The Australian cricket selectors, as is well known, are the stupidest people who have ever been born. This has always been the case.
Since I’ve been seriously following Test cricket, the list of their egregious errors includes, but is not limited to:
These terrible errors will continue long into the future, because there is a procedure a person is forced to undergo when they become a national selector, which involves the surgical removal of a non-essential but nevertheless influential segment of the brain. There is simply no way to make a selector as intelligent as a normal person like you or me.
But it’s too easy to be harsh on selectors, just because they’re terrible. We have to remember that it was also selectors who chose Allan Border, and Shane Warne, and Don Bradman, and Ray Bright. They do get it right every now and then.
And what is important to remember about selectors is that, while they know very little about anything, they do know some things we don’t know. They have a more intimate knowledge of what’s going on behind the scenes, about players’ temperaments and personalities and capacity for gelling in team environments. They know players on a deeper level than the average punter, and that’s something to be respected, even if that depth of knowledge does occasionally lead them to ignore more superficial considerations like runs and wickets.
That’s why I like to cut selectors a bit of slack – even the modern lot responsible for confusing situations like the bafflingly divergent approach to Mitch Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. They have their reasons, and we need to respect that they’re doing their job as best they can. Nobody tries to pick a bad side, do they? Do they? No. Surely not. They mustn’t. Although… no. Almost certainly not.
Of course, one does wonder sometimes how our current selectors would’ve dealt with crises past. You can see them during Australia’s rebuilding phase of the 1980s, marking Steve Waugh “never to be picked again” in 1987 and letting Chris Matthews play fifty tests. You can see them leaving Bradman at home in 1930 and making Trevor the pre-eminent Chappell. But they do do their best.
So I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt, and in this brave new era, I’m going to go with the selectors and hope they’re proven right. Nic Maddinson was a surprising choice. Matthew Wade was not only surprising, but almost cruel, given he’s replacing a man who had shown more grit and determination than most of his peers in the first two Tests. But that doesn’t mean they’re bad choices.
However, if these are the selectors’ choices, they have to stick by them. Maddinson, Wade, Handscomb, Renshaw, Bird – and presumably they see Chadd Sayers as having a place in their plans as well – this lot has to be stuck with. Not to a stupid extent, not to a “I’m sure a big hundred for Mitch is right around the corner,” extent, necessarily; but faith must be placed. These are the men, it has been decided, who have what it takes to compete with the world, so they have to be given a chance to do so.
This means not repeating the treatment just meted out to Joe Mennie and Callum Ferguson. That means not repeating the saga of Bryce McGain. That means if these guys fail in this Test, nobody in the selection room throws up their hands and starts crossing their names off whiteboards or whatever it is they do. They’ve made the call: if they truly believe the surprising Maddinson et al are the answer, their duty now is to hold their nerve and be willing to wait for the answer to make itself clear.
If they don’t, if they simply panic at the first stumble by the new guard and look to rejig the whole outfit all over again, if they abandon their convictions as soon as they’re tested – then to hell with all of them.
It’s up to you, Messrs Hohns and company. Last chance. You show faith in them, and I’ll show faith in you. I know you can do it, guys. I want to believe.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
What bollocks. Before that dropping, Hughes had made scores of 0&75, 115&160, 33&32 in South Africa before going to England and scoring 36&0, 4&17 including two poor umpiring decisions. He was averaging 43.6 with two tons and one very solid half ton on debut from 10 innings. Watson had 13 innings before that with a single half ton being his top score of 78 for an average of 19. Sure Watson played well in that England series but Hughes dropping was a selection howler. Watson ended up with an average of 35 with only 4 tons from 59 tests all in either lost causes or when the pressure was off. That dropping smashed Hughes' confidence and shouldn't be repeated.
Annoyedofit
Guest
Just like with Nevills batting
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
The fact that Hughes couldn't play Flintoff' or Anderon was a greater factor, but don't let facts get in the way of your agenda. Hughes averaged 19 and Watson replacing him averaged 48. Great move by the selectors. Watson also averaged 52 and 69 in his next two series as an opener. Even more proof that it was a good call to drop Hughes. It was pretty clear that opposition had worked out he struggled against short stuff after his series in South Africa.
Ben Pobjie
Guest
Oh yes! Absolute shocker!
Marty Gleason
Roar Guru
Yep Deano shaped the persecution complex of us Victorians re: the selectors for an entire generation. Wasn't Mark Waugh retained after four consecutive ducks?
Sam Back-Hoe
Guest
How about dropping Phil Hughes for Watson in England, because Johnson couldn't bowl (at the time)?
dan ced
Guest
I'm not going to hope they fail. I'm just 90% sure they will. The standard with Wade is so low that average keeping looks like world beating.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Top article Ben but you're dropped.
Suzi Q
Guest
Thanks Ben, love your work!
Gordon Smith
Guest
S Marsh has earned his place and should definitely play in India.