India will be cursing. If Australia won the team would be unchanged, which is in their favour with Hughes, Ponting and Hussey carrying on. Surely the barman has called time for all three (with Cowan, Watson and Marsh coming in). Bracewall should have been MOTM. Jim Maxwell went off his nut on the radio when "the public" (The majority of Australians have the IQ of a hamster) voted it to Warner.
Whats really funny? Australian test cricket is sliding into the abyss so are we playing more 4 day games?
Besides the Big Bash League and club cricket, the only other opportunity for Hughes to score runs before the end of the Test summer will be in next week's Cricket Australia Chairman's XI match against the touring Indians in Canberra. In that three-day encounter, Hughes will be competing with other top-order men such as Marsh and Usman Khawaja, who are also in the side. David Warner is also set to play at Manuka Oval, but he has already pencilled in his name for the Boxing Day Test by carrying his bat for 123 not out in Hobart, almost conjuring victory for Australia from a dire position.
"There is no four-day cricket now for New South Wales, unfortunately," Clarke said. We go back and play Twenty20 cricket so, yeah, if that's the case for somebody, people who get dropped from this team, they're going to have to go back to Twenty20 and score some runs. I'm not sure how it's going to work but you're going to have to be picked back into the Australian team from the Big Bash. We'll wait and see what happens."
The lack of first-class cricket in Australia from early December to the start of February - covering the majority of the Australian summer - was deemed necessary by Cricket Australia to allow the new eight-team BBL to flourish. When asked if he would have preferred Shield cricket during the period, Clarke was careful not to directly criticise the scheduling, but his discontent was evident.
@TC - yes, it is really hard to fathom what Cricket Australia are trying to do - except make money. Glad I will be away for a big chunk of the time and will miss (hahaha - like I will really miss it) the hit and giggle.
Cricket must find a middle path, it must scale down this mad merry-go-round that teams and players find themselves in: heading off for two-Test tours and seven-match ODI series with a few Twenty20s thrown in.
Test cricket deserves to be protected, it is what the world's best know they will be judged by. Where I come from, nation versus nation is what got people interested in cricket in the first place. When I hear the news that a country is playing without some of its best players, I always wonder, what do their fans think?
People may not be able to turn up to watch Test cricket but everyone follows the scores. We may not fill 65,000 capacity stadiums for Test matches, but we must actively fight to get as many as we can in, to create a Test match environment that the players and the fans feed off. Anything but the sight of Tests played on empty grounds. For that, we have got to play Test cricket that people can watch.
I don't think day-night Tests or a Test championship should be dismissed.
In March of last year I played a day-night first-class game in Abu Dhabi for the MCC and my experience from that was that day-night Tests is an idea seriously worth exploring. There may be some challenges in places where there is dew but the visibility and durability of the pink cricket ball was not an issue.
Similarly, a Test championship, with every team and player driving themselves to be winners of a sought after title, seems like it would have a context to every game.
Keeping Tests alive may mean different innovations in different countries - maybe taking it to smaller cities, playing it in grounds with smaller capacities like New Zealand has thought of doing, maybe reviving some old venues in the West Indies, like the old Recreation Ground in Antigua.
When I was around seven years old, I remember my father taking a Friday off so that we could watch three days of Test cricket together. On occasions he couldn't, I would accompany one of his friends, just to soak in a day of Test cricket and watch the drama slowly unfold.
What we have to do is find a way to ensure that Test matches fit into 21st century life, through timing, environments and the venues they are held in. I am still convinced it can be done, even in our fast-moving world with a short attention span. We will often get told that Test matches don't make financial sense, but no one ever fell in love with Test cricket because they wanted to be a businessman. Not everything of value comes at a price.
There is a proposal doing the rounds about scrapping the 50-over game completely. I am not sure I agree with that - I certainly know that the 50-over game helped us innovate strokes in our batting which we were then able to take into Test matches. We all know that the 50-over game has been responsible for improving fielding standards all over the world.
The future may well lie in playing one-day internationals centered around ICC events, like the Champions Trophy and the World Cups. This would ensure that all 50-over matches would build up for those tournaments.
That will cut back the number of one-day internationals played every year but at least those matches will have context. Since about I think 1985, people have been saying that there is too much meaningless one-day cricket. Maybe it's finally time to do something about it.
The Twenty20 game as we know has as many critics as it has supporters in the public. Given that an acceptable strike rate in T20 these days is about 120, I should probably complain about it the most. The crowd and revenue numbers, though, tell us that if we don't handle Twenty20 correctly, we may well have more and more private players stepping in to offer not just slices of pie, but maybe even bigger pies themselves.
So I'll re-iterate what I've just said very quickly because balancing three formats is important: We have Test cricket like we have always had, nation versus nation, but carefully scheduled to attract crowds and planned fairly so that every Test playing country gets its fair share of Tests. And playing for a championship or a cup, not just a ranking.
The 50-overs format focused around fewer, significant multi-nation ICC events like the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. In the four-year cycle between World Cups, plan the ODI calendar and devise rankings around these few important events. Anything makes more sense than seven-match ODI series.
The best role for Twenty20 is as a domestic competition through official leagues, which will make it financially attractive for cricketers. That could also keep cricket viable in countries where it fights for space and attention.
Because the game is bigger than us all, we must think way ahead of how it stands today. Where do we want it to be in the year 2020? Or say in 2027, when it will be 150 years since the first Test match was played. If you think about it, cricket has been with us longer than the modern motor car, it existed before modern air travel took off.
As much as cricket's revenues are important to its growth, its traditions and its vibrancy are a necessary part of its progress in the future. We shouldn't let either go because we played too much of one format and too little of the other.
Nice to see the Aged ones in the Indian touring team having a good day at the crease. Tendulkar retiring on 92 not out, presumably wanting his next ton to be his one hundredth in Tests.
Robinson and Cooper having some fun for the ozmates, but as TC alludes to they probably have no chance of making any Test starting XI anytime soon.
I am looking forward to this series almost as much as I look forward to an Ashes series. Bring it on guys..................
If we can put up two or three "pace" bowlers I'll be happy. Picking Vinay Kumar in place of Praveen Kumar was daft - the latter can at least swing the ball. The former is Venkatesh Prasad without the line and length.
(to those who have forgotten, Venkatesh Prasad was the McGrath without pace)
Rohit Sharma again demands selection for the first test over Kohli. And I wonder which spinner we will pick - I'd like Ashwin for the mystery he brings, though Ojha has county experience on his side.
Peter FitzSimons was a Wallaby (Australian Rugby) Lock, funny man for a hard and tough man and Bon Vivant from my era and an author of some quality that writes Non-Fiction: History (FitzSimons' work ).
WHAT was Michael Clarke thinking? How can it be that at his age, holding his position, he does not realise congratulating your opponents on a fine win is the most basic of all basics? His post-match speech at the official presentation was a disgrace, as simple as that. The Kiwi captain commiserates with the Australians, and congratulates our own David Warner on his superb innings. Both man-of-the-match Warner and man-of-the-series James Pattinson congratulate the Kiwi bowler Doug Bracewell on his own wonderful performance. But from the Australian captain, on the occasion of our closest neighbours recording their first win on Australian soil in 26 years, and doing it in spirited, noble fashion, not a single word of congratulations. Not good enough.
Spot on Fitzy the guy is a bogan knob.
Quote:
What they said
"c Guptill b Martin." The combination that dismissed Phil Hughes all four times in the Test series against the valiant Kiwis.
The great Kerry O'Keeffe: "If Phil Hughes is shaving tomorrow and gets a nick, Martin Guptill will appear out of the medicine cabinet with a Band-Aid …"
South African batting great Barry Richards on T20 cricket: "The size of the fields, the pitches and the power of the bats are so different from what we know as cricket that they should actually invent another name for it. It's so commercially driven in batsmen's favour that Stevie Wonder could go out and hit 50."
Virender Sehwag after his 219 in a one-dayer against West Indies: "When Sammy dropped me [on 170], I knew that God was with me." God, sports fan of 2011!
Up the Champs-Elysees, on the bell lap, Matthew Hayden bursts into the lead of TFF's Mixed Metaphor competition, regarding the problem with Phil Hughes: "It's a very tough spot in the engine room trying to consolidate your performances, and the knives are out. If you're a rabbit in a spotlight, it's very difficult to proceed."
Kiwi cricket captain Ross Taylor, after his side's stunning win: "[I have] over 50 text messages on my phone - I think that's pretty big. Rugby is our No.1 sport but any sport against Australia, winning in Australia, the New Zealand public enjoys."
A brilliant win Mr Taylor!
Loser Mr Clarke!
Aren't you a w@nker Mr Hayden, made runs when global fast bowling was in the basement (after failing when the world quicks were on fire, and taking a rest alongside the Dwarf) and now a triple cliche dropper...knob!
I'm watching the hit and giggle again today...and the stands are empty! Rejoice!
Adysj
Quote:
Just give me 5 Tests and a one day series and I have a happy summer.
3 ODIs and 3 T/20 only please. once the serious cricket is over. 5 Tests are A MUST in between 3 day games by the tourists over states at each state.
Last edited by Track Coastal; 17th Dec 2011 at 08:44.
Heck, if the ODI format died away I wouldn't notice. (With the bonus of India being the final world champs ) 7-match bilateral series contests are the work of the devil.
And honestly, if T20 is not going away all that needs to be done is IPL one year, Big Bash the next (1.5 years apart with summers in respective hemispheres) - something like the Ashes. And carve that little spot in the calendar for them so that there's none of that crap about contracts.
But it's a sensible idea, not a money-making one, so it will never happen.
Meanwhile... Vernon Philander you beauty! 21 wickets in 5-and-half innings. Forget Parnell or Tsotsobe, methinks the Saffers have got their attack sorted!
It certainly looks as if he is the real deal this Philander (sounds like a bloke who has forgotten his girlfriends name!) and he just cannot stop taking wickets right now. Anyone who can upstage Steyn must be a little bit useful.
Not long now and we get to know how good the new young Oz bowlers are when the Indian veterans batting line up has a look at them.
Location: A civilised little County..with a bit of eccentricity to boot
Posts: 678
C4 News carried this interesting item last night.
Worth watchng for the eloquent views expressed by a member of m'learned friends who, as you would expect, makes a compelling case regarding the, ahem "decision making process".......and, more pertinently, the opportunities for developing the kids and thus future top class players.
Had to laugh when Mickey Arthur was i'viewed before the Perth 20hag team batted stating quite confidently that the team would win easily as he had 'coached and developed this side'. When the Perth side was 7-72 I was in stitches. Baggy Greens, you are in trouble with this knob, possible saved by India's injury depleted bowling attack.
Whats with the descriptor 'out-of-form' Mike Hussey (hit a long hop from a no name part time spinner down mid wicket's throat for a blob)? His default position for his last forty tests (6 tons in 40 tests) is middle order rabbit with rare and occasional run scoring feats. 40 tests ago his averaged was 70, its about to crack into the 40s as his decline continues.
BD, whats going on with Sharma's and Zaheer's injuries and fitness? I want those two to run through the Australian middle order like a dose of salts so the batting order by the end of the summer looks like...Cowan, Warner, Marsh, Khawaja, Clarke, Watson. Cowan just scored another ton, 4 in 4 innings, his last two being against touring teams.
The Australian squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice-capt), Dan Christian, Ed Cowan, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
Don't forget Watso's waiting in the wings too Cooda - thus ditch both Ponting and Hussey (one could argue that they're both already cracked)
I still reckon selectors have to stick with Khawaja - one for the future.
I note also that Cowan is 29 years old - if the Aussie's are so intent on Academy style coaching bringing through the youngsters - why are they waiting until players are in their late 20's before making the national side (Pattinson, Starc and Cummings being the notable exceptions - but where are the batsmen??
replace Ponting or Hussey, depending on who cracks first.
Hussey has cracked. And, IMO so has Ponting.
Quote:
Whats with the descriptor 'out-of-form' Mike Hussey (hit a long hop from a no name part time spinner down mid wicket's throat for a blob)? His default position for his last forty tests (6 tons in 40 tests) is middle order rabbit with rare and occasional run scoring feats. 40 tests ago his averaged was 70, its about to crack into the 40s as his decline continues.
TC: Injuries... badly managed scheduling. Zaheer went from World Cup to IPL to injury to England - and showed up with a pot belly and an unhealed ankle. As much as I would like to blame the BCCI, it is also up to the players to recuse themselves from a tournament (as many Englishmen and a few Aussies did for the IPL) if they think it won't help their schedules and training.
Thankfully this time the selectors insisted he play two domestic games (in India) to prove his fitness. He did, but I'm not sure he's fully fit. Maybe he's just holding back out of fear, but I don't like that - here's hoping he's all right for Boxing Day.
3 ODIs and 3 T/20 only please. once the serious cricket is over. 5 Tests are A MUST in between 3 day games by the tourists over states at each state.
