12th Man... why Hauritz?

[ThePope]

I've thought for a while now, with Australia leading the way in onfield professionalism, that we do away with the notion that the next best batsman or bowler is 12th man.

How can the 12th man influence a result... not by how well he brings out the drinks but by fielding.

By sending Williams home to play for WA, the selectors took the first step in making this idea take place. By then replacing him with Nathan Hauritz, when Andrew Symonds is going to be sitting around this weekend doing nothing, is a stupid idea.

By all means encourage young players, give them the honorary title of 12th man, but when you have to have someone come out and field, make it the best fieldsman in the country, or at least the state, as long as it doesn't make them miss lots of Pura Cup games.

 

[ScouseCat]

I agree, Andrew Symonds would have been a more logical choice to replace Williams as 12th man.

 

[rockdog]

I also Have thought the same thing and think it is only common sense, using the best available fielder.

 

[bluechampion]

12th man

I think it's more of an encouragement. A 'we've not forgotten about you, even if you are a bit ****' gesture.

I remember an Aus A four-day match vs. England in Tassie about 5 / 6 years ago. The Aus A bowlers had basically all gone out injured during the game, and the attack was being led by the medium pace of Stuart Law. Because of all the injuries a local under 14s player ended up in the outfield for Aus A. He ended up taking the catch to dismiss Graeme Hick. (This is after Hick had scored a ton and taken to trying to blast every ball for six, and Atherton had scored a double-ton... the game was a write off, obviously.)

 

[EagleBlue]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
I agree, Andrew Symonds would have been a more logical choice to replace Williams as 12th man.

Maybe he's out fishing

 

[My North]

Re: 12th man

Originally posted by bluechampion
I think it's more of an encouragement. A 'we've not forgotten about you, even if you are a bit ****' gesture.

I remember an Aus A four-day match vs. England in Tassie about 5 / 6 years ago. The Aus A bowlers had basically all gone out injured during the game, and the attack was being led by the medium pace of Stuart Law. Because of all the injuries a local under 14s player ended up in the outfield for Aus A. He ended up taking the catch to dismiss Graeme Hick. (This is after Hick had scored a ton and taken to trying to blast every ball for six, and Atherton had scored a double-ton... the game was a write off, obviously.)

A one stage during that game Allan Border (who would have been early 40's years old)then who was the coach of the team had to be on the field along with the team doctor/Physio. England did good in that game but not the rest of the series. Typical England

 

[bluechampion]

hope hw caught something.

Originally posted by EagleBlue
Maybe he's out fishing

Apparently, that's the real reason. QLD has a week off, and he's disappeared up the coast.

 

[Thunderstruck]

Hmmm well he seemed to be right in the middle of the GABBA doing catches for the cricket show yesterday....