By Daniel Brettig
October 22nd 2008 @ 3:00am
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Humiliated Aussies told to get away from game
Australia’s players have been told to get away from cricket for the next four days as they deal with the fall-out from their worst defeat in nearly a decade.
India today completed a 320-run victory over the beleaguered tourists in the second Test at Mohali, wrapping up the innings in just 90 minutes to take a [...]
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Rabbitz said | October 22nd 2008 @ 6:22am | Report comment
Is Punter being serious? They need a break? Seriously?
“What I want to do is get the boys away from cricket for a couple of days, back-to-back Test matches are hard work, so we need to clear our minds of what’s happened here,”
Cricket is hard? Hey Punter, guess what? Working for a living is hard. Playing cricket, regardless of the “grade” is a fun pursuit.
Are the players in the Australian cricket team so fragile and precious they can’t take a loss now and then? Is this a case of their hubris and arrogance coming back to bite them on the behind?
Give ME a break!
How about this? Either you get out and do the job you are very well paid to do, or get a real job on a real wage and then see if you have something to whinge about.
Seriously I would have given my left to play a sport for Australia yet when I see the whining and carry on from the few who get that privilege I am kind of glad I missed out. This isn’t just in reference to cricket.
If it is too hard, give it away and let someone with a love of the game and pride in his efforts take your place.
Rabz
sheek said | October 22nd 2008 @ 6:34am | Report comment
Actually, in the context of the current environment, I agree with what Punter’s saying. Get away from the game, go fishing, sight seeing, whatever. Clear the head, refresh the body.
This is not about what cricketers do over a season, or don’t do. This is about trying to confront a current dilemma. And gee, you’re being tough on the Aussies. This was clearly a pitch where winning the toss gave the first batting side a huge advantage.
When the Aussies lose two by massive margins, then maybe, maybe you can question their commitment. But at the moment, this is a team in transition, struggling with aging stars, & inexperienced replacements.
Harry said | October 22nd 2008 @ 8:18am | Report comment
The Australian cricket team needs to draw together, shut up apart from praising India and talking up how wonderful they are, and smile and eat humble pie as all of India boasts until the first day of the next test. Then come out hard – not verbally or over-the-top slogging or chucking it down willy-nilly, but determined and persistent.
They need a fully fit and focused team that can maximise its positives and do its best to camoflague weaknesses (spin bowling an obvious one, and Brad Haddin is no Gillie). Hayden and Lee need to get their heads in the right place pronto – that doesn’t mean the over-the-top batting and dummy spitting we saw from them both in the last test.
I would also give serious consideration to picking Symonds, in place of Cameron White. It would be a gamble on his mental state, but an immediate benefit would be to lift the team in the field – one area where I think we do have a big advantage over the Indians.
What a pity we couldn’t have got Harbajan and Khan cheaply in their 1st innings at Bangalore. After Johnson had broken through the top order in the morning, we had them at our mercy but they were able to wriggle out of it and save the game. I fear that was our chance in the series gone. But I hope Australia play as hard and as competitively as possible in the last 2 tests – bear in mind conditions will be tailor-made for India and very ahrd for us – slow tracks, hotter etc. Please no capitulation like we saw in our 2nd innings.