Only the hardcore cricket fan would have watched the 2011/12 Sheffield Shield final closely. For those that didn’t, here are five things to take away from the game.
Selectors made the right call in axing Ricky Ponting as captain
Don’t get me wrong, I love Ricky. But his captaincy lurches from average to poor. In the first innings, with the Bulls at Tasmania’s mercy, Ponting devoted more time and energy to moaning about a ball change. Sure, the ball was wet, but with a side a 5/80, it would have been more pertinent to concentrate on taking wicket six.
Similarly, when Hopes was going, Ponting should have eased up on the throttle. A little restraint, an extra man in the covers, telling the bowlers to drop their length back slightly to stem the tide would have been an adequate response.
Ponting’s plans also were in need of serious examination. Indeed, aside from his bowlers conjuring a wicket, Ponting’s only plan appeared to be to bounce the opposing batsmen out. The one time this tactic would have been useful was when Steve Magoffin came out to bat in the second innings.
Throughout the second innings, Ponting appeared to play catch-up, placing fielders wherever the previous ball went. Granted, Hopes did this himself at some points, but that does not excuse the fact that Ponting had no clear strategy to dismiss the batsmen.
One cannot help but wonder about the result if Bailey was in charge.
Every team needs a stodgy player, preferably an opener
It would be quite easy for the selectors to get carried away with the idea of Warner and Watson opening in Test cricket. Certainly, a good session from these two would take the game away from any opposing side.
But the Shield final clearly highlighted the need for a stodgy opener, a batsman whose role is to blunt the attack and allow others to bat around him. It is no surprise that out of the four innings, three stodgy openers ground out the highest scores.
Four and five day cricket is a game of patience, and even if you have a limited technique (looking at you Mr Cazzulino), occupying the crease will always bring runs eventually. More importantly, other batsmen can build around you, and bowlers will waste energy, both through bowling too many overs and sheer frustration.
Bowlers have worked it out, batsmen haven’t
Last season, medium pace bowlers (high 120s to low 130s) dominated the domestic scene. Copeland, Butterworth, Faulkner and WA’s Ryan Duffield all were at the top of the wicket taking tree, simply through swinging the ball and putting it into the ‘right areas’. Granted, last summer was a wet one that was helpful to seam bowlers, but given that sides had seen what bowlers would offer, the balance should have been righted this summer in favour of the batsmen.
Not so. While both sides had very good attacks, clearly Australian batsmen have not worked out how to bat in unfriendly conditions. Our international batsmen were exposed against swing, and it is clear that the trend continues domestically. Playing in adverse conditions is tough, but with the advent of patience, it is not impossible.
Chris Hartley defied the most successful bowling unit of the past two seasons through a seemingly revolutionary technique of leaving the ball outside off, playing late with soft hands, decisive but late footwork, and punishing loose bowling. How novel! Cowan played his second innings in much the same manner. James Hopes opted for a belligerent approach, but this was aided in the first innings by a ball that wasn’t deviating and bad bowling.
For all their camps, Australian batsmen, both domestic and international, would do well to spend some time in England over the winter to play against a moving ball. Maybe learning through experience will see these batsmen develop soft hands, an idea of where their off stump is, and how to move decisively both forward and back.
Our bowlers have clearly learnt that pitching the ball up and letting it talk will get the results.
Cameron Boyce can play for Australia
On a first day ‘Gabba wicket, a Cameron Boyce delivery spat off the pitch and dismissed Test opener Ed Cowan, something his more illustrious teammates failed to do. In short, the raw materials are there for Cameron Boyce. His leg-break turns considerably, and he also achieves some drift.
His bowling could use more flight, but most importantly he continues to improve. It is not far-fetched to claim that he has the best leg-break in Australia. If he continues on his upward curve, Nathan Lyon should feel less secure about his spot in the future.
The way Queensland have handled Boyce should also be commended. Even on unfavourable pitches, Queensland have been willing to give Boyce an opportunity. While his stats aren’t mind blowing, there is enough there to suggest he will be a match winner.
The domestic game still produces wonderful cricket
Until tea on the first day, it was Tasmania’s game. By lunch the next day, it had swung towards Queensland, and back to Tasmania by the end of the day. The third day was definitely Queensland, but the second session of the last day was all Tasmania. In the end, Queensland won.
Granted, there were times where the game was a grind, but a better preparation for Test cricket you will not find. The game never clearly belonged to either side, and what it did result in was a tense, arm wrestle of a game that had an exciting conclusion.
The quality of the cricket was good, and hopefully, a sign of a still healthy Australian domestic scene.
Lolly
Guest
He's the best keeper that I have seen in Aus domestic cricket.
Will W
Guest
Agree - Butterworth was on a dime all match!
Will W
Guest
Is it just me or does Chris Hartley have an impeccable batting technique? Does he have the fighting spirit that used to be evident in all Aussie keepers pre Gilly? Is he the best gloveman in the country (meaning solely his work behind the stumps)? I worry that the Aussie keeper spot is now only 10% about how well they keep wicket, which I was taught from an early age sets the standard of the fielding for a cricket side. We were blessed with an Adam Gilchrist and we tried to pour Brad Haddin into his mould. Both reasonable keepers with a fantastic flair to their batting. Perhaps it is the way world cricket is going - nobody wants to sacrifice a batsman by playing a good gloveman. The only country not following this trend it seems is Pakistan with the middle Akmal. I feel for Hartle, stuck behind Manou at No.3. He is now 29 and surely his last chance is gone. Dont let the art die!
Kevin
Guest
Great article , concur
formeropenside
Guest
I'd get a few years out of Hopes at the top level first, actually.
Lancey5times
Guest
Couldn't agree more and the fact that he continually produces in pressure packed Shield finals speaks volumes. Would make a great number 6 or even 7 in the test team if Wade or Neville continue to develop as batsman. So strange that he is not mentioned
jameswm
Guest
You know at the end of last Shield season I was wondering how to work a Butterworth/Faulkner type into the test team. Having Watson there complicates things. Do they come in as a 6th bowler, or a 4th one? I think it has to be the latter, with Watson as the 5th bowler. Does that leave us light on, with 3 specialist bowlers and 2 all rounders? It certainly wouldn't hurt our batting. Watson is bowling so consistently and cleverly, keeping runs down and taking wickets in all forms, that his bowling's a huge asset. The big reason why he has to bat at 5-6, though the selectors will take the easy option and bat him at 3, nothing surer. The other thing about bringing in a Butterworth/Faulkner type is that our fast bowling stocks are so strong, do we really need an all rounder at the expens of a specialist? If you have only three specialist bowlers, who are they? Lyon, and two quicks. Does that mean Pattinson and Siddle? What about Hilfy, Ryan Harris and Cummins (when fit)? I think our quicks are going so well, it makes it hard to put another all rounder ahead of them. In the ODI team, though, it's a different story. I'd definitely find room for Faulkner in a squad of 13.
Lolly
Guest
I didn't see the match but I have seen large chunks of some cracking matches on live streams from the CA website this season. It has been the best Shield season in years.
jamesb
Guest
great article mate, well done The final does expose that Australia has depth in fast bowling, but our batting under tough conditions has a long way to go. Players like Hartley and Butterworth should be given a look. They are both underrated. Again, Pontings captaincy must come under the spotlight after QLD in the first innings were 5/55 and yet somehow made 276. Saw Burns bat in the first innings, shows a lot of promise. Hopefully he continues to improve, and when it comes to big matches next time, he contributes greatly. All in all, a great final.
Bob
Guest
Great advertisement for 4 day cricket, well done to both sides making an excellent spectacle. I love the strategies required over such a period of time, a real test! Pleased that Qld won in the end, compliments to Darren Lehmann and co. While I agree with your comments Luke, Butterworth was given an Australia A tour to Zimbabwe last off season to make a statement and was not able to do so. For some reason they opted for Copeland and look where he is now! I don't think Mickey Arthur likes "medium pace" bowlers to be honest otherwise they would have supported Copeland as he did exactly what was asked of him by coach and captain on very flat Sri Lankan pitches, then 12th man in SA, then completely gone once the new selectors and coach came in, not even considered for Australia A here...very bizarre. They went on to select Cutting, Starc (cough), Hilfenhaus and Pattinson so that tells me they want fast bowlers and only fast 135k+ bowlers for the time being, even though they get injured turning up at a ground or getting off the bus. I live in hope they reconsider this approach for the Ashes as someone like Copeland or Butterworth would be ideal for those conditions amongst a few quicks. These guys can bowl and bowl, consistently and accurately, injury free, but hey, what do I know?
Behold
Roar Rookie
Shield final showed me that Hartley should be replacing Haddin in the Test team, he was sick and batted with determination and unwillingness to give up his wicket. His keeping was immaculate and that on its own should have had him selected as Gilchrist's replacement ahead of Haddin, who was picked because of his fluent batting, which has been a failure at an international level.
Harry
Guest
Great article and agree with all your well made points, and as usual FOS has beaten me to it in nominating Queenslander Hartley for the test keeping job.
Luke
Guest
The one thing that I took out of the Final more than any other thing was: Luke Butterworth is THE most underrated player in Australia by a mile and would be one of the first picked in my Test team atm. I always thought his pace was not up to Test standard but he regularly bowled into the mid 130's, was super accurate rarely bowling bad balls and consistently swung the ball. Plus he can bat and is a decent fielder. His stats are top class and he has been performing for many seasons now. Jackson Bird and James Faulkner also look the goods but Butterworth is the finished article and should be talked about more in regards to Test selection.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Definately onto something with the seaming conditions correlating with the wetter weather over the last 4 seasons. Batting is generally harder for all teams and it's good for the game.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Agree 100%. It was an enthralling match with a brilliant finish. I have to give credit to Fox Sports for streaming it on their website (as they've done for all the SS matches.) It was a great way to end work on Monday!
jameswm
Guest
yeah it must have been a helluva match to watch
Disco
Roar Guru
In his latter years as a Test batsman, Langer seemed to do nothing but slash at everything outside off stump, albeit against mostly ropey bowling. I can't see that he's been promoting anything other that in his role as 'batting coach'.
tommy
Guest
great article mate !
roarr
Guest
It just shows (once again) that 5 day cricket is the most entertaining and enthralling sporting contest you can possibly get.
jameswm
Guest
I like the comment on our batsmen the most. What has Mr Langer been learning and teaching? If the wicket's playing tough, you just have to grind it out for a while, until it flattens out and the bowlers tire a bit. We all know that, so why don't Ponting, Haddin etc? Agree on the keepers too. I think Haddin has to go altogether, and Wade isn't a test keeper. I do rate Paine, as a person as well as a keeper, but Hartley and Nevill wouldn't let the test team down either. I don't watch enough of it to really say.