It is already apparent Australia has understaffed itself with spinners in this Test series against India and the selectors should send for Ashton Agar, and also Cameron Boyce to boost their stocks for the remaining Tests.
People will say they are too young, but if you’re good enough, you’re old enough – and both boys have been doing beautifully.
The Aussie selectors picked Nathan Lyon again, and he has been battered already in the Indian first innings, as he was by South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Steve Smith has not bowled his leggies enough in four day cricket or any other form of the game.
Regardless, the selectors are reluctant to pick both Smith and Xavier Doherty in Tests for whatever reason.
That is insulting. Why take them to India and not play them on the worst wicket in cricket history?
And why call on Michael Clarke to bowl and risk injury when he in the best form of any batsman in the world?
Plus the home nation played three spinners – what clearer message could one get?
Agar has taken 4 wickets for 99 and scored 71 no and 13 in the game between Tasmania and Western Australia at the WACA, which will be decided at the WACA tomorrow in the most ridiculous of circumstances.
Agar has seemingly led WA to victory, with the home side needing six runs to win with two wickets in hand. Yet the rules of Cricket Australia ensured stumps was called, and the whole shouting match has to return to the WACA tomorrow for six runs or two wickets.
It is farcical. Light was fine, the game was in the balance, the batsmen were in no danger.
Meanwhile, Cam Boyce has bowled well for Australia A against England Lions and in Shield matches.
Whether people realise it or not, Australia has become a very cautious nation in cricket since the Shane Warne-Glen McGrath-Justin Langer-Matthew Hayden-Adam Gilchrist era ended.
If Justin Langer were coaching Australia and Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey were his deputies, Agar would be playing and Boyce would have been on the plane with him.
It is time Australian cricket grew their wonderful young talent and took the gamble to blood players in Test matches. They will not get better watching on TV.
The reticence of the Australian selectors to pick young spinners has cost Australia valuable time and potentially set the spin bowling programme back two to four years.
Tactically, technically and with his willingness to give people opportunities, Langer will make a very good Australian coach. Hussey and Ponting can polish and encourage the squad.
It is time for young minds and younger selectors to be blooded. Cricket is a young man’s game in its three forms now and soon Australia will be full of cricketers in their 20s and not their 30s.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
I'm not sure a reluctance to blood young players is a problem at all. The real problem is that players aren't having enough of a chance to develop their own games before they're thrown into the deep end of test cricket. Young players need the opportunity to learn on the run, which the Sheffield Shield supplies the perfect canvas for. You can't expect them to be learning their game in the test arena. Boyce and Agar need to be left alone in the Shield. They need to have the time to perfect their own games. That way, when and if they get the chance to play test cricket, they know their games and know how to best use their abilities. In the meantime, Steve O'Keefe has been the dominant domestic spinner for the past four or so years. He bats well, He brings leadership skill and is ignored for a series of tests played almost exclusively on rank turners. That's where the real problem lies.
Brett McKay
Expert
and they'd already played the extra half hour in the hope of getting the result. All that could be done to finish that game that night was done...
Scifi
Guest
Agar is promising but early days mate! His bowling is good and I saw plenty of the recent Shield match. He has beautiful batsman strokes, no way is he an 8 or 9, he could play top 6. He looks better than Doherty I will readily admit. As for light - the last over of the 3rd day had half the WACA pitch in shadow, the part where the bowler was landing them. I am not sure that it was as farcical as you make out, having played at those times it can be very hard to pick up the ball coming in and out of light/dark areas.
AndyMack
Guest
SOK...????