By Geoff Lawson
May 5th 2009 @ 2:27am
ACB have had enough of blonde tips and sports cars
Australian cricketer Michael Clarke celebrates his century against India. AP Photo/Aman Sharma
Are the Australian selectors expressing the growing concerns of the greater national cricket punditry by giving Brad Haddin a match in charge of the international team?
Haddin had shown for a number of years at New South Wales that he had the tactical and leadership nous to be a skipper at the elite level. In fact, before deals were done for Simon Katich to join the Bluebags and was guaranteed the captaincy as a part of that lucrative deal, Haddin was doing an exceptional job.
It is no secret that Haddin was miffed at the time as he was replaced by a outsider with limited leadership credentials and experience.
Ostensibly, the Cricket Australia announcement centered around Michael Clarke having some extended rest before heading off to England late in the month to prepare for the ICC Twenty20 World Championship.
The final match of the UAE tour was only four days later, so it is hard to fathom why the vice captain, cum stand in captain, would not be participating in a finale of 20 overs.
The selectors did not tell the public whether Clarke had requested the ‘extra’ rest, or if they had given him orders to go home early. In fact, the official press release was quite ambiguous, perhaps deliberately so because it made little sense: “the NSP has recommended that Michael be released …”
Released? What the?
The NSP make the decisions and TELL the players when and what they will be doing, so I can’t figure out just whom they would be “recommending“ to.
The statement goes on with some attempt at rationalising the reasons. I assume Andrew Hilditch, the chairman, is carrying the can on this one, although Jamie Cox, the South Australian Redbacks’ High Performance manager, has been prominent on screen as selector on duty in The Emirates.
“It will give him extra time to prepare for the ICC World Twenty20.“
This might sound a tad left field as a suggestion, but by playing the final game of the tour, such as a Twenty20 match, that might be the ideal preparation for an international 20 over tournament.
Australia did not do very well in the original Twenty20 World Cup. Even Zimbabwe beat them. So a spot of match practice against the finalist in that tournament might come in handy.
But no, apparently rest and facing a bowling machine will be much more efficient preparation. Unless, of course, there is an ulterior motive.
Brad Haddin “will assume the captaincy.“
Assume?
Sounds like lawyer talk to me. Haddin has been a leader, with his opening one day batting. He has been the most consistent of the batsmen, and Clarke has leaned heavily on his shoulder for tactical advice, especially under pressure out in the middle.
Haddin also has the distinction of having no “off field“ dramas to attend to.
Maybe the Australian Cricket Board have had enough of blond tips and sports cars. I can’t recall Allan Border ever having anything other than a Holden.
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(21)
onside said | May 5th 2009 @ 6:43am | Report comment
blonde tips, sports cars ,and ; career defining tattoos
It must have riled sponsors last season,when Clarke appeared in an advertisement ,
hair all faux ,just got out of bed teenager,a clutching a youth image, albeit costing
$200 a pop for a stylelist, to appear live on TV with his head just about shaved.
What do other cultures make of Australians that adopt centuries old Asian symbols
they cannot relate to, and have them tattood on their arm or kneck. What would we
think of a Japanese person with a tatoo on their kneck saying,’You bloody beauty’
I asked a Chinese friend of mine about an intricate tattoo on a young Australian lady
and he told me it meant , ‘No MSG’. Perhaps Clarke could get one reading , ‘No LBW’
LeftArmSpinner said | May 5th 2009 @ 7:15am | Report comment
could not have put it better myself. I think we have all had enough of the superficial, cosmetic behaviour of highly paid underperforming national sportsmen.
Holdens all around.
The joke is that Mr Clark doesnt realise the massive drop in values of all Super cars, and in particular, poorly built, idiosyncratic, temperamental Aston Martins. Oh, and completely tax deductible, NOT! Despite his massive earnings, he still cant afford it. He must have a very small “you know what” and feels that he has to placate Lara with a car. Hope she doesnt have a bingle in it!!!
Haircuts are a different story. Their “damage” can undone in a month or two.
Earrings leave a hole for ever visible for all to see. Ads like the bonds ad where he puts a ball down the front of his jocks last forever. Again, he must have a very small “you know what”!!!
LeftArmSpinner said | May 5th 2009 @ 7:19am | Report comment
BTW, I have just noticed that when Henry penned the article, he used the term “fake blondes” while our faithful Roar Editors changed this to blond tips. I suspect this is an example of the simple difference between the age groups. Henry, I’m with you…………. Its fake!!!
Brett McKay said | May 5th 2009 @ 8:43am | Report comment
As far as conspiracy theories go, this one isn’t bad. Could it be that it’s just Michael Clarke’s turn for a rest?? I mean, really, it’s a one-off T20I on the end of a series that we have all at different points struggled to see the point of. Is Clarke gettting an early mark from his first tour as captain really that big a deal Geoff??
And what’s with the cheap shots?? What does hair styling and choice of transport really have to do with this artcile??
By the way, you mention Haddin’s “leading” in the one day series, with him opening the batting. I’d be more interested in your thoughts – as a cricket commentator – on some of Haddin’s “soft” dismissals this series, which are starting to become monotonous in their regularity. How many times should someone hit straight catches to mid-on or mid-off before they might consider some remedial work??
aLi said | May 5th 2009 @ 10:58am | Report comment
We need Clarke, and his Image its good for the game. Its these individual characters that make the sport much loved. I say Hanry has read too much into the early send back of MC.
equalizer said | May 5th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
Remember as kids at school someone would slap a “kick me” sign on the back of your shirt. I always wonder what the Japanese/ Chinese characters really say when tattooed on the back. The potential is mind boggling “But I paid for give world peace a go … ” not “this is where I like it… “
Brett McKay said | May 5th 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
equalizer, a good mate of mine has some Chinese characters down his shoulder, which he claims translates to “one life, one love”. The joke has always been that he’ll continue the characters further down his arm, so as to complete the lyrics of the U2 song….
matta said | May 5th 2009 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
I have no problems with his hair, car or girl…but the LB (Lara Bingle) tat he got last year shows that lack of maturity the bloke has..
Brett McKay said | May 5th 2009 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
matta, how is it any differnt to any other guy in his mid-20s getting his fiance’s initials as a tat??
Papa Romeo said | May 5th 2009 @ 1:38pm | Report comment
Can we stop calling these guys “the NSP”? They’re the fricking selectors, for goodness sake, always have and always will be. Why the hell shoudl we endorse their self-originated, lets-make-ourself-sound-more-important TLA.
matta said | May 5th 2009 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
it isn’t, they are all immature bogan idiots.
but only one of them is touted as a leader of one of the worlds most successful pro sporting teams….all I am saying is it goes to show the mindset of the bloke.
matta said | May 5th 2009 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Papa – spot on.
All of this discussion is essentially around one key point “how has the Aussie cricketing elite made most of us think they are flogs?”….It saddens me to say I have very little interest in Cricket anymore.
The chip on the shoulder, arrogant, child like spoilt brat attitude of Ponting and co – Sunglasses worn in the airport terminal (do they think they are rock stars) while refusing children’s autograph requests – the inability of selectors to make genuine decisions against the bias power brokers…the list goes on but things like this make me actually dislike members of my own national team…Sad isn’t it? but I know I am not alone.
Greg Russell said | May 5th 2009 @ 2:54pm | Report comment
I agree verbatim with Brett McKay’s (first) comment, and I couldn’t have put it better myself.
This will possibly send Brett to the psychologist’s couch, because a few weeks ago he wrote of me: “Greg, I mean this in the nicest possible way, but do you ever tire of being the voice of reason?!?!” And now here he is imitating me!
The only place in which I strongly agree with Geoff is where he wrote:
“The final match of the UAE tour was only four days later, so it is hard to fathom why the vice captain, cum stand in captain, would not be participating in a finale of 20 overs…. This might sound a tad left field as a suggestion, but by playing the final game of the tour, such as a Twenty20 match, that might be the ideal preparation for an international 20 over tournament.”
This is all true. However we don’t know exactly what’s going on in Clarke’s private life – how is his father’s health? (had cancer last year), when is his marriage to Lara?, and so on.
I am not suggesting that these things are any of our business. Rather, I am just saying that there may be a perfectly good reason for Clarke to be given a 4-day early mark. As Brett said, this match is hardly one of great importance for Australian cricket.
southernwaratah said | May 5th 2009 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Gosh we’re a harsh judge of Batting talent in this country, If elite sportsman don’t behave like Steve Waugh or on another scale Matthew Lloyd – all prim and proper like – then they just aren’t good enough. I don’t think MJ’s hair cut or Aston Martin had any effect on the mach winning pertnership he had with Ponting in the first test in SA a few months ago, or the 1 day century a few days ago.
Brett McKay nailed it earlier… repeat and rinse what he said
Brett McKay said | May 5th 2009 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
And here I was Greg, thinking you never saw that backhanded compliment from a few weeks ago!!
The psychologist’s appointment has been booked, by the way…
The Australian T20 squad for the WC has been named this afternoon, and Geoff can rest easy that Clarke has held his place, despite the apparently less than “ideal preparation”:
Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (v-c), Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, David Warner, Shane Watson.
True Tah said | May 5th 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
matta and Lefty I think its a bit harsh to get stuck into Clarke about his tattoos, and his sports cars – lets face it, he isnt in the team for his financial acumen or his intelligence, and there are plenty of sports stars around the world who blow their earnings on overpriced motor vehicles.
Maybe the ACB is trying to boganise the Australian cricket team, with Clarke and Andrew Symonds, he of the limited vocabulary, in order to broaden its appeal?
Greg Russell said | May 5th 2009 @ 3:29pm | Report comment
Wow, I like that Callum Ferguson has been rewarded – not! – for several months of being our most consistent one-day batsman, all the time scoring at a run per ball while others around him batted slower (e.g. Watson’s 116 no off 146 balls the other night, which was an excellent innings but at the same time cost us the match – compare his pace with Ferguson’s and Akmal’s).
At the same time, David Warner and Andrew Symonds have been included on the back of one decent innings in many starts.
In short, on form one would have to choose Ferguson ahead of D Hussey, Symonds and Warner. Which of these three to leave out? It wouldn’t really bother me.
Brett Lee returns before he has proven anything? I guess there are 4 other fast bowlers if this goes wrong.
Otherwise the squad is OK.
1.5 mistakes out of 15 is pretty good by the standards of our selectors!
matta said | May 5th 2009 @ 4:10pm | Report comment
True Tah – again I have no issues with cars, hair dos and tats. My point is I think we can all agree anyone who gets a tat with a current partners name or initials is stupid and immature…? come on we all know it.
challa said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:13pm | Report comment
Yep, MC hasnt really turned out as we had all hoped. But if I had that money when I was that age I would have got a good car as well.
It really is just a sign that cricket in Australia is catching up with other sports.
hugo1986 said | September 14th 2009 @ 9:34pm | Report comment
I’ll show you why Clarke isn’t as focused as he could/should be. It’s two words that start with ‘L’ and ‘B’ – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dWHXTR38Qw
Who can blame him?
B.C. said | December 13th 2009 @ 10:04pm | Report comment
It’s an article written by (not) Henry Lawson. Discard immediately.