The Australian Cricket Board should take the initiative now with the selectors and instruct them to offer Shane Warne the captaincy of the national side for the Ashes series.
Such an initiative would at a stroke solve two major problems currently facing the Test side. First, there is not one spinner in Australia who is much more than a good club bowler, if that. Second Ricky Ponting is a great batsman and an ordinary captain who cannot seem to guide his team authoritatively in tight situations.
The two favoured spinners currently, Nathan Hauritz and Jason Krezja, are off-spinners, a category that aside from Ashley Mallett and the eccentric Jack Iverson has not been generally successful for Australian teams over the decades. Moreover, Hauritz doesn’t spin the ball much and Krezja, who can turn the ball, leaks runs at the unacceptable rate of over 4 an over.
The second problem relates to the unimaginative, uninspiring and often baffling field captaincy of Ricky Ponting. His use of bowlers is often bizarre. In South Africa’s massive rebuilding of their first innings at Melbourne from being 7 for 184 followed by an eighth wicket partnership of 180, Ponting did not stop the flow of singles, used 7 -2 fields which are impossible to bowl to with taking wickets in mind, and did not bowl Simon Katich, relying on the gentle slow-mediums of Michael Hussey.
Shane Warne, even at age 37, is worth all these bowlers at their best, and much more.
The lack of pressure on the batsmen at the MCG, as it did when South Africa made their historic winning run chase at Perth, meant that singles were given away. This slack field-placing made it easy for the visitors to dig in and maintain a good run rate. J.P. Duminy (who I rate the nearest thing to Neil Harvey I’ve seen, an assessment endorsed by Bill Lawry) scored 30 singles in his first 100.
The tailenders, too, were not put under the pressure of having fieldsman surrounding them, encircling them, making them play aggressively and with risk to score their runs.
Shane Warne would not allow an innings to drift the way Ponting does when wickets do not fall regularly.
Asked by Mark Nicholls on the Channel 9 commentary what he’d be doing if he were the skipper, Warne immediately suggested more aggressive fields to the tail-end batsmen, with pressure applied with the occasional nasty Merv Hughes assault and generally different things tried to make the needed break-throughs.
The difference between Warne and Ponting as captains is that Ponting allows the game to drift if his bowlers are not on top whereas Warne tries to make things happen when they are not happening. This is captaincy in the great tradition of Australian captains like Richie Benaud and Ian Chappell, the best Test captains in my view since the Second World War.
Chappell, in fact, is a great admirer of Warne’s captaincy skills. It takes a great leader on the field to know and appreciate another great leader.
During that discussion, too, Nicholls remarked: ‘Shane Warne is in the wrong place.’ He meant by this that Warne should be on the field rather than in the commentary box.
Bill Lawry piped up: ‘Twenty20 is your go Shane.’
Interestingly, Warne did not seemingly agree with this. ‘I’m actually quite fit, running and training,’ he remarked. I took this to mean, hint, hint, that he was fit enough to play Test cricket.
It’s quite clear that Warne will not come back to Test cricket merely as a bowler. He’s been there, done that – magnificently.
But the captaincy of the Baggy Green Caps is another matter. In interviews he has told reporters that it is unlikely he would come back to Test cricket but ‘never say never,’ he quickly adds.
I have no doubt, though, that if he were offered the captaincy for the Ashes Series he would be in like Flynn, or is that in like Warne.
Are Cricket Australia and the selectors big enough in terms of cricket gumption to make Warne an offer he can’t and wouldn’t refuse?
Sluggy
Roar Guru
Spiro, I remember back in 1985 (when the rebel tour of SA had gutted, particularly, the test bowling ranks) when in an attempt to arrest the slump the test team at one stage included Border (c), Dirk Wellham (who I think peaked at 21) who was the NSW captain and was brought back into the side, Ray Bright who had dropped out of test cricket selection but was brought back and was the capatin of the Vics, and some other old heads... Jeff Thomson might have made the Ashes tour that year. Didn't work. And we got belted by England on their next tour here. The re-invigoration came in 89 when Border was given a team of good young rising batting talent - Taylor M, Marsh, Boon Border, Jones, Waugh S, Healy, and a bowling group that included some experienced heads - Lawson, Alderman, Rackeman (spelling?), and Trevor Hohns (three back from the SA rebel tour), a youngster Cambpell who played 1 test, and I forget who else. Can't remember if Merv Hughs made that tour. Mike Valetta didn't get a game in the tests. So assuming we look forwards, not back, and Warne is not the answer, who? What we need at the moment, it seems, is some bowlers who can take wickets in tests. Mitch Johnson has really fronted up this season so we've got one. We need another three. Krezja is young enough to learn to control the runs more, and has shown he can take wickets... so he get's selected. Stuart Clark and Brett Lee are old enough and smart enough to fill the shoes of Alderman & Rackeman. If you work on the basis that Ponting, Hussey and Clarke will be picked, with Hadden, its the other three batting slots which the selectors must be really mulling over. Hopefully Richard Hughes will end up in one of them. They could give the #6 spot to a new captain, but who would it be? the state captains include Katich, White, Simpson & Maher, none of who are likely to get picked ahead of Ponting in the role... but should they pick Simpson as a shrewd tactician to help Ponting even if his batting is not up to it? Doubtful.
Spiro Zavos
Expert
Greg Matthews might be the best off-spinner going around in Australia right now but his fitness might be a problem.
OldManEmu
Guest
I agree Spiro. The current mob are a bunch of beardless poofters with not one extra marital dalliance or Kings Cross punch up between them - (contrary to popular reports Rick Ponting was actually hit in the melon by a doner kebab with the lot all those years ago.)
Sandy B
Guest
Spiro you have not gone far enough As we are heading to Sydney - the "spinners Paradise" in a former life - surely we should be taking in two spinners. Convince Warney tp come back and then scout around for an accomplished test spinner who is still available for test selection - now who do we have - Ah Ha - here we go - GREG MATTHEWS. Still available, still playing, and likely to serve up a bit better tosh than the current lot. As Kerry OK said today we need more Jaffas and less pies
Darryl
Guest
I don't think so Spiro. Australian cricket has to accept it will be crap for a while until the next generation turns up. It had to happen some time. My gripe is that the selectors didn't bring in new talent sooner, expecially the bowlers and opening batsmen. Our "new" guys are in their 30's. Hayden looks like he should be in the commentry box not padding up.
James Mortimer
Guest
I saw Warne during his cricket show segment, and he most definately did not look fit. But again I shook my head in wonder at his grasp of cricket, bowling and tactics - even outside his outstanding record as a bowler, there is no doubt that this is a man who intuitively understands the game. Something I have always questioned about Ponting. However, say what we will about his captaincy, as a batsmen leading from the front - the captains knocks - he cannot be questioned. But, despite the fairytale piece, Warne won't come back to test cricket. We can still hope. I still hold out for Richard Hadlee returning to the Black Caps..........
The Hurler on the Ditch
Guest
Wasn't it Spiro who wrote the "Bring back May/Cowdrey/Titmus/Lock/Close" series of articles?
sheek
Guest
Spiro, Agree with Rob. The opportunity to make Warne test captain has passed. My favourite Aussie test skipper - Ian Chappell - often argued Warne should have been made captain ahead of Steve Waugh. Unfortunately, at the time - early 1999 - Warne was returning from a shoulder operation, & hadn't played much cricket of any kind. His only test of the 1998-99 Ashes series was the 5th & last, also Mark Taylor's swansong. However, when Waugh was injured for several one-dayers, Warne filled in brilliantly. But it was too little, too late. The ACB (or CA) had already made their mind up with Waugh. There have been other great cricketers overlooked for the Australian captaincy. The first name immediately coming to mind being Keith Miller. Many contemporaries believed Miller should have got the nod over Ian Johnson. Your suggestion is interesting, nevertheless. Warne would still be under 40 for the Ashes series. On the channel 9 commentary interviews & coaching classes, he looks very fit, & as mentally sharp as ever, as you say. The downside, is that it would in any case, be only a stop-gap measure. Australian cricket has to move forward, not go backwards. It's a deliciously tempting thought, but the opportunity I believe, has passed. Spiro, another thought, on whether it could happen. Sometimes great administrators can inspire great things from their players. Is there an administrator in the CA board &/or selectors with the courage to make such a mighty call? Sadly, I think not!
positive b sample
Guest
I thought Warne should have been made test captain and Ponting one day captain when Waugh retired to spread the load until Ponting was ready for both roles.In hindsight Warnes off field antics would have been very destabilising. Bringing Warne back would be too big a risk.If his form was down or he became injured where would the selectors go to next? His body is ok for 20/20 but at his age and history of shoulder/finger wear and tear it is too much of a gamble. Hayden must surley go now and Lee is out so the selectors have a free hand too make some changes.We are going to loose this test and series so we might as well get some new boys in the baggy green before the ashes. Symonds needs to go as well but I doubt the selectors would want to bin 3 players at once.He no longer has the impact on a game he once did and also has injury /problems. Pontings decision making is a bit odd at times but what's the coach doing? He gets big bucks and just got a new contract.If his salary is performance based he is in trouble. I wonder if 20/20 cricket has dulled the players minds.The Australians have struggled after the 2nd day in both tests against SA. I have terrible memories of the dark days of aus cricket when we celebrated draws against NZ. We have been so good for so long people under 25 have only known a dominant aus team. I don't think the current selectors have picked the right players or made changes early enough to pull us out of the mire.It's going to be a long 2 or 3 years before we are much chop.
BrifrmPOM
Guest
Spiro I think this is a great idea, and would even generate a lot if interest in the Ashes from people who wouldn't normally watch it. A promoters dream come true. I beleive that Warney would make a great captain and could even play on for a couple of years more, how old was Clarrie Grimmet when he retired, or even Don Bradman? Also could someone tell me how much say in Tactics that the coach has? is it right to blame Ponting for "uninspired captaincy" shouldnt Neilsen also carry some blame?
Rob
Guest
Spiro, Leaving aside the merits or otherwise of your thoughts this will not happen. What we ask these days .."Is it a sport or is it a business? " Administrators won't do what is right from a sporting angle they will do what is right for the corporate dollar and in this regard Warne has too much baggage. On that issue many people in many sports have done much worse than Warne over the years but our media obsession and hypocrisy make it impossible for sports people to live normal lives. Others counter that they are being paid huge amounts for their efforts. But so what? This argument is a cloak for media to justify its behaviour and dig for scandal and then increase ratings. I just wish that one day the muckrakers were subjected to the same scrutiny. ( a little off topic I know)
Rabbitz
Guest
Interesting thoughts, although is yet another member of the "old boys" club the answer? It seems that the old brigade are, to a man past it. Surely there is a young ballsy state cricketer who could be aggressive enough and know how to direct a few bowlers? (This by definition rules out Michael Clark). Surely the Sydney Test is the perfect opportunity for the selectors to shows some intestinal fortitude - Dorp Hayden, Drop Lee, Drop Symonds - Give Hussey a stiff warning, Drop Ponting from the captaincy. Promote some of the YOUNGER state cricketers. Frankly if I was selecting then a state cricketer wouldn't get a look in if they were older the 26 or 27.