With Sunday night’s final bringing the One Day Cup to a dramatic close, and the running of the Bulls coming to an end following an untimely injury to Usman Khawaja, here are my thoughts on the entree for the 2014-15 domestic season.
There’s something in a name
New tournament sponsors Matador BBQs were an appropriate choice, with crowd numbers on par with an average Sunday barbecue with friends.
In other sponsor news, the former XXXX Bulls invoked thoughts of tinea and other fungal goodness under their new moniker of the myFootDr Bulls. Delish.
Left-arm quicks are the new black
With Western Australia bringing a tear to Bruce Reid’s eye with their barrage of southpaw slingers, this year’s one-day fest was a smorgasbord of angular attackers. Mitchell Johnson is spearheading a new movement.
GEM need to adjust their advertising during sports broadcasts
While I like to acquire knowledge of many areas of life, frequent ads for menopause treatments did seem an odd fit for the viewing demographic.
Special mention must also go to Clean Ears spray, which didn’t exactly match up with the usual advertising trifecta of beers, barbecues and bronzed Aussies.
Nathan Rimmington is a scary man
After several years of wild-eyed, bearded fury, Rimmo unveiled a less hirsute, yet incredibly terrifying look this summer. Ditching the beard and keeping the crazy eyes was an inspired move, with rumours the producers of Dexter are currently writing a new series about a fast bowler from Western Australia.
Usman Khawaja is back
After topping the run scorers’ list for the tournament with a mix of beautiful and bludgeoning strokeplay, Uz has smashed his way back in to the minds of the national selection panel. With the World Cup just around the corner, UK is peaking at the right time.
A condensed tournament with good TV coverage really works
After years of one day games being scattered throughout the domestic season like the hairs on Bernie Ecclestone’s head, Cricket Australia finally nailed it last year with a condensed cup in New South Wales.
This year’s version was arguably even more successful, with games spread across NSW and Queensland seeing consistently strong performances from most states. Hopefully the great quality cricket on offer will see crowds hit four figures at least for most games next year.
Vics currently don’t do it better
Despite the Bushrangers’ favourite hashtag asserting otherwise, the cup was a disappointing campaign for Victoria.
Aside from an epic comeback from player of the tournament Cam White, the Bushies were frustratingly inconsistent, following up an epic win chasing 300 with another meek collapse. Plenty of net time required here.
WA were worthy winners
Despite a batting line-up that looked brittle on paper, the Warriors found a way to get it done throughout the tournament. With the aforementioned brigade of looping lefties wreaking havoc throughout the cup, and astute captaincy from Adam Voges, the Sandgropers will be the one day team to beat in coming years.
Bearfax
Guest
Respect your points Jo M and I certainly dont expect to see anything suggesting rep cricket from Doran for a year or 2. I suspect though that he may, if given the chance make one or two decent scores this Shield season but really this year and perhaps part of next year is certainly an early apprenticeship for him. Obvious with Bosisto last year how hard it is to come from the juniors and make an impact. Silk did it but he was already almost 20. So did Maddinson though he has met his first battle and is struggling to score at the moment. My interest is more to see the development rather than place unrealistic expectations on them. Obviously takes years of development to get to test level.
Jo M
Guest
There is a lot of expectation on him, maybe too much I think sometimes. As someone who has seen him at close range over the last 8 years, with my younger son playing with and against him in various teams, in his own age group he was a cut above the rest with his batting and very obviously so. Like you said, he went well in the World Cup. He hasn't gone so well in 1st grade last season and the few he played the season before if I remember correctly. Don't think he even got a 50 and yet the push has been on for him for the last couple of years and he has walked into the squad obviously based on the World Cup. There are two other boys I can think of now who are easily of his standard and in some areas are better. One is a year and a bit older and is also a keeper who is easily as good as Jake at keeping. Opens or bats at 3 and had a pretty good 1st grade season last season and is has had one good score in the 90's so far this season in the 2 day games. The other is 20 or maybe has turned 21 and my older son has played with and against him in various teams over the years. Had a really good 1st grade season last year and played well in his first games of 1st grade the season before. This season, we are only part way through game 3. In the first 2 games, he had 2 centuries and in this game he is well on his way to a third one. He isn't a keeper though, but does bowl a little bit. I hope these two get recognised as much as Jake has been. And no, they aren't mine. Mine are bowlers.
Bearfax
Guest
Actually Bosisto played the first three Shield games for WA in '13-'14 matches last year but was dropped probably because he couldnt get in the scoring having returns of 15, 44, 4, 0 and 10 for an average of 14.6. Hope he isnt one to have reached his peak in the youth championships because he looked something special two years ago captaining the Oz U19 team. Had an average somewhere in the 200s for the tournament because they didnt seem to be able to get him out. But you're right the adjustment may be too big though I think he'll get more games a year on. As for Doran, the expectations are very high as you probably know. He was the highest scorer with an average in the mid 50s less than a year ago in the U19 World Cup for Oz even though he was almost 2 years younger than the next oldest in the entire tournament...I went through all the names of those playing for the various teams and there was no one under about 18 years 6 months and many almost 20. Doran was at the time just over 17, yet was Australia's top scorer and either the second or third top scorer for the tournament
Don Freo
Guest
Not bad Daniel. I'd replace Bailey with Mitch Marsh, Watson with Shaun Marsh (great faith in that boy) and Harris with Hazlewood or Behrendorff.
Don Freo
Guest
Shoulda watched it Popie. Best cricket I have seen for a long time. If we televised Shield cricket, it would be a top rater. Aussies love cricket and there is nothing better than watching 22 Aussies instead of only 11. I enjoy Shield cricket more than Test and ODD more than ODI.
Don Freo
Guest
Bosisto is well down the pecking order in WA, Bear. Unlikely to get a game this year. Jaron Morgan and Josh Inglis are ahead of him along with youngsters the same age as Bosisto like Turner, Harris and Bancroft. Bosisto hasn't been able to get a run last year or this year. Could be a player who has found his level at youth development stages. Good to see you smiling on a youngster like Doran who hasn't yet performed. I like the excitement. I share your excitement at the rest of the list of youngsters. That's why I never mind if Oz has a lean patch because we look to the exciting players to come. Not sure one loss is a lean patch though...although it might be for Australia. Don't have many of them.
Don Freo
Guest
How many points would you give NCN or James Hopes?
Don Freo
Guest
Look at the sponsors. Some matador from Spain picked the White guy.
Don Freo
Guest
Silk this year was good?
Don Freo
Guest
Don't leave the left armers at Bruce Reid! There's Chris Matthews, Sam Gannon, Jim Hubble, Peter Capes...Hugh Bevan
Davros
Guest
most true sports fans seem to find the dough for the basic sports package
Davros
Guest
to far for channel nine to go with there cheap coverage
Bucks
Guest
Will Perth host some games next year cos they won?? Like Qld winning last year and getting some games
Craig Watson
Guest
Smith wont fight it out with anyone...he is a cert. If Hazlewood has a good SA series he too is a cert.
Craig Watson
Guest
I thought shield cricket came out of the cold last year with some standout performers in Ryan Carters, Jordan Silk (again) and Tom Cooper among others. If this continues Australia will a glut of batting talent to call on.
Craig Watson
Guest
Be thankful for the eerie silence and faint ground noise because that is all we are going to get of shield cricket.. good stuff CA
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Ah yes, forgot about Finch! Fair call there. I'd imagine Bailey will be bumped out of the side, although Smith might miss out.
matth
Guest
I think you'll find Finch will open with Warner, with Watto at 3 and Smith and Bailey fighting it out for the number 6 slot.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
I'm with you on the lack of speed gun, but will still take Ch 9 coverage over $70 a month or whatever it costs for Foxtel sports package these days.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
I'd be stoked if Shield cricket was on ABC. At least we'd have a bit of commentary to go with eerie silence and faint ground noise on CA streaming.