I can’t understand the expectation or mindset of some Australian cricket fans who regularly criticise the Aussie players and the National Selection Panel.
I do agree that there are times they make surprising, not-so-exciting selections and miss out on selecting some players without proper reasons. But give them time.
Life is always a mixture of right and wrong decisions, and the selectors are not exempt from that by any means.
I was one of many who were shocked when the Waugh twins were removed from the team suddenly (Mark from both formats, Steve from ODI team), but it proved to be a good decision later on.
I have also seen how persisting with some players in spite of the poor or average returns can do wonders.
Shane Warne recently criticised Cricket Australia over team selection and even suggested his own team for all three formats.
While he may have his points, its not right to indulge in things like this which will demoralize the selection panel and the players.
The best time for us to support the team is when they are struggling. We have seen retirements of the greats, Punter and Huss recently, so we must be ready to embrace some poor performances if any and continue backing Cricket Australia, the NSP and Clarke more than ever.
There are also folks who lash out new players like Maxwell, Cowan, Lyon etc when they fail. Even Watson is criticised!
While people here in India are praying and yearning for an all-rounder of Watson’s class to emerge supernaturally, it is a shock to see some Aussie fans bash Watson for his not-so-fantastic Test average in the last two years.
See, we don’t have Bradman’s Invincibles and the XI that played from 2000-2007 in our benches.
Let’s give these men some time, allow them to get used to things and master their art. I am sure the best effort is taken by these players every time to come out on top.
In Tests and ODIs post-Ponting’s captaincy (2011 ICC World Cup), Australia have lost only one Test series and only one ODI series.
No other team equals this record in ODIs past the 2011 World Cup and only South Africa has a better series win record than us in Tests.
Even the English lost to SA at home and lost 0-3 to Pakistan at Abu Dhabi!
Our team did in Sri Lanka – win the series – yet the ‘mighty’ English was not able to do so.
So, marks for NSP and Clarke in the last two years should be around eight or nine out of 10. Let’s look at this brighter side and encourage our folks as long as they wear the baggy green, especially in times of failure.
lou
Guest
But the OP is right. It is not possible for them to get every decision right. The NSP do cop an inordinate amount of criticism from fans and press. Even when the Aussies win series, the boot is put in left, right and centre. Of course, they live and die by their decisions but they have to be looking both short-term and long-term at once and that is an extremely difficult thing to balance out successfully.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Quiney Hastings 5 frontline bowlers at Sydney 1 spinner at Chennai allrounders who are neither top six batsmen or top 4 bowlers yep, they are beyond reproach
Disco
Roar Guru
The English brains trust doesn't appear to be such of a boys club, and as such there's relatively little controversy around selections. Part of this must be due to the conflict of interest others speak of. In recent years, Australia's series wins have been against India at home, Sri Lanka home and away, and West Indies at home. I wonder how the Aussies would fair in the UAE? Frankly, I couldn't see them worrying an Pakistan side which is stronger than India's at present.
Ken Hambling
Guest
II agree with jameswb, the issue here is that we are not giving our best 11 the chance to settle. A classic example is Khawaja, bought in for his debut ODI then dropped, 12th man backing up for Clarke in the test series and then when Watto is injured he is not picked at the SCG even though we had 5 bowlers. Just give the kid a crack and if he fails we will talk about the next best player but the issue is he doesn't get a fair crack which has been given to someone like Cowan. Also what does SOK have to do to get a ticket in the squad.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I just don't buy that. No one is criticising the players. They are trying their hardest and some, like Hughes, Khawaja, Henriques, Agar etc are young and do need to be given time. The selectors, though, are not young cricketers. They should not be on the NSP with a steep learning curve. They should be there because they are knowledgable and know what they are doing. They do not get the benefit of the doubt for their decisions. They live and (currently) die by them.
Johnno
Guest
Captains being on the officials NSP, is wrong. Unoffically they have a say, but officially it's wrong. I have always believed the head coach, should also be head of the NSP. The head coach lives and dies by the sword, and should always get, final say on the team they want. It's there team they drive the plans, and structures, let them have final say on the team they want. Example , Bobby Simpson usually got the team he wanted. Guss Hididnk in soccer he got the soccer teams he wanted. Same with Alex Ferguson. I'm certain Graham Henry got the team he wanted for the 2011 rugby world cup. A head coach must have a big say on the team, if not the final say. As long as the player has been cleared by the medical staff fit to be selected and play, then the final selection should rest with the head coach, and no one else.