Redbacks 2018/19

[Adelaide Hawk]

Let me see if I understand this correctly......

You sack Klinger as Captain, because you need to make a paradigm shift in the performance of your state and a strong leader is required hence you get a gritty South African all rounder, who for all intents and purposes does a good job.

The player passed over for continues to make plenty of runs and assumes a leadership position in County Cricket, then gets forced out the door to WA.

To replace him you turn to the one of the biggest wastes of talent and one lacking in professionalism in australian cricket history, who then forces your international captain out of the team because he now qualifies as an overseas player having feasted on division 2 county attacks for four years.

Having needed strong leadership in the past and passing over Klinger, you now turn to a 20 year old kid?

I don't know why you guys keep asking what's going in - your administration would seem to be the first port of call.

Mate, when you've followed the Redbacks as long as I have, you've come to expect this. It's what we do. For years we have stuffed up and have turned it into an art form. A few things:

• Failure to offer a contract to Ryan Harris allowing him to move to Queensland
• Failure to recognise the wonderful leadership skills of Boof Lehmann, also allowing him to go to Queensland
• Failure to recognise the talents of Dan Marsh who went to Tasmania and became one of their best ever players and captains
• Could not find a place in the team for Colin Miller who moved to Tasmania then represented Australia

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. It must be hard to run the game with your heads up your clackers.

Dan Marsh is the one I'd love to see coach the Redbacks, but he's very comfortable where he is.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Baffling decision. If Botha wishes to continue playing why not keep him as an international for another season and then after that he can play as a local.

Might have something to do with his not being our best spin option

 

[eth-dog]

Might have something to do with his not being our best spin option

So? He bats at 6 and can be the second spinner. He's also a better leader than any other player in the squad.

 

[Chris25]

I'm liking the squad we've named for the Shield game. Will be nice to see Zampa and particularly Smith get an extended run in the side. I can see this being our first choice side for some time, with the exception of Sayers missing of course. Only question is over Ross at 6, with Lehmann probably pushing him in the next year or so while Gregory hopefully develops into that all rounder we can slot in at 7.

 

[Southerntakeover]

So? He bats at 6 and can be the second spinner. He's also a better leader than any other player in the squad.

Just because he did bat at 6 doesn't mean he should. He's not a good enough batsman to earn his place on that. His leadership didn't really translate to anything.

 

[eth-dog]

Just because he did bat at 6 doesn't mean he should. He's not a good enough batsman to earn his place on that. His leadership didn't really translate to anything.

FC average of 32 is steady enough for 6. He's a good all round player who was a good leader for South Australia.

 

[The_Reaper]

Just because he did bat at 6 doesn't mean he should. He's not a good enough batsman to earn his place on that. His leadership didn't really translate to anything.

Surely it's better off than chucking all the pressure on a 20 year old batsman still finding his feet at first class level

 

[jackess]

FC average of 32 is steady enough for 6. He's a good all round player who was a good leader for South Australia.

Agreed and I think having 5 bowling options is a definite strength especially at Adelaide Oval to allow you to play 3 seamers and 2 spinners.

Plus he's excellent in the shorter forms.

 

[carnthemlions]

Wow. Giving Head the captaincy looks a bit like what Melbourne did to Grimes and Trengove.
Let him concentrate on his batting.

 

[Southerntakeover]

FC average of 32 is steady enough for 6. He's a good all round player who was a good leader for South Australia.

His batting average since he's been at the redbacks is actually 23.44.

His batting is nowhere near solid enough to be a number 6, and his bowling isn't better than our next best spin option. We're better of filling the spots with younger players with upside than paying for Botha. Would far rather see Zampa, arguably the best performed spinner in the BBL, getting games.

The captaincy decision is more than just Botha v Head though. For example, they could have given the role to the more experienced Ferguson.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

His batting average since he's been at the redbacks is actually 23.44.

His batting is nowhere near solid enough to be a number 6, and his bowling isn't better than our next best spin option. We're better of filling the spots with younger players with upside than paying for Botha. Would far rather see Zampa, arguably the best performed spinner in the BBL, getting games.

The captaincy decision is more than just Botha v Head though. For example, they could have given the role to the more experienced Ferguson.

Very true, but the Sheffield Shield batting average of the man they just appointed captain stands at:
2011-12: 219 runs @ 27.37
2012-13: 441 runs @ 24.50
2013-14: 504 runs @ 36.00
2014-15: 252 runs @ 31.50

That's 49 innings for twelve 50s, no centuries. Hardly the sort of stuff that gets you nominated into the hall of fame.
As a matter of fact, they are stats that suggest a player's spot in the side is tenuous ..... and they've made him captain at 21. Geez.

 

[western royboy]

Time for a coup at the SACA or at worst an inquisition, I sincerely hope Head goes well, but like the boy with the Barrow, he has it all in front of him.

 

[eth-dog]

Agreed and I think having 5 bowling options is a definite strength especially at Adelaide Oval to allow you to play 3 seamers and 2 spinners.

Plus he's excellent in the shorter forms.

Exactly

His batting average since he's been at the redbacks is actually 23.44.

His batting is nowhere near solid enough to be a number 6, and his bowling isn't better than our next best spin option. We're better of filling the spots with younger players with upside than paying for Botha. Would far rather see Zampa, arguably the best performed spinner in the BBL, getting games.

The captaincy decision is more than just Botha v Head though. For example, they could have given the role to the more experienced Ferguson.

Botha has a good enough career record in FC cricket to play 6, he's a good leader and more than handy bowling wise. If you offered most sides an off spinning AR with a 32/32 split they'd jump on it.

 

[Chris25]

Very true, but the Sheffield Shield batting average of the man they just appointed captain stands at:
2011-12: 219 runs @ 27.37
2012-13: 441 runs @ 24.50
2013-14: 504 runs @ 36.00
2014-15: 252 runs @ 31.50

That's 49 innings for twelve 50s, no centuries. Hardly the sort of stuff that gets you nominated into the hall of fame.
As a matter of fact, they are stats that suggest a player's spot in the side is tenuous ..... and they've made him captain at 21. Geez.

So he must be head and shoulders above all the other players in terms of captaincy material?

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

So he must be head and shoulders above all the other players in terms of captaincy material?

He's had no experience, no successes to speak of ... he's a kid, trying to find his way in the cricket world. Why on earth would anyone want to thrust the responsibility of leadership upon him at such a tender stage of his career?

There are players in that side who have played enough 1st class cricket to be able to take a team out onto the ground, set fields, rotate bowlers, etc. Not everyone can be a Tubby Taylor when it comes to captaincy, but it's not that hard to be a reasonable one.

The irony of this is there are players whose careers have been left rotting in grade cricket, discarded by SACA selectors, even though they had better stats than Travis Head. I can think of one who would have been a wonderful captain .... but his career was stuffed up by SACA idiots several years ago.

It's been pathetic watching the SACA train wreck over the past 20 years. They never learn.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Time for a coup at the SACA or at worst an inquisition, I sincerely hope Head goes well, but like the boy with the Barrow, he has it all in front of him.

Too late for that. It should have happened in the 90s. If you walk around the Adelaide Oval or venture into the SACA office, there's a cast of thousands sitting or walking around, seemingly not doing much at all. I mean, what on earth are all those people doing? They have more coaches than Mark Cosgrove has had hamburgers, and yet players still can't adhere to the basics. I've seen way too much young talent just wasted. It's a crazy world of jobs for the boys down there, and nothing seems to be able to stop it.

I spoke with every state coach we've had from the early 90s to the late 2000s, almost 20 years. They all had blueprints to improve the standard and structure of cricket in SA, every one of them were thwarted at every opportunity, and eventually sacked. It's just hopeless. If you think I am exaggerating, just ask Boof Lehmann, he will agree with everything I've said.

 

[Bradesmaen]

He's had no experience, no successes to speak of ... he's a kid, trying to find his way in the cricket world. Why on earth would anyone want to thrust the responsibility of leadership upon him at such a tender stage of his career?

He lead the SA U19 team to the national title... says enough about him. Sure he's young, but he's definitely got talent, just needs to apply himself better. I don't have any reservations in it, apart from that in 5 years he'll be playing for Australia not SA.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

He lead the SA U19 team to the national title... says enough about him.

No, it really doesn't.

 

[Aussie_boy]

He lead the SA U19 team to the national title... says enough about him. Sure he's young, but he's definitely got talent, just needs to apply himself better. I don't have any reservations in it, apart from that in 5 years he'll be playing for Australia not SA.

Also for what it's worth captained his SACA Premier League side that I believe won the title.

 

[Bradesmaen]

No, it really doesn't.

Clearly not to a rambling old fool like yourself.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Very true, but the Sheffield Shield batting average of the man they just appointed captain stands at:
2011-12: 219 runs @ 27.37
2012-13: 441 runs @ 24.50
2013-14: 504 runs @ 36.00
2014-15: 252 runs @ 31.50

That's 49 innings for twelve 50s, no centuries. Hardly the sort of stuff that gets you nominated into the hall of fame.
As a matter of fact, they are stats that suggest a player's spot in the side is tenuous ..... and they've made him captain at 21. Geez.

And yet every season's better than Botha's batting record. Zampa is a better spinner (and deserves his spot in the team).

Noone's suggesting Head is a finished product. That alone doesn't justify Botha's selection.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Botha has a good enough career record in FC cricket to play 6, he's a good leader and more than handy bowling wise. If you offered most sides an off spinning AR with a 32/32 split they'd jump on it.

So you're just going to ignore the evidence re: his actual batting record in the shield?

Tell you what, let's see if any other teams snap him up. They'll have every right to.

 

[Pugsley]

Has the mercy rule been activated ?

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Also for what it's worth captained his SACA Premier League side that I believe won the title.

Well, he played in the GF, which they lost (Head made a brilliant 6 runs), and he wasn't captain. Apart from that, you almost nailed it. Pity us rambling old fools with the facts have to destroy illusions of dreamers, huh?

 

[Aussie_boy]

Well, he played in the GF, which they lost (Head made a brilliant 6 runs), and he wasn't captain. Apart from that, you almost nailed it. Pity us rambling old fools with the facts have to destroy illusions of dreamers, huh?

Premier League and Grade Cricket are 2 different things, thought you would know that....