Fair summation of the squad Brett. It did pretty much pick itself and one thing I am hoping for this summer is for Steve Smith to continue to grow and develop from the strides he made in England. Despite the gloom and doom in my submission on Monday, I will be waking up Thursday excited as always before an Ashes series.

Kudos on the Clonakilla reference….it reminds me to explore the Canberra wine region sometime soon.

You made a key point that CA seem to have forgotten. All roads of interest stem from the Test team being successful as that is the team that is held in the highest order by the public. That and our strength has been the depth and engagement at all levels of the game – which has been sorely depleted by the advent of 20/20 and the need to accomodate the understandable need to cash in by both players and cricket boards alike.

I am hoping that the Australians follow my example and rise from the Ashes!!!

Look forward to penning a few more epistles this summer…and as always, thanks for reading.

It seems a litle strange to give James Sutherland a guarantee of his job irrespective of the results. The players arent afforded that luxury and nor should they. That said, what needs to be shown is how the game has improved under his leadership and I dont think that is clear. Again, happy to be proved wrong because I really hope we can make a show in this series but I’m not confident.

I would really like to know what he does and what his measures are. It’s almost like he is a Master of some dark arts and is treated with the appropriate scrutiny. You are right, we are not performing at a high level and he hasnt been called into accountability.
Would like to start a pool of how many times we will see him front the press this summer…

That is a whole other kettle of fish. Was talking to a mate the other night and the sad thing is that I dont believe that all players have that primary motivation to play Test cricket for Australia. There are opportunities to make a living by being a short form expert and as long as they is bringing in the cash, it will be treated with due respect by players and adminstrators alike.I agree, sad for a Test match cricket lover like me as well.

It is a sad thing to wish for but it does lead to some constructive change, Fact is, it needs to flow not just at the Test level but at State and Grade levels also. Why isnt our depth what it once was?

We have lost a lot more than we have won over the last twelve months…we should have learnt some lessons by now
As for Mitchell Johnson, he is like the Dragons in the NRL…always fills you with hope but does tend to disappoint.

You are right but I guess that is where my frustration lies. The buck ultimately sits with someone for what looks like a haphazard leadup and decisions that just don’t make sense. I’m happy to be proved wrong and eat my words in January but I dont think so.

David Fordham was one of the voices of sports commentary that I grew up with. He called whatever sport it was with energy and enthusiasm. The other thing that stood out was his versatility. A class act who will be missed. Great tribute David.

Brett, has been a while…back from the dead as they say and just in time for the Ashes.

Yes, I read Peter’s article on the train and I guess that they have tried to make the best of a awkward situation. The terrible weather in Sydney (literally) put a dampner on things…quite an omen if you believe that sort of thing.

Form not warranting selection?…that is a dangerous precedent.

Brett, kudos on the Quo reference.
The power of the sponsorship dollar was alive and well yesterday. Funny thing is, it would have been more meaningful as both a selection and a marketing exercise if it was done post this week’s games. That aside, I think everyone expects the 13 to be the tried and tested squad that has been playing since Ashes ’09.
For me, the player I feel the most for is Andrew McDonald. He is in form and I think would give the team more options if he was there instead of North. That and it is time for Ferguson to step in for Hussey.

From what I have read and seen on film of Stan McCabe, he would have been a superstar had he played in today’s times. The type of player who wishes you have a time machine.

Kersi, congrats on the 100th article as well

I dont think he is the right man to do it. I think he would make a bad situation worse.

The decision is such a no-brainer that it concerns me that CA is taking such a stance. Not only is there a lack of any experience in cricket administration but in my view, Howard (and his Government) has been responsible for creating a dangerous undercurrent in this country. An undercurrent based on the fact that people from certain races should be treated with suspicion and that to live in Australia, you need to fit a certain blueprint (eg; correctly answer Don Bradman’s Test batting average and you earn the right to be a citizen).

With the fragmented and at times volatile nature of the cricket world at the moment, it is far from a wise decision by CA to put forward someone like John Howard. The ramifications of such a position could be great.

Gents, have been in a meeting all morning but in front of the screen now (thank god for mobile broadband!)

Chanderpaul is holding firm…looks like he could have been out though.

Glad to see Dougie bowling well also.

Brett, as usual a great read. One of heartening aspects of cricket (even when playing) was that generally decisions evened out in the end. That said, all sports have reached a point where we want decisions to be as correct and accurate as possible. Hence, the call for utilising the technology available.

Perhaps the one element that the ABC team emphasised during the Test (being at work meant having to listen on the web) was that the key to the referral system was that the technology had to provide enough evidence that the decision may have been incorrect. I am happy with this for inside edges, run outs etc but I firmly believe that the best place to make a LBW decision is at the other end of the pitch.

As for the Windies strategy, it was almost as if they started the game with the view that Gayle and Chanderpaul would be the only beneficiaries of the referral system – in fact, I was surprised that Chanderpaul didnt refer to see if it could have been a no ball!

I am happy to give the system a run this summer but over time, I am sure it will be tweaked to improve it. Lets hope so anyway. That and fingers crossed big Douglas Q Bollinger gets a run in Adelaide.

If it werent for his knee injury, Callum Ferguson would have been my pick to replace Hussey. And no one can answer the question as to why Brad Hodge has his file stamped “Never to be selected again”.

I would be happy with Jaques or Hughes.

He hasnt had a good start…shouldering arms and out for 0. Havent seen it yet to comment but from what i hear, doesnt look good.

Gents, thanks for your thoughts – both in detail and in summary. I think there will be a lot to come out of this summer and that it will not be the disappointment that many think it will be – if for nothing else than the fact that the Australian side is still a work in progress and I dont think they have it quite right yet.

Some of these questions were done with my tongue in my cheek…but one comment I would like to add; I dont think that Michael Clarke is making a push for the captaincy but there has been so much noise around the issue over the last few weeks, you would think that Ricky Ponting and Malcolm Turnbull were in the same boat!

Brett, good to be back…has been a busy month but now it is cricket season, I have returned. 🙂

Perhaps…just perhaps we need to give the SSA some time to see how it wishes to execute on their charter, objectives etc. I am open to the idea of such an organisation and if it means that there is a voice that can access the boardrooms at Moore Park, Joilmont, Docklands etc…then it can only be a good thing.

Great read – yet as much as I love the game of cricket, I never sought to link to a sexual analogy…but I digress.

The sooner that we accept that 20/20 is now the cash cow that funds Test and first class cricket, the better. This means ceasing 50 over games immediately. It will ease the scheduling – providing we dont milk the cash cow dry and saturate the market with the 20/20 game. We should learn from the lessons of the past with the 50 over game and ensure that tournaments that mean nothing (re; ICC Champions Trophy) dont fill up the schedule.

That aside, I have and always love Test cricket – first day of the Sydney Test, I wake up like a kid at Christmas (much to my wife’s annoyance). Most of my lasting memories of international cricket (Michael Bevan’s last ball 4 aside) come from Test matches…yes, I may be a purist but i can live with that.

Brett, I have impressed with T&T’s performance and perhaps it gives an insight to where the priorities for West Indian cricket lies (which does not bode well for the upcoming Test series…then again, has that changed at all?). I think it also shows that as you mentioned…these provincial teams are ones that play throughout the summer and build some team dynamics and know each other’s strengths and can play off that (and dare I say pride in their state/province/country?). Fact is IPL teams are franchises that wont build up those intangibles for many years yet.

Greg, I’m not convinced about Henriques yet either despite more learned commentators telling me otherwise.

The other major point of all this is no one is immune. It can impact on anyone – including sportpeople who we often think live a charmed life and would not (on the surface) have any cause to suffer from ‘the black dog’.

Again, after reading his book I was surprised by his openness about what he had been going through and the profound impact it had – ultimately on his livelihood. While he will make a living (and a good one at that) being the domestic professional, knowing that any chance of getting back to the elite level of the sport – representing his country in Test cricket -has evaporate must cut him to the core. That said, he seems to be willing to take one step at at time…sounds corny but it is the only way he can go.

Ken, cant agree with you here – with the fact that it isnt an illness or the fact thaht it was invented by women. Like a lot of things these days, there is a greater awareness of depression now and how it can be treated. Also if the warning signs can be picked up early or there is a self awareness of what is going on, then perhaps more drastic actions can be avoided down the track.

I was at the SCG the day that Trescothick had his relapse during the last Ashes tour – since then, especially after reading his book and learning more about what he went through, I have taken an interest in how he is going. I also think he also took away the stigma that sporting people are not immune to what happens in every day life. That and he sought help prior to going down a darker path which may have caused himself and others greater grief.

As they say in the classics Ken, I dont agree with your view but I will defend to the death your right to voice it!