Kat - Simmo - Hilditch triangle

[The Fonz]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed but Bob Simpson is the mentor of Kat and also the father in law of Andrew Hilditch? I would have thought that's quite messy...

 

[western royboy]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed but Bob Simpson is the mentor of Kat and also the father in law of Andrew Hilditch? I would have thought that's quite messy...

I have been told that Bob & Hilditch fell out quite some time ago.

 

[The Governor]

Bob Simpson and Andrew Hilditch do not get along. Hilditch moved to South Australia to maintain a distant relationship with his father in law.

Dear old Simmo sacked Tim Zoehrer from the Australian test team for a simple reason. He was shagging Simmo's youngest daughter back in 1987.

Hilditch is a monkey!! I loved Katich's comment. However, he had to go to make way for a re-generation of the Australian test side.

The sad part is Cricket Australia relies on funds from the BCCI via the TV rights deal to prop up our cricket season. James Sutherland is in love with Indian money!!

The test cricket brand is in need for repair in Australia. Back in 1990, the ACB and the Federal Government appointed RW Marsh as head coach of the AIS Cricket Academy and the rest was history.

The timing is right for CA to approach SK Warne and Darren "CHUCKLES" Berry to become joint coaches-advisors to the Australian side. Chuck and Warney weaved their magic wand as captain and coach during their time with the Royals in the IPL in 2008 and 2009. They appointed Jeremy Snape as the team pschologist and they were a formiddable coaching group. Warney was an excellent tactician and mentor to the players from a strategic approach whilst Chuck was a great teacher and motivator of the playing group.

The possible appointment of Warney and Chuck as joint coaches would give the Australian test team brand an enormous boost. The young cricketers of today would look up to Warney and will listen to his word. They would listen to his wisdom and experience. If he tells them to work on their 4 to 5 day game, they will work on their 4 to 5 day game.

In the meantime, CA and Vodafone can approach Liz Hurley to become the face of Vodafone during the cricket season. Who was sick of seeing our cricketers promoting Vodafone? I would prefer to see Liz bedazzle our cricketers during the Vodafone ads. An abundance of people would be attracted to their TV sets.

CA and its PR department have an excellent chance to ask Liz to potray her character in BEDAZZLED during the cricket ads for Vodafone. Would not it be funny to see Liz bedazzle Michael Clarke and Shane Watson to score runs for Australia? Or, to see Liz bedazzle Mitchell Johnson from bowling one of his awful bowling spells on the cricket field?

CA have not done a creative marketing campaign since the days of World Series Cricket. Their cricket ads are boring, mundane and they lack imagination and flair to promote-revive the test cricket brand in Australia.

The CA board have employed monkies across all levels within the organisation and we are the laughing stock of world cricket.

The Australian test team reminds me of the England team from 1999 to 2001. The English selectors under Peter May, Ted Dexter and Ray Illingworth kept on saying that there was a need to use Gooch and Gatting to enhance the development of Nasser Hussein, Michael Atherton and Graeme Thorpe from 1990 to 1995.

In hindsight, England did not get anywhere by persisting with Gatting and Gooch who were pass their prime. England did not win an Ashes series until Rod Marsh planted his foot on the floor to give youth a go after 2001.

I am afraid to say the Australian selectors are making the same mistake as England. The decision to keep Ponting, Haddin and Michael Hussey on is fraught with danger. It is preferable for the selectors to retire these champions to make way for young batting talent. The side has two decent veterans in Watson and Clarke who have enough test match experience to mentor the young players (Finch, Khawaja, Hughes-Warner, Pattinson).

This is my TEST XI

David Warner
Shane Watson
Aaron Finch
Usman Khawaja
Michael CLarke (CAPTAIN)
Callum Ferguson
Matthew Wade
Stephen Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
James Pattinson

People can laugh at the Governor's selection. But, my comments have come to fruition and SK Warne agrees with me!! If you examine Warney's comments, he totally believes in the need to blood in youth to allow Michael Clarke to have an Australian test side that will be known as his team.

If you look at history, Chappelli rebuilt the Australian test side in 1971 and his side was known as his side. Michael Vaughan, from 2003 to 2006, rebuilt the England side with young players (KP, Freddy Flintoff, Matthew Hoggard, Gerraint Jones, Andrew Strauss, Simon Jones) to allow people to know his side as Michael Vaughan's TEST XI. AB rebuilt the Australian test team in 1986 with Jones, Boon, Marsh, Healy, Steve Waugh, Merv, Bruce Reid and Mark Taylor to allow the public to perceive his test side as his side.

So, the selectors are a bunch of monkies and baffoons. It is so sad that GS Chappell cannot wield a greater influence to allow MJ Clarke to be given a chance to build a test XI that would be known as his TEST XI.

THE GOV

 

[Gak Attack]

I get the Wade selection Gov but Finch? You sure you were not thinking of the ODI team? Plenty of more deserving blokes than Finch or Warner that have years left for Test spots. I also can't see how anyone can justify Smith in the test team, not in the best 6 bats and poor as a bowler, his teammate SOK would be a better choice.

 

[rickyp]

It's not a thread unless it has the Gov's tick of a approval. Love your work Gov!

 

[Ill Chicken]

It's not a thread unless it has the Gov's tick of a approval. Love your work Gov!

More like talks absolute smack with added Victorian biased.

 

[Phone]

hey guys what was your favourite greg chappell memory when he was in charge of india

sacking Ganguly was pretty ****ing stupid but moving the best OD opener ever down to number 4 takes the cake imo. Dravid to test opener a cruel loser too


Can we sack this guy already.

 

[dan warna]

Finch isn't ready.
SMith can't bowl or bat at test level.
Love wade and think he and paine should be the first two keepers the selectors should be looking at over Haddin.
Warner hasn't got it at test level.

Usman, Maddinson and watson should be looked at as the top 3 batsman in order.

Punter and clarke should be batting at 5 and 6.

 

[Jolldo87]

Chris Lynn would have to be miles ahead of Warner and Finch.

 

[rickyp]

More like talks absolute smack with added Victorian biased.

I know, I don't even read it anymore, I just count how many times he mentions Finch... But still! It must take a lot of effort...?

 

[mattymac]

gov you keep rattling on about warney coaching oz. do you not think his famous comments about coaches at the elite level make that kinda unlikely, lest he wants to be known as a massive hypocrite?

and as for berry, god i hope noone takes him away from the redbacks. just reading the way he's nailed his colours to the mast,forcing the players back to grade cricket and lamenting the "soft generation" and a lot of other stuff he's got in the pipes like stopping the importing of fringe players from interstate and focusing on local talent... i'm rapidly developing a man crush on berry and would be devastated if he were to leave the redbacks until he's had atleast a couple of seasons to stamp his mark

 

[bradcon]

mattymac: you have to forgive The Gov, he actually believes he is the VOICE of Australian Cricket. However i will give some of his thoughts credit.


THE GOV: Laugh? I almost wet myself over your Test Xi, but ill address that later.

The idea of Darren Berry as a national coach is very sound, however the idea of Warne as anything more than a specialist coach/ talent ID ect is absurd. He has far too many outside interests to give up and accept a measly salary from CA to do it. As for Liz to become the face of Vodafone, are you actually saying this with a straight face? How is it even relevant? How long does an ad shoot take? Are the players (esp the likes of Watson who have turned their back on IPL riches to dedicate themselves to the National Team) not allowed to make a very nice earner on the side? You want to direct that money to Liz Hurley? There is no rhyme or reason for that. Liz Hurley sprooking ANYTHING wont make me buy it.

The brand will go along way to becoming repaired when they start to win again. No one likes a loser.

Now for your Test XI

This is my TEST XI

David Warner
Shane Watson
Aaron Finch
Usman Khawaja
Michael CLarke (CAPTAIN)
Callum Ferguson
Matthew Wade
Stephen Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
James Pattinson

People can laugh at the Governor's selection. But, my comments have come to fruition and SK Warne agrees with me!! If you examine Warney's comments, he totally believes in the need to blood in youth to allow Michael Clarke to have an Australian test side that will be known as his team.

THE GOV

This side is SO flawed its laughable. In fact it looks like a T20 side.

David Warner as opener? Are you actually serious about this?

Finch at 3? I love a Vic as much as the next guy but seriously what has Finch done outside a handful of ODI's and T20's to actually deserve a call up?

Where is Tim Paine? I support separate keepers for all 3 forms of the game (or a Test and "Short Form" 'keeper) but Wade ahead of Paine is, well its dumb, plain and simple.

Steve Smith as our frontline spinner is a concern. While i can accept it, i dont like it. He is a batsman who bowls, not the other way around. Beer, Crazy, Horry (who did nothing wrong) would be better selections.

We need 5 front line pacemen and ROTATE them. In a 5 test series no paceman should play all 5. They do the hard yards, protect them. Siddle, Johnson, Bollinger, Harris, Pattison, Hilfenhaus and a couple of the new up and comers should shoot out for the 5 spots. Look at the Poms this past summer, lost 2 1st choice pacemen and still had 2 up their sleeve to dismantle our top order.

And i HATE Watson opening. Put a side together and name Watson at 6 and see how much more balanced it looks. Problem is we have no openers in the country.

 

[The Governor]

Gee, Shane Watson wants to open the batting and why bat him at 4 or 6 when his best batting is at the top of the order?

Shane Watson reminds me of a young David Boon and Ricky Ponting. Watson is a top order batsman who prefers to come in when the ball is brand new. He loves the challenge instead of sitting in the dressingroom waiting for his turn to bat!!

The biggest benefit in Shane Watson opening the batting is he can establish the scoring rate in a similar manner to Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and Matthew Hayden.

And, people forget that if we classify him as an allrounder by batting him at 6, his body won't hold up to the demands of an allrounder.

The selectors have to take gambles and risks. Finch and Wade are my best bets to play test cricket. The selectors have to be bold as the previous selection panels in the 80s and 90s ie SK Warne selection. Half of the cricket fans were making fun of him when Ravi Shastri belted him all over the park in his 1st test match.

There is a young Victorian allrounder by the name of Alex Keath. He reminds me of a young Mark Waugh. And I hope the man in corpse pads gives him a chance at Shield level!!

 

[The Governor]

mattymac: you have to forgive The Gov, he actually believes he is the VOICE of Australian Cricket. However i will give some of his thoughts credit.


THE GOV: Laugh? I almost wet myself over your Test Xi, but ill address that later.

The idea of Darren Berry as a national coach is very sound, however the idea of Warne as anything more than a specialist coach/ talent ID ect is absurd. He has far too many outside interests to give up and accept a measly salary from CA to do it. As for Liz to become the face of Vodafone, are you actually saying this with a straight face? How is it even relevant? How long does an ad shoot take? Are the players (esp the likes of Watson who have turned their back on IPL riches to dedicate themselves to the National Team) not allowed to make a very nice earner on the side? You want to direct that money to Liz Hurley? There is no rhyme or reason for that. Liz Hurley sprooking ANYTHING wont make me buy it.

The brand will go along way to becoming repaired when they start to win again. No one likes a loser.

Now for your Test XI



This side is SO flawed its laughable. In fact it looks like a T20 side.

David Warner as opener? Are you actually serious about this?

Finch at 3? I love a Vic as much as the next guy but seriously what has Finch done outside a handful of ODI's and T20's to actually deserve a call up?

Where is Tim Paine? I support separate keepers for all 3 forms of the game (or a Test and "Short Form" 'keeper) but Wade ahead of Paine is, well its dumb, plain and simple.

Steve Smith as our frontline spinner is a concern. While i can accept it, i dont like it. He is a batsman who bowls, not the other way around. Beer, Crazy, Horry (who did nothing wrong) would be better selections.

We need 5 front line pacemen and ROTATE them. In a 5 test series no paceman should play all 5. They do the hard yards, protect them. Siddle, Johnson, Bollinger, Harris, Pattison, Hilfenhaus and a couple of the new up and comers should shoot out for the 5 spots. Look at the Poms this past summer, lost 2 1st choice pacemen and still had 2 up their sleeve to dismantle our top order.

And i HATE Watson opening. Put a side together and name Watson at 6 and see how much more balanced it looks. Problem is we have no openers in the country.

I think you have no idea on cricket!!

I think you are living in our golden era and have you realised that when England blooded Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussein and Robin Smith with Gatting and Gooch in the side, England did not get anywhere?

Did they win the Ashes from 1989 to 2001 by persisting with Gooch, Lamb, Gower and Gatting after 1989? Ted Dexter should have culled them after their disastrous series to make way for young talent.

I think you seem to forget that pass selection panels took gambles over batting talent and most of them have paid off.

Do you know we are resembling the England XI of the 90s? Ponting and Hussey should be pensioned off to the Channel 9 and Fox Sports Commentatory box. They were champions, but they were pass their use by date!!

As Chappelli mentioned in his article, champions should retire whilst they are on top. Ponting should have retired after the World Cup.

Did not Mark Anthony Taylor retire when he felt he was on top of his game?

Ever since SR Waugh was given the chance to retire on his own terms, the selectors have gone soft. Matthew Hayden should have been forced into retirement after the Indian test series in Australia whilst Gilly bowed out at the right time.

But, Gilly should have called it a day after the Sri Lankan test series in Australia.

I could be the voice of Australian cricket, but I can debate you on on one before the cows come home!

We do agree on one point: Hilditch, Brown, Sutherland and Nielsen are a bunch of incompetent tools who have stuffed up Australian cricket. James Sutherland is in love with Indian money whilst Michael Brown appointed a bankrupt as bowling coach! A former champion who sent contractors and suppliers to the wall over his Qld property developments. He will never pay them back!!

If the Essendon Football Club in August 2010 saw the light to sack Matthew Knights, how can CA see the light when they don't have the courage to sack Nielsen, Hilditch and Sutherland?

James Sutherland never played cricket for Australia whilst Tony Dodemaide or Graeme Wood would make excellent replacements for James Sutherland. They played test cricket whilst they understand the importance of the corporate dollar.

Why don't you have a look at the AFL? Demetriou played for North Melbourne and Hawthorn whilst Mike Fitzpatrick was a former Carlton Captain.

CA are a bunch of morons who are in love with Indian money!!

THE GOV

 

[Bomber Bears]

hey guys what was your favourite greg chappell memory when he was in charge of india

sacking Ganguly was pretty ****ing stupid but moving the best OD opener ever down to number 4 takes the cake imo. Dravid to test opener a cruel loser too


Can we sack this guy already.

What about his 7 year legacy at the Redbacks. Was it no trophies and leaving behind the most spineless state cricket side in the country, an absolute rabble?

 

[The Governor]

To Bomber Bear and PHONE,

Well,

What an interesting debate!

I think you have to remember that Gregory Stephen was a shit house man-manger of people within a team environment.

However, his role as an Australian selector from 1984 to 1988 left a positive mark on Australian cricket for a number of reasons:

1. He made the tough call in influencing Kimberly John Hughes to resign from the test captaincy. He had a huge role in influencing Kim Hughes to resign. He held the strong belief that Allan Border was the right man to lead Australia and he made sure that the foundations were planted in 1983 to allow him to lead Australia in 1984.
2. During his time as an Australian selector, he picked Dean Jones, David Boon, Greg Ritchie, Geoff Marsh, Bruce Reid, Merv Hughes, Craig McDermott, Ian Healy, Peter Taylor and Tim May for test match honours whilst he kept an watchful eye on Tom Moody and Mark Taylor before they made their test match debuts in 1989.
3. He was mentored by the great Lawrie Sawle who made everyone realise that when you hit rock bottom you have to rebuild from the bottom by giving young players a go ie young players with the talent to succeed at test level.

I believe half of the bloggers on this web site were born after 1990.

Greg Chappell was not a good coach, but he was a damn good Australian selector from 1984 to 1988 and his legacy left a mark on Trevor Hohns. Hohns was not afraid to make the tough decisions.

THE GOV

 

[Carbine Chaos]

This is my TEST XI

David Warner
Shane Watson
Aaron Finch
Usman Khawaja
Michael CLarke (CAPTAIN)
Callum Ferguson
Matthew Wade
Stephen Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
James Pattinson

I enjoy reading your posts and ideas, Gov, but that is a pretty rubbish side I'm afraid to say! Warner, Finch, Smith etc. T20 much?

My XI

Shane Watson
Shaun Marsh
Usman Khawaja
Michael Clarke (c)
Mike Hussey
Chris Lynn
Tim Paine (+)
Mitchell Johnson
Steve O'Keefe
Ryan Harris
Trent Copeland
12th - James Pattinson

Would be a great team for the Sri Lanka series IMO.

 

[bradcon]

I think you have no idea on cricket!!

I think you are living in our golden era and have you realised that when England blooded Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussein and Robin Smith with Gatting and Gooch in the side, England did not get anywhere?

Did they win the Ashes from 1989 to 2001 by persisting with Gooch, Lamb, Gower and Gatting after 1989? Ted Dexter should have culled them after their disastrous series to make way for young talent.

I think you seem to forget that pass selection panels took gambles over batting talent and most of them have paid off.

Do you know we are resembling the England XI of the 90s? Ponting and Hussey should be pensioned off to the Channel 9 and Fox Sports Commentatory box. They were champions, but they were pass their use by date!!

As Chappelli mentioned in his article, champions should retire whilst they are on top. Ponting should have retired after the World Cup.

Did not Mark Anthony Taylor retire when he felt he was on top of his game?

Ever since SR Waugh was given the chance to retire on his own terms, the selectors have gone soft. Matthew Hayden should have been forced into retirement after the Indian test series in Australia whilst Gilly bowed out at the right time.

But, Gilly should have called it a day after the Sri Lankan test series in Australia.

I could be the voice of Australian cricket, but I can debate you on on one before the cows come home!

We do agree on one point: Hilditch, Brown, Sutherland and Nielsen are a bunch of incompetent tools who have stuffed up Australian cricket. James Sutherland is in love with Indian money whilst Michael Brown appointed a bankrupt as bowling coach! A former champion who sent contractors and suppliers to the wall over his Qld property developments. He will never pay them back!!

If the Essendon Football Club in August 2010 saw the light to sack Matthew Knights, how can CA see the light when they don't have the courage to sack Nielsen, Hilditch and Sutherland?

James Sutherland never played cricket for Australia whilst Tony Dodemaide or Graeme Wood would make excellent replacements for James Sutherland. They played test cricket whilst they understand the importance of the corporate dollar.

Why don't you have a look at the AFL? Demetriou played for North Melbourne and Hawthorn whilst Mike Fitzpatrick was a former Carlton Captain.

CA are a bunch of morons who are in love with Indian money!!

THE GOV

Ok, firstly i havent said that players like Ponting or Hussey SHOULD remain in the team. Hussey should have gone before the last Ashes but the selectors didnt plan for a change so they had nothing to go with (Squad of 17 anyone?) Your idea of change is literally take a broom and sweep out the entire team. That wont work. While you can (probably sucessfully) argue that the selectors have missed the boat to affect change in a controlled manner the idea of changing the entire top 6 is ilinformed.

The selectors havent planned at all, and its annoying. We see AFL teams blood youngsters as they slide down the ladder, but they dont turn the entire list over overnight. Its a balancing act, which is why your team angers me so much. Its actually a different kind of shortsightedness. Much like Clarke not stepping up to No. 3 in the Sydney test to protect Kawaja on debut.

Your side would have 6 debutants, a 1 tester and Steve Smith has only played a handful of tests. Think really carefully about that and try to argue that is a smart thing.

I also note that you mentioned that Watson wants to open. Well so do i but if its not the best thing for the team it shouldn't happen. When he opens he bowls ALOT less, we need more options in our bowling attack as we dont have the 'traditional' "Pigeon tie up an end and Warnie take wickets at the other" method to rely upon anymore. You cant argue because Watson wants to open he should but THEN say that Ponting ect should be told when to retire. Thays hypocritical.

CA is in love with Indian money, its the only money the game generates worldwide. Indian cricket is propping up the game WORLDWIDE (i hate it but its true, the Andrew Symonds saga is the best case in point of that). We need to accept that.

Careful with any analogy with the Bombers, Knights will never be remembered for anything good he did at the club, but everything he did wrong. Revisionist view of history is going ot be bloody harsh on Knights.

You think i have no idea about cricket? Thats pretty harsh, and untrue. I wouldn't throw that sort if insult out at you. All i'll say is that you could not be the voice of Australian Cricket while you try to peddle Finch as the new No.3.

AND FINALLY..

I hate agreeing with you but McDermott? Shocking and terrible choice. That will put this country's pace bowlers back a significant way. Only person its good news for is his son.

 

[bradcon]

I enjoy reading your posts and ideas, Gov, but that is a pretty rubbish side I'm afraid to say! Warner, Finch, Smith etc. T20 much?

My XI

Shane Watson
Shaun Marsh
Usman Khawaja
Michael Clarke (c)
Mike Hussey
Chris Lynn
Tim Paine (+)
Mitchell Johnson
Steve O'Keefe
Ryan Harris
Trent Copeland
12th - James Pattinson

Would be a great team for the Sri Lanka series IMO.

Thought i would throw some stats out there for a different perspective

Chris Lynn (21)
12 matches, 21 digs at 47

Usman Khawaja (24)
31 matches, 56 digs at 47

Shawn Marsh (28 in July)
60 matches, 111 digs at 37

Aaron Finch (25)
18 matches, 32 digs at 35

Callum Ferguson (turning 27)
53 matchs, 99 digs at 35

David Warner (25)
7 matches, 12 digs at 37

Nick Maddinson (20)
7 matches, 12 digs at 39

and just for a bit of Vic lovin...

Andrew 'Ronnie' McDonald
78 matches, 126 digs at 40
175 wickets at 29, economy of under 3 an over

and a very underrated man from the cold island down south who i think should be looked at

George Bailey
72 matches, 130 digs at 39

Somewhat disappointed with that one actually. Lets try...

Cam White
113 matches, 189 digs at 42

I know numbers can paint any sort of picture you want but cricket IS a numbers game. Lynn has had a great start to his career but 21 first class digs is a concert. Uz was able to hold that average with twice the innings.

This is why i am so against a sweep out of the batting order. If Uz plays in Sri Lanka, South Africa and the home test series this summer he will have at least 10 tests under his belt, maybe in the middle of the summer debut a Lynn or somone else. Hughes will have 15-20 and will be building experience. By say Boxing day you could have Hughes, Watson, Uz, Clarke, maybe Lynn debuting at 5 or 6 with either Poonting or Hussey. Its a more gradual (yet still excelerated due to poor selections in the past) changeover in talent without putting all the pressure on the new kids.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Thought i would throw some stats out there for a different perspective

Chris Lynn (21)
12 matches, 21 digs at 47

Usman Khawaja (24)
31 matches, 56 digs at 47

Shawn Marsh (28 in July)
60 matches, 111 digs at 37

Aaron Finch (25)
18 matches, 32 digs at 35

Callum Ferguson (turning 27)
53 matchs, 99 digs at 35

David Warner (25)
7 matches, 12 digs at 37

Nick Maddinson (20)
7 matches, 12 digs at 39

and just for a bit of Vic lovin...

Andrew 'Ronnie' McDonald
78 matches, 126 digs at 40
175 wickets at 29, economy of under 3 an over

and a very underrated man from the cold island down south who i think should be looked at

George Bailey
72 matches, 130 digs at 39

Somewhat disappointed with that one actually. Lets try...

Cam White
113 matches, 189 digs at 42

I know numbers can paint any sort of picture you want but cricket IS a numbers game. Lynn has had a great start to his career but 21 first class digs is a concert. Uz was able to hold that average with twice the innings.

This is why i am so against a sweep out of the batting order. If Uz plays in Sri Lanka, South Africa and the home test series this summer he will have at least 10 tests under his belt, maybe in the middle of the summer debut a Lynn or somone else. Hughes will have 15-20 and will be building experience. By say Boxing day you could have Hughes, Watson, Uz, Clarke, maybe Lynn debuting at 5 or 6 with either Poonting or Hussey. Its a more gradual (yet still excelerated due to poor selections in the past) changeover in talent without putting all the pressure on the new kids.

You raise fair points, I just think temperament and how they play need to be taken into consideration when picking the Test line-up.

Our players have little to no patience, and have no ability in leaving the ball. Look at Trott and Cook, blokes who knuckle down and play patient knocks, who are dominating test cricket.

Ferguson, White etc. do not have this ability. I believe the likes of Khawaja and Lynn do. Lynn is one I am really excited about.

 

[mattymac]

yeah thats a good team thorne