By Daniel Brettig
December 17th 2009 @ 2:26am
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Blind search for another Warne continues
Shane Warne was a talent so rare that it may be generations before another of his ilk is found. Yet Australia’s blind hope that the national selectors will blithely stumble upon another Warne to carry the torch for spin bowling has never been more evident than in the selection of Steven Smith.
By choosing the cherubic, [...]
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Jameswm said | December 17th 2009 @ 6:44am | Report comment
What has Krejza done?
Mark said | December 17th 2009 @ 8:46am | Report comment
So true, Warne would not have made it under the current regime. If anyone still had any lingering doubt about Hilditch not having a clue that must surely have left them now. This is not selection policy, this is random. And yes, what has Krezja done? Given that he was the incumbent before Hauritz got his break, and has continued to perform at state level, he is the logical replacement. But as we’ve seen time & time again, logic is not part of the NSPs process. They may as well have picked White again, he rolled out 17 overs for bugger all last week – and scored 86 not out.
All that could have happened here is that Smith played, had his confidence shattered and his development set back years. How does that help anyone?
Rickety Knees said | December 17th 2009 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
It was Hilditch who said of Ponting losing the Ashes the second time, that it was just a “hiccup”.
Sportsmouth said | December 17th 2009 @ 11:37am | Report comment
I don’t really think Hauritz was in any doubt and they included Smith as a show of confidence in him to say, “work hard get it right and your a real chance”. As with Warne and many promising spinners to come through they do it tough at state level because of the general attitude of Aust. batsmen is to be aggressive to spin bowling especially on our pitches, so if they get a pasting early the captain is reluctant to bring them on again and the flow on is they can be dropped from the team.
We just about need a selection policy across all states of playing the best geniune spinner in the state!
MrKistic said | December 17th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Maybe next time they could just drop him an email to let him know and select a real back up spinning option.
You’re right about the states, though at least Warne has been working with them and especially the captains in how to properly use spin bowlers, which may go some way to alleviating the problems you mention there. As we’ve seen with Hauritz this year, who don’t forget could barely get a state game a while back, knowing your captain has your back and is prepared to bowl you for an extended period is obviously a massive part of improving your game.
Hmmm, did I just praise Ponting as a captain? Surely not.
Brett McKay said | December 17th 2009 @ 11:53am | Report comment
I think it’s fairly safe to assume now that Smith will be spinner for the one-dayers and T20 this summer. Obviously his ability to bomb over mid-wicket and long-on is seen as a bigger plus than Hauritz’s general containment…
Rickety Knees said | December 17th 2009 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Keep an eye out for a young fella by the name of Adam Zampa (NSW) who has been playing in the u/19 Youth Side. He recently picked up a 7/140 odd off 35 overs bowling leggies.
Bunratty c said | December 18th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Blind search for another Glenn McGrath more importantly. Ponting showed his ‘disgust’ with both oz opening bowlers. The bowling ‘attac k’ has become mediocre since both McGrath and Warne departed. In other posts on this site, bloggers have spoken about the number of new caps….esp. bowlers through the various forms of the game. IMO, it will take oz several years before restoring ’service’ in Test cricket.
As an aside, is it just me becoming fed up with the current crop of commentators? Mundane, boring, predictable (“lot of batting to come”) etc. I find Ian Chappell the worse. His bluntness borders on arrogance and rudeness. He is such an egoist …every statement focuses on his past ‘prowess’. The line describing James Joyce’s father as a “praiser of his own past” certainly applies to Mr. Chappell.
One final thought…..what in the world is happening to the australian pitches…they all seem to play the same predictable manner…..has there been an active effort to create these flatties??
Brett McKay said | December 18th 2009 @ 10:07am | Report comment
in the same way Australia’s batting order became mediocre after Bradman retired…..
Rickety Knees said | December 18th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
The flat tracks are called “CEO Specials” ie making sure the game goes for 5 days and thus maximising revenue
Bunratty c said | December 18th 2009 @ 10:43am | Report comment
you may be right but in other sports, major revenue comes from television. Actual attendance (viz. 5 days play) in such instances become ‘irrelevant’. 5 days provides cream on the cake?