Simon Katich has been dropped from the central contract squad in Australia - I feel for him really - he is a good player, he believes that it is his age (35) he is probably right.
What I find interesting is how The Ashes is like a theme running through the story http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/13725441.stm
This is not disrespectful to the Australians - but its nice to see that as it was for us - when you dont have the urn - it has far more importance - In fact during my adult life (I was 16 when we last won the ashes in Oz) the only time we were not thinking of how we lost the last ashes series and how we would attack the next ashes series - was when we were so poor - we had to worry about winning ANY series.
During this period I felt like Australia were losing interest slightly - not the nation - but the cricketers - Ive heard interviews from the Waugh years where players had said they had no respect for England at all - who could blame them I suppose. I suppose they were at the stage where they were so good - England were the least of their challenges - it was almost a given.
Its almost as if for Eng and Oz the 4 measures of your team development could be
1 Not good enough to beat many teams
2 Not good enough to win the ashes
3 Good enough to win the Ashes
4 Good enough to beat anyone
So seeing the stories come out of Australia that remind me of the past England stories warms my heart as an England fan - but more so shows the strength of the Ashes as a series, tradition, and competition - as if there was any doubt, and as for Cricket Australia - the players, the selectors, the board etc. -
They're not so different after all
They're not so different after all!
posted on 16/6/11
I need say no more
posted on 16/6/11
lydneyian:
Indeed- I didn't think you had much to say anyway, considering you know so little about the matter.
posted on 16/6/11
I get the feeling that Rex got out the 'wrong side of the bed' this morning.
posted on 16/6/11
hopefor:
Is that supposed to be a wisecrack?
Quite a weak-crack that is.
posted on 17/6/11
aaannnywaay - back to normality and the subject in hand - Shane Warne was on the TV yesterday - he does not seem that impressed with the goings on within Cricket Australia - he said that katich was an easy target - as opposed to dropping Ponting - who he said was averaging only 25 in the last 12 months or so - again all the conversations gearing toward the Ashes - although in fairness - it was Sky - and if you get an Aussie on English TV - that is inevitable I suppose
posted on 17/6/11
Warne always speaks his mind Ian and he's practically above criticism in this country. He loves to drop the odd verbal bombshell - that's his game and the average punter admires him for that. He's right about Katich being an easy target but is also having a go at Ponting by bringing up his poor form again. However, Punter is also semi-immune (for the time being anyway) due to his previous high status.
I think Ricky's statement yesterday - praising Katich for his steady contributions, yet declaring nobody (i.e. Kato) has a guaranteed place in the team during our current phase - is interesting. (it was on sports news here this morning) Let's hope he accepts the same when his time eventually arrives.
It could get even more ugly than Katich's parting swipe at CA!
Here's an article a mate of mine wrote the other day. I don't necessarily agree with it all but I can see what he's saying. A team member is not going to make a noise when he's still in the side. It's only afterwards when the true emotions surface do we learn the double-edged nature of a sportsman's apparently laissez-faire existence within a high-stakes environment.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/06/13/an-undignified-exit-by-katich/
I can understand Katich not venting his frustrations to the public earlier (as was suggested by Junior) - that would be akin to self-sacrifice!
posted on 17/6/11
Its a fair point - but the bigger picture if you are going to make waves about the set up whilst in the team is not your own place - but the whole team harmony and foundations are put in jeopardy - Look at Pakistan - not many of those guys pull many punches - and look where it gets them.
I doubt any of the Australian squad would want that blood on their hands - imagine if it was around ashes time - jeez the English press would have a field day
posted on 17/6/11
Exactly Ian.
Maybe we did need a Harvey, Border or Waugh, etc to weigh in with a statement at the right time - but not weeks before an Ashes series as was the case in going through the various spin bowlers. It should have been sorted out well before (months rather than weeks) and also decisions should have been made about possible replacement players should there be injuries. That's bad for team morale and supporter confidence too.
The selection process seemed too ad-hoc and the selectors treated certain players at arms length (all too ready to discard them if things didn't go to plan) rather than show full confidence and support through thick and thin times on and off the field.
posted on 17/6/11
Im starting to think - and youll know better than me line - that it all has to come from a bulletproof captain - Border started it - he built a team and took no S**T from anyone - either Australian or foreign - Waugh and Taylor were similar wernt they?????? I always thought of Waugh as Australia when I was younger - as in "any questions - you come through me mate" sort of guy. I wonder if the Talent and personalities stopped Ponting from being effective in that way - Clarke certainly doesnt strike me as the kind of guy to stand up to the selectors anyway
posted on 18/6/11
i really don't know what aussie selectors have been sniffing over the last year, but what ever it is, it has meant that they have become incapable of selecting the best team. this is the team that SHOULD have faced england last winter
Phil Jaques (why he was dropped i will never know)
Simon Katich (quality batsman)
Ricky Ponting (duh)
Mike Hussey ("
Michael Clarke ("
Shane Watson (not really an opener in my book. he's done ok, but he could really flourish if he was played in the middle order)
Brad haddin (arguably best WKB in the world)
Mitchell Johnson (he takes wickets,highest aussie wicket taker in series)
Nathan Hauritz (he knows his limitations, and does a good job at containing, which is more than can be said for doherty and bear)
Peter Siddle
Ryan Harris (when fit)
with that team, they might have stood a chance