David Warner showcases a return for Australia A

Australia A versus South Africa A at LC de Villiers Oval, Pretoria.

Australia A 1st innings: 5/399 (89.4 ov)
 
After an average perform in Zimbabwe, Australia A hit back hard down in South Africa to give Australia's younger players a boost in the wake of a thumping for our national team at Lord's and serious yet justifiable questions surrounding our talent pools. 

David Warner has finally come back out of his shell as he slammed 193 runs against a good South African A bowling attack. He hit 29 fours and a six during his innings, falling 7 runs short of a double ton. Sixty-three percent of his runs came from boundaries.

Support was provided from debut first-class centurion Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell has struck 103* runs and has been joined at the crease by Tim Paine. 

Maxwell hit just 13 fours in his innings, which reflects how hard he must have worked with his running between the wickets. It indicates a steady, patient innings from a man being associated far too closely with Twenty20 cricket. Fifty percent of his innings has come from boundaries, a perfect balance.

The partnership between Warner and Maxwell brought 204 runs after the side was 4-195. 

Skipper Aaron Finch has needed to up his first-class game for a while and now is the time the supporters need these guys to really man up and play with unquestionable tenacity and hunger for Australia. We need them to sweat blood and tears, to strive for success and ambition towards First-class cricket in order to ensure they all want to compete for the Baggy Green cap - the tradition.

Finch scored 51 runs facing against the new ball. There was a top order collapse early on (we all know about these) but it was refreshing to see a strong recovery. Shaun Marsh (5) and Alex Doolan (6) unfortunately didn't get on the board. 

For some reason the Warner/ Maxwell partnership brought back a memory for me of the Steve Waugh/ Greg Blewett 309 run partnership at the Wanderers back in 1997. That is what that team steadily worked towards. Sticking with a squad, allowing them to go through the trials and tribulations and graft for a winning formula. Eventually when the team was in doubt a duo would emerge from somewhere. 

This scenario will raise questions about Warner being sent away from England. It was a decision I wasn't over the moon about and I couldn't see the logic at the time, but in doing so he has struck a brutal century and after being out of form (no denying it) for a while this was what was needed. This boost may have not come in England just yet. He drove himself to it, the good and the bad. 

Great to see something positive with on field performances and all I can hope is that this will be a ripple effect of sorts as the boys gear up to take on Sussex tomorrow in a tour match before the third Test. 

Hoping for a great game for the side as they search for the survival instinct, especially Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird who may come into consideration for Old Trafford.

As incredible as it is how things went from a fight for hope after the first Test to a horrifying concern of our future prospects following the second Test, fortune could turn around yet again for us. This side of ours (Australia and Australia A) doesn't boast any comparison to the past, but each guy is capable of something at the elite level. Maybe Warner has sent something over to England all the way from South Africa?

David Warner image is © Getty Images
 
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Opinion: Where do we go from here? Australia's leadership issue

As Australia lost possession of the Champions Trophy and exited the tournament before the semi-finals for the first time since 2000, it also highlighted something worrying amidst some internal dramas dating back to the Indian tour in March.

Michael Clarke was ruled out of the Champions Trophy campaign due to a degenerate back condition he has. He also missed the 2009 edition of this tournament and, for the first time in his career, missed a Test match. The match he missed was the final Test of the forgettable Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but something major was noticeable. The lack of leadership in the Australian camp is obvious. 

- If you missed the Ashes squad analysis article, you can read it via this link.
- Who is in the battle to open the batting for Australia in the Ashes? Read it now to find out!
- What conditions can be expected at the Ashes venues? Look into the analysis.
- Our 2013 Champions Trophy squad and the SWOT analysis? Catch up on it via this link.

Last night I watched a show on Fox Sports. It was an hour long feature with Clarke in an exclusive interview with Eddie McGuire, which also took an up close and personal look into a day in the life of Clarke prior to a big series. I have never doubted how hard an Australian sportsman works and have witnessed the Australian Cricket team train in the most challenging of circumstances. Lead by Ricky Ponting – although no longer the captain at the time - the players worked like dogs and systematically ensured each player was doing their part but there was a strong, pure sense of support.

On his own Clarke is highly motivated, positive and focused on his duties as a professional sportsman. He is a good captain and is the best man for the job with all the qualities needed. His application to the game can never be questioned and this feature on him made this apparent, especially with the steps he takes to ensure his body is strong and in the best possible shape. This is now more important than ever due to an injury he has kept at bay for the better part of his career, but now it’s becoming a challenge to overcome series in, series out.

Clarke has tried to be a leader on a mission to make his own legacy, stamp his own authority while also attempting to find a balance between his style and what he was exposed to when he was a member of the greatest Australian team of the modern era. It is proving to be even more difficult and this is becoming clear with the lack of leadership personalities coming through the current crop of players.

I have always written objectively and constructively where possible. I respect our players and have always avoided “trash talking” or being overly-critical, especially if it may be seen as a personal criticism of a player’s character. If you couldn’t say it to the person, don’t say it at all, or in this case write it. However, for this article I will be coming through perhaps as less reserved than previous years, always backing our team through thick and thin.

George Bailey’s attitude is refreshing. In Clarke’s absence he was seen as the best option. Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting have departed, while Brad Haddin is now a Test specialist for what’s left of his career. The option is limited to Bailey who is now an experienced leader of the Tasmanian Tigers. He seems a happy-go-lucky chap, who has a smile or a grin on his face most of the time, but he also seems handicapped in his efforts with a side that has a long way to go to find a sense of unity on the playing field to establish a winning culture. His grin during the Champions Trophy seemed to be more of a mask to hide the embarrassment and possible frustration at the side’s lack of venom.

Bailey is a suitable ODI leader, but who backs Clarke for Tests? ©PA Sport

Despite criticism he has taken for not being a specialist limited over’s player, it would seem his average and consistency begs to differ. Besides being the best suited player to lead in Clarke’s absence, he’s also proving to be one of the few batsmen to show consistency and aggression with the bat in hand. This just adds proof that while he may not be the long term solution, he is at least showing leadership credibility and maintaining his form.

I just mentioned Bailey isn’t a long term solution. Who will be the next guy then? It’s always the million dollar question and foresight is a difficult thing in the game of cricket.

Michael Clarke is, in my opinion, not going to be playing cricket for much longer.

Sure, he may be 32 years of age, but his back is flaring up more than ever and cricket schedules are not becoming easier to manage. He is the leader of the Test and ODI squad and a replacement to take the weight off his shoulders isn’t becoming a clear vision at this point.

Clarke has also made mention that he will most probably not play into his late thirties as most players have been able to do so, not just because of the three degenerative discs in his back, but also a change of opinion. He’s a married man, a family man, and has the entrepreneur drive in him, probably enhanced through his relationship with James Packer. He has a future beyond the game and this game carries enough pressures.

In an interview he gave last year, Clarke stated the following:

"Unfortunately degeneration, it can't improve, so it's about now managing my condition.
"I'd love to see this team have success, achieve everything it wants to achieve. And then I think that is time for me to give the reins to somebody else and go and start the other side of life I guess - get involved in some sort of business and have a family and do all the things that are special to me and I still want to do when my cricket career is over."

Perhaps a miracle performance from his Test squad may see back to back Ashes victories leave one final task – to win the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. In the exclusive interview with Eddie McGuire, at the end of the interview when asked what is left for Clarke he pointed these three objectives out. To me, that would indicate that come 2015 Clarke will be calling it a day. He will be 34 years of age.

By this stage we may have seen younger emerging players such as; Joe Burns, Nic Maddinson, Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar and Chadd Sayers become centered within their career progression and potential leadership abilities. Our current crop of players may have found success to find an unsourced sense of inspiration to become leaders in the Australian Cricket landscape. It is a big dream at the moment, but I’d like to believe Michael Clarke can do something to reel in a group of leaders, just as Shane Warne did so when he earmarked Clarke as something special for the game.

Leading up to Steve Waugh’s retirement, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne were all potential leaders to take over. Amongst them were strong minded individuals who could have also chiselled those characters into larger than life players. In fact, this is what happened. Besides being a group of unbelievable cricketers, they also had a bond on the field to tap into each other’s skills with deep insight and a surreal self-belief in any situation. It was a winning culture, groomed through leadership.

This year’s back-to-back Ashes series is quite possibly going to be one of the most important chapters for Australian Cricket looking ahead. A winning culture creates winning personalities, but to get there is another battle many sides just don’t achieve. Victory and self-belief is in the Australian sporting culture, so no excuses should be made up that these players don’t have it if this culture still exists.

This is an optimistic appeal, but in the present sense it’s a tunnel with little light. In my Ashes preview I maintained that we can most definitely win back the Ashes urn, and still do. My doubt however is regarding leadership.

David Warner was backed by Michael Clarke as a competitive bloke with definite leadership qualities. Unluckily, or possibly fortunately, Warner has cracked under pressure for a place in the Test side and a series of poor decision making dating back a few months now has put his leadership future under serious question. He could turn it around like Ricky Ponting did, but that’s speculation. In the present, he is not looking like a leader of the Australian team, especially with his inconsistent performances in all forms of the game at the elite level.

Clarke (left) with David Warner, who is losing grip to be a leader © Getty Images

The problem with the Warner incident in England is that several players were alongside him, out at an early hour and in a situation with the opposition that leaders like Allan Border or Steve Waugh would have been nauseated by. Clarke strongly opposed the situation and when I read his opinion over the matter I felt for him. He’s leading a side in a challenging enough time for our team and now has to deal with players not only finding themselves in questionable circumstances but also not ticking the leadership and responsibility boxes next to their names – despite Clarke believing at the same time that Australian Cricket is in a fantastic place. It also just puts a dent into Clarke's efforts to be the best captain possible with players behaving this way in a professional setting.

Phillip Hughes is battling for consistency four years following his Test debut series in South Africa. Despite Clarke’s admiration for Hughes, I have had three encounters with Hughes that gave me the impression he is anything but a leader based on his public profile. Sometimes a player has a personality that screams “leadership” or there is a sixth sense that they could be the next leader. Hughes doesn’t have this and while it is my opinion, I feel strongly about this.

Ed Cowan is pushing his case with dedication to his game and he’s also taken the initiative to work hard in the County circuit to ensure he is ready for the Ashes to take guard against the new ball. This is something I respect and wish to see him flourish this series in the absence of Simon Katich. Cowan has definitely pushed his case to be a leader but he has come across as being a “teacher’s pet”, or as some may say in a cheekier way, a “brown noser”. His close relationship with his media mates gives him leverage and is a fairly smart tactic. Keep the journalists and media opinion makers close to you! Cowan isn’t the long term solution and even if he is to get an opportunity following consistent performances.

Shane Watson is at the same career stage with Clarke and has many more battles regarding his body. Having stepped down from the vice-captaincy role after the horrid Indian tour, it’s a closed door for Watson to lead Australia. His personal game requires so much attention and focus that this burden would be too much to handle.

Bowlers rarely get considered for captaincy roles. Daniel Vettori of New Zealand is a rare candidate in this regard and learnt from Stephen Fleming, one of the best of the modern game.

Peter Siddle has so much heart and passion for this game. It is a reason that makes him so hard to leave out of a starting XI. How good is his cricketing mind? I am not certain but I am not sure he’d be the captaincy material to do what Clarke does. Of all the bowlers he is the best pick.

Matthew Wade has been boosted by Clarke as a young man with a strong personality. Despite being the second keeper of choice for the Ashes, he understood the reasoning and has an objective now. He needs to become a better wicket-keeper and has the opportunity to hone in on his leadership qualities. Is he the best solution though and a realistic one to take over from Clarke? He’s had an inconsistent entrance into the elite level. Then again, who is being consistent?

George Bailey is the only player that comes to mind with regards to consistency. It is a worrying sign looking ahead. It is also a big reason why Chris Rogers was called into our Ashes squad.

Tim Paine was being groomed with leadership duties, having also lead Australia A. He still has a way to go with his return after a finger injury kept him out for the majority of last season.

Callum Ferguson struck me as a player who could have been groomed into a Michael Bevan/ Michael Hussey player of sorts with a capacity to become a senior in the side. He has become a bit of an outcast though for selection, much to my mixed feelings of disappointment and anger as a result.

Michael Klinger has lead South Australia, won the State Player of the Year award twice at the Allan Border Medal Awards, but never received the opportunity to represent Australia. His time is far gone despite doing a good job in the County circuit. Cameron White was even in the waiting seat with his leadership of Victoria, but sadly inconsistency has been an issue with him (a recurring theme of our current setup) and he’s far from top of the picking list regarding Sheffield Shield performances.

For a short while I thought Victorian batsman Michael Hill may have been a future prospect after leading the Australian u19 Squad a few years back. He has recently started to show class with Victoria. He’s got a bit of work to still do in order to get onto the radar with the selectors.

So, where do we go from here in terms of leadership?

Fortunately Michael Clarke should be ready for the Ashes. Not only is he a leader but he’s also our best batsman. He’s our most consistent performer in both Test and ODI cricket and has so many achievements to his name that come the day he walks away from the game he will be an accomplished cricket, having also been a member of the greatest Australian side.

Given this we are fortunate. We also have a good Ashes squad and the sooner the off-field dramas of recent months and the Champions Trophy exit get put behind us the better it will be for all in the Australian Cricket family.

However, the question of leadership is tough as leaders are generally naturally born but there’s always going to be grooming. Who is that natural born leader in our ranks that hasn’t been identified?

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Book review: The Psychology of Cricket

Book title: The Psychology of Cricket
Release: 2013
Authors: Dr. Stewart Cotterill and Dr. Jamie Barker
Publisher: Bennion Kearny Limited

Print
Publication Date: 25 March 2013
ISBN: 978-1-909125-21-6
Approximate Cover Price: £15.99 / Aus$23.99
Pages: 232

You can buy a copy through The Book Depository (they offer free shipping to Australia).

eBook
The book is available on Kindle
It should be going live on Apple's iBooks.

For all other ebook formats (including PDF and EPub) - Smashwords is the best place to buy.

Review:

Steve Waugh regularly made mention of what it takes to not only become a champion cricketer, but also become part of a winning team. Mental toughness, self-belief, playing to your strengths, etc.
All of these factors come up time and time again when we read interviews with cricketer's or listen to radio or television commentary discussions.

So often we hear about these dynamics of the game but how often is it really explored? Sure, those of us who have played cricket have touched base on these aspects of our own game, but how many of us truly understand what it's all about?

A book such as The Psychology of Cricket is something I strongly believe there has been a need for at various levels of the game.

The Psychology of Cricket touches on these topics from two highly qualified chartered British psychologists. Although we often discuss the topics covered purely on the surface, what we don't realise is how deep the psychology really goes behind these topics and how they are all essentials into a cricketer's practice. And this is what Dr. Stewart Cotterill and Dr. Jamie Barker have researched and brought to the forefront.

Dr. Cotterill and Dr. Barker have done their groundwork, having consulted with sportsmen at different levels and lectured at top Universities to really tap into what makes players the best of the best.

The psychological battle on the cricket field never ends, simply because it goes with a cricketer wherever he or she ventures. Without the knowledge and without the support in the working environment, one can never truly control or grasp these different dynamics at play. This book may in time prove to be an invaluable tool for the emerging cricketer to have as hard copy support, which one coach can rarely relay.

In essence the book will equip you with a greater understanding behind the core components come amateur to professional cricket. These core components essentially come down to Confidence, How to control emotions, Ways to increase concentration, How to become more mentally tough, How to build a successful team, Effective leadership and decision making, Dealing with pressure and Staying motivated.

Throughout the book, quotes from players such as; Steve Waugh, Justin Langer, Wasim Akram and Sachin Tendulkar appear. It adds snippets to the overall insight and the psychological approaches to the game these players are so aware of. Each quote has relevance to the chapter being studied.

For clarity, the chapters discussed are as follows:

Chapter One - The Mental Side of Cricket
Chapter Two - Being Motivated and Committed in Cricket
Chapter Three - Staying Focused
Chapter Four - Performing Under Pressure
Chapter Five - Becoming Mentally Tough
Chapter Six - Playing Confidently
Chapter Seven - Controlling Your Emotions
Chapter Eight - Leadership and Captaincy
Chapter Nine - Preparing to Perform: Playing to Your Strengths
Chapter Ten - Building a Successful Cricket Team
Chapter Eleven - Effective Decision Making

The topic of leadership is something I appreciated as far too often we have cricketers so focused on their own well-being, they overlook the importance to release any evidence of leadership, which can in many regards help their own game. Just look how Steve Waugh thrived in a leadership role once he'd founded a solid foundation for his own game.

Short challenges and tasks are also set out at the end of various chapters on quite a fundamental level to put the concept across for the reader to find a way to relate this to their own goals and practice routines. I liked the concept as "recommendations" as not everything will work for everyone. After all, cricket is a very personal game on so many levels.

If you are looking for a quick fix to solve your woes of self-doubt and lack of mental application come your cricket, you will not be finding it in this book. If you want a book that will gradually take you through the tasks of the different ways to work on your game in a psychological capacity, then this book will be of a massive benefit.

One must keep in mind they will require a fair amount of focus and limited distraction when taking in the different concepts and then finding ways to interpret them into your own game and mindset. This in itself will take some time as of course when trying to gain new skills or master a challenge, time is everything, as well as dedication, focus and commitment.

The more you read the book while relating it to your practice, indeed practice will indeed make "permanent" (not "perfect" as the book tells us). The concepts are easy enough to grasp on the surface but to really understand and apply them to your game is a whole different challenge, but that is what makes cricket one of the most intense sports come the mind games. This book will definitely benefit many emerging cricketer's or coaches.

An extract from the Authors with regards to the application and purpose of this book:

"Anyone who has played, or coached, cricket is aware that the mental side of the game separates the best players from the rest. Indeed, many players, coaches, and commentators describe the substantial contribution psychology plays in determining levels of cricket performance. The Psychology of Cricket is the first book to provide sport psychologists, coaches, and players of all levels, with
expert knowledge on gaining the mindset necessary to maximize cricket
performance.
This book will teach you to apply mental skills effectively in specific practice and match situations, while also getting inside advice from the authors who have experience and expertise of working as sport psychologists in professional cricket.
Through The Psychology of Cricket, you’ll learn new ways to become mentally tough which include building confidence, improving concentration, enhancing emotional control, staying motivated, and handling pressure. You will also develop your understanding of the important ingredients of successful teams and begin to understand the art of captaincy and effective leadership. Central to this book is the development of the reader’s understanding of how psychological factors influence performance, and how knowing this can help to enhance psychological performance.
The Psychology of Cricket starts with an emphasis on individual player development and the fundamental psychological skills you need to excel at the sport. In later chapters, the focus shifts to the importance of team dynamics and mental strategies in competitive play.
For the definitive word on mental preparation, The Psychology of Cricket draws on the experiences of sport psychologists, coaches, and players working in cricket at all levels. If you want to gain expert, contemporary advice about developing the correct mindset and mental approach to arguably one of the most psychological sports around, then The Psychology of Cricket is the resource for you!"

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Steve "Tugga" Waugh still has the shots

"To me, being Australian is about looking after your mates, taking care of the less fortunate, supporting the underdog and enhancing the spirit that makes all Australians unique." Steve Waugh.

A big part of what the Baggy Green Blog stands for is to carry the passion and pride supporters were blessed with as Steve Waugh took Australian Cricket to new heights. He nestled a new found integrity into the team and enhanced the connectivity between the supporters and the players, with management never dictating or affecting that strong connection. 

Waugh takes guard and unleashes a few shots we saw in his career.
Photo: Ian Reid

Fast forward to present day, that ethos has been tampered with, but amidst the drama that has unfolded with the current Border-Gavaskar series, I went down to the St Clair Oval, Woodville, to watch the return of Waugh In The West II. The event saw Steve "Tugga" Waugh lead a South Australian All-Stars team against Grange Cricket Club in a Twenty20 match. The last event was apparently well received.

The event raised funds for The Steve Waugh Foundation, which has a major objective in helping support Australian children and families affected by rare diseases.

Being the first sport driven community event I have attended since being in Australia, I was uplifted seeing the amount of people that attended to show their support. Everyone put their feet up and just enjoy the friendly Twenty20 match.

Tim Nielsen chats with Triple M. Photo: Ian Reid

Triple M Radio (Adelaide) was covering the event and gave plenty of awareness leading up to the game. Reporting live from the ground it was excellent to see the dj's speak with Tugga himself, as well as former-South Australian Keeper/ Australian coach, Tim Nielsen, who was one of the featured South Australian celebrities.

Obviously the topic of the recent events was spoken of and their opinions were well received, well thought out.

What amazed me was the hype that Tugga still has. Children who wouldn't have even witnessed his career were manic in their efforts to meet the Baggy Green legend and grab an autograph, along with other grown men (like myself) who were eager to shake hands with the man and just enjoy a brief moment alongside someone who has inspired so many people on and off the cricket field.

The appreciation shown towards Tugga from all who attended the event showed what an impact he made and what a legacy he has left, so much so that even a new generation have an interest in this legacy. The fact he continues to inspire people and play such a big role within the community reflects his integrity.

Clouds covering the St Clair Oval. Photo: Ian Reid

Sitting on a chair as the game came to an end, with rain clouds swooping in above the small floodlights around the St Clair Oval, Tugga sat there, leaning forward, absolutely fried after his innings - which I must add resulted in an entertaining half-century.

Despite being visibly exhausted from the afternoons proceedings, he sat there doing his duty in chatting to everyone and signing autographs for many happy Waugh-loyalists. Even in retirement he still has the demand!

All in all it was an easy going, casual evening out and I am glad to report that Tugga still has the neat arrangement of shots. Some classy slog sweeps, straight drives, back-foot drives, leg glances and animated heaves to mid-wicket came out during his innings.

My brief meet 'n greet with Tugga. A great inspiration!

He was the star of the event and he delivered with the bat, as he did so many times during his epic career. At the end of the night what mattered most was a successful night for The Steve Waugh Foundation, the community and of course good fun for all who attended. Certainly was for me.

I was fortunate to have a brief meet 'n greet with him and although brief it was special nevertheless. Always good to meet those who inspire us at some stage in our lives.
  
             ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The final Test between Australia and India is underway, Shane Watson is leading the side as Michael Clarke was not cleared as fit to play, regarding his back injury.

Tasmania and Queensland have begun their clash to see who will hold up the Sheffield Shield. Queensland hold the title, but Tasmania will be eager to claw it back after handing it over last season.

It's a 5 day match, so Tasmania have started their innings with caution and no sense of urgency. First wicket partnership is nearing a 100 run stand.
Congrats to Ricky Ponting as well on winning the Sheffield Shield Player of the Year award!

As per the Baggy Green Blog Facebook page:

"Punter still has the Sheffield Shield final, which will give him a chance to build upon the 875 runs he has scored.

Here's the other award State winners:

Limited overs Player of the Year: Aaron Finch (VIC)

Women's National Cricket League Player of the Year: Nicole Bolton (WA)

WT20 Player of the Year: Jenny Wallace (WA)

Toyota Futures League Player of the Year: Nick Winter (ACT)

Lord's Taverners Indigenous Cricketer of the Year: Nathan Price (NSW)

Cricket Australia Umpire Award: Bruce Oxenford

Benaud Men's Spirit of Cricket Award: Tasmanian Tigers

Benaud Women's Spirit of Cricket Award: NSW Breakers."

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