STICK IT UP 'EM MARK !!!!

[Arch]

Just great to see mark waugh making a good fist of it, right when his back was to the wall.

I personally would be devastated if he was dropped from the ODI or Test teams, and Im so glad he's showing the form he's capable of right now.

Hopefully he'll have a great summer and silence all the critics.

GO MARK !!!!

 

[Grendel]

Thats been juniors whole career though Arch.

Only ever produces when as you say, his backs to the wall. Why couldnt he have produced the average that a player of his talent should have. When he finally does get the flick, he will probably be at around the 40 odd average, should have been high 40's at least and probably 50!

 

[Guest]

I agree Grendel.

I'm not sure whether to say 'well done mark for keeping your spot' or 'you lucky bugger'. I love watching Mark Waugh bat but his time is drawing to a close. I know he'll probably score a ton in the first test but at the moment he's probably giving the selectors sleepless nights for a number of reasons.

Good luck to him but Arch he's in no position to be sticking it up anyone.

 

[Denno]

Yeah, good on Mark Waugh. People have short memories. Remember his innings versus the Windies over there a few years ago? Or his one against South Africa? Sure, they might be a little while ago - but hes still got it, as far as I'm concerned. Let him go on his terms. He deserves at least that.

 

[Arch]

i must admit im totally biased and think Mark is a star, and is capable of the most entertaining cricket you'll ever see.

I agree that over his entire career, he has never fully lived up to his potential, but thats just the guys nature. He can look a million bucks and score a chanceless 85, then get caught at mid-wicket with a brainless terrible shot.

Ive just always loved his effortless style, and clean caresses through the leg side for boundaries. His 96 world cup effort stamped him as one of the worlds great ODI batsmen.

A.

 

[Pessimistic]

Ah Cricket... The sport of gentlemen

 

[Gonzo]

Have to agree with Grendel and Spogs

Junior has the uncanny ability to score runs when they are required to get into a team - ie at the start of the season, or at the end of the season when a tour party is to be announced.

Pity he can't score consistently throughout the year!

Cheers

Gonzo

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

He's keeping a good kid out of the team

Should have been shown the door years ago - Hey ! the guy is 35 and STILL can't put in a consistant season.

How much more slack does the guy want cut for him ?

and besides - he is a CROOK.

 

[Grendel]

Thats the thing Gonz thats so frustrating about the bloke.

Its like he just turns it on when HE needs it, not when the side does. Early on i thought it was just one of those quirks, but season after season?

No, i just got so frustrated and angry with him. Their are other strokemakers around now that can play just as fluently as Waugh and deserve (imho) a chance at playing for their country as well.

Martyn is glorious to watch and has done little wrong since his recall, but any money you like, he wont be named for the Gabba.

 

[Guest]

Interesting that Alan Border (a selector) came out and said he wants punter up the order. Unlikely Steve will move so whats left other than see ya later junior.

 

[Arch]

ah BSA- I was waiting for your two bob about Mark and you havent dissappointed. Are there any other crooks on the side you'd like to slag off ????

Well, it appears Im all out alone on this one then huh lads ???

Name a long time test player who hasnt experienced troughs in form over that time ??? Do we rid ourselves of players because of a rough trot ??? Cricket is a game of form and confidence, and great players can regain it. Mark is a great player, albeit a streaky one, but he is well worth having in the side IMO.

I honestly dont see Marks career lasting long after this summer, but he has done a great service for the Worlds best cricket nation for many many years now, and deserves a little more respect from the cricketing public in Australia.

 

[GoEagles]

When does everyone see Junior retiring/made way for DM? I think the 2001 Ashes tour will be the last overseas, just a question if he'll play next summer in the baggy green cap.

 

[servo]

I don't think he will retire unless the ACB tells him to. (ala: Healy, Border, Boon etc.)

The sad part is, assuming he is not crooked, that if he fails agin in say the next 3 or 4 tests before departing, his average could drop below 40. Any long term test batsman who averages in the 30's is not generally regarded as star let alone a great. And the talent he has, he is better than that.

 

[Guest]

The problem we've got now is that the next group of Lehman, Law, Moody, Elliot, Martyn, Blewett etc are all now around the 30 mark. The selectors may now give junior another year and then go for a younger player. Maybe Symons but I'm still far from impressed with him.

For Damien Martyn it must be pretty frustrating because he has done nothing wrong and still won't get a test this season.

 

[Arch]

just wanted to bump this to the top again.

 

[Gonzo]

Fair enough!

I'll still reserve judgement until the series is finished!

No doubt he'll get another hundred - my money is on the last innings (presuming that we bat twice

) in Sydney.

Just enough to get him picked to tour India!

Jammy Bastard!

Cheers

Gonzo

 

[PieGirl#41]

Yes good idea Arch, now we will se what these fools who are bagging Mark have to say.

~*~Go Binger!!~*~

 

[ptw]

Originally posted by Spogs:
The problem we've got now is that the next group of Lehman, Law, Moody, Elliot, Martyn, Blewett etc are all now around the 30 mark. The selectors may now give junior another year and then go for a younger player. Maybe Symons but I'm still far from impressed with him.

For Damien Martyn it must be pretty frustrating because he has done nothing wrong and still won't get a test this season.

is that not the best group of batsmen not to have played test cricket consistently ? I would add Siddons. If they formed the spine of a team thy would beat more than half of the current test teams (still.. gotta get some bowlers....bring back Blocker Wilson)

ptw

 

[Guest]

ptw,

You just have to look at the last English domestic season to see how good that lot are. Seven of the top ten run scorers were Australian and of those only Langer is in the current test team. (Hayden might have been in there too.)

You're right about the bowlers. It seems that the accademy has no trouble producing good batsmen but don't have the same success with bowlers.

In my opinion, bowling and particularly fast bowling has to happen naturally and too much coaching can stifle natural flair and aggression. Over coaching always seems to turn natural quicks into robotic medium pacers.

Another problem is one day cricket and the defensive mentality that fast bowlers are forced to adopt. Can you imaging Jeff Thompson being told to land six balls on a good length just outside off stump? I wouldn't like to be the captain to tell him.

That's why Brett Lee and Shoab Aktar are a breath of fresh air. They both just want to bowl quick and either get the batsmen out or knock his head off and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Arch]

just wanted to bump this to the top YET again.

you are an absolute legend mark. Brian Lara said it all:
" I agree with the crowd"

 

[Grendel]

Arch, mate you said it yourself. Hes streaky. He ISNT a great player (though he probably should have been with his talent) hes a bloke that averages 40 in tests and thats a fair enough. But the greats all average over 50 so he falls way short of the mark 'great'.

This summer, whats he had to beat? No going on about the pressure outside of the squad either (I didnt agree with that with Crawford, im certainly not going to give Waugh the excuse). All summer its been a gift for any Aussie batsman willing to take the runs being served up on a platter by a 2nd rate (X2) WI/Zimbawe outfits.

Still think Jones was dropped for Waugh all those years ago, and havent forgiven that yet. Chuck him, hes superflous.

Cheers

 

[Darky]

Originally posted by Spogs:
The problem we've got now is that the next group of Lehman, Law, Moody, Elliot, Martyn, Blewett etc are all now around the 30 mark. The selectors may now give junior another year and then go for a younger player. Maybe Symons but I'm still far from impressed with him.

For Damien Martyn it must be pretty frustrating because he has done nothing wrong and still won't get a test this season.

Spot on with most of that Spogs. By not giving some of these guys sufficient chances while in their 20s (fill-in roles don't count), it leaves a bit of a void when the incumbents retire. These guys around 30 SHOULD be experienced test players but aren't. I think during the early 90s team selection was waaaaaaaay to conservative which meant that our 28-30 year old players all played just bit-part roles rather than being allowed to vie for a permanent spot.

Also on Symonds, can't be too impressed with a player who has a first-class average of 42, having played most of his cricket in the sub-standard English county competition. Possibly woth persevering with though, because his bowling is very useful, he is exceptional in the field and he does tend to score quickly (even though he is inconsistent in making big scores).

 

[RogerC]

Jesus guys! You've been a bit harsh on Junior, haven't you? I don't know what more he could have done this summer to prove himself. And I don't see much of the consistent scoring you seem to expect from him coming from any other current test batsman. Steve excepted of course.

In my opinion, he was brought into the test side too late. By the time he finally got a go he was one of the most eagerly anticipated inclusions in living memory. Sure, he's had his peaks and troughs, but to choose this summer of all to bag him - I think your timing is way out. Back in November I thought his time was up too. I'm eating my words now, and you should too.

We've found his secret, though. Any time his form slumps, whip out an enquiry into corruption and hey presto, Mark Waugh century.

Cheers.

 

[Dipper]

Originally posted by Darky:


Also on Symonds, can't be too impressed with a player who has a first-class average of 42, having played most of his cricket in the sub-standard English county competition. Possibly woth persevering with though, because his bowling is very useful, he is exceptional in the field and he does tend to score quickly (even though he is inconsistent in making big scores).

Darky
Whilst I agree that the English county Championship is sub standard compared with the Sheffield Shield it is actually medium/fast bowlers' averages that u should be more suspicious of-this is due to helpful pitches, balls with bigger seams & the weather,a batsman's average will generally be on the lower side for the same reasons & though a great many aussie batsmen come over & dominate I bet that their batting averages playing in England aren't that different to their career averages.

PS I can't believe that u blokes never gave Stuart Law more of a go in the test side,over here he plays for Essex who Mark Waugh & AB played for in recent years & I tell u he definitely been as good a signing as both of them-the only Aussie we ever signed who didn't perform was Kaspowitch



[This message has been edited by DIPPER (edited 12 February 2001).]

 

[Arch]

grend- youre not only the only one to mourn the exclusion of Deano, but thats no reason to bag out Mark.

and are you just having a dig at me with the "superfluous" crack