Australian Coach Tim Nielsen Resigns

3 Comments 21 September 2011

Lead image (c) Guardian.co.uk

Matthew Wood, of the excellent Balanced Sports, reacts to the news of Tim Nielsen’s resignation. Matt tweets @Balanced_Sports.

Tim Nielsen has resigned as coach of the Australian cricket team. About bloody time, too.

World Cricket Opinion

Back to the Future for Phil Hughes

No Comments 20 September 2011

Lead image (c) courtesy of Herald Sun

While Philip Hughes has gone a long way in answering his critics with a second innings century in Colombo, Ben Roberts cant help but think there are some lessons that can be learned from Australia’s previous generation of batsmen.

I took to being very direct with my warning to you Phil Hughes that if you were unable to make runs at the SSC ground in Colombo the wider Australian cricketing community may lose patience with your inability to do the job at the top of the order. A second ball duck in the first innings was not what we wanted. The second innings century is more like what is expected, but realise doubts will still remain until consistency is found.

World Cricket Opinion

Hope Springs Eternal for Australia

No Comments 10 September 2011

Warrior Cricker Shane Watson: lead image (c) Getty Images

Ben Roberts takes a look at the early signs of Australia post-Argus and under the helm of Michael Clarke.

Trust me I am an expert in these matters. As a supporter of the Richmond football club – that is Australian Rules Football for our none Aussie readers – I have borne first hand experience of sporting teams re-births. I have lost count of how many times the ‘Jungle Drums’ have beaten at the mighty Tigers signalling that the long awaited success is just around the corner – but I have also lost count of the number of times I have been disappointed. The re-emergence of the Australian team immediately post-Argus appears different.

I do not wish to take back my earlier remarks in this forum that until changes are made at the very top of Australia’s administration we cannot rest, and I will not yet fully allow my emotions to again rise and fall with the Australian side. I also believe that we need to remain calm post-Argus as many bridges need crossing before Australia’s ascent to the top of world cricket again even begins, let alone arrives. But despite only the tiniest of samples to go on, I believe we can hold hope for the future.

We have begun the Sri Lankan test series in fine style that in difficult conditions for both teams, Australia were far more willing to put their hand to the plough and get a result. I am currently observing the early period in the second test and they have picked up where they left off.

Our batsman appear as though they may unite for the first time in 18 months behind our warrior cricketer in Shane Watson. Who would have thought five years ago he would have been described as such. There are clear messages having been given, we will begin to select on form in the future, not whatever it was previously that Hilditch and co. did. There has been further experience for the likes of Hughes and Khawaja, and a debut long overdue for Shaun Marsh. Over due not because of previously having deserved it but because of his unwillingness to take the chances offered him, preferring like many Australian cricketers to rely on a charmed existence than a body of good runs.

We have selected a bowling lineup along a horses for courses principle. Siddle missed out to Copeland in the first two tests. This was the correct decision, come a greener surface in Cape Town or Brisbane the Victorian will be best placed to take over. The spin bowling fraternity remains somewhat confused, but at least the skipper has more understanding than his predecessor.

There are still glaring holes. While we seem to want to select a bowling lineup based on horses for courses there seems no end in the near future to the man love shown to Mitchell Johnson. The man they should be building the attack around is at the other end currently. Granted his stocky and hairy torso may not look as good in a pair of ‘Y fronts’ as Mitch, but Ryan Harris is far more deserving of being attack leader, and first choice.

When the former skipper flew home to witness his child’s birth, flown in as replacement was David Warner. I really hope that two dozen other first-class batsman in Australia just happened to be busy at the time because I am at a loss as to how Warner, unproven at most levels but particularly first-class, could possibly be the best selected. Lets try and put the best team on the field, not invent our own version of Virender Sehwag because its more marketable.

Finally on the subject of our former skipper, If he can average for the rest of his career 40 and help guide the next generation of Australian batsman through than he will have done more than enough. I am strong in my hope that he will do this; lets not get carried away like he will return to his heady best.

“Hope springs eternal in the human breast”, below which my heart may once again be the Australian cricket sides. Just not yet.

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World Cricket Opinion

Cricket Australia Need to Get Off the Fence

No Comments 01 September 2011

image of Test greats courtesy of ibtimes.com

Matthew Wood, of the excellent Balanced Sports, feels that, despite recent developments, Cricket Australia needs to get off the fence and get its priorities straight. Matt tweets @Balanced_Sports

“The time is coming where you have to choose between what is easy, and what is right” – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

It didn’t take a rocket scientist – or a banking executive – to figure out that Australian cricket has both structural and talent issues. A 4-1 thumping in our last Ashes series, mediocre World Cup campaign and a captain with a positively Reiffel-esque batting average over the past three series (21.5) is proof enough for anyone with even half an eye and a tenth of a brain that Australian cricket has reached its lowest point since 1985.