Unfortunately, Hayden is still in the running

We might have to wait a few seasons more to see if there is a general trend n respect of player's who play IPL. Its not a body contact/ collision sport, except maybe for the quick bowlers who repeatedly stress their legs and backs (and other parts) in their delivery action. And all of Hayden, Hussey, Lee and Symonds are of an age where they would have retired in earlier times and taken up a career.. now the money is there why wouldn't they hang on if the selectors keep picking them? Now that Hayden has fallen on his sword it seems obvious that the selectors will continue on their conservative path, retain Katich and re-instate Jacques if he shows any sign of form. Hughes will have to play the role of Des Haynes in the shadow of Fredericks and Greenwich for a while longer.

I think Spiro's point about Hughes being a 10-year player -actually, his age is such that he may be a 15-year player, like Ponting - is important. One of the principles that Trevor Hohns stood by, especially in regard to batting, is that selection should be determined by seasons of work, not just what happens in a couple of matches. So I sincerely hope that the selectors are not going to base a Hughes vs Jaques vs Hayden choice on what happens in 2 or 3 upcoming Shield matches. The weight of evidence is already there; the selectors just need the skill to see it and the courage to act on it. Finally, on the form of IPL players: that's a very interesting point that Kerry O'Keeffe for one has been banging on about. KOK's claim is that the test averages of all Australian IPL players have gone down since they took the money. Certainly in the cases of Hayden, Hussey, Lee and Symonds the decline has been spectacular, while with Ponting it has been modest. On the other hand, Johnson, Clarke and Haddin all withdrew and have been grown tremendously as test players since that point in time. Probably the only exception to KOK's point is the well-adjusted Simon Katich (who probably got little field time in the IPL anyway). In terms of New Zealand, B McCullum's form has been a big let-down since he played IPL, while Jacob Oram has been injured far too often to really say. Vettori, much like Katich, seems to have been unaffected.

I don't think Houdini could pull off getting Hayden back in form at the moment. What a shame to watch such a great player not realise when it's time to bow out and give the up & comers a go. I'd like to remember him as the Terror to all fast bowlers and not the bloke who couldn't accept what is inevitable. Age catches up with you even on the field. At least the selectors have taken away the pain for now.

Very well made points westy. Agree Punter may be at times not the most tactically sharp, but he's shown an ability to change and improvise. Not easy captaining the current team with that bowling attack and being let down by other senior batsmen talking the talk but not delivering.

In 2005/6 series in Australia Smith made a very sporting (desperate attempt) to tie the series. his poor form with the bat affected his judement and his appraisal of his own limited bowling attack. ponting won the series 2 to nil and it should have been 3 except for poor Australian bowling in the first test allowed South Sfrica to hold onto a draw. Ponting was man of the series with an average of 103.The idea that smith was the instant Mr Cool he is now misses the his previous poor tour with the bat and how he has steeled himself grown as a batsman and had the good fortune to build a potent team. I find it a little objectionable that we forget how many times ponting has led with the bat. It was not easy to captain a player like Warne. Just ask Waugh Ponting and Gilchrist. Warne made it very clear to all three who he thought should be running the show. If we had this forum in 2005/6 we would be laxing lyrically about ponting and how Smith let the captaincy affect his batting. You see as much as I admire Smith I know in my heart any Australian test player with a broken hand with less than 20 overs to play would have gone onto the park to bat. I saw McDonald and Siddle Horwitz and Johnston and Dougie give their all in Sydney.Maybe not the most talented attack we ever had but one that kept on coming .Ponting panic or rotation of single over spells in the last 6 overs was clever.Let us see what he can do with amore limited team.

Leftarmspinner i like you have the greatest respect for Smith but I remember his previous captaining foray into Australia. The pressure affected both his captaincy judgement and his batting. Am I the only one who remembers his declaration to lose. his batting was equally unimpressive. I have to echo Spiro's point that Smith grew in the role. What helped him was in building a formidable team. Ponting's problem was he inherited a team at the peak of their powers where he could rely quite often on a few senior players. recall warne and Mcgrath often bowled 60 overs between them to get wickets. I saw glimpses of a different Ponting in the Sydney test. A more relaxed a little more tolerant a little more aware of what type of team he had and what he had to do. He should be congradulated for his declaration at 376.The old Ponting would have gone to over 400 target confident Warne and Mcgrath would weave their magic. Only just in time. His use of mcdonald in short but telling spells in his first test and of his tired strike bowler johnston impressive. captaining a weaker side may yet be the making of Ponting. Make it clear we should never doubt Ponting's batting and their may yet be redemption in leading a side on the rebuild. Remember Captain Grumpy how good was he with what he had?

Regarding the captaincy, neither Clark nor Ponting are a patch on Smith when comes to being a leader for whom the troops would die. Just look at the team's performance and the way that it has allowed itself to be sidetracked by all the promotions, the IPL, and the consequent drop in standards, fitness, fielding and competitive intensity. On three occasions this summer against SA, the Australian team were in a winning position (winning the toss helped) and yet let the win slip from their grasp on two occasions and almost a third. Further, they then allowed themselves to be beaten by humiliating margins in two of those games. Things are rotten in Denmark and the Captaincy is critical to removing the rot. Katich was captain of the Australia A team last year, and he knows the young guys coming through. Lets see what they can do, on the field I mean, rather than in television advertising hours or selling product. There's a song "We've got to move those refrigerators, Money for nothing and ...."

I read today that Mitchell Johnson has turned down the IPL truckload of dollars. Good on him, another pwerful indicator that he is the right stuff. Peter Siddell has also impressed in the last 2 matches both as an improving fast bowler and a down to earth character. Are we witnessing the rise of the next legendary Australian cricket combination, a fast bowling left and right partnership that emerged from nowhere? As for Hayden and the selectors, it now seems guaranteed contract payments are a big issue. Not a good look.

Not so sure about handing the captaincy to Michael Clarke just yet, Ponting still has years in the game and while not be a tactical genius, he is a leader of Men. The day will come when Clarke commands a similar respect and deserves to be given a chance in the One day game as captain, but today ain't that day. The debate of whether Hayden should be dropped is a tough one that conflicts my heart and mind, I love to see the big Queenslander back dominating attacks. But i can't see it happening against South Africa or England later in the year so i guess its time we invested for the future. Cameron White is in the 20/20 team because he one of the best clean hitters in the world and has mastered the game like no one else, but he should not be picked for the one dayers and never be considered for a test ever again. A fine cricket he is but he can not bowl at alevel required. Living in England its hard to follow the young guns coming through the ranks, i have little knowledge of Harris and Stephen Smith and would love an assesment of these players and others that might become top performers, and what has happened to the WA guys that seemed to be on the verge, (Voges, Pomersbach and Ronci)

On the money Spiro - Clarke's development should start now. CA lack of foresight and ability to plan for the future has contributed to the problems we have seen in recent months, and establishing something of a business plan for the Australian team will see that it does not get overtaken by SA or India. Although I don't think Ponting from a batting perspective needs to be unencumbered with the captaincy - his batting has shone since becoming captain. You are also probably right about Hayden - but I can't understand why Ponting would support him. His consistent failures are putting pressure on Ponting more than any other player as a number three batsmen. The longer Hayden stays in the frame, the longer Australian cricket confuses itself and denies the ability to groom a new batsmen. DO IT NOW CA. For a series loss in South Africa could be accepted considering their recent performance, but to lose to a headless England in the Ashes would be a disgrace. The tour for SA and the upcoming ODI and 20/20 are the development phase. Don't put it off any longer CA, or it could be an even more damning year in 2009.

Spiro, the photo with the article says it all: no foot movement, unstable platform, moving head and eyes, a wafting bat and, as a direct consequence, no runs. Sadly, You are right that they will stick with Hayden. Crazy for so many reasons already mentioned, not least of which is to prepare for the upcoming Ashes tour and investing in in form and young "10 year" players. I disagree with Clarke as the next captain. He has batted well but still doesnt have the necessary steel to command a team in the rebuilding phase. Compare him to South Africa's Smith!!!!! No comparison.