After years of success under coaches Greg Shipperd and Simon Helmot, a run of disappointing results could see a clean-out in playing and coaching ranks of the Victorian Bushrangers this off-season.
With consecutive outright losses in recent Shield matches adding to an underwhelming 2014-15 campaign, Cricket Victoria may sharpen their axe in coming months.
Despite the array of talent throughout their squad, the Bushrangers have failed to fire in all forms of the game this summer.
The season started poorly for the Vics in the One Day Cup, with just two wins from their seven games played. While the return to form of Cameron White was one highlight of the tournament, inconsistent efforts from the rest of the squad resulted in sub-par performances.
Switching to the whites of Shield cricket initially saw the Bushies improve, with three wins from four completed matches prior to the mid-season break.
While Victoria’s two Big Bash League franchises have tweaked their playing groups every season so far, a berth in the final continues to elude the Stars and the Renegades.
The ‘Gades have already announced Helmot will not be returning for BBL05. This is not a big surprise, as the boys in red have been disappointing in three of the four Big Bash league tournaments to date.
Although the Stars have fared better than their cross-town rivals, four consecutive flameouts in the semis have perennially choking president Eddie McGuire searching for answers.
While it remains to be seen whether Shipperd will continue as coach, all Victorian sides underachieving this summer raises questions as to whether players are tuning out their coaches.
The resumption of the Shield in 2015 has seen two humiliating outright defeats, each inside three days. A sharp axe and some new blood in the playing ranks may be in order.
Alex Keath has performed well when given an opportunity this season, and is certainly worthy of a recall. Likewise, young leggie James Muirhead will be eager to impress after spending the BBL season on the bench with Perth.
Batting wise, Rob Quiney is looking shaky, while Cameron White has failed to replicate his short-form efforts in the four-day game of late. These two senior players will need to perform in the Vics’ next match to avoid demotion to district cricket for the remainder of the summer.
A dramatic turnaround could see Shipperd and Helmot return for another tilt next summer. Further decline could see one or both men ousted in favour of a fresh voice. The off-season promotion of Matthew Wade to skipper may have weakened White’s place in the Shield side, and further meagre returns could see the Bear jettisoned in coming weeks.
Declining returns are a poor security blanket for any player or coach, and Cricket Victoria may be one more loss away from pushing the panic button. The remainder of the Shield season will make for compelling viewing.
Andy
Guest
In that case you can send back Maxy Klinger and Ashton Agar- Both Victorians.
Andy
Guest
Jordan Silk and Jackson Bird are both from NSW, as is Ed Cowan. Clive Rose, Andrew Fekete and Evan Gulbis are from Victoria- Tassie hardly has "almost exclusively home grown players" The fact is that most states have a fair few imports, even NSW- Peter Nevill, their best batsman is a Victorian. It is just a good way to ensure that the top players in the country are getting a go. If you have three good Victorian wicketkeepers, but only one regular spot in the Shield team, then some of them are going to go interstate.
Don Freo
Guest
C'mon Dan...NCN was easily the best. Look at his wickets, economy and average...and crazy, crazy hitting...then the fielding.
dan ced
Guest
Sandhu, Paris, and Hazelwood would've been on my list ahead of Cam White for Matador man of the series. That's not even factoring in batsmen. Khawaja was impressive.
Don Freo
Guest
Of course we have won in England. We just haven't brought home the Ashes. Selection of the team didn't lose the last Ashes. We dominated them. The weather lost the last Ashes. Selecting Vogesy won't improve the weather. It's a horrible side Paul. Only 3 quicks and one spinner. Especially when one of those quicks no longer plays the game. Rogers seems to have lost it as well. Age is a factor and Rogers and Harris are your proof. If you are going to push for old buggers, where's Hoggy and Hopes?
Paul Giles
Guest
We have not won in England since 2001, that is 14 years now, I couldn't care less about the age of the players if they are 18 or 38, I just want the best players especially against England in England this year and New Zealand in New Zealand next year. Age only comes into the equation if there are too many old blokes in the team. My team does not have that problem with Rogers 37, Warner 28, Smith 25, Clarke 33, Voges 35, Lynn 24, Nevill 29, Johnson 33, Harris 35, Hazelwood 24 and Lyon 27 with Mitchell Marsh 23 as 12th man. 5 players in their 30s and 6 in their 20s is a good mix, people think of cricket like it is A.F.L where too many oldies will slow you down, maybe for the limited overs you can mount that case but there is a good mix in my team with Rogers to play 1 year, Voges 2 years, Clarke 3 years, Harris 1 year and Johnson 2 years, the retirements would be staggered and allow 1 or 2 new players at a time and not 3 or 4 coming in at the same time.
Ross Fleming
Roar Rookie
Khawaja was the player of the tournament for domestic one day, he was miles ahead of all batsman
Don Freo
Guest
Just wear a Blue cap...light blue or dark blue. As much as I love Vogesy, time has passed the selectors by. At 35, he'd be fine if we need the experience...but we don't. He deserves selection but there are now equally deserving younger players who will get the preference. I think Klinger and Voges have raised the profile of those players whose work ethic is an assurance of success. It might bode well for Lynn, Burns and Ferguson (who is just 30). Unspectacular but reliable...well, Lynn is spectacular as well.
Don Freo
Guest
The way the Vics operate, KP will be captain, coach and CEO next year.
Don Freo
Guest
Interesting...the caption on the Cam White photo. He was the player of the one-day comp...no he wasn't. He was NAMED the player of the one-day comp. Was not close to being the best. Khawaja, NCN and Brad Hogg were all better.
Paul Giles
Guest
Call himself an all-rounder, Voges does average about 33 with the ball in first class cricket. I agree, the argument about giving the quick bowlers a break with Watson does not wash with me in England when they are playing in 20 something degree weather, that is Lyon's job to bowl 30 overs and take 2 or 3 for 80 and give the other 3 quicks 20 overs each for the day.
Danno74
Guest
What does Voges have to do to get a position in the Australia XI, 800 Shield runs already this season, much better option then Watson.
Chris
Guest
I had to check that I was not reading an article from 2014. The off-season promotion of Wade to captain - This is Wades second season as captain. The return of form to White during the One day competition - I thought this happened during the previous summer and continued into the 2014-2015 season afterwards, so rather than a return to form, a continuation of form.
Paul Giles
Guest
I rate Mitchell Marsh as a test batsmen but I believe there are 6 better test batsmen in Rogers, Warner, Smith, Clarke, Voges and Lynn at the moment. In the one day game, I believe he is already in our top 6 batsmen ahead of Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson and therefore still have M.Marsh in the team even when Faulkner returns.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Agreed. I would classify Stoinis, Keath, Christian and Maxwell as batting all-founders, while Hastings is definitely a bowling all-rounder.
dan ced
Guest
I assume Hussey is still recovering from his broken finger or whatever it was. Will be a good addition to their team when he returns though.
dan ced
Guest
I read at the time that they said he would not be guaranteed a spot in the side (would be on the fringe) which basically says to me that they wanted to back their youngsters and give them experience in favour of the veteran Klinger. I still think runs matter, form matters. Risking losing matches just for the sake of nurturing supposed talent isn't worth the risk.. maybe 1 batsman can be a project. Same goes for the national squad, Burns is the project, he can have a few shit innings if he wants. If Mitch Marsh plays.. there should be no Watson, he should be replaced with a dedicated batsman. Right now through weight of runs either Klinger or Voges should be brought into the WC squad as injury backup. Due to BBL04 form I think Klinger is that man. Back on the Redbacks front though.. complete shambles. I like Head but he needs to get to triple figures, good to see Cooper back in the runs too, but nobody continued on with it. Lawford and Zampa had to prop up our innings and now we're at least 1 pace bowler short! Hopefully we can hold on for a draw.
dan ced
Guest
They dun goofed. I know I rate Klinger higher than he maybe should be but.. I just think someone who values their wicket, as opposed to these youngsters that go for an impatient shot and get out... would be great in the AUS team. Now I would've put Cowan in the AUS test team ahead of Voges until this round. Cowan gets a duck, Voges heading towards a double ton. Some people think Klinger will have more of a chance due to higher order positions (Rogers, Watson) possibly coming into play. Who knows. All I know is neither of them plays for NSW.. so unless they both get 300's they won't even get a look in ;)
Don Freo
Guest
Shaun did better than Rogers. If you didn't see it, it doesn't mean it didn't happen. Mitch Marsh will be a top 5 batsman until he retires. FC cricket is his best format. Do you have him pegged as a slogger? He is a builder of an innings.
davros
Guest
I didn't mind Chuck berry and what he brought to the redbacks as a coach...and although i am alarmed at the direction SA are taking atm ....if Chuck and the sacked ex Hi performance manager had anything to do with THE MAXY KLINGER SITUATION (as you would imagine they did )...then really Chuck deserves the same. Someone needs to be accountable for the circumstances that saw Maxy leave....a top bloke a great leader and one hell of a batsman.