A pattern has emerged between the last three Australian chairmen of cricket selectors, Trevor Hohns, Andrew Hilditch, and John Inverarity.
All three were ordinary Test cricketers, to become ordinary chairmen, making ordinary decisions.
Yesterday was the latest when Inverarity tried to explain why Ricky Ponting has been recalled as ODI skipper, with incumbent Michael Clarke sidelined by a hamstring tear.
The 25-year-old David Warner is the vice-captain, but he was overlooked as the panel dug into the past, instead of having vision for the future.
Said Inverarity: “David Warner is a young player making his way. He displays considerable leadership potential, but the panel is of the view that he should not, at the moment, have the added responsibility of captaincy.
“David has been gaining valuable experience under Michael Clarke, and now will have the opportunity to grow his leadership as vice-captain to Ricky Ponting”.
Where the panel lost the initial chance was appointing George Bailey on international debut as Twenty20 captain over Warner.
Boring negative thinking, but in keeping with the pattern.
Former Test skipper Steve Waugh never had a negative thought in his career, that’s why he had a 71.9% win-rate in the five-day game, and 63.2% in ODIs.
Yesterday he slammed the Ponting decision as retrograde, and supported Warner as skipper. That was the positive outlook.
And it was a positive outlook that greeted the Argus Review, until it suggested a five-man panel including the captain and coach.
Bad call, bad result.
Apart from the Warner snub, two serious communication lapses underline what is amiss with this panel. And the buck stops with Inverarity.
To this day, all-rounder Shane Watson hasn’t been officially notified he is the vice-captain of the Test, ODI, and Twenty20 sides. It matters not he hasn’t struck a blow in all three through a calf injury, but he should have been advised of his triple appointments.
Keeper Brad Haddin was told he was to be rested from the ODI squad for three games. Those games are gone and Haddin still isn’t back in the squad as he prepares for the NSW-Western Australia clash at the WACA as the alternative.
There was an opportunity to recall Haddin as promised for next Friday’s ODI against Sri Lanka at the SCG and install him as skipper. After all, he was vice-captain to Clarke in the four-Test series against India.
It didn’t happen, and if I was Haddin I wouldn’t count on retaining the Test berth for the West Indies in April. This panel doesn’t stick to its word.
So it’s a pity we can’t time-freeze the last three selection panel appointments.
If David Boon was the chairman in the Hohns-Hilditch era, and Rodney Marsh was chairman now, it would be a whole new ball game.
Two knockabout good blokes who were class cricketers, both charismatic, revered by their peers and fans, and excellent communicators.
Hohns, Hilditch, and Inverarity don’t qualify for any of those assets.
Had Boon and Marsh been in the big chair, there would have been none of this negative rubbish, and every potential rep player would know exactly where he stood. Boon and Marsh would see to that personally.
That’s their nature.
As a result, the ordinary, ordinary, ordinary pattern would never have surfaced and 16 years of yawning hard-to-fathom selections could have been avoided.
If only.
jameswm
Guest
Yes it's ridiculous, Warren. But I didn't say it.
Matt F
Guest
Yes and I was, and am, against Bailey's appointment as well. Both appointments (Bailey as T20 captain and Warner as ODI captain) would have been undeserving
LT
Guest
Yep, also loving Ed Cowan's success. Having slept on that UK article I'm quite furious about it all. Simply highlights the double standards re Marsh and UK. In the Syd test, Marsh continued his non-contribution re runs but what else did he add? One catch from memory. And yet he gets this extended run of support and adulation from selectors and coach. And the way Invers relayed dropping to UK without giving him the respect and 'support' of one on one meeting is crap. Particularly when compared to endless support, repeatedly publicly stated, given to Marsh. The whole thing is bizarre - there's much more potential re UK, you'd think they'd be keen to work with that and if they really find the so-called issues raised in the article to be a problem that they would work with him through them etc.
Bearfax
Guest
You've got to understand guys. the conservative party is in control. No risks. And only select West Australians if you're making changes. Ho hum. Pedestrianism is on the rise. Dull is good, excitement is bad..
David Lord
Expert
Matt F, David Warner has played 13 more games than George Bailey when the Tasmanian was appointed Twenty20 captain on debut for the two-game series against India.
AndyMack
Guest
An average of 3. Classic, you cant just use the last three games, hardly a fair indicator in cricket. I'm glad you are not a selector, dropping people every time they fail..... GO PUNTER!!!!!
Red Kev
Guest
I did watch it and he was batting very well, an early chance and a couple of play and misses but it did look like a clinic to be honest. I am watching Ed Cowan tonight against Queensland and he looks in imperious touch smashing a century (117* at the moment). I like seeing him bat well too.
adieb9
Guest
What happened to just talking about the actual cricket:) -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Lolly
Guest
I hope he does tear the county second division apart. He certainly didn't last season but I hope he'll adapt better. It's very good experience for him.
LT
Guest
Agree, better for him to miss WI tour. If the substance of the article is true it certainly provides insight into boys' club mentality and pettiness of group if someone's personality does not fit with the pack. The Cowan vs UK slow scoring comparison was an interesting take - ok for one but not the other. And you're exactly right about the comments re that recent domestic 100 - I didn't see it but was listening to radio and commentators were raving on endlessly re UK's innings.
Lolly
Guest
He's got the job because Watson is injured and Haddin is not in the team at present. Is this really so outrageous to go back to Punter over a player who is hardly holding his place and is about fourth in line to the throne?
Warren
Guest
You are correct Matt. But if he is not ready, then don't make him VC.
Warren
Guest
Langou, exactly. You don't appoint a VP because they MIGHT be able to do the job at some point in the future... You give them the job (and announce it) because you have faith they can do the job in the absence of the leader. Period. James, that is ridiculous. You undertake the VP role in addition to other duties, not at the expense of them.
Red Kev
Guest
Very interesting, what it basically says is that being part of the boys club is a very important selection criteria. There is one legitimate criticism of Khawaja in there - his fielding is not up to Rixon's standards. Short Leg fielding - it is as specialist a position as slips, some people do not do well there, Khawaja fields well in the covers, at mid on and mid off and in the outfield (two very good low running catches in the BBL spring to mind). Being a gym junkie ... doesn't help batting or bowling. If the guy isn't fit enough certainly tell him so but lifting weights and having a nice six pack doesn't help any cricketing skill (unless you count appearing in your underwear like Michael Clarke or Mitch Johnson, or collapsing from carrying too much upperbody bulk like Shane Watson as cricket skills). Scoring rate and strike rotation is complete crap - citing a couple of poor innings (Galle and Hobart) does not make assumptions true. It is pretty easy to find poor innings in every batsman's record. Khawaja scores at a strike rate of 50 in FC cricket with only 53% of his shots in boundaries ... logically he scores plenty of 1s 2s and 3s. (It is also worth noting that his ListA average and strike rate are remarkably similar to both Ponting's and Hussey's). The real telling point is this: Replace Khawaja with Hussey and the sentences would be written very differently. "But it would have been noted by the selectors that in his first ten balls, Khawaja played only two scoring strokes, one a pulled six, and on the 11th he was dropped at slip pushing forward to a ball slanted across him." Becomes: "It was noticeable that in his first ten balls Hussey left with good judgement while adjusting to the pace of the wicket yet still put away the bad ball. After being given an early life Hussey made the opposition pay going on to score 100 runs." It's spin. That the guy isn't liked I can believe. But painting his omission as anything less than a boys club at work is absurd. Having said that, he should be happy to miss the WI tour. He should go over to Derbyshire and tear the county season apart. Succeeding in English conditions will make the right statement.
Johnno
Guest
Ha Ha Brett. I just had to throw in some Johnoo gold.
Brett McKay
Expert
"...and I am taking a stand for liberty and for what is right. But i will be attending." more Johnno gold....
Johnno
Guest
Aaron it's called reveloution, and people power is strong in 2012, and I am taking a stand for liberty and for what is right. But i will be attending. If i was head of selectors had formal power cricket in Australia would be so much better off Aaron.
Aaron
Guest
Johnno Thank goodness you are nowhere near any important decision making roles. By the sounds, you'd be the sort of bloke who found the behavious of the Italian cruise ship captain rational!!
LT
Guest
Speaking of Khawaja (apologies for hijacking thread)...interesting article over on cricinfo: http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/553379.html
Aaron
Guest
Spot on Dave. David - Inverarity has arguably not put a foot wrong since stepping into the frame. They've blooed some potential star young quicks, given guys like Warner & Cowan a gig in the Test arena, been gutsy enough to remove a horribly out of form Haddin (temporarily or permanently remains to be seen), and backed Clarke to the hilt. All have proven fantastic moves. The move to have Punter fill in was the conservative approach. Warner is still learning to lead, and a quick glance at his record in ODIs has his place in the side at severe risk (stats alone I mean), hence the captaincy was a further burden. Punter knows it's temporary, Warner continues to grow & mature, Clarke comes back asap, and the Aussie side positions itself with the best chance to win the match. All wins surely?!