Cricket Discussion - Part 1

[philreich]

Michael Clarke has announced his retirement at the end of this series. Steve Smith will captain Australia on the upcoming tours.

Sad way for a great player to go out. Let's not forget that Michael Clarke is one of a very select few to have scored double centuries in consecutive Tests. You can't do that without a considerable amount of class and skill. Great career Clarkey - it's such a shame it had to end this way.

 

[ozph1870]

we now have no real leader.

 

[mic59]

Each test has taken less time to complete than the previous one.

The first test was won 16 overs after tea on the fourth day.
The second test was won 9 overs after tea on the fourth day.
The third test was won just before tea on the third day.
The fourth test won 10 overs into the first session on the third day.

And the third day of the fourth test can't be considered a day of cricket, not from the watching publics' viewpoint anyway so that is a full seven days of cricket that has been lost.

 

[philreich]

Each test has taken less time to complete than the previous one.

The first test was won 16 overs after tea on the fourth day.
The second test was won 9 overs after tea on the fourth day.
The third test was won just before tea on the third day.
The fourth test won 10 overs into the first session on the third day.

And the third day of the fourth test can't be considered a day of cricket, not from the watching publics' viewpoint anyway so that is a full seven days of cricket that has been lost.

Just as well the Pommy fielders had butter fingers late on day 2, or there wouldn't even have been a day 3.

 

[mic59]

Just as well the Pommy fielders had butter fingers late on day 2, or there wouldn't even have been a day 3.

I saw the ones that went down from Dave Warner on 10 and 32, these would have been between lunch and drinks. Were there any others?

 

[raptalia]

Clarke was always going to pull the pin this year or next. Events in England have probably hastened the decision. The deal now is to find a replacement Captain.

David Warner is a bit of a loose canon so who does it leave?

George Bailey is not up to Test standard, Voges and Haddin are too old so who is there? Only Steve Smith I guess, Smith did OK in Clarke's absence last summer so he is not new to the job. The only reservation is that batting at no3 and Captaining the side could have an adverse affect on his batting.

Whoever gets the job his biggest task may be off field as he, along with Boof Lehmann, has to get this side back on track and focused on the Black Caps. Without Clarke as a batsman Australia is now desperately short of world class batting. If Chris Rogers pulls the pin, as has been suggested, the situation will be even worse.

 

[Power Pete]

You know the aussie cricketers are going bad, when the duck can't handle the outs and goes off injured.

 

[philreich]

I saw the ones that went down from Dave Warner on 10 and 32, these would have been between lunch and drinks. Were there any others?

Must admit I couldn't bear to watch very much after our calamitous first innings, so I wouldn't know how many catches went down.

Let's just hope for a bit of fight in the dead rubber. Maybe we'll bring back Watson, and he'll make 200 and extend his Test career until the next Ashes series in Australia

 

[mic59]

David Warner is a bit of a loose canon so who does it leave?

I didn't know he was a priest.

 

[Seanybruz]

There's been a lot of talk about this Ashes series being the last straw for a number of batsman, wouldn't be surprised if this is the last time we see Rogers, Watson, Voges, S Marsh along with obviously Clarke.

That's more than half of our batting line up & I don't know about anyone else but there really isn't much coming up through the ranks that is bashing the door down, it's a little worrying thinking about how the future of the Aussie Test side can bounce back from this in the short-mid term.

 

[raptalia]

I didn't know he was a priest.

Very sharp Mick.

 

[raptalia]

There's been a lot of talk about this Ashes series being the last straw for a number of batsman, wouldn't be surprised if this is the last time we see Rogers, Watson, Voges, S Marsh along with obviously Clarke.

That's more than half of our batting line up & I don't know about anyone else but there really isn't much coming up through the ranks that is bashing the door down, it's a little worrying thinking about how the future of the Aussie Test side can bounce back from this in the short-mid term.

Looks like Burns is in line for a recall and they could re visit the likes of Khawaja and Doolan. When I look at the current Australia A side it hardly fills me with confidence. Maybe the likes of Jordan Silk, Chris Lynn and Nic Maddinson will be putting their names forward with runs. Then there is Max Klinger and replacing one 35 year old with another 35 year old is not beyond the Aussie selectors.

 

[port09]

No Anderson.......No worries.

 

[philreich]

I'd say the Kiwis are having a quiet chuckle amongst themselves right now. They'll see this upcoming summer as their best chance to knock off Australia on Australian soil in a very long time.

Sport sucks right now: we Port fans don't have the cricket OR the footy to look forward to......

 

[raptalia]

I'd say the Kiwis are having a quiet chuckle amongst themselves right now. They'll see this upcoming summer as their best chance to knock off Australia on Australian soil in a very long time.

Sport sucks right now: we Port fans don't have the cricket OR the footy to look forward to......

Port Magpies are doing ok atm. Up to third.

Australia even lost the netball but at least I have those 'shoot themselves in the foot specialists' the Cronulla Sharks to support. Hopefully we make the NRL finals.

Australia won the Rugby Union but that joy will probably be short lived as they play the All Blacks in NZ next.

 

[Seanybruz]

The Kiwis are twice the side the Poms in England are, they're probably good enough to become the #1 Test side for a while until Australia rebuild & find a good mix in the batting department.

Prior to this Ashes series everyone was saying Boof will be coach as long as he wants but I thought that based on things he was saying he seemed comfortable with his achievements & would eventually step down for Langer.

The Hughes tragedy has taken its toll on a number of people the captain & coach look the most burnt out despite the lengthy break between series.

Not a lot has been said about the main instigator of the Aussie demolition as most of it has been aimed internally at the selectors, coach & batting order but I think it's pretty obvious that Trevor Bayliss was the ultimate genius behind the scenes, doesn't help that he coached/developed half our side & knows their strengths/weaknesses to a tee.

 

[philreich]

I also think Harris' injury/retirement was a mortal blow to our chances. Johnson needed Mr. Reliable at the other end, because Starc and Hazlewood just weren't up to stratch.

 

[Grave Danger]

WAGS are tounging?

"there were occasions when my wife slept in the bathroom of a hotel to make sure I got a good night sleep"

 

[mic59]

The downturn looks like it could last at least a few years now with the loss of Harris, Clarke, Haddin and the seeming falling out of favour of Siddle. Like most commentators I was astounded that he was left out at Nottingham, a place that should have suited him down to the ground. I don't know how much truth there was in the story that he was smiling on the balcony but I'm sure he thought at least once "I told you so".

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Anyone watch 4 Corners tonight? I think a new cricket war Packer style isnt far away. The India,Oz and Poms triumvirate is going to be challenged whilst the bloke that turned the BCCI's bank account from $8mil USD to $7.8bil after he set up ran marketed the IPL - Lalit Kumar Modi - is after revenge after he was dumped by former BCCI President who is now the ICC chairman Mr Srinivasan. The IPL almost outgrew the BCCI so jealousy meant they had to dump him - artificial trumped up charges. Modi was VP of BCCI and IPL Commissioner.

 

[Grave Danger]

Anyone watch 4 Corners tonight? I think a new cricket war Packer style isnt far away. The India,Oz and Poms triumvirate is going to be challenged whilst the bloke that turned the BCCI's bank account from $8mil USD to $7.8bil after he set up ran marketed the IPL - Lalit Kumar Modi - is after revenge after he was dumped by former BCCI President who is now the ICC chairman Mr Srinivasan. The IPL almost outgrew the BCCI so jealousy meant they had to dump him - artificial trumped up charges. Modi was VP of BCCI and IPL Commissioner.

"From now on it is every man for himself and let the devil take the hindmost."

 

[raptalia]

It is all coming out now about Michael Clarke's off field attitude. People who should know are confirming the suspicions of many. An outstanding batsman, a good on field tactician but not a great leader of men. I guess it is all water under the bridge now and we move on but hopefully those in power have learned that the best players are not always the best leaders and at this point Australia needs a leader.

 

[philreich]

Australia batting first in an Ashes Test that we might actually be able to win: the Only Test of the women's Ashes. Come to think of it, the star performers in this game may as well get selected in the men's game next week: they couldn't do any worse.....

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

It is all coming out now about Michael Clarke's off field attitude. People who should know are confirming the suspicions of many. An outstanding batsman, a good on field tactician but not a great leader of men. I guess it is all water under the bridge now and we move on but hopefully those in power have learned that the best players are not always the best leaders and at this point Australia needs a leader.

Did you miss out getting that email doing the rounds by someone close to Mike Hussey about what happened after his last test at the SCG. It was about 6 weeks after retiring. Then there is the famous Clarke Katich scuffle back in 2008-09 after beating South Africa also after an SCG Test.

 

[raptalia]

Did you miss out getting that email doing the rounds by someone close to Mike Hussey about what happened after his last test at the SCG. It was about 6 weeks after retiring. Then there is the famous Clarke Katich scuffle back in 2008-09 after beating South Africa also after an SCG Test.

I did not catch that email but I can imagine what was in it.

There was an article in the weekend press in which John Buchanan is quoted on the Katich situation. It also mentions Clarke's reaction when asked to field at short leg and wear a helmet. He objected and threatened to hand his Baggy Green back if he was ever asked to field in that position again. Cannot recall who said it but someone close to the team said, we should have taken him up on the offer. Clarke's pre match routine in which he was chauffeur driven to each Test in a limo rather than travel with the team on the bus then to be met by his personal trainer and not have contact with other team members until the team entered the field of play is something we would expect of some Indian players. Clarke was no Kevin Pietersen in that he didn't go around publicly antagonising team mates or opponents but there is plenty of evidence that like Pietersen he was far from a unifying influence in the change room.

Clarke was an out standing batsman and as a Captain he was a good tactician on the field but we know that a Captain has to be more than that. He has to be a leader and not a petulant pup. Clarke will be gone in a week so his attitude is history we just have to hope that his only long term legacy is his outstanding batting record. Given the current situation Australia needs a leader not another petulant pup.