tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029195115621732694.post347199867423346227..comments2021-05-26T18:18:46.476-07:00Comments on The Free Hit - Cricket And Other Musings: THE END OF AN ERA AND THE DAWN OF A NEW ONESean Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13134496790511282812noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029195115621732694.post-20602265478116861572010-11-24T15:47:09.470-08:002010-11-24T15:47:09.470-08:00@ Carl
Thank you for your comments. Your feedback ...@ Carl<br />Thank you for your comments. Your feedback is always welcome on my articles.Sean Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13134496790511282812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029195115621732694.post-55472251423550482152010-11-22T20:23:02.629-08:002010-11-22T20:23:02.629-08:00Good to read about the Australian dominance and lo...Good to read about the Australian dominance and losing the matches in 1988,really interesting and useful to read,the post is also great.<br /><br />__________________ <br /> <br /><a href="http://www.dissertationswriting.co.uk/original_dissertation.htm" rel="nofollow"> Original Dissertation Writing </a>Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13417060437461267984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029195115621732694.post-55370460643321655302010-11-17T00:05:14.864-08:002010-11-17T00:05:14.864-08:00@ therealadrian - Thank you for your comments.
I a...@ therealadrian - Thank you for your comments.<br />I agree. Historically, Australian teams have been a very good rather than mediocre. I’m positive that they won’t encounter the same problems that West Indies cricket encountered in the early 90’s. Firstly, they have excellent player development through the junior ranks which frequently unearth and groom young talent from all parts of the country. Secondly, the competitive nature of their domestic cricket provides an opportunity for these players to hone their skills before they reach the world stage. I believe Australia can produce 2 or 3 international teams at any given time due to the competitive nature of their domestic cricket. Even though Australia has an abundance of cricketing talent, I don’t envy the Australian selectors at all. Having too many good players available for selection is more complicated than picking a playing XI from a smaller group of good players. A luxury that Sri Lankan, West Indian, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh selectors have. <br /><br />What’s incomprehensible is the persistence the Australian selectors show with past failures. The biggest being the promotion of Michael Clark as T20 and stand-in captain when he has clearly shown that he’s not the man for the job. Instead, Cameron White seems to be the obvious choice. Decisions such as opening the batting with Katich when solid opening bats like Jaques and Rogers are at hand as well as persevering with Hauritz who has a 40+ first class bowling average is bizarre. Slotting North at the all important No. 6 position is also inexplicable as he is neither a Border nor a Martyn. Anyhow, it’s safe to say that while the Australians are going through a bit of an extended slump, they are by no means a rudderless ship. The most exciting prospect is the upcoming Ashes which promise to be an interesting and even contest.Sean Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13134496790511282812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1029195115621732694.post-42193137724127434352010-11-16T18:59:35.175-08:002010-11-16T18:59:35.175-08:00Australia has been the top team for over half of t...Australia has been the top team for over half of their entire time in international cricket, in all formats (aside from T20, when Australia has never been number 1). While this period was the most dominant that Australia has ever been, they had periods in the 1930s, 1940s and even 1960s when they were the top side in world cricket. It may be another 30 or 40 years before Australia is the best side again and they may never be as dominant as they recently were, but I don't expect them to drop down as far as West Indies have, if for no other reason than Australian cricket just has so much history and so much depth. It also should be noted that Australian cricket right now isn't bad because there are no good cricketers about - it is primarily because of the poor selections. Our batting is just as good as it ever was - they just aren't being selected, while we persist with out of form and just plain horrible (e.g. Marcus North) batsmen. We have some amazing keepers out there, they just aren't being selected (e.g. Wade and Hartley). We have probably our best ever selection of quality fast bowlers, it is just that we aren't utilising them properly, largely because we insist on playing a spinner for the sake of a spinner. And finally, no, we don't have a good spinner, and right now we'd be better served to go in with 4 fast bowlers. Eventually, the selectors will wake up to what teams they should be selecting and then, all of a sudden, this Australian team will be really good. Maybe not easily the best in the world, maybe not even number 1 at all, but a hell of a lot better than they are performing now. My current test XI: Michael Hussey (opening), Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson (at 4), Cameron White (c), Steve Smith, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Clint McKay, Doug Bollinger, with Xavier Doherty to replace McKay if the pitches are spinning like crazy (e.g. Sydney) or Hilfenhaus if we are going to England. The problem is that they won't go in with the best side, and, in a few cases, have them batting in the wrong positions. We also have the wrong person as captain.Adrian Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01050001310523173121noreply@blogger.com