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Ryobi Cup final shows Australian cricket's depth

Roar Guru
25th February, 2012
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Roar Guru
25th February, 2012
11
1329 Reads

How good was the Ryobi Cup Final? I’m pleased for the Redbacks, but commiserations to the Tigers after playing such a strong game.

The game showed Australian cricket’s considerable depth, and gave the Australian selectors more ammunition to continue to make changes.

Because the Ryobi Cup has been provided with exposure via on Fox Sports and other Australian media sources, the number of players who can play for Australia has grown to around the 70 mark. We need another five teams just to fit all the deserving players.

I cannot believe the amazing quality of talent on display in Australian Cricket.

And no other country can match the number of skilled, drilled and no-frills athletes playing cricket in Australia.

While there may not be any freaks in the Shane Warne or Adam Gilchrist class, never in the history of Australian cricket have there been so many talented kids. Members of this new breed have cannons for arms, can run 50m in under 6 seconds, can hit the ball 100 metres and throw or bowl the ball at 140 kph, as well as catching everything in the air.

Never has there been a better depth indicator than the players who don’t make the Australian team. Guys like Aaron O’Brien, Gary Putland, Ryan Harris, Michael Klinger, Callum Ferguson, Tom Cooper, Cameron Borgas and Adam Crossthwaite are top-class players who just cant make the first squad, due to the glut of talent.

I could not find fault with any of the athletes who ran around for Tasmania and South Australia. Dropping catches can be a mental thing but in terms of the skills of the game such as running, throwing, batting and bowling, these kids are super.

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This talent is shown by the power of Dave Warner, Peter Forrest, Matthew Wade (find of the year with gloves and bat) and Rob Quiney. Sean Abbott from New South Wales is an absolute belter and he is still only a baby.

Aaron Finch is perhaps the most powerful human in the country per pound of flesh. George Bailey is captaincy material and a fine, fine young man.

A second year player called Liam Davis from WA scored 300 runs against New South Wales last week. In the same game Michael Beer took 7 wickets in an innings. Nathan Coulter-Nile is the closest thing to Black Caviar I have seen on a cricket pitch with bat and ball.

I count 18 fast bowlers who could, and some do play for Australia tomorrow. Dare me to name them.

Australian cricket is in a great position. The knockers have slated 50-50 cricket as a spectacle, yet we have had some amazing games in the past month. Domestic one day cricket is alive an well.

The great crime is that Australia might only be able to use 30-35 of these 70 athletes, all of whom would play for any other country in the world today if eligible.

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