I know this is about the one millionth article on the rotation policy, but after watching the second ODI in Adelaide I just couldn’t help myself.
Although the Australian squad do have a massive year ahead and seemingly ‘more important’ clashes against both India and England, and although blooding players for the World Cup (in 2015) will be greatly beneficial, surely we should be trying our absolute upmost to win every single match contested?
I know sport science and theories on player management both change and develop the way all sport is played.
However, if we go back 10 to 15 years, I don’t remember Glenn Mcgrath, Shane Warne, Brett Lee or even the injury prone Jason Gillespe taking much of a break.
Nor do I remember Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, the Waugh brothers, Adam Gilchrist or Ian Healy resting up for greater challenges ahead.
All of these players played in both formats of the game.
I also don’t think any of these players would appreciate if a selector or a sport scientist tapped them on the shoulder telling them they need a break because there may be an injury on the horizon.
Brett Lee said yesterday that when he got dropped in 2004 he wasn’t able to get back into the side because Australia used the same set of quick men for 17 consecutive matches.
Furthermore, I can understand the logic of leaving Michael Hussey out of the ODI squad for the summer in order to blood a set of young players for the World Cup.
However, cricket matches are not won on logic and to go back to my point above, every match and every series should be played to win.
After deciding to rest Michael Clarke, David Warner and Matthew Wade for the opening ODIs surely the most logical decision would have been to play one of the best batsman in world cricket, whether he is retiring or not.
It certainly would have helped us win the first couple of matches in the series, putting the side in a good position for match three when the senior players returned.
The Australian side of a decade or so ago were a team of superstars and their class cannot be compared to the side of today. But one of the main reasons they established a long period of dominance was the absolute tenacity they approached each contest.
They were feared by their opposition.
No matter who the opponent was, no mercy was ever shown, no series was ever under-valued and winning series to zero was considered priceless.
Fair enough if you are injured you can’t play, but this rotation policy is not only disrespectful to so called ‘weaker’ sides, but more importantly it tears at the very fabric of Australian sport; to show no mercy and do everything possible to win.
kurt83
Roar Rookie
Agree on Clarke who has been playing on one leg for a while... it was time for him to take a break (hence the Huss argument) But when is any fast bowler ever truly 100 % fit? I think the likes of Mcgrath, Lee Lillee, Ambrose, Walsh, etc would have played through similar "niggling" injuries. Jackson Bird at the moment seems to be preferred in Test matches only, but from what I have seen from him this summer, he would be a more than handy ODI bowler
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I'm not so fussed when it comes to the limited overs game. Outside the World Cup, limited overs stuff is basically four years of practice matches (think of international friendlies in Association Football) with two main aims : trialling players for the World Cup and giving inexperienced players who may make the Test line-up one day a feel for the international set-up. Unlike Tests, winning every match isn't the only goal in limited overs cricket. Rest and rotation in limited overs is fine. Up to a point. It is difficult for a player to show what they have if they have one match and are dropped again though. Australia plays over 100 days of nternational cricket in 2013, saving some of the players for Tests is fine by me. Rotation and player management in Tests is another matter - every Test cap must be earned through being the best available, there is no scope for building squads or resting players in Tests. Every Test must be about "now".
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Clarke has been carrying injury and missing two ODIs is a good chance for Warner, who played every match Australia played over the past 12 months, to take a short break. Hussey's exclusion I disagree with. But there's not a lot of 'rotation' going on. Most of the time when our first pick bowlers aren't playing is because they aren't 100 per cent fit.
ken oldman
Guest
For the one millionth time I fully agree and can only repeat that we should field our best available team at all times ,regardless. If this is differcult for the selectors to grasp then they should be replaced by others and I would get rid of the current coach at the same time. CAA must think that we are a bunch of mugs,if they believe that we will keep on paying top dollars to watch second string cricketers represent our country.