Just as once-great eras end, new eras begin. Sunrise, sunset, and all that. A new era is upon us in Australian cricket, and its first public outing begins Thursday at what will hopefully be a return to tradition with a green ‘Gabba deck in Brisbane.
It matters not that the trans-Tasman rivals are struggling in the longest, purest form of the game; Australia is not all that flash either.
A lot has happened since my keyboard last had bemused words punched through it regarding cricket. There were a lot of bemused rugby words for one.
At the same time, reviews were commissioned, reviews were handed down, reviews were rather surprisingly adopted in full. A rugby man was put in charge, selection panels were overhauled, and just-extended coaching arrangements were cast aside like yesterday’s news.
The captain stood down and was succeeded by his long-anointed protégé. Cheering and jeering emanated in equal quantities.
The Chairman of Selecting Lawyers was advised he had to make a choice, and the law won. This time, the cheering had no competition. “We think we’ve done a good job” was still ringing in dumbfounded, Ashes-less ears.
About the only thing left unchanged was the abundance of strong opinion. Sadly, two of the strongest purveyors of such opinions departed this mortal world, and left the discussion of cricket in this country all the poorer. Cricket discussion on the other side is the big winner since the arrival of Messrs Verma and Roebuck.
But life goes on, and cricket schedules a stop for no-one.
As was the case when I first discovered Test cricket in the early to mid 80s, we may or may not be currently at rock bottom. The papers screamed “Our Worst XI” back in January, but even that “worst” got past 50 every time it batted (though sure, it fell short of 100 a couple of times). If Cape Town was not rock bottom, I shudder to think how much worse it can get.
Michael Clarke is making a good fist of this captaincy caper, happily.
I’m not as surprised about this as others might have been; I’ve always thought he did a good job with the (c) next to his name when he deputised in the past. Even better, his batting is flourishing with the extra responsibility.
His predecessor hasn’t been having such a happy time of it though. Just as Phillip Hughes can pretty much just concentrate on short balls going across his body, Ricky Ponting’s final days in Test cricket will likely be spent playing balls out of the block-hole on middle and leg.
South Africa unashamedly bowled Ponting yorker after yorker in Johannesburg, which when considered alongside his ability to survive another onslaught on the final morning, actually makes his fighting second innings all the more impressive. Even before the injuries took hold, it was always going to be enough to keep the wolves at bay.
Speaking of wolves, back when the proverbial hit the fan in May, after Simon Katich was left off the list of Cricket Australia contracts, I found myself almost on my own in agreeing with the move.
In fact, in among all the Ashes post-mortems, I suggested that while it would be incredibly tough on three able and willing servants of Australian cricket, maybe then was the time to make the hard call on Ponting, Katich, and Mike Hussey.
Katich’s only fault in all this was to be injured at precisely the wrong time in his career. 36-year-olds can afford injuries even less than they can afford run droughts.
Nevertheless, it was the right call and as much as plenty of you won’t like to admit it, all this talk of recalling Katich is an exercise in futility. And even as much as the opening combination is still a work in progress, Katich is clearly no longer part of the solution.
The Ponting equation is not so simple. If following the Ashes series, or even prior to the South African tour, was the right time to move him on, suddenly injuries within the camp mean he’s needed more than ever.
Ponting said when he stood down as captain that he wanted to play on, and assist bringing younger players through. Maybe he could or should still do that once his playing days are done; indeed, he was essentially doing that in South Africa.
He surely couldn’t be any worse a batting mentor/coach than the former teammate who currently holds that job.
At the other end of the career scale, David Warner’s is about to start. I’ll happily admit that he’s converted my opinion of him as a batsman, and his first class run onslaught over the last six months have shown me that he’s not just a clear-the-front-leg Twenty20 slogger, but rather a proper Test-ready batsman.
He’s done everything asked of him, and though I do feel for Ed Cowan a touch, I sincerely look forward to seeing Warner bat in Brisbane.
And Warner’s not alone, of course. Young quicks Ben Cutting, James Pattinson, and leftie Mitchell Starc have all been named too, and are in line for their debuts. I say “in line” because I think only two of them will play, with Nathan Lyon staying in the XI for his sixth consecutive Test, something of a triumph for post-Warne spinners.
Cutting certainly deserves a Baggy Green based on his current Shield form. But much as I like Pattinson as a bowler, I have a sneaking suspicion the hierarchy might go with Starc as a like-for-like for Johnson (in the sense that they both hold the ball with their left hand, not that Starc also sprays it around like a loose hose).
New Zealand will not be the easy-beats that various pundits have assumed. Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, and Jesse Ryder are all coming off hundreds in the tour match against Australia A – Ryder’s particularly brutal – and will be looking to do well against their traditional rivals.
In fact, New Zealand always punches above their weight when it comes to lining up for the Trans-Tasman trophy. Never mind that they haven’t seen the trophy since Sir Richard Hadlee was accused by Australian crowds of being a banker, the Black Caps will still back themselves in this series against a suddenly green Australian side.
Whatever the result, it’s just great to see the international cricket season starting on home soil again. Actually, forget “whatever the result”; I’ve had quite enough of New Zealand beating Australia of late, thanks very much.
Lolly
Guest
I'm a biased West Aussie but I've thought that about Mitchell Marsh's bowling as well. He's a bit young yet and injury prone but I suspect his bowling would be just the ticket in England. I wish he'd go and play County Cricket.
Johnno
Guest
I agree sledgross James Hopes is a solid cricketer always done the job in ODI format. I think Mcdonald is as a good a bowler as Hopes though and his batting is better than what he is perceived. He made a 50 mcdonald vs south africa and played some good shots.
jarrod
Guest
its his last 10 innings hows that selective stats? i dont care what he did before that you pick on most recent form (ponting not included ha) don't get me wrong the kat was unlucky to miss out on a contract no doubt, however hughes is holding his own and his last 10 innings hughes is averaging 33 to katichs 23, just sayin the young kids doing alright
jarrod
Guest
jameswm
Guest
Jarrod - talk about selective statistics - in the 9 tests before those 5, Kat scored 79+ in the 1st innings 7/9 times, plus a 50, with one failure, plus a second innings 50 and two 2nd innings tons, averaging about 65 in that time. Hughes, for example, averaged about 25 in the corresponding period.
sledgeross
Guest
Johnno, I cant believe that James Hopes have never been mentioned in dispatches as a possible Test allrounder. If McDonald is a superior player than him Ill eat a stump!
Johnno
Guest
Mark Waugh made a good point about the loss of Watson and having no all-rounder int he team, and they should of picked an all-rounder for this match i agree. Having a 5th bowler gives the team more balance I think , at least in my opinion. Sometimes an all-rounder in test cricket can be a disruptive influence to the balance of the team if they are not good enough to hold down a spot in either batting or bowling (possibly Andrew Mcdonald falls into this category, and i think shane lee, and shaun young, and Ian Harvey fell into that category if they were picked at test level, and the England all rounder Craig White. Mark Waugh wanted Dan christian, in the tees this week and no Dave Warner and open with Khawaja. Fair point i have always liked Andrew Mcdonald, and think he did a good bowling job in South africa and he is a good batsmen too he made a test 50 and has good shots. i would of liked to play Dan Christian at 6 or Mcdonald and open with Khawaja. Shane Watson bowling was very handy, and if Watson returns and still wants to bowl unlike Steve Waugh who after 30 just became a part timer, Watson is 30 now if he still wants to bowl as the 5th bowler put him at 4,5, or 6.
jarrod
Guest
i'm just gonna throw a side up there you'll probably hate it but gives the batting enourmous depth and good swing options in england.... 1 warner/hughes 2 marsh 3 khawaga 4 clarke 5 watson 6 paine/wade 7 Glen.Maxwell (averages 55 with the bat, 40 with the ball which is better then lyon(42) and beer(47),if its moving around don't need a specialist spinner but he still gives you a spin option) 8 Mitch Marsh (bats in the top 6 and has bowling average of 27,moves it both ways& his bowling will suit conditions in england beautifully) 9 J.Faulkner/L.Butterworth ( both average 30 with the bat and bat 6/7 respectively & average 23,25 with the ball respectively, both very good swing bowlers who have been scoring good runs of late as well) 10 cutting/pattinson (speak for themselves really but both good enough to probably bat at 8 as well) 11 cummins/harris - no need for explanation these two, harris will still be going lyon as your spinner obviously in the squad if you need him, still the likes of hazlewood, starc, A.Mcdermott, NCoulterNile to come through and even hilf/sidds/johnson if they're back in form - in the mix as well battings hard to tell, there's not much after these guys, maybe cowan/G.Baily as back up, fergy if he's scoring runs and maybe a roughy like patterson/maddinson/lynn or someone who might come through in the next 18 months, whoevers the form guys are coming through
WoobliesFan
Guest
My point was you made good points. ............................except for Ponting......if Warner makes a sizzling debut and Watson get healthy, then the selectors will have to take to the guillotine.
jarrod
Guest
do people seem to forget that katich in his last 10 innings scored one 50 at an average of 23 while hughes has scored an 88[in a team that lost 10/124] and a 120 odd [to save the series against sri lanka] in his last 5 innings, the other three times he's been out was to dale steyn, remember the best ranked fast bowler in the world in bowler friendly conditions on his home deck? give the guy a break he's doing a hell of a lot better then kat was in his last few digs in the baggygreen
Lolly
Guest
Have you seen any young Australian batsmen look any good against spin? I haven't. Shaun Marsh isn't bad, but he's not great and he's not young. Usman Khawaja looks shaky against decent spin from what I have seen. Given this, I can't see how you can wish to drop both the old guys - who can play spin - against India. Punter should go if one is to go, but if I was Huss, I'd watch my back. He hasn't got the continual litany of 'best batsman, blahdeblah,' as a Greek chorus around him.
JohnB
Guest
No disrespect to Vettori, who's been a very effective test cricketer for a long time, but Australia have handled him well enough in the past few years - after a very good couple of tests in 1999/2000 (14 wickets at 15.57), he had 2 solid series in 2001/2 (13 @ 33.84 across 3 tests) and 2004/5 (10 @ 34.1 in 2) but then in the return series in 2004/5 8@49.62 (3 tests), 5 @ 39.4 in 2 in 2008/9 and 7 @ 45.57 in 2 in 2009/10. He didn't have a happy time in the one off test for the ICC v Australia in 2005/6 either (1 @ 111). It may also be worth noting when one of Vettori's NZ sides last beat Australia in a test. Of course, if NZ ever needed motivation to try to beat Australia, that might provide it!
Brett McKay
Expert
I can send you an autographed copy of last Sunday's Sun-Herald?!? On a serious note, I had a thought (but haven't looked this up) that maybe the brother of a pre-isolation South African Test player might have then gone to England? OK, now I've looked it up. This list seems pretty conclusive, and indeed metions the Hearne brothers that you mentioned (and supports my theory too): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_International_cricket_families CricInfo also has a simliar list, mentioning the Trotts and Hearnes: http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283744.html
JohnB
Guest
After writing the original response, I looked at the list of players who've played for more than one country to see if any other family names stuck out. There was a Gul Mohammed who played for India and Pakistan, but he doesn't appear to be a member of the famous cricketing family. On the other hand, one Frank Hearne played for both England and Sth Africa (Hearne was a very well known name in English cricke). Two of Frank's brothers played for England (both as one cap wonders and both v SA on tour, in games that weren't regarded as tests for many years after the event!). I can't think of other examples like the Pattinsons (where neither brother played for 2 countries) but not impossible there are other Sth Africa/England or Australia/England examples from the early days of test cricket. And I'm assuming second prize is two of whatever the first prize is?!
Brett McKay
Expert
Cheers Zen, be interesting to see what it looks like on Thursday morning..
Brett McKay
Expert
John, I put this question out to my modest Twitter following today too, and so far yours is the only answer, so you get todays prize... ("Tell him what he's won, John...")
JohnB
Guest
If you go back far enough, Albert Trott represented both England and Australia, and his brother (George I think?) played for Australia. Possible that someone played for India pre-partition and their brother played for Pakistan afterwards? On Ponting - he went well against them in the 2 test series before the Ashes and they are still the 2nd ranked test team in the world - I think there must be an argument for retaining him as part of the best available team to win that series, given there will be some number of quite inexperienced batsmen in the lineup already.
zenboomerang
Guest
Brett, the Gabba has been looking green and fast in recent matches and had branches growing out of it a few weeks ago... This pitch is being prepared as the fastest for 15 years so it could be unlike anything we have seen in recent Tests. I am loath to leave out Lyon as it will take some spin, but 4 fast bowlers could have a field day... depends on who wins the toss and bats first... wish we had a batsman with a good spinners arm... aka Maxwell type player in our squad...
Jiggles
Roar Guru
James that 11 excites me so much. To be honest I think Australia may be on the verge of something good if that team can get settled. Don't ask me why but I can just feel it in my 'waters.'
sheek
Guest
Personally, I think Ponting's time is up. He is beginning to show the classic signs of a once great player whose body is no longer responding quickly enough to the commands of the brain. Reflexes are just that much fractionally slower. It happens to all great players across all sports. But having said that, why are we in such a rush to send-off players into the sunset? Do we really care for their sensibilities if they retire on their own terms, or must be pushed? This is the professional era, & players will hang in there as long as possible for the next lucrative paycheck. They all accept that they will be a long time retired. George Gregan had to be virtually prized out of the no.9 position for the Wallabies. But frankly, he lasted so long because the alternates failed to put the necessary pressure on him. Chris Whitaker & Sam Cordingley for all their talent, fell short of the mark of true greatness. If Ponting wants to keep playing until he's dropped, then that's his prerogative. He won't be the first, or last, former great player who had to be dropped before making his way to the exit gate.