4 axed for 3rd test

[King Elvis]

There's no logical basis for that view apart from personal dislike.

I thought you were better than that.

I think there is a fair amount of evidence that is the case.

There will always be introverts or loners in the team (I loved Martyn, he was one), or guys who focus completely on themselves - again, fair enough, no problems with that.

But you don't make those blokes Captain.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

Watson won't retire. He's just seething at the moment and making rash comments. It must be pretty claustrophobic over in India at the moment in the Aussie camp. Flying home and clearing his mind will do him good.

 

[Mateyman]

Well in that test match in Adelaide, he said he would have given only half his runs back for a test win.

Source?

 

[sherb]

Well in that test match in Adelaide, he said he would have given only half his runs back for a test win.

And he could have broken the Australian and all-time test batting record in Sydney. But declared with still half the match time remaining.

We can swap examples all day if you like.

As I said, it's a view borne out of personal dislike, nothing else.

 

[Outshined]

Barrett and Badel, both on the tour, very supportive of the move...........

Excellent articles.

 

[The Speaker]

I think there is a fair amount of evidence that is the case.

There will always be introverts or loners in the team (I loved Martyn, he was one), or guys who focus completely on themselves - again, fair enough, no problems with that.

But you don't make those blokes Captain.

I don't see how either of those apply to Clarke.

 

[The_Reaper]

I think there is a fair amount of evidence that is the case.

There will always be introverts or loners in the team (I loved Martyn, he was one), or guys who focus completely on themselves - again, fair enough, no problems with that.

But you don't make those blokes Captain.

They made Border captain.

Who else have we got?

Clarke's the only bloke who can be relied upon to play every test without fear of being dropped.

 

[King Elvis]

The interview he gave after the match.

I liked it when he pissed that review away in the ODI and then blamed Warner.

What about when he hung Symonds, his best mate out to dry?

Blew up with Katich.

Overrode Hussey in his final Test.

Reports of personality conflicts with Watson.

Took Hughes out during that Boxing Day Test and complained about how shit the pitch was?

Refusal to bat up the order.

The guy is an exceptional cricketer, but he should not be Captain - being the best player doesn't make you the best Captain.


The reality is that our team is fractured, we've had multiple issues over the last few years, selection is unpredictable and inconsistent, players aren't developing, injuries are at an insane level...

So if we don't have leadership and management issues - what the hell is causing all of this?

 

[Phone]

And yet, he's only become an issue recently.

Funny that, huh?

He's been an issue the past year. He's been a massive destabilising force on the team. From being in and out of the team, bowling and not bowling, opening and not opening and the shit form and the pressure he's imposed on Cowan. He's been an issue for the team just from our point of view. I don't know what he's been like within the dressing rooms. None of us do. I wasn't saying that was the issue.

 

[sherb]

I think there is a fair amount of evidence that is the case.

There will always be introverts or loners in the team (I loved Martyn, he was one), or guys who focus completely on themselves - again, fair enough, no problems with that.

But you don't make those blokes Captain.

You'll look for examples to support your view. It doesn't make that view right. I've seen enough of your remarks towards Clarke in recent times to know you don't like the bloke. So your objectivity is clearly clouded.

And who else would you have made captain when Ponting handed over the captaincy? The field wasn't exactly bustling with candidates.

I'm ambivalent towards Clarke. But he's captain at a comparatively low time in our cricketing history so the job was never going to be smooth sailing.

 

[King Elvis]

He's been an issue the past year. He's been a massive destabilising force on the team. From being in and out of the team, bowling and not bowling, opening and not opening and the shit form and the pressure he's imposed on Cowan. He's been an issue for the team just from our point of view. I don't know what he's been like within the dressing rooms. None of us do. I wasn't saying that was the issue.

And the years before that?

I'd consider the last twelve months to be recent.

 

[The Speaker]

Excellent articles.

I particularly liked this line:

"People who want to whinge about the team's performances cannot now complain when Australian hierarchy take proactive measures to ensure the success the public demands."

 

[Covertackle]

ch9 commentary team would run oz cricket better....

 

[Phone]

What about when he hung Symonds, his best mate out to dry?

ahahahahaahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[Phone]

And the years before that?

I'd consider the last twelve months to be recent.

I wasn't saying Watson was an issue before then. I'm saying Watson, even before today, was a big issue for Australian cricket, because of the stuff that has happened in the last 12 months. He's a VC who, before today, no-one ever rated as a leader, an all-rounder in horrible form, and a guy who got moved to number 3 and then 4 for the sake of the team, and has made his displeasure known ever since

 

[King Elvis]

So why has he only recently become an issue?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/page2/content/story/624547.html

 

[kickazz]

A whole bunch of good players from the 90s.

EFA. The fact they are from the 90s doesn't make their opinion irrelevant.

It is unfortunately petulant behaviour from the four, but in my experience this only occurs when you have poor leadership.

This reminds me of a time I saw a Maccas manager yelling at the 15 year olds in front of the customers. I'm not sure if they were trying to get all big-dick in front of an audience, but it just made them look like an insecure person who did not understand what leadership was.

 

[The Speaker]

EFA. The fact they are from the 90s doesn't make their opinion irrelevant.

The fact that they were good does not make their opinion relevant.

 

[Phone]

So why has he only recently become an issue?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/page2/content/story/624547.html

lists lacks Buckley's two cents

@ncb_cfc: If you can't follow a basic coaching instruction off field, what hope that you'll do so under the heat of battle??

 

[Underdog]

I particularly liked this line:

"People who want to whinge about the team's performances cannot now complain when Australian hierarchy take proactive measures to ensure the success the public demands."

That's assuming this will ensure success...

Just because we support a particular stance, doesn't mean we have to agree with everything that may or may not be aimed at supporting that stance. That's the kind of logic that sees AFL rule changes every year.

 

[Mr Chuckles]

In isolation, dropping 4 players for such a minor indiscretion is clearly ridiculous.

However, given how deplorable we were in that second test, it beggars belief that any player in the squad would ignore a request from team leadership for a submission on how to improve on that woeful performance. The fact that this required as little effort as sending an SMS makes it even worse.

It seems likely there are some major divisions in the squad, and I just hope we get to hear the full story rather than the standard PR spin every public figure/body runs with these days.

Hopefully Watson does retire and gives a full behind the scenes account. Fair chance he's as culpable as anyone for the rubbish team culture, but I'd love to hear an honest account from him of what has led us to this point.

 

[Ill Chicken]

And he could have broken the Australian and all-time test batting record in Sydney. But declared with still half the match time remaining.

We can swap examples all day if you like.

As I said, it's a view borne out of personal dislike, nothing else.

Whats that got to do with saying that you'd only take a test win but only if you performed.

 

[kickazz]

As someone posted earlier, it only required a simple SMS to be sent to Arthur, not that hard to do in 6 days.

This is true, but as a manager - when your people don't do simple things the reason behind it is often not so simple......

 

[Outshined]

ch9 commentary team would run oz cricket better....

There's hyperbole, and then there's hyperbole.

I particularly liked this line:

"People who want to whinge about the team's performances cannot now complain when Australian hierarchy take proactive measures to ensure the success the public demands."

Agreed. It's a no win situation to be in. I like the fact they've taken a stance. Most of the criticism appears to be that it's over a minor indiscretion, and while that may be true, whose to say that they'll show any more discipline and team-orientation when it really matters.

 

[Underdog]

lists lacks Buckley's two cents

@ncb_cfc: If you can't follow a basic coaching instruction off field, what hope that you'll do so under the heat of battle??

Perhaps someone should tell Buckley they aren't soldiers in Iraq, they play a game of cricket.