The end of a beautiful thing need not be a time of mourning. Indeed, Australia’s cricketing future is looking so bright that it’s causing some headaches at the selection table.
It’s been well noted that Australia is a country with 20 million selectors – 21 million by now. But the selectors – Hilditch, Hughes, Cox and Boon – are facing choices unlike any panel before them in recent memory.
Australian cricket has always prided itself on being a solid unit, a team of professional, experienced players, a team notoriously difficult to get into and even more difficult to remain in, with talented players in every position banging on the selectors’ door.
The Australian mentality has long been to give players a chance to establish themselves, as evidenced by the huge gap in capped players between England (645) and Australia (411).
But this is a period unlike no other.
Previous teams were filled with old-heads and a few up-and-comers. Selecting a First XI was child’s play: you could rattle the names off with little doubt as to who the best openers were, who should get the new ball, and how to man the middle order.
But with the exit of Warne and McGrath, the same talent that was always waiting in the wings remains, only it lacks experience and it seems the selectors – all 21 million of them – cannot settle on who the First XI should be.
It would also seem there are so many players coming through that a few have even fallen off the radar.
Shaun Marsh, anyone remember this name? Twelve months ago he was the next big thing, the answer to our problems at the top of the order with the retirements of Hayden and Langer.
He gets injured and players like Haddin, Paine, Watson and Michael Clarke go and do a fine job in his place and the young duo of Warner and Hughes couldn’t do a lot more than they have to push their respective cases for selection.
Katich and Hodge could also easily fill the void, and the other forgotten opener – who too was to be the next best thing – Phil Jacques, is a relative spring chicken in cricketing terms at 30.
Shaun Tait, come again? The tearaway whom many crowned the successor to the Australian fast bowling throne?
Still drawing a blank? The one who was bowling nasty 160 km/h thunderbolts before deciding to take a “break from the game” only for CA to leave him out of their initial 2009 contracted player list.
Tait has played just four ODIs and two T20s since his decision to step away from cricket and we’ve seen the likes of Bracken, Johnson, Lee, Clark, Hilfenhaus, Siddle, Bollinger, Nannes, Harwood, Laughlin and Geeves all get in the team for their fast-bowling prowess since then.
I’d like to see a throwback to the good old days where an Australian cap wasn’t so easy to get, where the selectors made decisions like men, players got a chance to establish themselves in the Australian XI, and players were given consecutive series to prove themselves.
To do that we must select a core squad, players to be the nucleus of the team, and afford them the opportunities to play together.
So here is my interpretation:
Test squad
1) P. Hughes
2) S. Katich
3) R. Ponting
4) M. Clarke
5) C. Ferguson
6) S. Watson
7) B. Haddin
8) M. Johnson
9) B. Lee
10) J. Krejza
11) P. Siddle
12) P. Jaques, M. North, T. Paine, S. Tait, B. Hilfenhaus
ODI Squad
1) P. Hughes
2) B. Haddin
3) S. Marsh
4) M. Clarke
5) S. Watson
6) C. Ferguson
7) M. Hussey
8) M. Johnson
9) S. Tait
10) N. Bracken
11) P. Siddle
12) D. Warner, S. Katich, T. Paine, B. Hilfenhaus
T20 Squad – if we have to play at international level, I better select a squad.
1) P. Hughes
2) D. Warner
3) S. Marsh
4) T. Paine
5) D. Hussey
6) J. Hopes
7) M. Hussey
8) B. Lee
9) B. Hilfenhaus
10) N. Bracken
11) P. Siddle
12) B. Haddin, S. Katich, M. Henriques
A core squad of 16 for Tests and 15 for ODIs, with a balance of young and old. “Always one eye on the future” must become the motto of our selectors, and from this pool, the selectors must pick based on form and conditions.
Injuries will need to be covered and that’s when fringe players can come in and get their chance.
Further, the team must be rotated amongst this nucleus so that the second choice players continue to gain experience. Once fringe players become regulars, they will already have the experience at the highest level.
There is no need for Brad Haddin, for example, to play all the ODIs when we have someone as talented as Tim Paine on the sidelines. Keep Haddin fresh for the games he is needed and let Paine gather some Test caps against the West Indies for example.
Don’t bowl Brett Lee for an entire test series, give Ponting a break, make sure we aren’t faced with the problem that half the team retires and the replacements are all fresh faces.
The lineup is debatable, but surely we must go back to what has made Australian cricket successful for so long: a core group of the most talented players, regardless of their age, race or state of origin.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
Hughes may have some flaws but even Ponting, the best Australian batsmen of his generation is prone to walking across his stumps, doesn't mean he possesses a weak technique. I would certainly suggest he is the most talented young cricketer of the lost and Ferguson would be in second, well ahead of both Marsh and Warner in my opinion. Tait won't struggle on the sub-continent, I'd imagine he'll be more successful than Siddle and probably Hilfenhaus and similar to Johnson. They are both erratic and that's the only real question for mine - can Australia's batting afford to carry two somewhat erratic fast bowlers or only the one? They are the two most talented quickies (Siddle is up there but of a different kind, more in the McDermott mould) but if Aus isn't extremely strong in the batting then only one of them can play.
marees
Guest
Hilfenhaus can come in to the test squad in place of bits and pieces cricketers like White/McDonald. I suggest North open in test matches(in tandem with Warner), since Lee/Johnson et al are capable batsmen down the order.
marees
Guest
why do you all guys agree that Phil Hughes is a proper opener? His technique is ridiculous for an opener. he might be very useful as a pinch hitter, but my verdict is that he will struggle big time on wickets were the ball doesn't come on to the bat like Sri Lanka, NZ etc. I agree that Katich is a decent opener, although he tends to score more in the X and his shuffle reminds me of Chanderpaul and Gambhir (another player who scores in the X). With the fitness concerns behind 'pup' Clarke, he should be induced to retire from T20 and ODIs, so that the OZ can settle as a team. But with the stakes involved I doubt this will be allowed to happen. Regarding the spinners, there is really nobody in the class of Warne now, although making Katich as the captain might ensure more aggressive usage of spinners. I think Watson has the potential to be a good test batsmen, but like somebody said his cricket is very robotic. He probably needs guidance/backing from his Captains/senior players. If he is able to reverse the ball at pace, then he would be an useful pick for test matches. I think Tait will struggle in the slow pitches in the sub-continent. Warner and Marsh should be backed all the way. They are the most talented young cricketers of the current lot. Ponting is currently the best ODI player in the world. period. he reminds me very much of the athletic Mohammed Azharuddin. Unable to make a judgement on Johnson. His batting is very valuable in tests and his wicket taking ability is valuable in ODIs, but he doesn't give the impression of finished package yet. Going by the just concluded CLT20, the pace attack can be lead by Siddle with NSW contributing the rest of the pack. But nobody in the class of McGrath or McDermott definitely.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
Ok Greg, I'll have to agree with you here. I am one who would prefer to let Ferguson develop at the highest level rather than Shield but your arguments are well founded.
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
Freud, Your irrationality with North is that you don't include him in your test XI. On all evidence to date he has to be in the XI. I agree that Callum F looks to be very talented, but he has only 4 first-class centuries to his name, versus North's 27 (+ 3 test centuries!). Ferguson needs to go away and score 10+ centuries in Shield cricket before he should be considered for test cricket. Australian batting is not so weak - far from it - that, a la New Zealand, batsmen get chosen on talent alone. There are hundreds of batsmen as talented as Ferguson in the world, in fact there are hundreds in India alone. What discriminates between these players is their ability to use their talent, something that is only established by making lots of first-class runs and centuries. As for Hauritz, I do not disagree with anything you write. However the point here is that one doesn't drop a solid player to replace him with someone worse. When the wicket-taking spinner for whom we all crave arrives on the scene, then Hauritz will make way for that person. Until then, we have to accept that Hauritz is the best we have. I stress that this last sentence is based purely on the last two years of evidence - it is certainly not the view I started out with, and I stress that is a view that I only hold with reluctance.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
I'm with you on Hauritz, Freud. He has exceeded expectations, but I'd prefer an attacking spinner who takes wickets by bowling aggressively, not just waiting for the batsmen to mishit. Krejza is definitely more in this mould, and dropping him after being a little expensive in Perth was absurd. Warne's stats were terrible at the WACA compared to all other grounds, and that never counted against his selection for other matches. Perhaps the selectors need to take a punt on Cullen Bailey if they don't want Krejza. After all, Warne hadn't done much at state level before picked being for the national side.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
Greg, I just finished watching some of India's huge innings of 7/354 - India's highest ODI score against Aus. Hauritz was probably the "pick of the bowlers" (although Siddle was pretty good too) - only because he was so economical. He didn't look to pose a single threat in his 10 overs, 0/54 was a good return considering the total but look at the overall score and what his contribution was and it's obvious what he lacks - wickets. Yes he made a good run-out but we expect out batsmen to be the contributors in the field, Hauritz is there as our spin-bowler and if he can't take wickets he shouldn't be in the team. Dhoni just waited it out, saw him off without a problem and belted the snot out of the quicker bowlers whereas a proper spinner would have attacked the batsmen, one wicket in the middle of the innings would have changed the game, Hauritz failed to deliver but will undoubtedly be praised for being so tidy. As soon as the pressure is on Aus, Hauritz doesn't look so good and we don't have McGrath's and Gillespies to cover his weaknesses any more, we need a front line spinner and Hauritz ain't it.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
And Jon Holland isn't? Nor is C. White? Both are players that one SK Warne, a fellow Victorian has talked up in the past as being the "next big thing", haven't heard him say that about players from other states. White is mediocre at best and doesn't have the talent to play international cricket for Australia, Holland I haven't seen enough of so I'll give him a chance to prove himself but White, I cannot believe he actually gets picked for Aus. If we didn't have a Vic and 3 Tasmanians (quasi-Vics) selecting the side White would never get a match.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
I have nothing against North, he's a fine batsmen and I'd select him any day over Katich, Hodge or Hussey for a middle order berth but I think Ferguson is every bit as talented and has a longer career in the game. North has the advantage that his bowling is more than handy but I don't see where I was against North in my piece that you felt the need to tell me I'm being irrational? Re Hauritz. Greg, he is the one guy really splitting opinion in Aus right now. I won't deny he has improved out of sight but he isn't the weapon that we need for a spin bowler. Australian spinners are used to take wickets, they might be a tad expensive but that is their role in the team. Warne was exceptional in that he was able to both defend and attack with equal verve, MacGill was just an excellent attacking bowler (hence Warne has the better average, Macgill the better SR). Hauritz on the other hand is a defensive spinner, he holds one end down and will look to frustrate batsmen into giving away their wickets rathen than bowling unplayable deliveries. This style can work, Swann has had success and he is of a similar ilk but they get found out when their team isn't dominating. Hauritz isn't going to turn a game for you, he isn't highly likely to break a partnership (I'd say M Clarke is a better option when Ponting REALLY needs a wicket) and if the batsmen are on top, Hauritz is more-or-less useless. At this moment he is probably the best spinner in Aus, but he isn't the kind of spinner we should accept and get used to, he doesn't play the way Australia need him to play and that is nothing against Hauritz, that's just not his style. His stats back up my theory here Greg, both Warne and his successor in ODI's Hogg have better average's (more to do with the extra wickets than tighter bowling) and SR's than Hauritz while his economy rate of 4.46 is better than Hogg's and exceptional for this day and age it tells you everything - he is a defensive bowler.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
Tait has sorted himself out to a degree and he is 26, he has plenty of time to get it right. Lee definately over Hilfenhaus and Bollinger (I included Siddle and Johnson so I don't see why you're listing them). He is an excellent bowler and will take wickets when we need them, his batting is also very useful down the order while Hilfenhaus doesn't take enough wickets in my opinion and I haven't seen enough of Bollinger to rule him out for the future but what I have seen hasn't impressed me. Lee is a proven fast bowler with experience on grounds around the world, you can't JUST have young guys in the team.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
No Vinay, Katich is 34 years old and that's why I'd much rather see Ferguson who has 12-15 years ahead of him in the game get his chances than Katich who will want to hang on for dear life having taken so long to get his chance.
FIsher Price
Guest
Well said Greg. Krejza is distinctly average, as evidenced by his inability to make headway at NSW and his run-of-the-mill showings for Tasmania. He's all Adam Voges-style hype.
FIsher Price
Guest
Old heads? What. like your Test pick of the overrated nice guy Brett Lee over Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Johnson and Bollinger? And you actually think Tait is going to sort out his mental difficulties and that horrible action sufficiently to be a stand-out performer at Test level?
FIsher Price
Guest
Ponting operates a boys club of which Hodge is not a part. Further reason why he should not be captain.
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
Freud: it's ironic that your article omitting Hauritz appears back to back with one "Nathan Hauritz our spin weapon of choice: Yardley". Sorry mate, but I believe the evidence before my own eyes (i.e., Hauritz's increasingly influential contributions in all forms of the game) and Yardley, with all his coaching and playing experience, above you. I would love for Australia to have a better spinner for TEST cricket (Haury will do fine for the other two forms), but such a player does not currently exist. You and lot of other Australians need to get over your fixation with Krejza. Nagpur was an illusion and was not the real Krejza, just as Lord's 1972 was not the real Bob Massey. One swallow does not make a summer. Cricket is about consistency of performance. You are also going to have to bury the hatchet with regard to North. I don't know what you have against him as a test cricketer, but it's irrational. He deserved his chance, and he has taken it with both hands. As I made clear with a vignette beneath one of your postings last week (did you see my story about North Sydney Oval?), the primary criterion in cricket selection is common sense. The next most important criterion after that is also common sense. Don't forget this.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Redback bias..Katich is good for Australia and is a great team man. I too hope Ferguson makes it back..with the new contracts players still get paid the retainer even when injured..so that is good in a way.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
I agree with your summation of Lehman..great hands..he learnt to play on the subcontinental wickets where the wrists are so integral to good batting. On hard bouncy pitches it is sufficient to bat with forearms and weight transfer...however on low.slow turners to play late and with soft hands is imperative...Ponting is learning this now and his results in India are improving..great batsmen make the adjustments. Dean Jones epic double in the Chennai Tied Test was monumental..the pity is it was not televised. Ponting is in the same boat as Tendulkar..broadcasters and spectators will want these marquee players...I suspect all three,Ponting Watson and Lee will want to play every 7 of the current games to increase their visibility in the greatest flesh market in the world.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
Ferguson may be out for the season but he can't be forgotten, he is young and talented enough to hold down a spot for Aus for a long time. I'd hate for him to get himself fit again and be stuck behind someone like Katich or Hodge, old blokes who'll milk all the time they can out of playing for Aus.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
There is more to Lehmann than meets the eye too. He was not liked by the selectors for some of his comments, he was talented enough to play more than 27 tests and were it not for his mouth he probably would have played 100+. Just look at his first-class stats, 25975 runs at 57.83 and his bowling average was just under 28 in tests, 34.92 in First-Class cricket. Ponting may want to play every game he can, Watson and Lee too but they cannot cope with it. Ponting isn't a spring chicken Vinay, he'll be 35 in December, he's been playing at international level for pushing 15 years, he can't keep it up forever so keep him for the tests, that's where his true worth to the Australian cause is shown.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Ferguson is out for the season...so he has time to look at the mental agony side of things,Freud.