Knox - Reality Bites.

[King Elvis]

FOR four years, the Australian cricket team has struggled on like a dialysis patient waiting for a donor. After the retirements of the greats, this team got by on a blend of fading legends, transition-era journeymen, and a parade of triallists.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cric...ith-the-job-20111212-1orgo.html#ixzz1gO6RFSx7
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The worst thing would have been sneaking a win - thanks partly to a Decision Review System that is bound to result in a call for neutral-country computers. If Australia had won, we could have gone on fooling ourselves that the glory years haven't quite vanished, that we still have an ''aura'', that we still know how to ''win the big moments''.
The Australian team didn't bottom out yesterday. New Zealand bowled exceedingly well and deserved its win. Australia bottomed out two years ago, when it only just beat the two worst teams to have come here in decades, the 2009-10 West Indies and Pakistan.
At that point the team was a sick man in denial, believing he'd burst out of bed any minute. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey would come good again, Mitchell Johnson was a once-in-a-generation fast bowler, Shane Watson was the new Keith Miller, Simon Katich was Bill Lawry and Bob Simpson in one, Marcus North was a future Australian captain. The fruits of that thinking were harvested in last year's Ashes embarrassment.
The patient with a failed kidney really needs a new one. Australia's aim, in these transitional years, should not have been to prolong the afterglow but to find new champions

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cric...ith-the-job-20111212-1orgo.html#ixzz1gO6ZOiqd

Finally, somebody with half a clue.

An honest defeat is better than a delusional win.

We've been on the downward slope for years, but we've had the odd flukey win (ie, Saffers away, thanks to Hughes heroics and Johnson actually bowling incredibly well) which knobs like Hilditch and Nielsen would point to and claim we were heading in the right direction.

Every time we've lost of the last few years, I've been hoping we'd finally bottomed out, and that we could stop kidding ourselves that we were any good.

At last, it seems as though this may have happened.

Thank Jebus.

 

[Rewired]

Not really a fan of these after-the-fact articles.

Blind freddy could tell you we were going to through a down-turn after the loss of so many great players.

All in all, we have played some good cricket at times and then some ordinary cricket.

Maybe some people need to re-adjust their expectations of the Australian cricket team to reflect the state of flux the team is in.

The only people being fooled here are the fans and journos who think that a change of coach and selection panel would bring with it a change of fortunes.

These articles are boring, and serve no constructive purpose whatsoever.

 

[Jesse Custer]

Sort of agree with Rewired. Its pretty obvious what is going on. The question is, have the selectors got what it takes to make the necessary changes to this team? So far the answer is no, so Aussie cricket will continue to stumble. And when these changes are made, there will be more stumbles as these new players take time to adjust to international level.

 

[King Elvis]

The only people being fooled here are the fans and journos who think that a change of coach and selection panel would bring with it a change of fortunes.

You seriously believe that?

centurion - it was evident 3 or 4 years ago, but we just kept going on our merry way.

 

[Rewired]

You seriously believe that?

centurion - it was evident 3 or 4 years ago, but we just kept going on our merry way.

Yeah I do. Some people have seriously thought that a change in coach, selector, captain and the rest would have a significant impact on the performance on the field.

Hildtich and Neilsen were scapegoats for a our avergae performance. Both those 2 are probably sitting back having a quiet chuckle to themselves right about now.

Those guys were insignificant in the wide scheme of things. But people want scapegoats, not least the media.

I honestly think we are heading in the right direction. To me, this is an exciting time to be an Australian cricket fan.

Sick of all this negativity.

Some great players coming through in Cummins, Pattinson and Warner.

To me, this Australian side is heading in the right direction and Im sick and tired of people bleating everytime we lose.

We wont win every game but no-one can tell me that we aren't better off at the moment then we were last year with regards to the identication of new talent.

People need to suck up these setbacks and realise that you don't grow strong without a struggle.

 

[King Elvis]

Why would they be sitting back giggling - this is their legacy, our crapness is largely due to them.

Some great players coming through - you've just named 3 guys who have played 1 or 2 Tests, on the last 6 weeks. The 3 years prior to that were a complete waste of time.

I do agree that there seems to have been a change, and I hope it continues, I'd just argue that it is long overdue, and the need for it should've been apparent years ago.

I think, NOW, as of about 6 weeks ago, we are beginning to start turning the ship around and START heading the right direction; but it's early days.

 

[Rewired]

Come off it, our crapness (relative to our performance over the last 10 years) is due to the retirement of great players.

 

[King Elvis]

That's obviously a factor, I've never disputed that.

The home SA Series we lost over Christmas 08; could we have won that with better selections?

Were you happy with our preparation and selections for the last away Ashes Series?

 

[aussie1st]

Yes we have lost great players, yes we will lose games but cmon 9/21 is acceptable? Three scores below 100 in the past 2 years with a lineup containing Clarke, Ponting, Hussey and Haddin is acceptable?

 

[The 747]

Rewired, you are missing the point.

Warner, Cummins, Pattinson and Marsh all only played because first choice players were unavailable. Dont make out like we are on the right track from this.

The only CA people who are actually responsible are our very average fitness staff that meant a massive injury toll which meant they HAD to pick young players.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Rewired, you are missing the point.

Warner, Cummins, Pattinson and Marsh all only played because first choice players were unavailable. Dont make out like we are on the right track from this.

The only CA people who are actually responsible are our very average fitness staff that meant a massive injury toll which meant they HAD to pick young players.

Yep, every single one of those players who has done so well has been an enforced change, not a proper selectorial choice. Strange that. Mind you, even Phil Hughes came in due to injury, it was only later that he became a 'proper' choice.

Usman Khawaja was given a spot through injury each time as well. Not that he's done too much yet. Copeland was a genuine choice, but he got dumped very quickly. Makes you realise how much of it is guess work.

 

[Phone]

Could even argue the same for Lyon (hauritz injured for SL. and of course hauritz got in because mcgain and krejza got injured, did alright, and mcgain didn't take his one later opportunity). Katich got back in through a Hayden injury. Hussey got in through a Langer injury. and so forth


On a related note it's probably why they've started talking about 'rotation'. You can rotate someone out easily and give someone else a go, but dropping.....

 

[Donners]

It was only a few days ago that several cricket writers were gloating about how pathetic NZ were, and how promising we were looking. Cricket writers tend to blow with the prevailing wind, and most of the "denial" was fuelled by them.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Could even argue the same for Lyon (hauritz injured for SL. and of course hauritz got in because mcgain and krejza got injured, did alright, and mcgain didn't take his one later opportunity). Katich got back in through a Hayden injury. Hussey got in through a Langer injury. and so forth


On a related note it's probably why they've started talking about 'rotation'. You can rotate someone out easily and give someone else a go, but dropping.....

Rather childish if that is the case. Copeland certainly wasn't rotated out and he knows it.

 

[Rewired]

It was only a few days ago that several cricket writers were gloating about how pathetic NZ were, and how promising we were looking. Cricket writers tend to blow with the prevailing wind, and most of the "denial" was fuelled by them.

Dead on right there.

On Ben Dorries twitter feed he called the kiwis "pissweak" after the gabba test. Charming stuff there from a journo. Also had a nice little chuckle what would happen if someone like Ponting or Symonds had said that about the opposition.

Robert Craddock said similar stuff about everyone being happy the kiwis were only a 2 test series.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Dead on right there.

On Ben Dorries twitter feed he called the kiwis "pissweak" after the gabba test. Charming stuff there from a journo. Also had a nice little chuckle what would happen if someone like Ponting or Symonds had said that about the opposition.

Robert Craddock said similar stuff about everyone being happy the kiwis were only a 2 test series.

Craddock is like a well-paid forum user. Nice gig that. He has two headlines at present and he just changes the name of a player to use it. "So and so faces axe." then if they score a 50 or someone gets injured, "so and so saved from axe". Rinse and repeat.

Hussey is not on his select list of names in the headlines but he can't be far off.

I'm more sympathetic than I sound as these blokes have pages to fill and they have to write something, hard to produce stuff daily that isn't mindnumbingly obvious. At least Knox extends his repertoire a little further.

 

[Ill Chicken]

Yeah I do. Some people have seriously thought that a change in coach, selector, captain and the rest would have a significant impact on the performance on the field.

Hildtich and Neilsen were scapegoats for a our avergae performance. Both those 2 are probably sitting back having a quiet chuckle to themselves right about now.

Those guys were insignificant in the wide scheme of things. But people want scapegoats, not least the media.

I honestly think we are heading in the right direction. To me, this is an exciting time to be an Australian cricket fan.

Sick of all this negativity.

Some great players coming through in Cummins, Pattinson and Warner.

To me, this Australian side is heading in the right direction and Im sick and tired of people bleating everytime we lose.

We wont win every game but no-one can tell me that we aren't better off at the moment then we were last year with regards to the identication of new talent.

People need to suck up these setbacks and realise that you don't grow strong without a struggle.

You're kidding yourself if you think the Hilditch and co were selecting the best possible Australian side?

They selected Cameron White as the number one spinner without any form or basis to do so for a series in India.

They picked Symonds and Lee who were both injured for the second test against the Saffas at the MCG.

The continually picked Johnson even though he is terrible.

They burnt Stuart Clark, Doug Bollinger and Simon Katich.

Hilditch was walking his dog along the beach while Matthew Hayden was fighting for survival at the Boxing Day test.

Hilditch said that Steve Smith was the best number 6 in the country.

They went through 10 or more spinners before sticking with one.

They picked Beer on Shane Warne's opinion.

Hilditch didn't know that Beer had moved from Victoria to WA.

I can keep going.

 

[Wallaby]

They picked Shane Warne after about 6 first-class matches.

Ditto Glenn McGrath. I can remember proclaiming loudly after McGrath's first series that 'We might pick him for one-dayers, but he'll never make a Test bowler just trundling up bowling military medium'.

Justin Langer was struggling as a defensive, stodgy No 3, so they bumped him up to opener and he came good.

Mike Hussey - who's idea was it to pick a 30-year old with a fairly average state record as a test batsman? He'll never make it. Oh. he did - well let's do the same for Marcus North. Wow, he's started his career even better than Hussey.............

Ian Healy was Queensland's No 2 keeper when he was first picked for Australia.

The problem is that there is a huge difference between State cricket and Tests - it is very hard to make the transition. the selectors have to take a bit of a punt based on performance and technique. Siometimes you get it right - sometimes you don't.

Pattinson - Right. 14 wickets in 2 tests - prior to that he took 32 wickets in his 9 Shield games - hardly an obvious pick.
Lyon - hopefully. So far Test form has been better than first-class form.
Hughes - wow - star. Great shield record. 2 centuries in his second ever test against the best fast bowling attack on their home turf? This guy will be around for ever.........
Steve Smith - He was the best No 6 in the country in 2009-10. If you've got a 20-year old scoring 4 shield centuries, and he can also bowl pretty good leg-spin (at 20!), plus he's a fine slip-fielder, you would be mad not to pick him and give him a chance. If he finds some decent form, he will be back in the test team fairly quickly.
Khawaja - great technique, good FC record. Obvious pick. But so far, he hasn't shown it at Test level. I would argue that having a No 3 who has scored one fifty in the last 6 tests and averaged 29 is a major problem the team has had to overcome.

Australia does not have an automatic right to win every game - all the other countries are trying to win as well. At the moment, a lot of them have better players than we do.

 

[King Elvis]

No disputing that Wallaby, my frustration is that we haven't even given ourselves the best chance to win.

I've got no problems being beaten by a better side - I have a massive issue with being beaten when you shouldn't, because you're Admin/Management has sent you out with one hand tied behind your back (ie, the Lee/Symonds 08 SA Home selections).

 

[Ill Chicken]

They picked Shane Warne after about 6 first-class matches.

Why are we going to cite examples from selectors that in the 80's & 90's? I'm not arguing their wares.

Ditto Glenn McGrath. I can remember proclaiming loudly after McGrath's first series that 'We might pick him for one-dayers, but he'll never make a Test bowler just trundling up bowling military medium'.

And?

Justin Langer was struggling as a defensive, stodgy No 3, so they bumped him up to opener and he came good.

He wasn't up bumped up, he got a second chance because Slater lost the plot. He averaged roughly 40 prior to his recall, it wasn't like, they were picking a guy who wasn't good enough at the highest level.

Mike Hussey - who's idea was it to pick a 30-year old with a fairly average state record as a test batsman? He'll never make it.

Trevor Hohns was the Chairman of Selectors.

Oh. he did - well let's do the same for Marcus North. Wow, he's started his career even better than Hussey.............

And he should have been a stop gap selection.

Ian Healy was Queensland's No 2 keeper when he was first picked for Australia.

And?

The problem is that there is a huge difference between State cricket and Tests - it is very hard to make the transition. the selectors have to take a bit of a punt based on performance and technique. Siometimes you get it right - sometimes you don't.

This selection committee has got it wrong a lot.

Pattinson - Right. 14 wickets in 2 tests - prior to that he took 32 wickets in his 9 Shield games - hardly an obvious pick.

Fairly obvious pick if you ask me.

Lyon - hopefully. So far Test form has been better than first-class form.

Marginally. It helped that he was playing against a first class team.

Hughes - wow - star. Great shield record. 2 centuries in his second ever test against the best fast bowling attack on their home turf? This guy will be around for ever.........

Guy had issues from the very start and got lucky. Selectors weren't smart enough to push him down the order. They didn't take an spare batsmen to England either. Hughes got worked out, Watson came in and without Katich our opening combination turned to poo.

Steve Smith - He was the best No 6 in the country in 2009-10. If you've got a 20-year old scoring 4 shield centuries, and he can also bowl pretty good leg-spin (at 20!), plus he's a fine slip-fielder, you would be mad not to pick him and give him a chance. If he finds some decent form, he will be back in the test team fairly quickly.

Steve Smith was not the best number 6 in the country. He was the best number 6 for NSW, but there are plenty of other blokes who batted 1 to 6 from other teams that are a far better number 6 than Smith. Except for some reason the best number six has to be batting at number six right?

Khawaja - great technique, good FC record. Obvious pick. But so far, he hasn't shown it at Test level. I would argue that having a No 3 who has scored one fifty in the last 6 tests and averaged 29 is a major problem the team has had to overcome.

Khawaja has been burnt by soft ***** like Clarke, Ponting and Hussey or the selectors. He should be batting at six and given the opportunity to grow into the position. In general the reality is, bat 3 or 4 for your state, you should be bating 5 or 6 in tests.

Australia does not have an automatic right to win every game - all the other countries are trying to win as well. At the moment, a lot of them have better players than we do.

I don't care that we're not winning, we're not putting the best team on the park.

 

[Phone]

Craddock is like a well-paid forum user. Nice gig that. He has two headlines at present and he just changes the name of a player to use it. "So and so faces axe." then if they score a 50 or someone gets injured, "so and so saved from axe". Rinse and repeat.

Hussey is not on his select list of names in the headlines but he can't be far off.

I'm more sympathetic than I sound as these blokes have pages to fill and they have to write something, hard to produce stuff daily that isn't mindnumbingly obvious. At least Knox extends his repertoire a little further.

I don't think I've ever seen a good Craddock article. The other guy there, Peter Badel, is p bad too. The Australian has a bit of talent tho. With Roebuck gone there's obviously a bit of a void in Fairfax but Knox has got off to a decent start.

 

[Bomber Bears]

That's obviously a factor, I've never disputed that.

The home SA Series we lost over Christmas 08; could we have won that with better selections?

Were you happy with our preparation and selections for the last away Ashes Series?

Not sure we would've won that Saffa one, they played quite well.

Could definately won the Ashes series though, jumped the shark when we chose Stuart Clark to go play useless one dayers (not sure how many he played) when he'd just gone to get himself a county contract to ensure he was ready for the Ashes.

The writing definately was on the wall in that 09/10 home series though, and no one paid any attention. Hell even listening on the radio recenetly Sutherland was saying "well we won both series there was little indication we were struggling" - bullshit, we were lucky to draw in Adelaide and only won Sydney because of a Pakistani side throwing the game.