Only days after Australia had regained the number one Test ranking for the first time since August 2009, Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland and his board have confused us once more.
Out went selection chairman John Inverarity on his own volition, with Rod Marsh promoted to the chair.
Brilliant.
Marsh will communicate with the Australian cricket fraternity with his usual no-nonsense approach, not like Inveraity who always looked and sounded like a headmaster talking to the school assembly.
His replacement will be Mark Waugh.
Brilliant.
He brings to the selection table a wide range of visionary skills, over and above the undisputed fact he was one of the world’s most gifted batsmen, and without peer as a fieldsmen. The third selector will be national coach Darren Lehmann, who has been the most instrumental in getting the baggy greens back to number one.
Brilliant.
From there Cricket Australia has undone all their good work through three unforgivable decisions.
First up, dropping Andy Bichel as the fourth selector and replacing him with Trevor Hohns, the hatchet man of the panel between 1997 and 2006. This is a double bunger of poor decision-making.
Even though we don’t know what goes on behind the closed selection door, Bichel was, and is, highly respected by all and sundry. Hohns isn’t.
There was great rejoicing in cricket circles when Hohns called it a day eight years ago to concentrate on his business interests.
Why Cricket Australia saw fit to potentially upset the equilibrium of the panel defies description when there’s Geoff Lawson, Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey to pick from, and many more if push turned to shove.
The selection of Hohns was bad, but the non-recognition of Dennis Lillee was worse.
The legend couldn’t come to terms with Cricket Australia’s latest contractual offer, so Lillee said ‘stuff you’.
Lillee has been instrumental with Lehmann to get Mitchell Johnson back on the elite track. He was one of the major reasons why Australian beat England to regain the Ashes, and beat South Africa to regain the number one spot.
Lillees don’t grow on trees. Cricket Australia just can’t pull a leaf off an elite tree and find another Lillee.
He is arguably the greatest fast bowler Australia has ever produced, although there are those who believe Ray Lindwall, Keith Miller, Jeff Thomson and Glenn McGrath deserve that honour, and with valid reasoning.
My lasting memory of Dennis Keith Lillee was at the SCG in 1973 against Pakistan.
Lillee had been hospitalised in traction for two days with stress fractures in his back. But Australia was in trouble on the final day with Pakistan requiring just 159 runs to win, and all wickets intact.
Lillee defied medical opinion, got off his hospital bed and bowled 23 overs straight, while Bob Massie and Max Walker bowled 23 overs between them at the other end.
For sheer courage and tenacity, the Lillee feat takes some beating.
The record book shows Walker took 6-15 off 16, and Massie 1-19 off seven. Lillee’s figures were 3-68 off his 23, and Australia won by 52 runs.
Dennis Lillee must never be treated as a monetary pawn. Find a happy medium, but keep him involved with Australia’s pacemen, he’s a priceless asset.
Lancey5times
Guest
Quite likely they would have still had wonderful careers regardless. But to discount the role Hohns played in them debuting at the right time and enjoying the careers they did purely because they were successful is just plain unfair. As I stated earlier in this thread, it's like we should be picking selectors from periods of no to little success as the other guys were just fortunate and didn't have to do their job.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Yep, totally agree tailender.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
And none of them ever would have got a game if it weren't for Hohns?
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
That has absolutely nothing to do with this article. If you feel strongly enough about it, pen a piece on it yourself. The fact is however that $60,000 a year is more than enough of a salary for a female cricketer to make a full time living out of a sport they previously could only play at an amateur or semi-professional level at best, despite the fact that they don't draw enough sponsorship money to justify such a salary in the first place. CA have gone out of their way to help women's cricket out and kudos must go to them for it. To say they're not doing enough is just rubbish when considering what most test playing nations pay their female cricketers.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I'll play a waitingi game on Waugh, he's got a dodgy past and seems hopelessly NSW centric in his commentary but he'd have to take the selector's role far more seriously than any of his commentary stints. His arse is on the line now.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
They had a long term projection for the BBL and did not expect it to break even in it's first or even second year from what I remember. It's about establishing the brand and product early on, yes, I know that sounds like crap, but it's pretty much normal these days. The BBL is a success which doesn't surprise me, I'm only hoping that it doesn't get extended and eat up even more of the first class season as while I like following the Scorchers, I prefer following the far more frail Warriors.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I wish I knew exactly what he did want. They are probably hoping that Mitch would work with him privately if necessary, he's always been close to Lillee.
Tom from Perth
Guest
I'd take him over Mark Waugh any day.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Snap... haha!
Lancey5times
Guest
The following players debuted for Australia in test cricket during Hohn's previous reign as a selector Michael Slater Glenn McGrath Matthew Hayden Damien Fleming Ricky Ponting Jason Gillespie Andy Bichel Darren Lehman Brett Lee Stuart Macgill Adam Gilchrist Simon Katich Andrew Symonds Michael Clarke I could go on....................
Lancey5times
Guest
So twodogs, Hohns should be disregarded because of the performance of the team when he was previously selector? He can't be assessed accurately because Ponting was in good nick and Warney was turning them? With this in mind should only those that have previously been selectors during periods of poor performance be considered? Didn't Hohns help bring the talent through? You're making David Lord look smart. And I don't know what school you went to (or even if you did) but good students don't make a good teacher. To say that just shows how little you understand the role of teachers/selectors in the success of there students.In some cases they are like a good referee. You barely notice them. It's no co-incidence that the best teachers get the best classes. They make them the best classes.
Johnno
Guest
I'ts gotta be Geoff Lawson as the 4th selector. Another beat CA has missed. He had the toughest job in World cricket coaching Pakistan, and turned them around. And he's a respected ABC cricket commentator which says something.
twodogs
Guest
Tough decisions to end someones career? That's the easy bit! It's there for all to see. The hard part is to recognize potential and bring it forward. Now name them Alan- the ones Hohns identified and went on to have long illustrious careers. Oh that's right, they were already there, just waiting to be fired.
BrainsTrust
Guest
I wonder who is higher payed Demetriou or Sutherland. Dennis Lillle his proper value would be in the millions per year, one good bowler is the difference at Test cricket. Denniss Lillee would have been rejected for a modest amount a mere fraction of what he is actually worth. Cricket is actually in an enviable financial position, receiving so much money for the national cricket team with the upgraded TV deal. It also receives a large amount of money from India, mainly so they have the rights for when the Indian cricket team visits. Is the reason for this the hidden financial cost of the Big Bash and has Sutherland been covering up the cost. I saw a report that said the Big Bash now with 20 million dollars of TV money will now break even. The previous two years must have then lost 20 million dollars, then you have to ask if they are admitting that maybe its cost even more, maybe they have dumped so much money into the big bash they are cutting back elsewhere. Cricket Australia has been prepared to outlay millions on paying older famous cricketers and foreign cricketers to play again in the Big Bash whereas they could have been paying a famous cricketer in Lillee to do something useful instead. Sutherland initially with the Big Bash was saying Cricket Australia would be getting paid 5 million each for the teams which would then run themselves but that hasn't happened. The recent 20-20 world cup shows there is little interest in that form of the game and that the only reason the Big Bash has been more of a succes here has been the massive amount of money poured into promotion by Cricket Australia and the opportunity to see old favourites again like Shane Warne and co.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Dennis Lillee really is something special. He rehabilitated himself from things that medical professionals suggested would be career ending, worked out how to remodel his action, understands so much about all aspects of fast bowling and how they all interact in a way that few (if any) others around the do. Turning down Lillee's terms is basically to do without what he offers, not to go to someone else who offers the same for less, because they don't exist. With the knowledge Lillee brings to fast bowlers he should just about be able to name his price, because he really is irreplaceable.
The Bleat
Guest
Sutherland has to follow his buddy Demetriou and exit stage left.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Yep, I used to almost enjoy reading Lorde's stuff, years ago, but it just doesn't come anywhere near goods sports journalism these days. Particularly the cricket articles.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Mr Bailey must be a favourite of somebody's to retain a captaincy he never earned and in the face of continual failure .that's some feat.....
AlanKC
Guest
My memory of Hohns as a selector is of him taking quite a few tough decisions by ending careers for the better of the team, something the more recent bunches didn't. P.S. I don't have a problem with DK wanting a pay rise to keep him involved. His results with Johnson speak for themselves.
deccas
Guest
David is really unimpressed with Hohns