“Unblinkered”. It’s the one word uttered by new Australian coach Mickey Arthur that should give cricket fans across the continent hope. It’s true that the most impressive part of Arthur’s first news conference was brief.
Yes, there was plenty of diplomatic dancing around issues like the future of Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin.
If he can teach the top order to play with a bat as straight as that then it would be a step in the right direction.
And sure he was charming, entertaining and kept busting out a grin that would make a dentist happy.
But what did we actually learn from his appearance in-front of the microphones?
It would be harsh to expect him to roll out his grand vision for the revival of the Baggy Green in one 20 minute session so thankfully we were given one golden nugget to hang on to.
“Unblinkered” is a word to get excited about.
If Arthur comes into the role with an “unblinkered” eye it should mean performances in the Sheffield Shield actually matter.
Five wicket hauls and centuries that translate to impressive batting and bowling averages at the end of a season will hopefully turn into international call-ups.
If we never hear phrases like “earmarked from a young age” and “project player” again it can only be a good thing for the game.
Reputations should mean absolutely nothing from this day forward.
Everyone needs to be judged on their merits and nothing else.
The weight of runs and wickets in Shield cricket should be the only criteria for a Baggy Green and not someone who has immense potential.
There is of course the exception to every rule. Pat Cummins appears to be a once in a generation player and to deny him his chance would’ve been foolish.
In Arthur, Australian cricket has someone who knows the domestic scene and what it currently has to offer.
He has actually seen Ben Cutting bowl, Matthew Wade bat and keep wicket and Trent Copeland frustrate a batsman into making a mistake.
His time as coach of Western Australia should’ve held more weight during the interview process than his experience turning the Proteas into a force.
That’s not to say his time in an international dressing room was irrelevant, but more a reflection of the lingering transition period Australian cricket finds itself in.
Haddin, Ponting and Johnson are still under huge pressure to retain their spots through to the end of the summer.
It’s nice to know that Arthur has seen some potential replacements in action with his own eyes.
Gavin
Guest
Several great points, i agree entirely with the "should have been an australian" remark, some of your fellow roarers have fallen into that same trap. hiring someone from outside the culture of australian cricket is a great move, with any luck will bring an end to the looking after the boys mentality of australian cricket.. australia needs a new attitude, hopefully he's the man to help facilitate that
Tommy
Guest
No doubt Cummins has bags of potential but I agree with comments above that we need to calm down about him a little. Remember our last tour to South Africa? Phil Hughes & Mitch Johnson dominated & were set to take Aussie cricket back to the top. The media & public were going nuts about them but so far they haven't gone close to reaching those heights again. Although I'm still confident Hughes will get there eventually. Being only 23 after all.
Fisher Price
Guest
Yeah, he's going to face a challenge handling the press-driven adulation, as well as the demands on his body at such a young age.
Fisher Price
Guest
Ouch!
Matt F
Roar Guru
Ha well played! I think all Tasmanains were at some point weren't they :)
MrKistic
Guest
It was a glorious start and pretty awesome to be there to see. Of course Lee's main problem was poor management through his career. He started bowling full and swinging at fierce pace before Ponting decided the only way to use him was to bowl fast and short. Who can forget him banging it in short over and over as Pietersen happily took the Ashes from us?
B.A Sports
Actually Bing took 5 for 40 odd in his first innings on Boxing Day against the Indians (i want to say in 1999)... not a bad start! Although i do agree, wait till he has played on a pitch which doesn't have as much in it for the bowlers and faced a few more challenges for announcing him as the next 400 test wicket taker
MrKistic
Guest
I know Wade and Paine are from Tasmania, but they're not actually joined at the neck are they??
MrKistic
Guest
Luke I have one more phrase for your list: "once in a generation player". I think that one should be buried along with Mitch's career. And let's all hope that Arthur deals with the Australian squad the way he dealt with A. Noffke. Two tests against N.Z. is a great way to get some changes made before dealing with India.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Cummins has immense potential but it will take lots of hard work, and good management, for him to reach the heights that he can potentially reach. Someone like Arthur, who will push him and set high standards, is just what he, and many other potential test players (Warner, Hughes, Pattinson, Khawaja, Lyon, Smith, Wade/Paine etc.) need.
Lolly
Guest
For that matter, can everyone stop the grandscale mozzing of Pat Cummins? No-one is a superstar off the back of one test or even before they've played test cricket, though the Aussies tried to do this with Steve Smith as well. All this pronouncing 'future great' status off the back off so little really creeps me out and can't be good for that boy. Anyone remember how Brett Lee burst onto the scene? Not quite the world-beater we hoped there.
Brett McKay
Expert
All very valid points, Luke, though you'd hope batsmen in the Test team don't have to be tought to play with a straight bat.. Arthur's appointment seems to be coming from a logical standpoint, which is more than can be said about the "should've been an Australian" arguments...
Chris
Guest
Yes, I have no problem with his appointment - let's start to pass judgement on him in twelve moonths time after we've got some actual results to go on.
B.A Sports
I have agreed with just about nothing coming out of CA over the last 5 years or so, but I am willinging to give Arthur a go. One of the things i like is that i think he won't cop any primadonna's in the dressing room. He will aim to culture tough players who show backbone. He (i hope) will bring back the fighting spirit which we have only seen tiny glimpses of during Neilsen's tenure.
Rellum
Roar Guru
"If we never hear phrases like “earmarked from a young age” and “project player” again it can only be a good thing for the game." Never a truer word has been uttered