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cruyff turn

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Joined November 2009

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Well, I guess if you do the crime you do the time … and I’m a Port fan.

'Totally unacceptable': AFL bans Port star for 'unprompted and highly offensive' homophobic slur

David King and Kane Cornes discussed the Crows at length on their show last Friday, and they both seemed to agree on the fact they lack quality in midfield. This is where both Rankine and Rachele – their two players with some X factor – need to step up and move into the middle, though I question whether either has the engine to play there regularly.

'Suffering from paralysis-by-analysis': Adelaide Crows have gone from box office sensation to under-performing turkeys

Can’t see that happening. They have enough good key position players, both in attack and defence. What they need are midfielders. Badly. Mind you, the Crows list management is part of the reason why they are in this rut right now!

Really, he should go wherever he believes he will get the best chance to do well.

Six Points: Clutch kings do it again, footy's dirtiest player, and debunking 'Vic-centric' fixture myth

This call might have wheels, Maxy!

Port could do with an extra tall up forward; I don’t know how much Dixon can offer beyond this year. Someone like Lukosius could potentially work well with Marshall and Georgiades.

And the debutant at the Suns you were thinking of is Jed Walter. One would think he will be part of their forward set-up, along with Ben King.

Six Points: Clutch kings do it again, footy's dirtiest player, and debunking 'Vic-centric' fixture myth

I agree regarding Fraser-McGurk opening for SA. Shouldn’t be happening. Much better suited at no. 5 or 6. I wonder if the Aus selectors persuaded SA to play him in that position?

Pipeline running dry: Aussie selectors struggling to find young batters knocking at the door, let alone bashing it down

You’re right, Paul! There is definitely a lack of young batters putting their hands up for Test selection. Davies, who you name, and possibly Aaron Hardie are the only two I can think of. Fraser-McGurk has talent, but like you say, is still a long way off from demonstrating he has the game to succeed in the long format.

I’ve said on other threads that Harry Dixon will be opening for Australia within the next 2-3 years. If I were the Victorian selectors, I’d be playing him now; don’t care if he’s only 18 years old. He’s that good. This may even become an option now that Will Pucovski will most likely be ruled out for the remaining Shield matches.

Pipeline running dry: Aussie selectors struggling to find young batters knocking at the door, let alone bashing it down

And that is why it is time for him to walk away, while he still has his health. If a first-class batsman cannot deal with this part of the game, then they shouldn’t be there.

Cricket Victoria have been extremely patient and supportive of him, but I can’t help but feel that his on-again off-again career has been disruptive to selection. Sounds cold, but they’re there to win matches, not shepherd Pucovski.

Pucovski retires hurt in distressing scenes after another Sheffield Shield head knock

That is an excellent observation, Luke.

I guess the two things go hand in hand, or one leads to the other?

Pucovski retires hurt in distressing scenes after another Sheffield Shield head knock

I think of the two things as separate.

If a guy gets into bad positions due to poor footwork, or playing too far away from his body, that’s bad technique. Not watching the ball is … just not watching the ball!

Pucovski retires hurt in distressing scenes after another Sheffield Shield head knock

He’s batting number 3.

Whether he bats in the top order or in the middle order is neither here nor there. He’s a batsman, he has a role to play for his team, and if he can’t execute that role without getting hit, then it’s time to find someone else who can perform that role. Harry Dixon is a prodigious talent who would definitely not look out of place in the Shield, he could be given a go?

Pucovski retires hurt in distressing scenes after another Sheffield Shield head knock

This has gotten to the point of no return. I’ve been following cricket for over 40 years and I have not known another batsman to get so frequently hit in the head. At what point do we say ‘enough’?

Pucovski retires hurt in distressing scenes after another Sheffield Shield head knock

Not sure if it’s technique, more a case of not watching the ball.

Pucovski retires hurt in distressing scenes after another Sheffield Shield head knock

Well done boys!

Some really promising talent there. All three fast bowlers look like they have some pace about them, and I shall track their journey with interest. As for the batting, I said on another thread that I predicted Harry Dixon would be opening for the Test team within the next 2-3 years – and I still have that belief. He’s a tremendous prospect.

Champions! Australia U19s break 14-year drought with dominant World Cup final win, India bridesmaids again

That wasn’t exactly the point I was making! I was talking about Harry Dixon.

'I don't know what happened but it's awesome': Aussie U19s scrape into World Cup final by solitary wicket in cliffhanger

I’m calling it now: I predict Harry Dixon will be opening the batting for the Test team in the next 2-3 years.

He has Warner’s aggression and Shaun Marsh’s technique, and it’s only a matter of time before Victoria select him for the Shield.

'I don't know what happened but it's awesome': Aussie U19s scrape into World Cup final by solitary wicket in cliffhanger

You certainly sit up and take notice when Ponting says something like this. He’s not one to wax lyrical about a young player if he feels that player isn’t ready for the challenge.

Let’s see how Fraser-Mcgurk goes in the remaining Shield matches; I’d like to see him bat more in the longer game. And be tested against good bowling.

Ponting earmarks Fraser-McGurk, asks for him to be 'fast-tracked' as future Test player

Fair point. Botham and Flintoff are examples of all-rounders who were weighed down by captaincy.

Smith's time is up: Selectors miss golden chance to look to the future with short-sighted leadership decision

What makes you think that? Because he’s big?

When he speaks, he’s well-spoken, and he generally comes across as a thinker of the game. Because of his relative youth, he hasn’t really shown it at senior level. However, if you were to project what the side would look like in four years, he will have become one of the established members of the team – maybe even the star.

Smith's time is up: Selectors miss golden chance to look to the future with short-sighted leadership decision

The Water Boys. Had one great song – ‘The Whole of the Moon’.

Smith's time is up: Selectors miss golden chance to look to the future with short-sighted leadership decision

I take your point regarding Waugh. There’s every likelihood Trav may follow a similar path. However, if I were CA, I’d be wanting Green to get a taste of leadership – starting off with WA or the Scorchers. This may prove difficult though, as he rarely plays for either team.

Smith's time is up: Selectors miss golden chance to look to the future with short-sighted leadership decision

I agree that Head should have been given the captaincy for these ODIs, it makes little long-term sense to revert back to Smith.

However, I don’t necessarily believe Head will assume the job once Cummins calls it a day. They’re both the same age, and if Pat makes it to 34-35, there’s every chance Head won’t be far behind him. Cameron Green is the one who’ll become captain after Cummins.

With regard to middle-order batting options, Hardie and Davies are certainly in the mix, but what about Matt Short? Absolutely killing it in the BBL and did really well in the Shield last season. Plus he bowls some handy off-spin, and he’s a gun in the slips. Selectors could do much worse than looking to him.

Smith's time is up: Selectors miss golden chance to look to the future with short-sighted leadership decision

Yes, that was definitely not one of their finest moments!

Picking apart the selectors’ choices in the Bailey era: Masterstrokes tarnished by blunders as Australia face future upheaval

But the ODIs are in February!

Picking apart the selectors’ choices in the Bailey era: Masterstrokes tarnished by blunders as Australia face future upheaval

In fairness to the selectors, they seem to have gotten change in motion with the ODI team – Hardie, Short and Morris being called up. The fact Stoinis isn’t there seems to support this, though they probably could have gone further by omitting Abbott as well. Maybe they were tempted to include either Davies or Fraser-McGurk, but it’s probably better to have them scoring runs in the Shield than being on the edges of the ODI team.

How to regenerate the Test team will be interesting, especially with the bowling – as both Starc and Hazlewood edge towards their mid-30s. My money is on the former going first. With that in mind, there is a need to look for younger options. I hope Richardson can get back to something approaching his best, and show he is over his injury problems. He would be excellent support for Cummins.

Picking apart the selectors’ choices in the Bailey era: Masterstrokes tarnished by blunders as Australia face future upheaval

While I would really like to see Pucovski return to the team, he really needs to string together some matches, and performances, to warrant inclusion. I know the context of what you are saying though, that you don’t mean now or any time soon. However, there will come a time when he’ll need to be judged on more than just potential.

'Best six batters in the country': Smith will open and Green returns as Bailey denies Bancroft rift over Sandpaper saga

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