The Cricket Thread

[grizzlym]

That they chose such a harsh and public punishment points to something more. Make an example and hope the message gets through to everyone. Not sure it's going to improve selection decisions.

Yeah, I'd agree with that. It wouldn't bother me if they went biblical over something minor because they were so, so crap.

It would seem, however, that we'll now be saddled with a team boasting 2-3 all-rounders...

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

Yeah, I'd agree with that. It wouldn't bother me if they went biblical over something minor because they were so, so crap.

It would seem, however, that we'll now be saddled with a team boasting 2-3 all-rounders...

Interesting to see how many make the ashes squad.

Just reading now on The Age site that Watson is on a plane to Sydney. Not sure if it's a dummy spit or something going on with his pregnant wife.

 

[BullyWee]

The tone of comments on cricinfo would suggest that the sacking of the four was a big mistake. Here, the opinions seem to be evenly divided. For me, I just hope this is the last we ever see Watson in white for Australia, and I trust the others learn something about discipline

 

[grizzlym]

Interesting to see how many make the ashes squad.

Just reading now on The Age site that Watson is on a plane to Sydney. Not sure if it's a dummy spit or something going on with his pregnant wife.

I thought Watson was on his way home anyway. Doesn't matter thought, I reckon his tour has been horrible.

 

[Woodside Hawk]

Sounds extraordinarily petty on the surface, but so did Hodge getting suspended after his 21at all those years ago. Maybe there is a lack of discipline off field in this squad and Arthur was looking for a chance to reel them in.

 

[Messenger]

Interesting to see how many make the ashes squad.

Just reading now on The Age site that Watson is on a plane to Sydney. Not sure if it's a dummy spit or something going on with his pregnant wife.

I think he's leaving a test early actually.

There's a cricinfo article reporting he is considering his options.

The whole thing is disproportionate, but management can't allow that stuff to stand. It's symptomatic of a touring party out of its depth.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Mickey Arthur said that he never doubted Watson's preparation as a cricketer, or his quality as a person, and yet he's been sacked for not filling out some forms. I guess if you cross the sports scientists, it's the biggest sin you can commit. How can they ever determine red zones without those useless pieces of paper?

 

[Dr Awkward]

Management consultants are ruining the world.

Seriously, there must be more to it, no way you'd sack players for one minor indiscretion like that. What sort of presentation do they need from Pattinson? "I bowl at 150km and I take wickets". Presentation over.

 

[Messenger]

Management consultants are ruining the world.

Seriously, there must be more to it, no way you'd sack players for one minor indiscretion like that. What sort of presentation do they need from Pattinson? "I bowl at 150km and I take wickets". Presentation over.

No you don't, but if you set homework your average schoolkids could complete in 10 minutes and it doesn't get completed, you can't let it go.

 

[Henry Jr]

Wonder if Clarke had missed the homework deadline would they have had the balls to stand him down?

 

[Dr Awkward]

No you don't, but if you set homework your average schoolkids could complete in 10 minutes and it doesn't get completed, you can't let it go.

That's the point though, your average school kid could do it, so why do we need to test grown men with it. It's so fuddy duddy.

I just think this might have been the tipping point from something else (i.e. a few guys hadn't been putting in much effort all tour, perhaps even had a few beers or something like that) and this was a last straw sort of thing.

 

[Messenger]

I'm sure this hasn't happened in isolation.

 

[Ram-Man]

8.51am. Ram-Man strides to the crease.

Watson is a Ponting man.

Ponting and Clarke cannot stand each other.

Cowan's wife and Clarke's wife are bestest of friends.

The Australian coach is not a leaders bootlace - Coach sides with Clarke - Clarke is making runs - Clarke is not a leaders bootlace.

Clarke sides himself with people he can control - not the best players to achieve a win.

8.52am. Ram-Man attempts the reverse sweep and gets bowled.

8.53am. Ram-Man has a drink with the boys.

 

[Dinsdale]

I reckon that because they have no hope in India, and the series is shot, that its a clever way of resting players for the ashes.

 

[Brishawk]

That's the point though, your average school kid could do it, so why do we need to test grown men with it. It's so fuddy duddy.

I just think this might have been the tipping point from something else (i.e. a few guys hadn't been putting in much effort all tour, perhaps even had a few beers or something like that) and this was a last straw sort of thing.

Basically just about every batsman on tour apart from Clarke has ignored team instructions. They have all been told not to play horizontal bat shots against the spinners and yet continually get out doing so. As a unit they are not following instructions so when presented with a task as simple as this then again not follow instructions I can see why the coaching staff are pissed off and felt action was needed.

 

[MinerBoy]

Got no problem with it. The tour, results wise, is shot anyway. These blokes are having shockers so with a huge amount of time should be trying to pull in the same direction to turn things around. If they can't be assed scribbling down 5 sentences in 5 days then their attitude needs some re-adjustment.

 

[Brishawk]

Got no problem with it. The tour, results wise, is shot anyway. These blokes are having shockers so with a huge amount of time should be trying to pull in the same direction to turn things around. If they can't be assed scribbling down 5 sentences in 5 days then their attitude needs some re-adjustment.

Not to be argumentative but if we win the final two tests we draw the series and retain the trophy. We really should be trying to win. Not against disciplining players of course but I don't think we should ever been conceding test matches, especially when we are still a live chance to retain the trophy on offer.

 

[Henry Jr]

Ian Chappell was asked when he was captain, did players often right things down on paper for him to read ect.

"The only thing we wrote down back then was letters to our wives and girlfriends and I wasn't interested in reading them".

 

[spudmaster]

Ian Chappell was asked when he was captain, did players often right things down on paper for him to read ect.

"The only thing we wrote down back then was letters to our wives and girlfriends and I wasn't interested in reading them".

And sometimes both

 

[MinerBoy]

Not to be argumentative but if we win the final two tests we draw the series and retain the trophy. We really should be trying to win. Not against disciplining players of course but I don't think we should ever been conceding test matches, especially when we are still a live chance to retain the trophy on offer.

I hear what you're saying but my expectations of the next 2 tests are low and I wouldn't put it past the team to at least dig in a little more after what had transpied here. It's a tough call and perhaps over the top but perhaps some short term pain might be the kick in the arse we need.

Let's face it, we've really only lost Patto as he was the only one in the team and performing and a break won't kill him anyway. We might see him play a whole series without injury. Watson has been as useless as an ashtray on a motor bike and the other two haven't played a game.

 

[JESTERHAWK]

Ian Chappell was asked when he was captain, did players often right things down on paper for him to read ect.

I think it is problem with equal parts. I cannot believe the players didn't have the time to write their little presentation in 5 days of not much on. Especially Usman who is surely now running out of chances. On the other hand I am struggling with this under qualified over managed style of team structure that exists. Pat Howard has a rugby background and Invarerity has lost me time & time again on selections that defy logic. Blind freddy could see that Hussey was not going to see us long after punter had left. No plan or player to be looked at. We have great depth of talent except they now spend mos of the summer playing hit & giggle and know that a very handsome pay packet awaits them if they are marginally talented. (Maxwell) Players like Hazelwood, Cummings, Doolan, Burns and Agar have to be sent over to county cricket asap and get them comfortable with the DUKE!!!!!!

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

The more I think about it, the more I like the penalties. Like in AFL, there is nothing more valuabe to a player than actually playing games.
They are highly paid sportsmen who has been asked by their coach in the 8 days off between tests (only 8 days cause they get flogged a day earlier than they should have) to go away and think about how they can improve and where the team overall can improve. There are 17 people in the squad, of which 13 managed to find enough time in the 5 days they were given to complete the task, to do it. Why shouldn't those 4 players get punished?? It's nothing to do with brain power, it's their freaken job. It's not like they had to go away and read Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliette and come back in 5 days about how this correlates to modern dating or the damage social media has on society, or a thesis on the theory of evolution, it was asking them to look at their own games, and the teams game, and give a critique about it. Dane Swan is just about the dumbest person alive, but I guarantee you he would be able to pick apart a teams game plan within 15 minutes of watching a video of it. Much like you in your job and me in mine. it's what we do and what we know.
It's laziness and shows a lack of respect for the team, the coach, the captain and the position of playing for your country. f#$k em I say.

 

[Brishawk]

I hear what you're saying but my expectations of the next 2 tests are low and I wouldn't put it past the team to at least dig in a little more after what had transpied here. It's a tough call and perhaps over the top but perhaps some short term pain might be the kick in the arse we need.

Let's face it, we've really only lost Patto as he was the only one in the team and performing and a break won't kill him anyway. We might see him play a whole series without injury. Watson has been as useless as an ashtray on a motor bike and the other two haven't played a game.

Yeah you are right. The team obviously needed a kick up the butt and hopefully this galvanizes them for the rest of the series and the ashes.

 

[Henry Jr]

Interesting the CA came out publicly and said that the four are stood down. Given that two already wern't playing, they could have just said that Watson and Patto were 'rotated' but instead wanted to make a scene of the whole thing.

Sounds like they are hanging them out to dry to deflect the fact that our performances are been shitefull.Takes the heat off those at the top even though two of them have had nothing to do with the onfield performance.

They would want to be careful treading down the path they have set. Not all personalities will fit in/conform to the regime. Would hate to lose a potential good batsman in Special K because of the system rather than him not being good enough.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

Interesting the CA came out publicly and said that the four are stood down. Given that two already wern't playing, they could have just said that Watson and Patto were 'rotated' but instead wanted to make a scene of the whole thing.

Sounds like they are hanging them out to dry to deflect the fact that our performances are been shitefull.Takes the heat off those at the top even though two of them have had nothing to do with the onfield performance.

They would want to be careful treading down the path they have set. Not all personalities will fit in/conform to the regime. Would hate to lose a potential good batsman in Special K because of the system rather than him not being good enough.

If the stupid prick cant do a simple task when he is on the fringe, then **** him.