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Is anyone else tired of sporting cliches? He’s a class player – well which class is he in? He’s a talented player – he’s playing first class cricket, that’s a given.
He’s got potential – well call me back when he’s fulfilled it. I have little time for these popular buzzwords unless coupled with a greater depth of analysis.
Hitting them well in the nets is great news. Now hit them well out in the middle and you’ve got something worth sharing.
The Australian squad for the South African tour, like most Test squads, was not without its criticisms.
And most of its critics had ready-made replacements for the men deemed inappropriate, or thoughts on those being nominated by others.
Names were thrown forward, names were dismissed, names were forced and names were laughed away, but it was surprisingly uncommon for these names to be noted along with the cold, hard and strangely beautiful aspect of cricket: the numbers.
Rather, as is the trend in selection these days from the top, they were pushed with superlatives which added very little to the discussion.
If the numbers don’t tell the full story, they at least tell a few chapters of it.
Waxing lyrical about a classy, talented player with potential in spite of what they’ve actual produced contains less of the story than a tweet.
Say what you want about Phil Hughes.
I’m usually stunned silent by his devoted cult of followers, but at least he has runs on the board in 2013/14.
He has undeniable, quantitate evidence that in a game of first class cricket, he can get the job done.
His past struggles at the very highest levels rightfully hold him back from selection for now, but he isn’t relying on his ‘potential’ to try and get him into the top side again.
The effort is coming from hard graft on the cricket pitch.
The selection of players based on intangibles over results is horrible selection policy in any sport. When a player is struggling in reserve grade, you wouldn’t pick him for firsts. When a player is struggling in the Sheffield Shield, how can you expect them to perform against the greatest players the globe has to offer.
Wickets and runs must be at the core of selection.
The individual talents and flaws of a player come to the fore after, not before. When two players have the necessary first class runs or wickets, then it’s time to debate their personal merits.
To do so beforehand is going in blind. It’s a matter of proving yourself, of knocking down the door of the Australian team and demanding you are given a spot, not meekly sitting on the front steps hoping for a baggy green to fall from the window and land in your lap.
That being said, you can’t just pick from the top of the run scorers table, but being somewhere at the pointy end of it should be a minimum for consideration.
There are other factors that come into play but only once a player has proved they are capable of performing consistently in the domestic cricket should they be factored in.
The list is too long to compile here, but all potential in the world means nothing until the runs and/or wickets are up on the board.
Stats do matter, but it goes beyond pure numbers.
However, if one is claiming a player should be selected on the basis of their favourite adjectives when the numbers aren’t there at all, it’s time to buy a bib because it’s nothing but dribble.
You can shake your head at more of Hoss’ thoughts on sports at his blog, www.madatsport.blogspot.com.au or his Twitter @The_Hoss12
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