sick joke on the team.
Bomber Bears
30 Jul 2010, 18:52
Australia has been a moderate team for a year or two now.
People are still in denial.
Is changing the coach really going to make a difference? Is sacking the selectors really going to do much? Is changing the side every few games going to do anything.
The answer is no. In fact, doing all of that will probably make the situation worse.
By no means am I saying you have to accept losing. All I am saying, is that you shoud probably start getting used to it.
Really, apart from Ponting, there are no players in the lineup that strike fear into an oppositionThere's no doubt we are not near where we were 5 years ago, BUT
- Selectors dropping Hughes after 2 bad tests, shooting his confidence in the process, whilst keeping North for a long dry patch.
- Not picking Clark in the early tests of the Ashes series, he killed it in Headingly and would've been good in Cardiff and Lords, maybe Birmingham. Oval wasnt his wicket at all.
- The batting lineup has been all wrong for a while now, in order and in players. It's seen us collapsing and yet nothing has been said about it.
We could be in a better position than we are with better selection. I dont know how much of a difference a coach can make, but Nielson does seem like a dropkick.
Take Aim
30 Jul 2010, 21:28
Look, Clark had lost it. He was lucky to be in the Ashes squad IMO.
The selectors have to juggle the need to look ahead to the future, and the need to address the current fixtures as they come up. I think they have done a decent job at that task.
If you want to totally rebuild and play the kids then you have to be prepared to deal with the consquences of playing inexperienced players like Smith, Uwaja (sp) and Hughes. They will be on some days, and others it will be a disaster.
Are any of those guys really a better bet than North at this point?
The ony alternative I can see is to drop Watson to #6 and play Hughes in the opening spot. Hughes is currently injured, so that is not a valid configuration at this point in time.
When we lose, it's very easy to throw your hands up and say, 'play this kid, drop him'. But at the end of the day, if you do that you just end up going in circles.
Decide on a configuration, and give it a good run.
Look, Clark had lost it. He was lucky to be in the Ashes squad IMO.
Clark was averaging 22. Had an injury, never got his spot back. Just amazed me how we shunted him.
Doodlesweaver
31 Jul 2010, 05:06
Clark was averaging 22. Had an injury, never got his spot back. Just amazed me how we shunted him.
Clark was down to about 82 mph tops. He was never going to be a long term choice due to this.
Really, they might as well have stuck with Andy Mac if they were going to go down that route, he is a fair bit faster, equally accurate and can bat.
Bomber Bears
31 Jul 2010, 14:57
Clark, of course, did want to go and play county cricket to ensure fitness for the Ashes. Then got selected for ODI's in the UAE ffs.
And you can talk about long term options all you want, in the Ashes you choose your best squad. Im sure Clark would've been much more effective than Shitchell Johnsons express pace at Lords.
Doodlesweaver
31 Jul 2010, 18:07
Clark, of course, did want to go and play county cricket to ensure fitness for the Ashes. Then got selected for ODI's in the UAE ffs.
And you can talk about long term options all you want, in the Ashes you choose your best squad. Im sure Clark would've been much more effective than Shitchell Johnsons express pace at Lords.
You are being revisionist. There is no way after the tour of South Africa that he'd just had, a player coming back from injury was going to jump ahead of Johnson.
They might now and frankly I wouldn't complain at all, I'm fed up with his inconsistency but not then.
I remember them calling Stuart Clark over to the Pakistan series. He was very good about it as he obviously didn't want to go, had never been a first pick for ODI's and wanted to play long-format matches. It was a dumb call by the selectors and appeared so even at the time, but we are used to that now.
Take Aim
31 Jul 2010, 20:55
Clark was averaging 22. Had an injury, never got his spot back. Just amazed me how we shunted him.
Got smashed in India before getting injured.
When Clark made his debut in test cricket in early 2006, very successfully it must be said, everyone knew that at best, we'd get 4 years out of him.
That we did.
He was probably unfairly shunted in a way, but the 3 quicks in Siddle, Hilfenhaus and Johnson did the job in SA and we wanted to play a spinner.
International cricket is very harsh.
King Elvis
3 Aug 2010, 12:26
Clark got shunted because he challenged Tim Nielsen about how the bowlers were preparing for the Ashes.
whats_at_stake
24 Aug 2010, 12:10
Tim Nielson reappointed till 2013 Ashes series
http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/473879.html
Bombers_Forever
24 Aug 2010, 12:29
Tim Nielson reappointed till 2013 Ashes series
http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/473879.html
:thumbsd: Can someone explain the reasons for that? We have gone backwards as him as our 'coach'. He has done nothing to suggest that he is getting the best out of the team.
whats_at_stake
24 Aug 2010, 12:47
:thumbsd: Can someone explain the reasons for that? We have gone backwards as him as our 'coach'. He has done nothing to suggest that he is getting the best out of the team.
Seems Ponting loves him there \
I am suprised this happened prior to the World Cup. I would have thought post World Cup would be better (unless other countries were trying to poach him??). Seems like a Matthew Knights esque extension. Premature.
Cousin Jed
24 Aug 2010, 12:47
The players cheered when told.
I guess that explains it.
frankrizzo
24 Aug 2010, 12:56
Must say rather surprising reappointment, when he took over we were the clear number 1 now we are clearly well off the pace.
I mean outside of the South African away series(which is looking more like a fluky two week purple patch) we have been ordinary in our big series.
Surely Cricket Australia haven't settled on mediocrity this quickly?
And what if we also lose the ashes at home as well as away? it's going to look pretty silly having a back to back ashes losing coach taking us to England in 2013 to win them back.
Doodlesweaver
24 Aug 2010, 20:38
It is premature, they should have waited till after the Ashes at least. Still at least we know that it will be the players that get held responsible for any Ashes losses, not the mgt/selectors. That is, if anyone gets held responsible.
The Aussie set up is looking more safe and cosy by the minute.:(
Selective Retention
24 Aug 2010, 20:53
Seems Ponting loves him there \
I am suprised this happened prior to the World Cup. I would have thought post World Cup would be better (unless other countries were trying to poach him??). Seems like a Matthew Knights esque extension. Premature.
He makes Matthew Knights sound like a genius.
Will any media actually kick up about this disgrace or are they all on the CA gravy train. I'm predicting the latter, maybe Patrick Smith is far enough away to have a crack.
It's got me tossed too. He just doesn't give me any confidence when speaks publicly. I guess if the players love him he must have something going for him. I'd prefer Shipperd.
Bomber Bears
24 Aug 2010, 21:41
Must say rather surprising reappointment, when he took over we were the clear number 1 now we are clearly well off the pace.
I mean outside of the South African away series(which is looking more like a fluky two week purple patch) we have been ordinary in our big series.
Surely Cricket Australia haven't settled on mediocrity this quickly?
And what if we also lose the ashes at home as well as away? it's going to look pretty silly having a back to back ashes losing coach taking us to England in 2013 to win them back.To be fair, that may've had something to do with, in particular, the retirements of Warne and Mcgrath, as well as Langer Gilchrist etc, the long downswing of Hayden before his retirement and age catching up with Ponting. All things pretty out of his control.
What shits me is that the selections around this and the makeup of the sides has been managed very poorly, and this is where Nielsen and selectors have a lot to answer for
frankrizzo
24 Aug 2010, 23:08
Obviously it would be unrealistic to expect him to have kept us at the very top, but he certainly seems to have helped speed up the downhill slide we are on.
Contract extensions are usually rewards for improved performance or winning a marquee series so maybe if we won back the ashes and retained the WC he would be in line for a reward but what have we really done of late except fall well off the pace?
King Elvis
31 Aug 2010, 15:50
To be fair, that may've had something to do with, in particular, the retirements of Warne and Mcgrath, as well as Langer Gilchrist etc, the long downswing of Hayden before his retirement and age catching up with Ponting. All things pretty out of his control.
What shits me is that the selections around this and the makeup of the sides has been managed very poorly, and this is where Nielsen and selectors have a lot to answer for
All true, which means player management, selection and coaching needed to be absolutely spot on, to minimise the damage.
Basic shit like not playing the Hilf in a pointless ODI Series when they already knew he had knee-tendinitis, or not bringing an unfit and out of form Symonds in for the South African Series.
Doodlesweaver
31 Aug 2010, 21:46
All true, which means player management, selection and coaching needed to be absolutely spot on, to minimise the damage.
Basic shit like not playing the Hilf in a pointless ODI Series when they already knew he had knee-tendinitis, or not bringing an unfit and out of form Symonds in for the South African Series.
And more basic shit like getting Stuart Clark over to Dubai when he was never an ODI player and had a contract with Kent which would have prepared him for the Ashes 09. I didn't mind him not being in the starting line-up for the Ashes, but it was so short-term to grab him away from Kent to at least see if he could get proper mileage under his belt and get some real confidence and rhythm back.
That was a decision that at the time quite lost me, and then when they decided not to give Johnson more than one warm-up match (even though Nielsen said during the World t20 before the Ashes that Johnson 'needs a lot of bowling to get going' how ironic!) I lost the most of the respect that I had for the management and coach. They haven't regained it either.
Though to give the management their due, in hindsight, I don't think much would have made a difference with nervous Nellie, I mean, our lead strike bowler.
But they have still managed to win a lot of tests that they have played. That is apart from against the good teams. lol.
And with Pakistan who really knows?
Doodlesweaver
23 Oct 2010, 04:58
http://www.cricinfo.com/india-v-australia-2010/content/current/story/483152.html
Does Tim Nielsen actually make sense anymore? Some of the stuff in this just sounds like drivel. Hauritz has played in India before. This is about the third time he has been there with Aus teams.
I wish they would stop making excuses, they are sounding like a bunch of kids.
Does Tim Nielsen actually make sense anymore?
Did he ever make sense ever? :p
King Elvis
23 Oct 2010, 08:59
Still a moron.
"We have talked quite a bit since the end of the second Test. (He's) started getting used to the conditions. He hasn't got the assistance here he gets in Australia, probably because of the slowness of the wickets and the lack of bounce.
He's started getting used to the conditions... when the series has finished.
Brilliant!
How many losses do we have to tolerate before this clown get's the arse?