For how much longer are scribes, such as Richard Earle and Andrew Capel, going to continue to ‘gild the lily’ concerning the performances of the South Australia Redbacks?
The facts are as follows. They fell into the Matador Cup final as a result of some poor captaincy from Victoria in not elevating Glenn Maxwell up the order when the game was there for the taking by Victoria.
The flogging received by the Redbacks from New South Wales in the final was only equalled by the thrashing they received in the first Shield match, against the same opposition.
Captain Travis Head stated “we are building a new resilient culture under coach Jamie Siddons but remain a work in progress”. Never a truer word spoken!
Despite Head making his first first-class century against Western Australia (114) – after 35 matches and 64 innings – in chasing down the 315 required to defeat WA, it was yet another familiar collapse from 5/269 to 9/308. It required Joe Mennie and Chadd Sayers to score the final 7 runs required for victory.
This is hardly a convincing victory.
The reality for the Redbacks is that while the bowling performances have been acceptable, the batting is woeful. The top order has delivered starts of 3/3 (NSW), 6/128 (WA) and 6/55 (Queensland).
Why is it that SA seems unable to produce successful young first-class batsmen?
Victoria’s 23 year-old Travis Dean scored a century in both innings of his Shield debut against Queensland at the MCG. Queensland’s Sam Heazlett (20 years-old) made a century on debut against Tasmania and now Matt Renshaw (19 years-old) made 94 run out and Marnus Labuschagne (21 yo) made 112, which set Queensland up for victory against SA.
Head, who is 21-years-old, took 35 matches to score his first century, and where are our other young up and coming potential champions?
Much heralded Kelvin Smith has scored 103 runs in 3 matches this season at an average of 17. Smith, in his 10 matches for the Redbacks, averages 23.8.
Selectors, please note Alex Keath’s 144 for Prospect. He’s an Adelaide Crows’ category B rookie and comes from interstate, so he must be in with a chance.
Jason Emms
Roar Rookie
Eleven test players in the last 20 years and only a couple of truly world class players (Gillespie, Lehmann). A few of the 11 are one test wonders as well (Cullen, George, Manou, Wilson) - more then any other state in this period. This is a very complex question to which there has been many suggested answers over many years - flat wickets, too many grade teams, too many imports.........There has been too much reliance on the messiah type coach to come in a deliver a Shield. It has to be a deep seated off-field issue as the conveyor belt of coaches and players, a lot of whom are very talented have just delivered the same result.
VivGilchrist
Guest
Please don't come here. You would hate our climate and beaches. How far do you live from your thriving metropolis?
VivGilchrist
Guest
Fergusons record is not any less impressive than that of S.Marsh. Klinger never got a mention when playing for SA. Lehmann got ignored most of his career. People talk up Whiteman, Bancroft etc but there records aren't that great. If you play for SA your don't get noticed.
Simoc
Guest
My memory may not be great but I thought the likes of Ian, Greg Chappell started there. Then they got lumbered with Andrew Hilditch. Siddons and Klinger scored a mountain of runs for SA as did Lehmann and it took a long while for him to make the test team. It's easiest to blame it on the selectors.
JohnB
Guest
To be fair, they got the rough end of the conditions against Queensland. Damp and overcast on the first morning when all the damage was done, before flattening out. And it was a very good win against the Vics. But yes, they've been making up the numbers for a while.
Sir Tony Abbott - Ambassador to Russia
Guest
Simple reason is they decriminalised marijuana in the 1980s, since then their cricketers have issues concentrating for any period.
dan ced
Guest
Zampa left NSW because Lyon and O'Keefe were the preferred spin options. Some pretty shocking batting efforts, even after the new coach and fitness regime. Cosgrove was looking top notch at TAS, comes here again and can barely progress from a decent innings start. Smith was a world beater in grade cricket but hasn't delivered. Head is usually good for at least a start but is prone to getting out early. Ferguson and Cooper are generally reliable, but yeah. It's a sad and sorry state. I'm thinking Ludeman needs to be dropped for Nielsen soon too, he's not getting enough runs. Smith should be dropped for Lehmann.. and Head should open. Lead from the front. I'd also like Mennie to bat ahead of Zampa in the longer form.
jamesb
Guest
I think the only way promising cricketers like Head and Zampa can prosper in their careers is to leave South Australia, just like Ryan Harris. Stay there, and you could end up like Callum Ferguson-potential unfulfilled.
peeeko
Guest
Cooper is from NSW, Gillespie lived in Sydney until he was 14 then the ACT
E-Meter
Guest
They are club cricket standard. The last time they produced an international standard player was Jason Gillespie. Maybe some argument for Nathan Lyon and Ryan Harris as well. Lyon reached the test squad from SA, but is really a New South Welshman. Harris started there, but became a QLDer. Oh I nearly forgot another one. Tom Cooper with the Netherlands.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Well let's just put it out there - it's all the AFL's fault.
pat malone
Guest
shouldnt it be , why cant SA produce any good cricketers? worst performing shield team (even after borrowing NSW en masse) year after year. maybe kids in SA are too busy enjoying all the great things that that thriving metropolis of adelaide has to offer. so many churches to go to