Lost in the glow of 18 year old paceman Patrick Cummins’ selection in the 15-man squad to play two Tests against South Africa next month was the fact the selection panel seems to have a plan to ensure all our players are in top condition before they take on the Proteas.
The selectors have been criticised in the past for allowing fringe players to be glorified net bowlers for long periods of time on tour.
That was often followed by drop-jawed disbelief when these players were suddenly short of match-fitness when unexpectedly called upon due to injury or the poor form of others.
Who’d have thought?
Well, it seems times have changed and the Sheffield Shield will actually be treated like a proper competition with International players allowed to compete in it and use it to fine-tune their skills.
Ryan Harris and Michael Beer will be left behind when the squad departs on October 27.
“Beer will remain in Australia until after the tour game in South Africa. He will then join the squad in time to be available for selection in the first Test in Cape Town,” outgoing NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said.
“This will give Michael the opportunity to play two Bupa Sheffield Shield matches for Western Australia before joining the squad and will ensure he and Nathan Lyon will have plenty of bowling ahead of the start of the Test series.
“Ryan Harris will also not travel with the squad which will allow him to play in Queensland’s match against Tasmania at the Gabba from 25-28 October.
“It’s also likely that after the start of the second Test in South Africa, players from the squad who miss selection may return to Australia so they can play for their states or Australia A and be match ready for the start of the Vodafone Test Series against New Zealand in Australia.”
Well … that is both logical and impressive.
Far too often players have been relegated to carrying drinks or throwing balls at batsmen in the nets when they should’ve been back home improving their game.
With South Africa and India to come this summer and the Ashes in England next year, it’s great to see small signs of change.
Bayman
Guest
Vas, You assume the consultant is "independent" because he's from outside the organisation. You don't think the "lots of cash being paid" won't flavour any recommendation to provide what he thinks CA really wants? I'm not suggesting it - but I am sceptical of the view that any outsider is unbiased and independent of thought and action simply because he's an outsider. It has always astounded me that many people, and organisations are just people after all, assume "lots of cash" brings with it lots of knowledge and experience. This has not necessarily been my experience. Equally, I have seen many times organisations ignore the recommendations of insiders for the "outside" view then implement what is effectively the same idea they had for free but rejected. No doubt the money plays a part in the organisations thinking - why wouldn't it play a part in the consultant's thinking? I understand that Argus is not part of CA. The recommendations of this report could just have easily come from CA for free. None of it is rocket science and most of it has been recommended by several Roarers for some time. All CA needed to do was logon to The Roar. Argus is all about CA being seen to bring in an independent, not actually being independent. Argus has conducted a management review of CA, presumably to avoid any criticism of CA looking at its own structure. As someone once famously said, "You never ask a question to which you do not already know the answer". I'd be quietly confident that all Argus has done is confirm what CA, and everybody else, already knew. After all, we now have the situation where the Commonwealth Ombudsman wrote the questions for a Greens senator to ask him during a parliamentary committee meeting. I bet he got the answers right! I wonder if Mr Argus also got his questions right? Not saying, just wondering......
Vas Venkatramani
Guest
Brendon, the reason for the tour the way it is is because Cricket South Africa no longer want to be mandated to tour Australia during Christmas and New Year as they have done before. They want to ensure they can gain maximum profits of the peak summer period like we do. We can't criticise them for that on the basis of what we want. Therefore, the only solution is to have split tours so that we don't sacrifice our peak summer period as well. Bayman, outside consultants will be listened to because there is a lot of cash being paid. And the other thing is that they will bring a truly independent voice. Argus was hired purely for this review, and is in no way affiliated with Cricket Australia otherwise. Last summer was a harsh lesson to endure, but the good thing is we haven't sat back and made excuses. The findings of the review seemed reasonable, and now action is being taken to remedy them. That's a good start.
Brendon
Guest
People are overlooking what a pointless and stupid tour of South Africa this is. Two tests? We toured South South Africa in 2009 and we're touring again? We can wait until after South Africa tours next year in 2012/13 to do the now traditional back to back home/away series against S.Af. While its good that CA is holding back players so they can get as much first class cricket before the 2 tests CA should have a policy that ALL Australian players be available for Sheffield Shield and domestic one day matches from the beginning of the season until the test matches start in late Nov. Yes, that means no pointless tours of South Africa or India (last year) just before important home series. With the Champions trophy no longer in its former state theres no reason to have tours in October. This ensures we get good indications of form and experienced national players playing amongst young and promising players in the Sheffield Shield. The ICC be damned. The more CA acquiesces to the ICC (and its master the BCCI) the more cricket will decline in Australia. As it is Australia doesn't play its first test match until Dec 1 against NZ - a team that doesn't even pretend to care about test cricket anymore. I'm sure they'll have their usual 50 players injured. Usually tests often start in early Nov or most commonly mid Nov. More and more Australian domestic and home internationals suffer to appease the ICC and BCCI.
Bayman
Guest
Luke, As you suggest, well done CA. At last some common sense to go with all that merchandise and financial acumen. Vas, I only hope the adoption of aspects of the Argus Report is not simply because they paid a consultant a truck load of money to deliver something and believe it only because he was a consultant. I've seen many organisations ignore good ideas from within for no other reason than they were from within - and then adopt a policy simply because an outside consultant said the same thing. As Brett implies, many people outside CA had a fair idea of what could be done a year or so ago - it took an Ashes hammering at home to get CA off the couch (apparently getting smacked in England was acceptable).
David
Guest
Is that Matt Preston's father?
Brett McKay
Guest
Luke it's just a pity that it took an Ashes thumping at home and a 6-month review to highlight what everyone already knew: the best thing cricketers can do is play more cricket. But yes, credit where it's due. The heads could still be in the sand...
Vas Venkatramani
Guest
Credit is where credit's due, as you say Luke. Personally, I would love CA to offer our contracted players a greater slice of the pie if it meant they reduced their commitment with overseas T20 franchises. Of course, for that to happen, I suppose I and many others would have to bite our lip and let the BBL have its way. But it's good to see the Argus report wasn't just an exercise of cash passing hands. Some of the wise words seem to be heeded, and this will snare results in the long term for sure.