I just about vaulted my delicious Beef Stroganoff dinner (so lovingly prepared by my wife) when I heard Andrew Hilditch proclaim that he and his team had done a very good job as selectors of the Australian Test side.
As an Australian cricket fan, I took this statement as a direct insult. I mean, how dare he?
Three innings-defeats in an Ashes series made it so glaringly obvious that the side they selected were not up to the task.
I admired how Mr. Hilditch so brilliantly deflected the blame onto other areas, like the declining state of the Sheffield Shield competition. He’s a great lawyer.
The NSP, as they like to call themselves these days, dutifully demonstrated their gross incompetence with a series of baffling moves, which included their appalling handling of Doug Bollinger, an in-the-dark spin-bowling selection policy, and weak-as-urine batting selections.
The lack of preparation and common sense applied to the selection of the national team was so unbelievably careless. In contrast, the English squad came over with a smaller squad and were very well prepared, so much so that their plan B bowling options were better than their plan A attack.
Hilditch and co’s woeful selection policies have now filtered into the shorter forms of the game. Although at this stage the World Cup squad should be their primary focus, they should at the same time be thinking about the future of the Test side.
A decent rebuild, won’t happen overnight, but it will happen. It needs to start now. Like, RIGHT now.
If I was king, first move would be a swift drop-kick to Hilditch’s backside and an “adios amigo, don’t you come back, ya hear?”. And a “See ya later” to Jamie Cox too. I’d bring in Steve Waugh, I like his style. Boony, you can stay.
If I was king …
1. Replace Phil Hughes with Shaun Marsh
Phil Hughes is technically inept to handle quality Test match bowling. It’s a fact. He was averaging just over 20 in the Shield this season before his selection. He was hardly knocking loudly on the door, more like tap tap tapping on the window begging to be let in.
If opposition sides bowl to him wide outside off stump he will cream them. Bowl at his body and watch him wrap himself up into a human ball of mess. He can’t improve his technique from here, it’s too late, even at age 22.
Shaun Marsh has a solid technique and has been steadily improving. Given a decent 10-match stint in the Test arena he’ll eventually add some stability to the top order.
Simon Katich has had his time in the sun. It’s a shame because he would’ve made a great Test captain.
2. See ya later Steve Smith, hello Callum Ferguson
A mate of mine recently described Steve Smith as “a child with no technique and no patience.” Yes it was a harsh comment, but I couldn’t agree more. So apt, so very apt.
Should the Aussie hierarchy give him time to work on his technique?
Hell no.
Save him for the Twenty20 slap, tickle and giggle. His ugly batting style suits the bastardised format perfectly.
Ferguson is a solid run scorer and looks like a batsman. I’d send him to Sri Lanka as the team’s no. 6 when the Australians tour there in August, and take it from there.
3. Hey Haddin, here comes the Paine
Brad Haddin did a credible job standing up to the English this summer. He at least scored a century when the top 4 couldn’t. However, he has two things going against him – old age and dubious glovework.
Tim Paine has on the other hand has youth on his side, and he doesn’t muff catches behind the stumps. He’s pretty solid with the bat too. Aussie fans can only hope that he has the leadership skills the selectors think he has.
4. Dump Mitchell Johnson, replace him with anyone
I’m sorry to say but he’s had a free ride for the last year and a half. Can he get wickets? Of course he can. Can he bowl to a plan? Nup. Does he leak runs? More than a leaky boat.
He has the potential to be such a devastating bowler if he could get his head right. Poor Troy Cooley, he must’ve tried very hard.
Johnson needs a solid season in the Shield competition starved of international action to bring some desperation into his game. A one-match rest hanging around the nets isn’t enough.
There are a few bowlers ready to take his spot. Peter George comes to mind – is he the tall, metronome-type bowler we’ve been looking for since Glenn McGrath’s departure?
5. Stick with Beer
His selection was totally left of centre and he didn’t really deserve a baggy green after only five first-class matches. I think he only got selected because he has such a cool name.
All this aside, in the Sydney test he was giving the ball some flight and/or spin, vital spin bowling components that seem to be lacking in the modern Australian off-spin bowler. He’s also quite tall for a spinner which means he has the ability to offer some bounce to trouble opposing batsmen.
6. Sorry Punter
Ricky Ponting will be remembered as one of the greatest Australian batsmen … ever. Pure class and heart. Unfortunately he is out of form and the end to his career is nigh. The next Ashes series in 2013 is just too far away. His selection in the World Cup squad is a perfect departing gift.
If I was a selector I’d let him know the World Cup will be his swansong and his last chance for glory.
It would be great to see Punter go out with a bang. I’m sure if he’s presented with a last-ever tournament scenario, he will.
Farcity personified
Guest
Great article grapes! how sad it is for Aussie cricket to still be loved by us. They still get the bacon when only rotten eggs are warranted. Whoa is us. Whoa is us!
Koops
Guest
Viscount Crouchback said Admittedly, you need a smart, phlegmatic, well-bred captain too, and he might be rather harder to come by. Oh, i dunno, Clarke's parents owned a indoor cricket center, thats cricket royalty in this country !!.
Tom Dimanis
Roar Pro
Yes that was a shocking performance. Poor excuse from Slater, having competition for spots is supposed to make you play better. I reckon Haddin will be working closely with the spinners this morning!
Lolly
Guest
Clown stuff. Haddin should have made a ton to make up for that display.
Lolly
Guest
He's never been much chop against slow bowlers. He lets balls go through his legs and isn't great with collecting for stumpings. That was particularly poor even for him though. It made me laugh to read that Slater was making excuses for his poor keeping by claiming that he is nervous due to being dropped from the t20 team.
John P
Guest
Hmm, missed three stumpings and dropped two catches tonight...
Koops
Guest
I was going to post that Haddin and Dougherty and Lee and Smith and co all made sub district/ schoolboy simple mistakes, that cost wickets today, i was going to berate them, but quite frankly i could not be bothered. Seriously are our stocks that low ?.
jamesb
Guest
This is my gut feeling why Steve Waugh turned down the Australian coaching job. A few years ago, his wife Lynette was hospitlised with a brain haemorrhage. That puts a bit of perspective I think Steve Waugh doesn't want to spend months on end with the team away from his wife and family. Thats understandable. Waugh did 20 years of that as a cricketer. I just think he wants to slow down Someone did suggest a mentoring role for waugh. Thats a start.
Train Without A Station
Guest
Indeed it's not ALL about averages and stats, when they score these runs is important too (e.g. Steve Waugh as opposed to Michael Clarke). However what do averages tell you? Consistent performance. Generally players have recently had a test average about 2-3 higher than their first class average, even still it leaves these guys under 40. Picking players on potential not performances is has what has gotten Australia into this mess. It's time to stop picking on potential and start picking on performances. A player who could be a future test captain, or great player of whatever they want to say, is not much good to us if he isn't consistently scoring runs today.
Tom Dimanis
Roar Pro
Nice summation there Chris, but I just can't agree on Cam White, he's what Steve Smith will be like in 5 years time - bitsa everything that amounts to nothing. I reckon they should give Dan Christian a crack too, but I think he just pinged his hammy so I don't know.
chris mackinnon
Guest
australian cricket doesnt need all these outside people from other sports we have plenty of excellent cricket people, all it comes down to is the selectors picking the wrong players, we should be talking about ex players like shane warne, mark taylor, steve waugh, mark waugh, that type of players, look whats happening at the moment the shane warne game to help the flood victims was knocked back why i reckon one reason was that the game would get more spectators than the games being played now. the test team selections have been a joke how phil hughes gets a game how phil jacques doenst get a game how steve smith is seen as a batsmen at number 6 how michael clarke kept getting a game cameron white made a hundred in the australian a game and couldnt get a game the spinner situation was a joke our prepartion for the test series was a joke. the one day team selection how they are going we wont get close to winning world cup dan christian has to get a game at number 6 or 7 steve smith what is there for to just bat if so not making any runs michael clarke different story he is lucky squad gets picked this week if the squad was picked for after the one day series against england well i reckon he wouldnt get picked
sheek
Guest
Whiteline, True, it starts at grade cricket, or even earlier at junior cricket. CA has this lifestyle problem, that people simply don't want to give up the enormous chunk of time that cricket demands. It might have been okay 100 years ago, or 50 years ago, but today we have more distractions, & a shorter attention span. Another reason why I think T20 will boot test cricket out eventually. Unless of course, the cricket authorities have the will to make test cricket relevant to today's society & lifestyles.....
Anthony
Guest
This should be australias team for Sri lanka Hughes Khawaja Watson Clarke (c) Hussey Ferguson Haddin Johnson Harris Siddle Beer Marsh Paine bollinger/McKay o'keefe/smith Watson at 3 he will need to bowl alot more in the sub continent and at 3 he might turn those 50s into 100s -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
dasilva
Guest
I think the original article was "Tough Decisions For Test Selections" if you look at the URL
sheek
Guest
There are no rubbish Australian cricket captains. Just the odd ordinary one, mostly good ones, & frequently better ones. Perhaps FP, in your frustration, you've given too much vent to hyperbole.....?
sheek
Guest
Tom, The title 'Six steps to rebuild Australian cricket' suggests more than just changing several personnel selections. However, maybe the title was at the behest of the editors, & not your own? In any case, I accept your explanation.
djsinnema
Roar Rookie
Here is a team they should work towards, and should play in the ashes, when they are in England Shane Watson (c Fact is he is the 2nd most experenced in this bunch) Shaun Marsh Usman Kwahja Micheal Clarke Aaron Finch Steve Smith Travis Paine (WK) Peter Siddle Mitchel Starc Micheal Beer Peter George Remaining Squad Mitchell Johnson, Phil Hughs and Peter Nevill
Jammy
Guest
He's rubbish? Previous history would suggest otherwise, especially concerning his batting. Previous history would also indicate that form can be found, and so 'three more crap series' is not a given.
Lolly
Guest
Fat chance of Teflon going any time soon, Viscount.
Lolly
Guest
Shaun Marsh is averaging over 50 since the beginning of last season in Shield. He is finally making up for his unreliability.