The federal government has moved to expand legislation that facilitates stripping Australians of their citizenship, with the national cricket side firmly in their sights.
This abrupt shift in policy is a stark change from recent behind the scenes moves from the Abbott government, with rumours that captain Michael Clarke was in line for a knighthood from national ‘captain’ Tony Abbott.
Following another poor showing in the fourth Test of the current Ashes series, immigration minister Peter Dutton is believed to have spoken to the prime minister about including members of a losing Ashes side in the controversial citizenship changes.
While the legislation has been subject to much debate in recent weeks, it is believed there will be little opposition to the latest addition to the bill.
The Abbott Government are rumoured to be progressing rapidly with moves to cancel the citizenship of the entire side, along with coaching staff and administrators.
It is hoped parliament will pass the amended bill prior to the side’s scheduled return to Australia.
The managers of several former star players, including captain Michael Clarke, have already begun gauging interest from county sides, but are believed to have been rebuffed strongly.
New Zealand prime minister John Key has indicated his country would allow the former cricketers to apply for residency, but cricketing officials across the Tasman have expressed no interest in allowing any of current players to continue their careers.
Rumblings have also emerged from India, where the BCCI are furious at rumours the remaining matches of the current Australia A versus India A series will be cancelled, with the Australian A side believed to be en route to the UK to replace the current team for the fifth Test.
Reports indicate ‘keeper Matthew Wade has remained in a Chennai pub, after being told there was no way he will ever wear a baggy green cap on a cricket field now or in the future.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Don, I was making him as a player I would avoid as a replacement for Clarke in the middle order, not blaming him for our performance in this Test. Given that Rogers, Clarke, Watson, and most likely Voges will be gone after this series, the only other top six batsmen I could have named would be Smith, Warner and Mitch Marsh. I am aware of S Marsh's batting efforts in tour matches against third string attacks, but my point was that the players I listed should be next in line for middle order positions moving forward.
Pom in Oz
Roar Guru
I thoroughly enjoyed Shaun's master class too. At least he survived 8 of the 10 balls he faced in both innings and made a handy 2 runs too. Bravo to the cicada...
Bearfax
Guest
Points taken Don. Marsh is an attractive batsman to watch when he's in flight and Cowan is somewhat dour and limited in his shot selection. But my point was that Cowan knows how to stick around at the beginning of an innings. Marsh doesnt. Marsh is a lot more talented I'll grant you but its the old tortoise and hare scenario here. Being flashier and more talented is meaningless if you dont get some of the essentials worked out, like discipline at the beginning of an innings.
Don Freo
Guest
I wouldn't wish Cowan's ability...or his career...on anyone. I love watching Marsh bat. Watching Cowan bat is like peeling my own eyeballs.
Bearfax
Guest
No one questions that when he has his eye in he is a fine batsman. He's not a whipping boy but he's also not The Messiah. After 27 test innings he has scored just two centuries has been out for less than 5 runs on over 40% of his innings and has an average of 33.11. We sacked Cowan for his 31.28 and Hughes for his 32.65. We've sacked Watson for an average of 35.1 and yet he's an all rounder. Reality has to hit Don. Shaun has a major flaw in his batting, as you finally alluded to, when he first comes to the crease. Get him past 20 or 30 and he's a champion. But it happens too infrequently. Yes he has had some very fine first class scores of late and though I disagreed with them, I understood why he was again selected for the Ashes. But his performances overall in first class and test cricket show at an age when he should be at the top of his game, that he just doesnt have it for test cricket. Someone should have got hold of him when he was younger and taught him how to weather that period until his nerves are under control and his eye is in. He needed to have Cowan's grittiness at the beginning of his innings. If he had he would probably be one of our very best test cricketers. But he's one of those cricketers who when the chips are down which is often, that he plays that one outstanding innings and the selectors again are led to believe the tide has turned. But it never does. If he was in his 20s I'd say persevere. But he's past that. Mind you wouldnt surprise me though if in the next test if he is selected that he scores a big 100, and again the selectors are deceived into believing, things have changed. Happens too often Don.
Don Freo
Guest
Daniel, I wouldn't laying all this at the feet of a favourite whipping boy. Shaun has played only one of the 4 tests. I think you'll find that he has scored close to 300 runs on this tour...only dismissed 3 times. He certainly has to attend to how he begins an innings but he also has top level ability.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
It's hard to say, but I certainly think moving on from the likes of Shaun Marsh and giving younger players an opportunity will be a good move.
noel
Guest
That's a good list of candidates, Daniel. How many would have performed better last week at Trent Bridge? Maybe Khawaja, with his paiience and Handscomb with his technique. Hasn't Burns squandered a few chances already?
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Burns, Khawaja, Lynn, Bancroft, Stoinis, Handscomb, Sandhu, Zampa, Behrendorff, to name just a few. A big generational shift needs to happen over the next 18 months.
Belles
Guest
Maybe the Queen could authorise the decapitation at the Tower of London for all our bats who scored ducks. Only problem is, Daniel, that the joke is on us. How do we recover from this? For our next test series, who else is there?
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Solid plan. A few more Aussies in the UK wouldn't hurt.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
I like it, Bear. Bore crimes made me chuckle.
horse
Guest
That's hillarious, Daniel. Could we refuse to accept them back in Australia, cancel their return flights? That would compensate for the dumping of convicts here. We could give them some of our dross.
Bearfax
Guest
Could this include Olympians who fail to get a medal. I mean a lot of good Aussie money is spent getting them to that level. Failure is not a option. Alternatively we could send those who dont perform adequately to re-education camps. And what of politicians. Should Bronwyn Bishop face exile? Tony Abbot should certainly face prosecution for bore crimes.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Hi Kavvy, I'd never heard of Titus O'Reilly, but google and his twitter feed indicate a joke was made on there about removal of citizenship. Pretty sure we're not the only two people to make this crack, so 'stealing his joke' is a rather unreasonable assertion. Thanks for stopping by.
moaman
Guest
Where could disenfranchised former Aussies go? Who would have them? Best they could do is probably accept the lot of ex-pat kiwis in Oz--pretend to be NZers and get used to having next to no rights.
kavvy
Guest
Second time one of Titus O'Reily's jokes has been stolen on The Roar. Patrick needs to start monitoring this, embarassing
Don Freo
Guest
Sorry Daniel. This one doesn't work.