Cuprum has informed me privately that he misses my posts about cricket. So, apologies to Ferret and the rest of you that find such subjects boring, but you are under no obligation to read it.
See, I’ve inserted a “More” tag right here, so that you aren’t even offended by a picture.
Against decent opposition, Australia’s ODI team was revealed for what it is. An uninspiring, talentless group led by an old hasbeen who doesn’t know when to let go.
Brett Lee, a relic of the good old days, was the only player to perform well; Brad Haddin would have been OK if he hadn’t reverted to type after he reached 40 and begun slashing about as though he were Steve Smith. He knows better, but he lacks the patience. Under a decent Captain, he would do far better.
Aussie bloggers on the local MMM are adamant that Punter must go, and most also call for the demise of Cameron White, who has been thoroughly disappointing. Opinions are divided about Pup, but his lacklustre dillydallying yesterday suggests he would serve Australia better by his absence.
Mitch and Shaun blew it again. Speed and machismo are no substitute for accuracy; ‘line and length’ – that’s what it’s all about, but they can’t hold this in their noddles for more than 5 seconds, it appears.
As for Krejza, the least said, the better. I won’t even mention my usual hero – ‘Mr Cricket’ has lost his mojo.
I would hand Brett Lee the Captaincy and reselect a team on the basis of current form (6-12 months). Never mind the million dollar contracts, clear it all down and start again. Get rid of that sodding “coach”, too; he’s a waste of a business class seat.
Grr!
Boadicea's Chariot 
Let’s face it, cricket died the day they took away the goalkeeper and replaced the goal post and nets for three little sticks stuck in the ground.
Cricket …. can’t even do a header …what good is it? 😦
So you lost one, no need to cry about it 😥
Aussies have never recovered from the retirements of Hayden, Gilchrest, McGrath and Warnie. To be honest what team would?
¼ Finals could look like this, I’m assuming India win today but the only definite is our game.
Pakistan v W/Indies
India v OZ
Sri Lanka v England
N.Z v S.A
(I’ve paired them not in date order but how I think that the semis will line up)
So, an India v SA final?
I enjoy your cricket posts, Bearsy, because I can quote bits to my sons which make me look reasonably knowledgeable about it all. Thanks for that.
I would think that whoever wins your semi will go on to the final, I doubt if the Pakis have the temperament for a semi and the Windies, well they’re just plain awful.
Our section is slightly different, we’re lucky that we stay in Dhaka for our game against NZ, it’s the same stadium where we just hammered Bangladesh so confidence will be high, the snag is Sri Lanka play England in Colombo and our semi is also in Colombo. Sri Lanka will be difficult to beat on home soil, we’ll see. Perhaps England can somehow spring a surprise which would level the playing field a bit.
Games start at 8:30 or 9:00 am GMT, (yours is 9;00 Thursday) the time zones suit us perfectly but a (very) late night for you I imagine?
Brilliant Bearsy, thank you!
I watched the Pakistan innings and was very impressed by Brett Lee – I’ve been a fan of his since the Ashes in 2005. I just don’t understand how Australia can go from the best to so low so quickly. Admittedly it is only one defeat, but it is part of a bigger picture where the individuals don’t perform consistently and there seems to be no team collective. Even Punter’s fielding was poor – his fingers are clearly still causing him discomfort. Pakistan weren’t even that good!
Soutie is absolutely right in not recovering from the loss of the huge talents of Warne, Gilchrist, McGrath, Hayden et al. However since AB brought Australia back to the top after Packer, there has always been a consistent policy in bringing in new talent slowly and surely and making sure when the stars retired they weren’t missed. Mark Taylor did this brilliantly, as did Stevie Waugh (although he hung around a little too long!)
Under Punter this isn’t happening. He hasn’t been a great batsman for a couple of years and Pup clearly isn’t a worthy successor, despite his talent (which is ever more inconsistent). CA seem rudderless and keep trying new stars before they’ve done the hard yards in state cricket. The talent is still there, it just isn’t being developed correctly.
Time to start again, remove Punter and the pup, ditch the tattoo’d mug Johnson, keep some wise old heads like Lee, Hussey and Haddin, and plan for the ashes of 2013 now.
As for this World cup – the WI were dreadful today, India wobbled, SA look strong but are chokers, SL aren’t strong enough in depth, England are tired and not really interested, NZ are inconsistent and don’t have a bowling attack, Pakistan are the French of the cricket world and Australia always win anyway – unfortunately my India v Aus final cannot now happen.
My pick of the QFs – Pak to beat WI; SL to beat Eng; SA to thrash NZ and India to just beat Aus!
I didn’t see Soutie’s post until after I added mine! Great minds think alike, clearly!
Or is it fools seldom differ? 😀
Your further thoughts Bearsy?
A recent poll taken on the Brisbane Times –
Read more at –
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/cricket/powerbrokers-move-to-punt-ponting-20110321-1c3u8.html
So 19% of the voters were Brits, I presume.
😆
Even the BBC is saying something similar….although it is cut from the SMH. Hopefully the old school tie network here will have a word with our antipodean friends and ensure Punter stays as captain for at least another 4 years!
Ricky Ponting could be in the final week of his nine-year reign as Australia’s captain after it was revealed the 36-year-old is likely to face stiff opposition at boardroom level to retain his job after the World Cup for the tour of Bangladesh in April.
Full story: Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/powerbrokers-move-to-punt-ponting-20110321-1c3u8.html
Oh dear – ignorant me can’t seem to get a linky thing working.
And to add – Lee as Captain? Surely not? No fast bowler has ever made a good skipper.
That’s the same article that I linked, Cuprum. I’m guessing that you’ll find the “source” was #1 daughter’s partner’s brother-in-law. 🙂
If not Brett, who? Rumour anoints Pup, but …
Ah indeed – perhaps you should have a word with him too! Some interesting public comments – surprisingly some in support of Punter and Pup.
The comment aboout CA wanting Pup as captain in order to win back the young australians sums it up – what a narrow minded attitude – surely having a successful team will win back the crowds? Pup is too much of a Punter man and a choker under pressure – he can’t even justify his place as a batsman.
As for skipper instead of Lee, I feel somewhat unqualified to comment – how about Haddin or Hussey in the short term? Are there any other candidates? I se White is a little week too and couldn’t get in the test team on merit. Crickey!
Mind you – you’ll probably win the world cup anyway!
Brad Haddin is, unfortunately, not level-headed enough, I fear, although he’d be popular. So would Mike Hussey, but, bless his little cotton socks, he’s too old. Cameron has demonstrated a dedicated inability to bat. Nope, as it stands currently, it’s Brett for Cap’n. 🙂