Roar Rookie
Joined December 2010
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Heading into the third, and what could be the series ending Test match, Australia have to do a complete about face to pull this…
Twenty 20 has something to do with it, but you can almost see the Australian batsmen trying to “be positive” and be the aggressor to hit themselves out of a form slump. Instead of really digging in and using time at the crease to get back in form, they are trying to belt themselves out of trouble. As Ponting showed yesterday, it doesn’t work.
How Twenty20 cricket is ruining the Ashes
You seemed to have missed my point. I don’t want NZC to sack them, I want them to down grade the role of Vettori and have his sole focus on being a captain only. This way his cricket will improve, which can only benefit the team. Having your best player as a national selector is ridiculous. His bowling has certainly gone backwards in the past two years and there is no way he is a number six in the batting line up.
McCullum needs to be told to keep for a better balance in the team. His form as an opener in tests does not warrant his selection in the team. If he was still keeping then it gives himself another string in his bow. However, because he is part of this tight senior players group then his place is assured, as too is Taylor. When was the last time Taylor produced a match saving or match winnings innings in test or ODI? Yet he can tuck himself up in bed each night and sleep easy because he knows Vettori has his back.
Who is this Hadley chap you talk of? Is he any relation of Walter, Dayle, Barry and Richard Hadlee? Or are you talkin about the Carlton Blues player Richard Hadley? 🙂
Should Ponting follow Dan Vettori's lead?
Good on him. As stated he isn’t allowed to partake in rugby until the 1st of February anyway. He played 4 matches on the end of year tour, he will be getting excellent cross training in that boxing provides. He is fighting an absolute chump so he won’t be risking injury.
Other All Blacks have outside interests, Richie McCawe flies gliders so basically he is hurtling towards earth without an engine and Andrew Hore shoots seals whilst beig drunk off the back of a boat. Surely both these activites are more dangerous than what SBW is going to face.
Sonny Bill fends off criticism of his pending boxing bout
We have the same problem over here in New Zealand. People here were happy to see our athletes finish fourth 29 times at the Commonwealth Games. I’m sorry but the ‘lead meadal’ doesn’t really cut it with me.
It stems from the education system over here where it is drummed into them that it’s not about winning it is about participation. Every kid gets awarded a certificate for trying at the school cross country and winning is not rewarded. Teaching a child to win is not even in the NZ psyche. On a radio interview a few years back Chris Cairns said he teaches his kids to play fair, but to play hard because kids get more enjoyment from winning. One would think it is a refreshing attitude, but he had all sorts of tree hugging, roman sandal wearing motherly groups complain.
I don’t know if this is the same case over your way but with your league team losing the 4 nations, netballers losing the commonwealth games final, socceroos being bundled out of the World Cup, Wallabies losing consistantly to the All Blacks and then thumped by England and currently the Ashes flogging I would imagine that it is going to be a very short ‘Sportsman of the Year Award’ dinner.
Australian sports teams need to harden up
Who would do a better job than Vetorri? As a captain – nobody. As a National selector – anybody. He should be in the side as a captain first and foremost, the only selectional role he should have is in discussion with the coach about a playing XI prior to a test match.
My gripe with McCullum is he is not wicket keeping, plus he is currently choosing where to bat. This is upsetting the balance of the side due to having to play a keeper who takes up a batting position, which then means often the Black Caps either enter a test with a very long tail or a bowler short. He needs to bat 7, this is his spot. He has scored all but one of his test centuries here.
You say Taylor has scored 3 centuries in his last 13 tests. That can also be stated as 3 centuries in his last 21 tests (or 37 innings) which is only just passable. If you look at his ODI record he has scored one century in the past 71 innings at an average of 32. Hardly setting the world on fire as your ‘premier’ batsman. Yet this is good enough because he knows he won’t be dropped. He needs a wake up call and be dropped from the one day side but his spot is secure thanks to Vetorri.
Think about it, he is the current equivalent of Michael Clarke.
As I have been saying, they need to be left alone to work on the game and have managers and NZC make the decisions and the players told what is happening. They can’t be left to rule the game.
Should Ponting follow Dan Vettori's lead?