The Australian World T20 squad was reasonably easy enough to pick even before the official announcement. The only inclusion that was surprising is that of Glenn Maxwell, as I did assume Steven Smith would once again be selected as a specialist fielder. Maxwell's inclusion is also surprising mostly because he is uncapped at international level and the only indication, which I must state is positive, is that he had a good season for Victoria and has played well in the Friends Life T20 tournament in England, for Hampshire, to put himself on the map.
Brad Hogg's inclusion adds some fun to the mix but it must be said that he has zero shortage in terms of energy. Performance wise he can still take wickets and having him in the side for sub-continent conditions will prove to be important. Xavier Doherty had a forgettable tour to England but on tracks that will better suit spin bowlers - even in a more aggressive form of cricket - he should have a better opportunity.
I was a bit disappointed there was no room for guys like Aaron Finch and Mitchell Marsh and Phillip Hughes as they could have nestled into the team as well suited players for the Twenty20 format.
Hughes is currently redeeming his form and has scored 402 runs at 100.50 in 8 matches for Worcestershire in the Friends Life T20 tournament.
An exciting inclusion that has been based on performance, as it should be, is that of Cameron White.
White has finally regained his confidence and connected with his natural instinct which seemed to get lost when the tags such as "responsibility" and "patience" came into his role during a short lived stint at number three for the Australian ODI squad.
The 2012 World Cup - where he batted in the mid to lower order - was the nail in coffin and it was clear that there was a lack of certainty in White's approach. Without confidence and self-belief comes a lack of trust in ones natural game and technique. It has taken him a while but he's finally come right and I would like to believe White is back to his best for big performances in Twenty20 cricket. He has managed 228 runs at 57.00 for Northamptonshire following an excellent IPL campaign.
The balance in the squad is alright. The key will be how the strategy is delivered in the batting line-up. The power hitting rests in Shane Watson, David Warner, Michael Hussey (see video below), Cameron White and David Hussey. There is aggression within the likes of Matthew Wade and Glenn Maxwell, which certainly gives enough indication on paper that we have a threatening batting line-up, but far too often the group has fired collectively, making it a dull display.
All of these names stack up for a batting line-up that could take on any bowling unit but the input of spin bowling will hassle a few players like David Hussey and Matthew Wade who have had their struggles. It's important to acknowledge though that these guys can also change a match in one over if their approach to attack pays off.
The bowling is where we'll be tested and for this reason it is essential that our batsmen stack up the runs with any given opportunity and with the depth on offer there is no reason why they shouldn't. About time our bowlers had some suppport with runs to defend.
Ben Hilfenhaus and Clint McKay are the experienced campaigners, but there is the risk that McKay may not be fit for the series due to a hamstring injury which has ruled him out of our upcoming UAE limited overs tour.
Mitchell Starc is no push over in Twenty20 cricket and if he just gets his line right I am certain he can provide valuable support to his bowling partners. His ability to swing the ball, along with that of Hilfenhaus, will be of utmost importance should he handle new ball duties.
As enthusiastic as I am about his development, Patrick Cummins may be a bowler to keep an eye on for the future but injury seems to be an apparent concern. His raw pace is an X-factor for a squad that is now without Brett Lee. We need a bowler who can deliver express pace without the likes of Shaun Tait, Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson. Patrick would be an obvious inclusion if we're looking for a pace option.
The all-rounders do help to add variation to the bowling options that captain George Bailey will have on offer. Dan Christian has found his way back into the side and his hat-trick is still fresh in my mind. He's certainly not my pick as a death bowler of choice - the IPL further proved this - but he can mix it up with both the bat and ball to add a valuable dynamic to any side. Fortunately, there's also David Hussey who can send down overs of spin bowling in really quick succession, while Glenn Maxwell can also throw his arm over.
All in all, there is depth in this side and sufficient variation on offer, which helps tremedously in a form of the game where a lack of variation and too much predictability can be a nail in the coffin!
I am not overly confident about our chances in taking the title this year (we were runners-up last tournament) but it would be foolish to dismiss our chance altogether. The lack of expectation also comes from the obvious fact we have not had any type of consistency in Twenty20 cricket and our ranking isn't exactly one for the punters to gamble on.
However, a side with names like Warner, Watson, the Hussey brothers and White, any side that takes on the green and gold boys will be well aware that they will have no chance to drop the intensity, which does get the better of our boys sometimes.
Irrespective, it's a new event and a fresh squad and the rehearsal is just a week away.
Australian ICC World T20 Squad:
David Warner, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade (wk), David Hussey, Michael Hussey, George Bailey (captain), Cameron White, Daniel Christian, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Hogg, Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Ben Hilfenhaus.
Need a trip down memory lane from the one of the most epic moments in Australian T20 history?
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18 August 2012
11 August 2012
Considering the bowling coach
Before I head into this article, let me first give a big congratulations to the Australian u/19 team with regards to their victory against England in their first encounter of the ICC u/19 Cricket World Cup.
Our boys currently hold the title after winning the last event. That was a side that featured players like Nic Maddinson, Josh Hazelwood, Mitch Marsh (brother of Shaun Marsh), Alister McDermott and Kane Richardson.
While I am only informed about a handful of the players at the moment, I hope to see some of the lesser known players emerge into the state system with positive futures, especially on the batting front.
It's an exciting tournament to follow due to the raw passion these young blokes have when taking to the field for their team and you can catch some of the action live as well as most of the matches will be broadcast.
I was recently reflecting on the appointment of Allister de Winter as our new bowling coach. There has been an understandable sense of concern and doubt over his appointment. Most of this will be owed to the reason being that de Winter was not exactly a bowler who had any form of domination as a fast bowler during his playing days. Is this fair?
Troy Cooley, who was our temporary coach prior to the appointment of Mickey Arthur, was a player who had a similar background to that of de Winter.
Like de Winter, Cooley played his state cricket for Tasmania and it would be fair to say that he was also not a bowler who would have been talked about in a hyped-up manner amongst supporters back in the day. Cooley finished his state run with a First-Class average of 61.35 from 33 matches, while de Winter managed 21 matches with an average of 50.51.
These statistics suggest far from ideal credibility to take on any form of leadership or coaching roles at the elite level. Yet, we all remember the 2005 Ashes where Cooley played a massive role in grooming the English fast bowlers to wreak havoc against our rather outstanding batting line-up throughout the tournament. That Ashes series goes down as a classic due to the fact there was rarely a dull moment, especially regarding the contest between bat and ball.
There we saw Cooley, who had now become an established coach, take an elite team into a historic Ashes victory with his input and tactical planning being boasted as a key ingredient to the success.
Not long after he was let go by the ECB, he then had a stint as our bowling coach and sure enough the Ashes victory that came soon after was the brutal 5-0 victory. Despite being a plain state cricketer, Cooley knew how to key in with an international cricketer, read the opposition and work on all facets of each individual bowlers strengths.
While this outlook of comparison would not be fair, given de Winter is taking on a bowling unit in all forms of the game that has just a glimpse of experience in comparison the English and Australian bowling units Cooley coached, there is something to be said for the lack of First-Class brilliance they had.
The point is that it doesn't appear as if one had to have necessarily been a spectacular cricketer, let alone at the elite level, in order to key in with your students from a psychological and technical point of view. Clearly having a gift for coaching, the passion to learn and the understanding of the fundamentals can be more than enough. At the end of the day the bowlers are the ones who have to go out there and execute what they have been taught.
Justin Langer was with little doubt one of the boldest and best opening batsman, especially when partnered by Matthew Hayden. Yet, despite JL's credentials as a spectacular international cricketer and human being, he hasn't exactly had a glorious run by any means as a batting coach.
The Australian batsmen have continued to struggle for consistency for some time now and having witnessed JL work with the batsmen at practice sessions it would be unfair to say he doesn't try. He sure does but it proves that having international experience can certainly benefit the players to a degree, but certainly isn't a defining reason for appointment to coach a crop of international players.
de Winter had a far from ideal rehearsal with the disappointing limited overs series loss to England. The bowlers managed all of 13 wickets and the team's synergy was flat. It was definitely not the start that de Winter needed in order to gain a vote of confidence from the Australian supporters around the globe.
The pressure won't be easy to handle for the upcoming season with some high intensity cricket to keep us entertained. Craig McDermott's left a big void after unexpectedly walking away from the game, his resignation being owed to a work schedule that was too demanding. Certainly a bizarre reason coming from a man who took 291 Test wickets and knew the demands to thrive at the highest level.
Irrespective of this, McDermott knew all too well how to key in with his bowlers and we saw our Test bowlers execute their skills with consistency and genuine confidence. International experience must have played a major role but McDermott had the ability to connect with the bowlers which has been publicly acknowledged by Peter Siddle and James Pattinson - who even went as far as to state that he would prefer a bowing coach with international experience to take on the role.
However, de Winter certainly had good motives to get the job and you just need to take a look at the ascendancy of the Tasmanian Tigers bowling unit in recent times.
Ben Hilfenhaus was dropped from the Australian squad after a horrendous Ashes series, which was also partially due to discomfort after suffering from knee tendonitis. Yet Hilfenhaus went back to the Tigers and began to work with none other than de Winter.
de Winter and George Bailey, Tasmanian Tigers/ Australian Twenty20 skipper, worked with Hilfenhaus encouraging him to use the crease more to accommodate his bowling attributes, attacking with different lines and angles but most importantly de Winter reworked Hilfenhaus' bowling action which a more technical dynamic to address.
A rejuvenated Hilfenhaus has since taken 37 wickets at an average of 18.19 from just 7 Tests. Further evidence of de Winter's work in action would be looking at players like Jackson Bird and Luke Butterworth. Hilfenhaus has given de Winter plenty of public support as well which should be taken seriously given the lack of public opinion a player like Hilfenhaus presents.
If de Winter can connect with his bowlers, learn their strengths, iron out the weaknesses and work out how to make each bowler work off his teammates abilities, then de Winter will certainly be on track to carrying on where McDermott left off.
de Winter has been credited as a coach who learns quickly. This will be vital as he gets stuck into a job that will be kicking off with high expectations, starting with a limited overs series in the UAE in conditions that really test a players fitness and patience.
He may not be someone who has international experience or had the perfect first off campaign, but Cricket Australia have made their decision and I am sure this wouldn't have been done without serious consideration. Then again, what person doesn't take on a new role in life where expectations are high or somewhat unreasonable?
de Winter has a job to do and the support from every Baggy Green fanatic would help that extra bit. Everyone has the opportunity to write their own chapter who comes into the Australian cricket story and de Winter has a chance to have his own legacy. With the upcoming schedule, we'll know soon enough how successfully the de Winter method develops.
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16 July 2012
Limited overs squads announced for UAE Tour
Less than a week after posting an article looking at the dynamics of our limited overs squad, the National Selection Panel announced the ODI and T20 squads for the UAE tour in August. They've addressed serious matters of urgency following the horrid UK tour and I am pleased with the balance we have the in side which was evidently a concern.
Without further to do, here's the squads.
ODI squad:
David Warner, Matthew Wade (wk), Michael Clarke (captain), George Bailey, Callum Ferguson, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc.
T20 squad: David Warner, Matthew Wade (wk), Michael Clarke (captain), George Bailey, Callum Ferguson, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc.
David Warner, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade (wk), David Hussey, Michael Hussey, George Bailey (captain), Cameron White, Daniel Christian, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Hogg, Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Ben Hilfenhaus.
The big news is the return of Callum Ferguson. The Baggy Green Blog has become a supportive domain for Fergal and it is with great relief that the selectors have recalled one of our best suited players who has experience at the elite level and has the ability to emulate Michael Hussey's middle order brilliance in limited overs cricket.
He rotates the strike well and gets on with the job, showing innovation within his approach during the death overs of an innings. After his Ryobi campaign last season for the Redbacks he deserves it. At long last.
It is great to see Michael Hussey's name back in the limited overs side as well. May limit Fergal's appearances but always good to see Huss' name in any side.
Daniel Christian has been called into the limited overs side again. A big reason behind this is because Shane Watson will be rested for the ODI matches - along with Ben Hilfenhaus - and Dan is one of our better all-rounders in the system.
Joining the all-rounders department is Glenn Maxwell. I am sure you caught a fair bit of him in the Big Bash League. He scored me some good points in the Fox Sports Fantasy League as well. He can certainly contribute where the side needs him and I am really pleased to see him get selected for our T20 side.
His ODI call-up? In all honesty I did not see him getting into the limited overs side but he is a damn good hitter of the ball and certainly struck me as a bloke who'd find his way into the international setup. If anything I thought maybe Cameron White would have been given an opportunity again in ODI cricket but the selectors have opted for Maxwell in both squads. All the best to the young man! May his role be clear from day 1, unlike poor young Steven Smith.
After the last article I posted, which was a look at the ODI team balance, I am really glad to know that David Warner and Matt Wade will be given another chance to open the batting. I strongly believe in their duo for the shorter format of the game and with Shane Watson being rested this is the ideal chance to give it another test.
The bowling units? With the retirement of Brett Lee (hard to believe it) the bowling unit will be as follows for the ODIs - Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc. Dan Christian, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and David Hussey can also contribute to the bowling. All in all the options are well stacked and it will simply be a case of having the right men for the job out on the park.
As mentioned, for the Twenty20 side both Shane Watson and Ben Hilfenhaus have been included but will not take part in the ODI series due to player rotation. Patty Cummins, Brad Hogg and Cameron White are the other three players who will only play in the T20 leg of the UAE Tour.
Brad Hogg! I am a big supporter of the man and his enthusiasm is contagious. Hope he stacks up some Paki wickets. Hoggy is also strongly in the mix for the ICC World T20.
Regarding Cameron White, the Australian Cricketers Association made it clear in a Tweet:
No need to question Cameron's form and deserved recall. I hope he can regain a place in our limited overs squad down the road as well. He seems to have recaptured his natural game after seeming lost for quite some time as to how he should go about his game (attack or defend) and time will tell of the adjustment upon returning to International cricket.
It is a step in the right direction and this side immediately appears to be a more competitive team. There is a far better balance in terms of temperament, ability, form and experience with the batting, while the bowling offers good variety in offering.
A big aspect of this tour will be the batting department. The UAE tracks are often tough to graft on and definitely provoke a demand for concentration and focus in extreme conditions. For this reason I think the selection of Mike Hussey and Callum Ferguson is ideal. Concentration hasn't appeared to be our strong point in limited overs cricket.
If our batsmen can also perform collectively - usual story - and should the dynamics pay off with selection I really, really hope for our bowlers sake that they pile on the runs. Our bowlers can only defend so many below par totals before they lose their confidence and get the label of "average".
With the extreme heat in the UAE, the more runs on the board to defend, the better it will be for them and I am sure our batsmen would return the favour in hoping to chase down some low totals.
Your thoughts?
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13 July 2012
Brett Lee retires from Australian cricket
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A competitive bloke, a ferocious bowler and one of the greatest bowlers from one of the greatest teams in the history of this great game.
With all the injuries, personal setbacks off the field and general difficulty being a fast bowler fighting for longevity, the fact Binga has stayed in the game this long was splendid. A testament to determination and self-belief.
Brydon Coverdale summed it up really well in his article recalling some of the greatest moments in Brett Lee's career. There's a few I could add to the list but I think Brydon got it right.
I know two of the followers of the Baggy Green Blog, Baiju and Kritika, will be upset with the news of Binga's retirement as they were massive supporters of his career.
Here's the brief write up I wrote at the Baggy Green Blog's Facebook page.
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Thank you Brett Lee.
The time was right and all I can say is thank you for 13 years of blitz entertainment. One of the last blokes of the greatest cricket team of all time.
I remember seeing Binga bowling live for the first time in the ODI side, which included a fresh faced Andrew Symonds, when I was just 14 years old. His raw pace freaked me out watching from the crowd position of third man and my word was it captivating!
Having met him twice as well all I can say is what a top bloke and I hope he gets all the time in the world now to catch up with his family and jam his bass guitar with his band.
Another legend of the Baggy Greens walks away into the sunset.
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10 July 2012
The balance of our limited overs squad
I've been spending a lot of time thinking about our limited overs squad. As far as Test cricket goes, if there was one area I would like to see improve, it is First-class cricket in Australia which is a direct link to Test cricket.
The players are lined up but what we need to see is the crops of emerging players grow into something spectacular come the end of next summer to further stack up our options for the future battles. For the actual players currently in rotation within the Test squad itself, I am content with where we're heading.
Limited overs cricket seems to be a slightly different setup. Now, our performances haven't been all that bad but they certainly haven't been great, nor consistent for that matter. Is that perhaps the major concern with our squad line up?
We have just seen the conclusion to the UK Tour which has was in all honesty an awful tour, a reflection of a shorter time line. I refuse to believe our team doesn't have the ability to win, but I believe this team never had the balance to win.
Sure, the tosses didn't go our way and that loss at Lord's was never recovered from but it was an embarrassing ordeal with regards to our batting.
We know that the National Selection Panel (NSP) is working on a long term plan for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Reality is we have some serious battles ahead and we need our players to start digging into the squad to make a position their own.
I'd like to see a player take to the field for Australia in ODI cricket with a goal in mind. Step one is that he has achieved his opportunity to play for Australia. A certain attribute and technique has given him this chance, backed by State performances or spotted potential.
Step two is to take that into the elite level and have a short term goal in using those skills and dynamics to cement his place. From this point that player should have a clear idea, as a professional, what his job is for the team and what his position is. He needs to take pride in that position and make it his own with total ownership and confidence.
The final step is to refine it, configure it and perform within that position with pride. It must become the players identity. When you think Matthew Hayden you immediately think, 'an attacking, dominant opening batsman'. When you think Justin Langer you remember a stubborn, hard grafting, patient opening batsman. Glenn McGrath? An opening bowler with incredible control. I could go building upon these players attributes and identities within their roles.
That is what I would love to be able to discuss when our 2015 World Cup Squad is announced. A squad we can all hopefully identify with and a squad with individuals who know their identity within a position they can call their own and belong to a team where each and every player compliments one another.
Another key factor to this is that once the team recipe is in place, it is wise to start giving upcoming players an opportunity in the place that is currently occupied by the player they'd best suited to replace in the event of injury, retirement or a poor run of form. It is even more important to maintain faith in these players, otherwise you end up with a Hilditch scenario e.g. the ridiculous turn of spin bowlers and debutants.
Introduction into an established side is a major reason Michael Clarke has been able to find his feet so well since the greats of the team he was briefly apart of went their separate ways. He was given exposure around the side and knew exactly what was required on him to one day step in for Damien Martyn, who I saw as his ideal role to mirror. This is where the selectors went wrong with numerous positions in our side. Lack of long term vision, but in all honesty things looked good in general.
I have never liked comparisons but sometimes it shouldn't necessarily be seen as comparison. I prefer to call it building upon an historical benchmark! The Invincibles are regarded as the greatest bunch of cricketers of all time. As someone who didn't grow up in that era and have only read about this legendary Australian cricket teams achievements in a difficult world, but I regard our Test and ODI squads of the late-nineties to mid-2000s as the greatest.
Therefore, I have taken some time to reflect back upon our 2003 World Cup squad, 2007 World Cup squad and our current squad.
What I will do is briefly identify each players key attributes, key strengths and fundamental purpose in the side and try look at current players in the system best suited to the roles performed by players of the past.
If you witnessed any of these sides you should be able to call the history behind each player and squad.
This should then paint a good picture as to what this current side has and also lacks.
I will also mention players who could step into respective roles into the current squad. Most importantly I would really enjoy to read your views and see your opinion of Australian limited overs cricket moving forward.
As always, I never intend for my articles to appear negative. This is a constructive look at our limited overs squad and the excitement moving forward but obviously we want to see our squad move forward with definite purpose. It is not about only drawing comparisons to our brilliant ODI sides of the past but to hopefully learn from their successes and see our players build their own fort of dominance.
This squad I have picked is a basic idea to use younger or somewhat established players (matches and reputation) to match it to the greater teams. All in all I think our batting is really good but lacks balance. Our bowling is also impressive but there are too few bowlers leading from the front, which is a big reason Brett Lee continues to be a front line pick.
Read through these squads.
2003 World Cup squad:
Matthew Hayden: Attacking, aggressive, powerful, flexible in approach.
Adam Gilchrist: Attacking, aggressive, one dimensional in temperament.
Ricky Ponting: Attacking, conservative, risk taker, alert.
Damien Martyn: Attacking, conservative, elegant, alert, grafter.
Darren Lehman: Attacking, aggressive, flexible in approach.
Michael Bevan: Flexible in approach, patient, elegant, innovative, calm.
Andrew Symonds: Attacking, aggressive, powerful, one dimensional in temperament.
Brad Hogg: Attacking, risk taker, enthusiastic.
Andy Bichel: Bichel was a work horse who could menace batsmen. It's good to acknowledge the major role he played in 2003. James Hopes was a similar player in a few regards that of Bichel.
Brett Lee: Fast, furious, enthusiastic and no shortage of attitude.
Glenn McGrath: Calm, controlled, able to adapt to conditions and circumstances.
2007 World Cup squad:
Matthew Hayden.
Adam Gilchrist.
Ricky Ponting.
Michael Clarke (like Martyn): Attacking, conservative, elegant, alert, grafter.
Michael Hussey (like Bevan): Flexible in approach, patient, elegant, innovative, calm.
Andrew Symonds.
Shane Watson (like Symonds/ Lehman): Attacking, aggressive, flexible in approach.
Brad Hogg.
Nathan Bracken: A tactical swing bowler. Medium paced with smart variation.
Shaun Tait: Filled the void for Brett Lee and did a brilliant job. All about raw, wild pace.
Glenn McGrath.
2012 ODI squad (UK & West Indies tour mixes):
Shane Watson, David Warner, Peter Forrest, Michael Clarke, George Bailey, David Hussey, Matthew Wade, Steven Smith, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson.
Comparing the balance of this side to the other mentioned players above really shows that even as an emerging team the balance doesn't seem quite right. The players don't seem to be complimenting one another and despite the obvious motive to support each and everyone of them, the synergy doesn't seem to be there.
Even during the West Indies limited overs series it seemed to have the same problems. Thoughts?
The options to find a balance of historic reference:
David Warner:
Like Hayden, Warner is a dominating player. He doesn't have the imposing build like Haydos but he has the natural aggression and big hitting to back it. He can change the tempo of a match and is starting a revolution of his own, as Adam Gilchrist did. I see a blend in his natural game to that of both Haydos and Gilly. Has to open the batting but needs the correct partner to compliment him.
Matthew Wade:
The wicketkeeper/opening batsman who comes to mind should be Adam Gilchrist. He was attacking and had one mode in limited overs cricket. If Haydos was building an innings, Gilly had freedom to attack and open up his shots, open up the field and this allowed Haydos to then find his tempo. This is how they complimented each other.
I feel Wade could do this for Warner and both of them are young so they can build a partnership now while they are young and work towards the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Wade is wasted so far down the order. As good a cricketer as Shane Watson is, I feel his temperament is too similar to that of Warner's. Too infrequently will they ever come off on the same day, meaning their partnerships remain to be doubtful for longevity. Make the change, get Wade up there and use the left/left combination as it once was.
He struggled in the most recent ODI alongside Warner but it was a starting point and with confidence I am sure that Wade could establish a role for himself at the top of the order, as Brad Haddin did for a few seasons as well. It wasn't a toss Michael Clarke wanted to lose but he just had a bad tour this time around.
Good news is that both Tim Paine and Brad Haddin can open the batting if ever required.
Michael Clarke:
Clarkey has been nestled at number four for a long time and since the 2007 World Cup he has made it his own. This is what I want to see from our team, making a spot your own! Clarkey has shown good form this series and the lack of support hasn't helped him.
As skipper, along with the determination to perform as a leader and one of our best limited overs batsmen, I reckon he is suited to the number three role. He is also far better when handling the new ball, especially if there is swing about. We urgently need someone to step in since Ricky Ponting was ruled out, so I say get Clarkey into the role while there is time.
Either way you look at it, we still have the number 3 role up for grabs since Ricky Ponting's departure.
George Bailey an option and then keep Michael Clarke at 3?
Aaron Finch:
It may seem odd I have picked Finch. Ideally I feel Shaun Marsh or Cameron White would have been my players of choice two or three seasons ago. They have scored plenty of runs for Australia and been members of winning sides but both have shown confidence problems which has affected their natural temperament. Both look lost and have fallen out of the system. I would like for the both of them to come back strongly due to their proven abilities but I have always had a gut feeling about Aaron Finch.
I reckon he'd be an extremely effective number four batsman, with the responsibility to read the game before him, adapt but have that raw power to play with aggression or fight through tough passages of play. This patient element would be his challenge but it's another case of a young man who could do with the opportunity. This was thinking out the box a little.
Callum Ferguson:
I still do not understand why Callum Ferguson was dropped from our limited overs side. He had a poor Big Bash series and was dropped from 50 over cricket. Never mind he was a member of the South Australian Redbacks team that won Ryobi Cup and Fergal ended with 364 runs at 52.00.
He is the most similar player in my mind to Michael Bevan or Michael Hussey, who is still in the mix but won't be around forever. While not as a big a hitter as Hussey, Fergal is a versatile player who has the ability to get on with the job, rotate the strike, use innovative shot selections but also control the game. He has proven this for Australia before and really needed a few more big stage gigs to make the general public see this.
He's had some bad luck but I maintain belief that if he puts in the work this season, this spot is still his when Michael Hussey walks away. Would be even better to have Huss and Fergal in the same side.
Shane Watson:
Shane Watson is a good opening batsman. He has proven a lot more in his time up top than that of David Warner but Watto is an easier option to use with versatility in the batting line up. It would be asset to our side to have him in a position similar to that of Andrew Symonds. A team was never out of jail until they dismissed Roy who was dauntingly settled in the middle order.
Watto is a monstrous batsman and although his technique is well suited to the new ball, he possesses raw power to club balls in a way most normal batsman just cannot. This would ease his body as well and give us that explosive lower order hitting, which we do lack!
Mitchell Johnson:
Mitch is in a tough position with his cricket right now. He's low in match time and confidence. Having said this, I still look back at last season and strongly recall what a great season he had in limited overs. His bowling comes first, but his batting isn't shabby.
Like Shane Watson in our 2007 World Cup squad or Andy Bichel in 2003, Mitch has one area of his game as his core strength, the other being of useful contribution. Limited overs cricket allows Mitch the unpredictability of his bowling, unlike the harsh nature of Test cricket and very often it can indeed work. He just needs more matches behind his name and some confidence because he such an emotionally fueled player.
Mitchell Starc:
I think Mitch is a very good limited overs bowler. He took the second most wickets for the 2011/12 Ryobi Cup series and if he can learn to control his natural swing and hit his line correctly, wow, this bloke is going to be a handful in two to three years time!
I feel he can play that role similar to Nathan Bracken. While economically he will most likely never match up to Bracks, but he offers that fast left-arm swing bowling option. He can also hold his own with the bat.
Patrick Cummins:
Patty has something about him. There is a X factor and we all know it. Unfortunately when he is given opportunity he keeps getting injured. Limited overs cricket requires a number of performances in order for a player to find a balance between a good day and a bad day. This then leads to consistency. Patty has yet to have this honour.
I see him as a blend of McGrath and Lee, plain and simple. He is fast, he is ambitious and he is mature beyond his years. Injury management and the right nurturing will be of utmost importance.
James Pattinson:
James is a confident young man who has a serious attitude. This attitude along with a keen instinct for ferocious intensity in the middle. Experience is vital to his development. In Test cricket he has come a long way in a short space of time. Limited overs cricket has been tougher for him but I still believe he has a good future with Australian cricket.
Peter Siddle has not been considered much of a limited overs specialist but he has that same fight as Pattinson.
Ben Hilfenhaus:
A player of experience is needed. Ryan Harris would be my first choice but sadly I don't think he will ever make a full time return to the squad to due his history of injuries. It's such a pity as he was the real deal for us.
Hilfy isn't exactly the most threatening of limited overs cricketers but since making his comeback he has most definitely shown improvement in limited overs. We will need a bowler with some experience but also someone who is looking for some extended time in his career.
Like McGrath, Hilfy swings the ball, is a fast to medium paced bowler but doesn't have the versatility in his offerings to that of McGrath. A slower ball has started to prove to be effective but he'll need to show off a few more dimensions in his bowling. I'd still consider him a while longer.
Clint McKay:
While he isn't all that hyped up, I think Clint has shown a lot of character throughout the limited overs tour and has given his best. If he can tighten up his death bowling that would be a major boost to his credibility.
I see a lot of Stuart Clark in Clint McKay's approach to bowling and it's good to note Stuart was a member of our 2007 World Cup Squad.
Jason Krejza/ Xavier Doherty:
I really think Jason was tossed aside to soon. He didn't have a great time in the 2011 World Cup but I don't think he ever expected the call up with the injuries going about. If he can get his pitching of the ball fine tuned he will start to see reward. His line was generally okay if memory serves but he strayed far too much with his length, often bowling way too short.
He has been performing strongly for Tasmania in List A and Twenty20 cricket. Xavier, another Tasmanian, has struggled in England and looked very, very ordinary. Having said that he had a great summer and was valuable. I think he is a very switched on bowler and reads into the game quite well but I find Krejza has a bit more of a daring element to him.
Players like Alister McDermott, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jackson Bird have given us hope for the future of our bowling stocks but the batting is a major cause for concern. Our bowlers can only keep getting us out of trouble for so long. That line has now been crossed.
This State season is going to be more important than ever for batsmen to start stepping up!
What is your general opinion of our ODI side?
What would your ideal squad be, keeping it realistic to players that are still considered to be "in the system"?
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click on the 'Comments' tag at the end of the article.
TWITTER
@BaggyGreenBlog
@Ianbaggygreen
@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo
The players are lined up but what we need to see is the crops of emerging players grow into something spectacular come the end of next summer to further stack up our options for the future battles. For the actual players currently in rotation within the Test squad itself, I am content with where we're heading.
Limited overs cricket seems to be a slightly different setup. Now, our performances haven't been all that bad but they certainly haven't been great, nor consistent for that matter. Is that perhaps the major concern with our squad line up?
We have just seen the conclusion to the UK Tour which has was in all honesty an awful tour, a reflection of a shorter time line. I refuse to believe our team doesn't have the ability to win, but I believe this team never had the balance to win.
Sure, the tosses didn't go our way and that loss at Lord's was never recovered from but it was an embarrassing ordeal with regards to our batting.
We know that the National Selection Panel (NSP) is working on a long term plan for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Reality is we have some serious battles ahead and we need our players to start digging into the squad to make a position their own.
I'd like to see a player take to the field for Australia in ODI cricket with a goal in mind. Step one is that he has achieved his opportunity to play for Australia. A certain attribute and technique has given him this chance, backed by State performances or spotted potential.
Step two is to take that into the elite level and have a short term goal in using those skills and dynamics to cement his place. From this point that player should have a clear idea, as a professional, what his job is for the team and what his position is. He needs to take pride in that position and make it his own with total ownership and confidence.
The final step is to refine it, configure it and perform within that position with pride. It must become the players identity. When you think Matthew Hayden you immediately think, 'an attacking, dominant opening batsman'. When you think Justin Langer you remember a stubborn, hard grafting, patient opening batsman. Glenn McGrath? An opening bowler with incredible control. I could go building upon these players attributes and identities within their roles.
That is what I would love to be able to discuss when our 2015 World Cup Squad is announced. A squad we can all hopefully identify with and a squad with individuals who know their identity within a position they can call their own and belong to a team where each and every player compliments one another.
Another key factor to this is that once the team recipe is in place, it is wise to start giving upcoming players an opportunity in the place that is currently occupied by the player they'd best suited to replace in the event of injury, retirement or a poor run of form. It is even more important to maintain faith in these players, otherwise you end up with a Hilditch scenario e.g. the ridiculous turn of spin bowlers and debutants.
Introduction into an established side is a major reason Michael Clarke has been able to find his feet so well since the greats of the team he was briefly apart of went their separate ways. He was given exposure around the side and knew exactly what was required on him to one day step in for Damien Martyn, who I saw as his ideal role to mirror. This is where the selectors went wrong with numerous positions in our side. Lack of long term vision, but in all honesty things looked good in general.
I have never liked comparisons but sometimes it shouldn't necessarily be seen as comparison. I prefer to call it building upon an historical benchmark! The Invincibles are regarded as the greatest bunch of cricketers of all time. As someone who didn't grow up in that era and have only read about this legendary Australian cricket teams achievements in a difficult world, but I regard our Test and ODI squads of the late-nineties to mid-2000s as the greatest.
Therefore, I have taken some time to reflect back upon our 2003 World Cup squad, 2007 World Cup squad and our current squad.
What I will do is briefly identify each players key attributes, key strengths and fundamental purpose in the side and try look at current players in the system best suited to the roles performed by players of the past.
If you witnessed any of these sides you should be able to call the history behind each player and squad.
This should then paint a good picture as to what this current side has and also lacks.
I will also mention players who could step into respective roles into the current squad. Most importantly I would really enjoy to read your views and see your opinion of Australian limited overs cricket moving forward.
As always, I never intend for my articles to appear negative. This is a constructive look at our limited overs squad and the excitement moving forward but obviously we want to see our squad move forward with definite purpose. It is not about only drawing comparisons to our brilliant ODI sides of the past but to hopefully learn from their successes and see our players build their own fort of dominance.
This squad I have picked is a basic idea to use younger or somewhat established players (matches and reputation) to match it to the greater teams. All in all I think our batting is really good but lacks balance. Our bowling is also impressive but there are too few bowlers leading from the front, which is a big reason Brett Lee continues to be a front line pick.
Read through these squads.
2003 World Cup squad:
Matthew Hayden: Attacking, aggressive, powerful, flexible in approach.
Adam Gilchrist: Attacking, aggressive, one dimensional in temperament.
Ricky Ponting: Attacking, conservative, risk taker, alert.
Damien Martyn: Attacking, conservative, elegant, alert, grafter.
Darren Lehman: Attacking, aggressive, flexible in approach.
Michael Bevan: Flexible in approach, patient, elegant, innovative, calm.
Andrew Symonds: Attacking, aggressive, powerful, one dimensional in temperament.
Brad Hogg: Attacking, risk taker, enthusiastic.
Andy Bichel: Bichel was a work horse who could menace batsmen. It's good to acknowledge the major role he played in 2003. James Hopes was a similar player in a few regards that of Bichel.
Brett Lee: Fast, furious, enthusiastic and no shortage of attitude.
Glenn McGrath: Calm, controlled, able to adapt to conditions and circumstances.
2007 World Cup squad:
Matthew Hayden.
Adam Gilchrist.
Ricky Ponting.
Michael Clarke (like Martyn): Attacking, conservative, elegant, alert, grafter.
Michael Hussey (like Bevan): Flexible in approach, patient, elegant, innovative, calm.
Andrew Symonds.
Shane Watson (like Symonds/ Lehman): Attacking, aggressive, flexible in approach.
Brad Hogg.
Nathan Bracken: A tactical swing bowler. Medium paced with smart variation.
Shaun Tait: Filled the void for Brett Lee and did a brilliant job. All about raw, wild pace.
Glenn McGrath.
2012 ODI squad (UK & West Indies tour mixes):
Shane Watson, David Warner, Peter Forrest, Michael Clarke, George Bailey, David Hussey, Matthew Wade, Steven Smith, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson.
Comparing the balance of this side to the other mentioned players above really shows that even as an emerging team the balance doesn't seem quite right. The players don't seem to be complimenting one another and despite the obvious motive to support each and everyone of them, the synergy doesn't seem to be there.
Even during the West Indies limited overs series it seemed to have the same problems. Thoughts?
The options to find a balance of historic reference:
David Warner:
Like Hayden, Warner is a dominating player. He doesn't have the imposing build like Haydos but he has the natural aggression and big hitting to back it. He can change the tempo of a match and is starting a revolution of his own, as Adam Gilchrist did. I see a blend in his natural game to that of both Haydos and Gilly. Has to open the batting but needs the correct partner to compliment him.
Matthew Wade:
The wicketkeeper/opening batsman who comes to mind should be Adam Gilchrist. He was attacking and had one mode in limited overs cricket. If Haydos was building an innings, Gilly had freedom to attack and open up his shots, open up the field and this allowed Haydos to then find his tempo. This is how they complimented each other.
I feel Wade could do this for Warner and both of them are young so they can build a partnership now while they are young and work towards the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Wade is wasted so far down the order. As good a cricketer as Shane Watson is, I feel his temperament is too similar to that of Warner's. Too infrequently will they ever come off on the same day, meaning their partnerships remain to be doubtful for longevity. Make the change, get Wade up there and use the left/left combination as it once was.
He struggled in the most recent ODI alongside Warner but it was a starting point and with confidence I am sure that Wade could establish a role for himself at the top of the order, as Brad Haddin did for a few seasons as well. It wasn't a toss Michael Clarke wanted to lose but he just had a bad tour this time around.
Good news is that both Tim Paine and Brad Haddin can open the batting if ever required.
Michael Clarke:
Clarkey has been nestled at number four for a long time and since the 2007 World Cup he has made it his own. This is what I want to see from our team, making a spot your own! Clarkey has shown good form this series and the lack of support hasn't helped him.
As skipper, along with the determination to perform as a leader and one of our best limited overs batsmen, I reckon he is suited to the number three role. He is also far better when handling the new ball, especially if there is swing about. We urgently need someone to step in since Ricky Ponting was ruled out, so I say get Clarkey into the role while there is time.
Either way you look at it, we still have the number 3 role up for grabs since Ricky Ponting's departure.
George Bailey an option and then keep Michael Clarke at 3?
Aaron Finch:
It may seem odd I have picked Finch. Ideally I feel Shaun Marsh or Cameron White would have been my players of choice two or three seasons ago. They have scored plenty of runs for Australia and been members of winning sides but both have shown confidence problems which has affected their natural temperament. Both look lost and have fallen out of the system. I would like for the both of them to come back strongly due to their proven abilities but I have always had a gut feeling about Aaron Finch.
I reckon he'd be an extremely effective number four batsman, with the responsibility to read the game before him, adapt but have that raw power to play with aggression or fight through tough passages of play. This patient element would be his challenge but it's another case of a young man who could do with the opportunity. This was thinking out the box a little.
Callum Ferguson:
I still do not understand why Callum Ferguson was dropped from our limited overs side. He had a poor Big Bash series and was dropped from 50 over cricket. Never mind he was a member of the South Australian Redbacks team that won Ryobi Cup and Fergal ended with 364 runs at 52.00.
He is the most similar player in my mind to Michael Bevan or Michael Hussey, who is still in the mix but won't be around forever. While not as a big a hitter as Hussey, Fergal is a versatile player who has the ability to get on with the job, rotate the strike, use innovative shot selections but also control the game. He has proven this for Australia before and really needed a few more big stage gigs to make the general public see this.
He's had some bad luck but I maintain belief that if he puts in the work this season, this spot is still his when Michael Hussey walks away. Would be even better to have Huss and Fergal in the same side.
Shane Watson:
Shane Watson is a good opening batsman. He has proven a lot more in his time up top than that of David Warner but Watto is an easier option to use with versatility in the batting line up. It would be asset to our side to have him in a position similar to that of Andrew Symonds. A team was never out of jail until they dismissed Roy who was dauntingly settled in the middle order.
Watto is a monstrous batsman and although his technique is well suited to the new ball, he possesses raw power to club balls in a way most normal batsman just cannot. This would ease his body as well and give us that explosive lower order hitting, which we do lack!
Mitchell Johnson:
Mitch is in a tough position with his cricket right now. He's low in match time and confidence. Having said this, I still look back at last season and strongly recall what a great season he had in limited overs. His bowling comes first, but his batting isn't shabby.
Like Shane Watson in our 2007 World Cup squad or Andy Bichel in 2003, Mitch has one area of his game as his core strength, the other being of useful contribution. Limited overs cricket allows Mitch the unpredictability of his bowling, unlike the harsh nature of Test cricket and very often it can indeed work. He just needs more matches behind his name and some confidence because he such an emotionally fueled player.
Mitchell Starc:
I think Mitch is a very good limited overs bowler. He took the second most wickets for the 2011/12 Ryobi Cup series and if he can learn to control his natural swing and hit his line correctly, wow, this bloke is going to be a handful in two to three years time!
I feel he can play that role similar to Nathan Bracken. While economically he will most likely never match up to Bracks, but he offers that fast left-arm swing bowling option. He can also hold his own with the bat.
Patrick Cummins:
Patty has something about him. There is a X factor and we all know it. Unfortunately when he is given opportunity he keeps getting injured. Limited overs cricket requires a number of performances in order for a player to find a balance between a good day and a bad day. This then leads to consistency. Patty has yet to have this honour.
I see him as a blend of McGrath and Lee, plain and simple. He is fast, he is ambitious and he is mature beyond his years. Injury management and the right nurturing will be of utmost importance.
James Pattinson:
James is a confident young man who has a serious attitude. This attitude along with a keen instinct for ferocious intensity in the middle. Experience is vital to his development. In Test cricket he has come a long way in a short space of time. Limited overs cricket has been tougher for him but I still believe he has a good future with Australian cricket.
Peter Siddle has not been considered much of a limited overs specialist but he has that same fight as Pattinson.
Ben Hilfenhaus:
A player of experience is needed. Ryan Harris would be my first choice but sadly I don't think he will ever make a full time return to the squad to due his history of injuries. It's such a pity as he was the real deal for us.
Hilfy isn't exactly the most threatening of limited overs cricketers but since making his comeback he has most definitely shown improvement in limited overs. We will need a bowler with some experience but also someone who is looking for some extended time in his career.
Like McGrath, Hilfy swings the ball, is a fast to medium paced bowler but doesn't have the versatility in his offerings to that of McGrath. A slower ball has started to prove to be effective but he'll need to show off a few more dimensions in his bowling. I'd still consider him a while longer.
Clint McKay:
While he isn't all that hyped up, I think Clint has shown a lot of character throughout the limited overs tour and has given his best. If he can tighten up his death bowling that would be a major boost to his credibility.
I see a lot of Stuart Clark in Clint McKay's approach to bowling and it's good to note Stuart was a member of our 2007 World Cup Squad.
Jason Krejza/ Xavier Doherty:
I really think Jason was tossed aside to soon. He didn't have a great time in the 2011 World Cup but I don't think he ever expected the call up with the injuries going about. If he can get his pitching of the ball fine tuned he will start to see reward. His line was generally okay if memory serves but he strayed far too much with his length, often bowling way too short.
He has been performing strongly for Tasmania in List A and Twenty20 cricket. Xavier, another Tasmanian, has struggled in England and looked very, very ordinary. Having said that he had a great summer and was valuable. I think he is a very switched on bowler and reads into the game quite well but I find Krejza has a bit more of a daring element to him.
Players like Alister McDermott, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jackson Bird have given us hope for the future of our bowling stocks but the batting is a major cause for concern. Our bowlers can only keep getting us out of trouble for so long. That line has now been crossed.
This State season is going to be more important than ever for batsmen to start stepping up!
What is your general opinion of our ODI side?
What would your ideal squad be, keeping it realistic to players that are still considered to be "in the system"?
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click on the 'Comments' tag at the end of the article.
@BaggyGreenBlog
@Ianbaggygreen
@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo
30 June 2012
1st ODI: Bad fortune or missed opportunities?
Although the result didn't go our way, it was still great to see some cricket again. The boys ended up falling 15 runs short of the target set by England. Having done really well in the warm-up matches, I wouldn't see any reason to be concerned for the rest of the series. We missed a few opportunities and worst of all there was some misfortune with our batting in terms of dismissals. Nature of the game.
1st ODI scorecard via ESPN cricinfo.com
England: 5-272
Australia: 9-257, Michael Clarke 61, David Warner 56.
England did a good job with their batting. Their openers set a solid foundation for the middle order, which Eoin Morgan used excellently as a platform to launch a brutal assault against our bowlers. He was directly responsible for their victory as he belted our bowlers during the last five overs of the innings. The result was 54 runs from the last 5 overs, which shifted the momentum right into England's favour.
Brett Lee was our pick of the bowlers. What an awesome effort with the new ball. Tight figures and brilliant variation. It was a real pity he was also a part of the Morgan-attack but he certainly looks set for a good series.
Patrick Cummins showed loads of promise and whenever a youngster gets into the setup it all about learning. Look how James Pattinson's already had some ups and downs in his career. Not necessarily low points but every now and then inexperience comes through but he's a quick learner and is already the real deal. Patty is definitely on the same path.
Xavier Doherty struggled a bit but he had such a good summer that it would be daft to rule him out. Maybe he will be viewed as a Southern Hemisphere specialist but here's his chance to take command. He is a bowler with a very good mind for cricket, so he's rarely going to be unaware of what is to be expected from him. I have no doubt he will look back on this match and then come back stronger for the remainder of the series. We saw how effective Graeme Swann was to build pressure towards the end of his spell with a batch of dot balls.
The bowlers struggled in the heat of the action come the death overs, but we have Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson on the sidelines as well, so I hope we will see these two guys getting a chance. Hilfy was pretty good for the better part of the death bowling duties in the IPL for Chennai.
The batting came down to some misfortune. George Bailey had been working away at the singles to get himself into a good position with 29 runs until he chopped one onto his stumps. To make matters worse David Hussey misread the bounce of a short pitched delivery from Steven Finn and the ball deflected of his helmet on the top of his stumps.
Then the wrap it all up, Matthew Wade - who was just getting ready to go into entertainment mode deluxe - and Michael Clarke (61) had a terrible mix up which resulted in an unnecessary run out. Wade was the guy to walk and Clarkey was left with a big task on his shoulders. After Clarkey had played such a well composed innings and had himself in a brilliant position to start opening up the more attacking aspect of his game, the run out occurred. He also brought up his 7,000th ODI run.
It was frustrating but it was also good to see Matt Wade get out there, get settled and then play with confidence. He's no longer viewing himself as the substitute for Brad Haddin with Tim Paine making a comeback. He's now set on becoming Australia's number one wicketkeeper.
Brett Lee managed to score 29 runs but England were too good for us in the end. I was hoping Binga would unleash the fury as he did against the West Indies to score his highest ODI total, but there were too few overs to play with.
I was also pleased to see David Warner play a well composed innings. His dismissal was so soft but his lack of footwork was to blame. Warner his 6 fours and 1 six and this is definitely form to gamble on that he's in for a big series. There's a bit more time to watch the ball come onto the bat in English conditions as well, so I really hope he can capitalise.
I still maintain my concerns about Steven Smith. As you saw in the Ashes series he was regularly troubled when he hung his bat outside of off-stump, just prodding at deliveries moving away from him. I hope he comes right this series because he is clearly in the side for his batting and not his bowling, given his lack of duties.
He came right in the IPL with some entertaining innings but he needs to step it up with competent players hanging about the fringes. I never like to single out a player but it just seems as though his role in the side is cloudy. Mitchell Marsh is looking like a young all-rounder due to make an entrance into the squad who could fill the void for Smith, but hopefully Stevo comes right this series. It's only the first game.
England have a lot to play for. Should they find a way to win this series 5-0, then they will take the number one spot from us for the ODI rankings. However, we need to defend the title and with a really good mix of players it's going to be an exciting series for both sides.
It wasn't the desired result and it's never easy to accept defeat against England in any form of the game, but they have brought their A-game and it should make for a hard fought and very entertaining series.
It's 1-0 to England with four games to go. Some of our players have started off on the right foot so here's to positivity for the next fixture.
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click on the 'Comments' tag at the end of the article.
TWITTER
@BaggyGreenBlog
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@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo
1st ODI scorecard via ESPN cricinfo.com
England: 5-272
Australia: 9-257, Michael Clarke 61, David Warner 56.
England did a good job with their batting. Their openers set a solid foundation for the middle order, which Eoin Morgan used excellently as a platform to launch a brutal assault against our bowlers. He was directly responsible for their victory as he belted our bowlers during the last five overs of the innings. The result was 54 runs from the last 5 overs, which shifted the momentum right into England's favour.
Brett Lee was our pick of the bowlers. What an awesome effort with the new ball. Tight figures and brilliant variation. It was a real pity he was also a part of the Morgan-attack but he certainly looks set for a good series.
Patrick Cummins showed loads of promise and whenever a youngster gets into the setup it all about learning. Look how James Pattinson's already had some ups and downs in his career. Not necessarily low points but every now and then inexperience comes through but he's a quick learner and is already the real deal. Patty is definitely on the same path.
Xavier Doherty struggled a bit but he had such a good summer that it would be daft to rule him out. Maybe he will be viewed as a Southern Hemisphere specialist but here's his chance to take command. He is a bowler with a very good mind for cricket, so he's rarely going to be unaware of what is to be expected from him. I have no doubt he will look back on this match and then come back stronger for the remainder of the series. We saw how effective Graeme Swann was to build pressure towards the end of his spell with a batch of dot balls.
The bowlers struggled in the heat of the action come the death overs, but we have Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson on the sidelines as well, so I hope we will see these two guys getting a chance. Hilfy was pretty good for the better part of the death bowling duties in the IPL for Chennai.
The batting came down to some misfortune. George Bailey had been working away at the singles to get himself into a good position with 29 runs until he chopped one onto his stumps. To make matters worse David Hussey misread the bounce of a short pitched delivery from Steven Finn and the ball deflected of his helmet on the top of his stumps.
Then the wrap it all up, Matthew Wade - who was just getting ready to go into entertainment mode deluxe - and Michael Clarke (61) had a terrible mix up which resulted in an unnecessary run out. Wade was the guy to walk and Clarkey was left with a big task on his shoulders. After Clarkey had played such a well composed innings and had himself in a brilliant position to start opening up the more attacking aspect of his game, the run out occurred. He also brought up his 7,000th ODI run.
It was frustrating but it was also good to see Matt Wade get out there, get settled and then play with confidence. He's no longer viewing himself as the substitute for Brad Haddin with Tim Paine making a comeback. He's now set on becoming Australia's number one wicketkeeper.
Brett Lee managed to score 29 runs but England were too good for us in the end. I was hoping Binga would unleash the fury as he did against the West Indies to score his highest ODI total, but there were too few overs to play with.
I was also pleased to see David Warner play a well composed innings. His dismissal was so soft but his lack of footwork was to blame. Warner his 6 fours and 1 six and this is definitely form to gamble on that he's in for a big series. There's a bit more time to watch the ball come onto the bat in English conditions as well, so I really hope he can capitalise.
I still maintain my concerns about Steven Smith. As you saw in the Ashes series he was regularly troubled when he hung his bat outside of off-stump, just prodding at deliveries moving away from him. I hope he comes right this series because he is clearly in the side for his batting and not his bowling, given his lack of duties.
He came right in the IPL with some entertaining innings but he needs to step it up with competent players hanging about the fringes. I never like to single out a player but it just seems as though his role in the side is cloudy. Mitchell Marsh is looking like a young all-rounder due to make an entrance into the squad who could fill the void for Smith, but hopefully Stevo comes right this series. It's only the first game.
England have a lot to play for. Should they find a way to win this series 5-0, then they will take the number one spot from us for the ODI rankings. However, we need to defend the title and with a really good mix of players it's going to be an exciting series for both sides.
It wasn't the desired result and it's never easy to accept defeat against England in any form of the game, but they have brought their A-game and it should make for a hard fought and very entertaining series.
It's 1-0 to England with four games to go. Some of our players have started off on the right foot so here's to positivity for the next fixture.
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click on the 'Comments' tag at the end of the article.
@BaggyGreenBlog
@Ianbaggygreen
@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo
23 June 2012
New Cricket Australia contracted players list
A Memorandum of Understanding was reached between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association. The good news is that the game will roll on, however what you may notice is how the original twenty-five player contract list has now been reduced to seventeen.
Having a look at the list, the fundamental concept behind it seems to be the selection of the the players who have played the most cricket for Australia over a period of time, as well as players who have shown relative consistency within their own specialist form of the game.
This list is definitely more focused on Test cricketers as opposed to limited overs cricketers.
It was always going to be a logical move and once again this has been a step towards following the recommendations of the Argus Review which has done nothing but get Australian cricket back on track. I see no reason why this should even be up for debate.
The original contract list always baffled me as to why a player like Callum Ferguson would get his contract but would sit on the sidelines playing State cricket. With little opportunity granted due to his poor Big Bash form - Twenty20 cricket mind you - he was never given a chance to fulfill those opportunities with the fresh contract.
Despite the above, the fact remains there's no point in dishing out reasonably lucrative contracts to players who won't be given the chance due to competition for places. There's also new avenues for players to have access to the money in circulation within the game, for example; Twenty20 competitions, county cricket, overseas limited overs stints.
I did mention that the revised list seems to based on, 'the selection of the the players who have played the most cricket for Australia over a period of time as well as players who have shown relative consistency within their own specialist form of the game.'
You may then see the name of Mitchell Johnson. Immediately you will likely think why he is even on that list? He has been out of action since November, has only just made a return and didn't exactly perform well in Test cricket. That's where we need to look at his limited overs performances. He was our best bowler in ODIs last season and he's about to make a return. Although I don't see his return to Test cricket as a likely one due to the young guys coming through the system and a consistent crop of bowlers leading us to victory, Mitch is suited to limited overs cricket and is a valuable player.
In Mitchell's case, this is where 'players who have shown relative consistency within their own specialist form of the game' comes into effect. You can't deny that Mitch wasn't a stand out performer for us in limited overs cricket for the 2010/11 season. Limited overs cricket narrows the gap between his best and worse, where as the harsh nature of Test cricket doesn't allow him this.
As John Inverarity, Chairman of selectors, stated, "We have very high expectations that he (Johnson) will come back and come back extremely well. His record is very good. The consideration was that he already had a contract for this period. That was a given."
A few observations. I thought Ed Cowan would find his way onto the list but it has been widely reported that the Test series at the end of this year will be the series that determines his future as an Australian opening batsman. He's had two series where he has been able to hold his own but can't seem to get over next hurdle when he has got himself into a good position during his innings.
The other would be George Bailey who did a really good job in the West Indies during his first ODI series. However, I don't think he has played enough and not cemented himself into a certain form of the game, Twenty20 captaincy aside as well. His omission seems legitimate.
One talking point I reckon will be about Brad Haddin.
Brad has had to walk away from the game due to personal circumstances within his life. As a result Matt Wade was given his chance and has made an exciting impression for the future of Australian cricket. Basically we need not panic!
Tim Paine was dubbed to the man to step in for Brad but his unfortunate injury last year paved the way for Matt to debut in all forms of the game. Given his lack of exposure since making a slow comeback from injury, Tim will need the Australia A fixtures in July to get himself back on the radar, regain his confidence after being out of the game for a while and most importantly take on the role as a senior player for Australia A. Further opportunity to groom his leadership ambitions.
Two wicket keepers seems to be a logical choice. Despite Brad having struggled for the 2010/11 season post the Ashes series, he has the experience and may still make a comeback. It may be a contract granted due to the circumstances of only one keeper being a guaranteed candidate for selection at this point in time.
Your thoughts on the new contract list?
I will update the Player Profile page as soon as I can but in the meantime, without further to do, here is the new list of Cricket Australia's contract players:
Michael Clarke (NSW),
Pat Cummins (NSW),
Xavier Doherty (TAS),
Brad Haddin (NSW),
Ryan Harris (QLD),
Ben Hilfenhaus (TAS),
David Hussey (VIC),
Michael Hussey (WA),
Mitchell Johnson (WA),
Nathan Lyon (SA),
James Pattinson (VIC),
Ricky Ponting (TAS) ,
Peter Siddle (VIC),
Mitchell Starc (NSW),
Matthew Wade (VIC),
Shane Watson (NSW),
David Warner (NSW).
Once again New South Wales dominates the list with Victoria not too far behind. Tasmanian cricket is on the rise as well, along with Ali de Winter, Tasmanian assistant coach, being on a test drive as bowling coach for the National side.
NSW: 6
VIC: 4
TAS: 3
WA: 2
SA: 1
QLD: 1
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
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16 June 2012
A look at what's been going on in Australian cricket
The return of Australian cricket is just around the corner and it's going to be great to see the boys back in action. The catch is that this wait has been slightly messy after what had been a positive period for Australian cricket. It seems as if there is light at the end of tunnel though, so don't fret fanatics!
The talks between Cricket Australia and the ACA (Australian Cricketers Association) seem to have made progress to resolving the issues with regards to the payment structure for the players that Cricket Australia's adamant to implement. The threat of a mid-tour boycott seems to be unlikely now and I will maintain a sense confidence that we won't see our cricket in such a state over financial complications.
The players are awaiting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for their contracts and relative payment structures. According to Cricket Australia Chairman, Wally Edwards, the major issues have been dealt with and the finer details are being finalised for both parties to have an amicable agreement. This is good news.
"From a Cricket Australia perspective we're confident there will be a successful outcome before the end of June." - Wally Edwards.
The situation is particularly messy for the State players who are not on the fringes of consideration for National duty. This impact has left a few players (allegedly) in a really unfair situation where they have no set indication as to whether they will be getting a contract with their state and players considering a move to another State will be unable to make any immediate plans until a new MoU has been agreed upon.
Basically you'd be left contemplating moving into a full-time job and passing up on cricket or simply just carrying on as is. It would be mighty embarrassing if an agreement wasn't reached and a strike occurred but I am certain both parties will realise how these issues affect all with interest invested in the game.
I do think the relationship between the ACA and CA will be affected by this even if it is the positive outcome we all hope for. This is one implication with Cricket Australia controlling the state system. It has positives but this shows us how one party not being happy can have serious knock of problems for the rest.
All in all, I am confident it will be resolved. Lets just hope it's a positive move forward.
If you need a refresher on the upcoming ODI tour schedule, check out the fixtures page.
The bowling coach situation:
A while back a bomb was dropped when Craig McDermott announced his departure as bowling coach. There was a possibility the great Pakistani bower Waqar Younis could have taken the job but Ali de Winter, Tasmanian assistant coach, is inline to take the job.
He will be the bowling coach for the upcoming tour and this is very exciting as he's done a remarkable job with Tasmanian cricket and a prime example of his work is to simply look at Ben Hilfenhaus.
Hilfy's game has done a full three-sixty and both de Winter and McDermott were key players in this turnaround. You can also look at the improvement of Tasmanian cricket. Take a look at Luke Butterworth and Jackson Bird as examples of the bowling front!
He is with the team for the UK ODI tour and this will be an important stepping stone for him for what's to come. Wishing him all the best.
Talking about State cricket, the Sheffield Shield will most likely start in September this year.
A bit earlier than usual but with due to the schedules of the ICC World T20 and the Champions League.
The implication is that this is not quite summer so Tasmania, for example, will not be able to host any Sheffield games due to the spectacular outdoor weather in that part of Australia around that time. So other venues could be considered for hosting matches.
What this does mean is that the cricket season will be starting off a bit sooner than usual. Can't complain about that!
Simon Katich retires from Australian First-class cricket:
The other news is that Simon Katich has retired from Australian First-class cricket.
The decision is due to family reasons and the obvious fact that he has done all that he can for Australian cricket and has done a mighty fine job as well.
He will continue to play for Hampshire (Shane Warne and Michael Clarke's former county team) but you can still catch Katto in Twenty20 cricket so he's not done yet, but it's all over in Australia for the form of the game he was most accustomed to.
As such a young batsman during a dominant era of Australian cricket, the fact Katto got himself on the radar by debuting for Australia in the 2001 Ashes series as such a young man spoke of his value and it was hard to ignore the possibility of him making a return to the Australian team somewhere down the line, despite being dropped during different stages of his playing career.
He fought back like a dog to get his recall for the West Indies tour and he was easily our most consistent batsman from that very return. He was our anchor at the top of the order and he had a great run with the Baggy Green cap back on his head.
The saddest part of all of this would be that Katto didn't get to win an Ashes series upon his recall and his final treatment from the former selection panel was poor, really poor!
When the last Cricket Australia contract list was released, the simple fact that Simon Katich wasn't on that list was shocking. It's is the nature of International sport but the fact he'd been scoring runs for Australia and was so consistent as well made the matter really bizarre. The reasoning given by Andrew Hilditch (former Chairman of selectors) was due to Katto's age and the importance of getting a settled opening duo in place.
It was a bit of a kick of teeth considering Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee were still on the list and not exactly a bunch of spring chickens but I think it was the manner in which the decision was handled that angered Katto.
Having been performing and been one of very few players who stood out during a very difficult period for Australian cricket, it was definitely a shock that he didn't get his contract renewed. Mixed emotions led to him giving a transparent opinion of the selectors and the feelings within the Australian camp.
It was brilliant in my opinion and I admired Katto's courage and confidence to tell it exactly as he felt it all. Sometimes I do believe that in life we shouldn't have to follow the rules when it comes to voicing our opinions and despite certain critics saying he didn't do it the right way, that was how he did it and I don't think any method of tactic would have given him a chance to put the Baggy Green cap back on.
He still has my respect as unfortunate as the end was for his international career.
I wish him all the best with his family and hope his future holds plenty of positives both cricket and non-cricket related. Well done mate.
Upon reflection of the comment Stuart Clark made a year ago, it's what he had to say when Katto didn't get a renewed contract having been one of best batsman during a tough period of cricket:
"He's arguably Australia's best batsman over the past three years, so for him not to be selected can only mean that they've just said 'you're too old and we want to go down a youth path' and any other job in the country that'd probably end up in court somewhere.
"A four-minute conversation is probably not enough for someone that's been part of the organisation for 12 years. How long is right I don't know, but surely Simon deserves something more than that."
Looking at the statistics we see the positives! Katto was a highly accomplished batsman for Australia and I hope he can add a few more centuries to these stats for his time with Hampshire in the county circuit.
Simon Katich statistics overview:
Test debut: England v Australia at Leeds, Aug 16-20, 2001
ODI debut: Australia v Zimbabwe at Melbourne, Jan 21, 2001
Tests:
Batting - 56 matches/ 99 innings/ 4,188 runs/ HS 157/ Avg 45.03/ 100s (10)/ 50s (25).
Bowling - 56 matches/ 25 innings/ 21 wickets/ 635 runs/ 30.23 avg/ BBI 6/65/ BBM 6/90
ODIs:
Batting - 45 matches/ 42 innings/ 1,324 runs/ HS 107*/ Avg 35.78/ 100s (1)/ 50s (9)
First-Class:
Batting: 247 matches/ 422 innings/ 119,667 runs/ HS 306/ Avg 52.86/ 100s (54)/ 50s (104)
Bowling: 247 matches/ 105 wickets/ 6,231 runs/ 35.09 avg/ BBI 7-130
Can't wait for some ODI cricket again. Hope it will be a distraction amongst all the drama. Main thing is hoping that the players will have the complete motivation when taking to the field.
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click on the 'Comments' tag at the end of the article.
@BaggyGreenBlog
@Ianbaggygreen
@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo
06 June 2012
Is Waqar Younis a candidate for the Australian bowling coach vacancy?
This latest news is rather exciting and I really hope it ends up being a reality for Australian cricket.
The void left by Craig McDermott resigning as bowling coach is massive.
He did a truly spectacular job during a short time with the Australian team and his impact has left a big footprint for all to see. Our bowling unit has started to build a reputation as one that should not be handled with disrespect and the Test performances from the bowlers has certainly seen a dramatic turnaround after the dismal 2010/11 Ashes series, which was a major reason for a number of changes in the Australian landscape (Argus Review).
The news that we've been provided with is that one of the men interviewed for the position of Australian bowling coach is none other than Waqar Younis - former Pakistan Test/ODI bowler.
Growing up in the 90s watching cricket, every kid knew about the lethal bowling duo from Pakistan known as Wasim and Waqar. As a youngster Waqar was one of my favourites to emulate when playing garden cricket.
Wasim Akram is still regarded as one of the best left arm fast bowlers of the modern era and Waqar - who is without a finger on his left hand - was a spectacle to watch in limited overs cricket and it was hard to not be drawn into the thrill of his lightning pace.
Had I seen him play live, it would have been a real treat to have seen him hurling down deliveries in real time during the days when batsmen weren't as well shielded as they are now. Bowlers were even scarier then!
When he bowled out batsmen, they just seemed to instantly walk off the pitch with utter disbelief, the acceptance that their downfall was as a result of ferocious, tactical bowling.
I think the day I realised Waqar was well past his best and that his playing days were as good as over was during the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup when he bowled hideous beamer at Andrew "Roy" Symonds. Roy destroyed Pakistan that match in one of his most entertaining innings when it mattered most for his career, but I remember that innings as one where Waqar's career was at the end. The signs were there.
Come the end of his career, as a player he was accomplished and he is not just a great Pakistani cricketer but a legend to the cricket world. He remains one of the most talked about bowlers when we discuss reverse-swing and his general control with swing bowling during his prime is something our fast bowlers would be eager to lap up with the mentorship of Waqar.
His suitability for the Australian team?
Waqar has been based in Sydney, Australia since 2005.
He has the advantage as a "foreign" cricket professional who has been exposed to local and cultural knowledge which should help him mix with the team culture and the fanatics. More so he has spent time with the New South Wales Blues so he will understand the demands, attitude and team spirit with which he will be working with in Australian sport.
He has been fresh out of International cricket for a while now since resigning as the Pakistan coach in 2011 due to personal reasons. The politics within Pakistani cricket is a major distraction upon the love of the game which so many of their supporters have. No doubt when in a position of responsibility such as a coach it can't be easy with all these distractions.
Although I don't intend to come across as disrespectful to any Pakistan cricket supporters who follow my writing, the work environment within the Australian cricket team carries professional pressure as it does with any team but it is mostly factors of pressure to generate performance based results. There is still the never ending conquest to win the vote of confidence with the players and supporters as well, but the external pressures are far less than that of the Pakistan cricket camp.
The shift may be a good one for Waqar having had a bit of a break from that environment. He may have the opportunity to settle into an environment which may allow him to really show his true colours as a bowling coach with a bunch of guys who will want to make an impression based on all the positives they have taken from the brilliant job done by Craig McDermott.
Understandably we'd prefer to see a bowling coach come in the form of a former Australian cricketer, which is the natural way to think in terms of comfort and history.
It's exciting to know that Cricket Australia has gone out of their comfort zone with the appointment of staff in coaching or managerial positions e.g. Mickey Arthur and Pat Howard.
We've seen a gradual turnaround in performances from the Test and ODI teams and both Arthur and Howard have played a vital role. One comes from another cultural background having had real international success, while the other has been involved within and played a different sport. The appointment of Waqar Younis shouldn't be seen as a negative based on this.
All in all if I look at these aspects along with my personal admiration for Waqar as a cricketer, I think it would be a boost to our side from the outset. The major factor would be the performance delivery and I have confidence that the appointment wouldn't be a light decision given the massive task to replace McDermott with an intense cricket schedule coming up. If Waqar gets the job, it will be for the right reasons.
What are your thoughts?
A video treat: An example of what these blokes could do!
Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram in action.
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click on the 'Comments' tag at the end of the article.
TWITTER
@BaggyGreenBlog
@Ianbaggygreen
@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo
The void left by Craig McDermott resigning as bowling coach is massive.
He did a truly spectacular job during a short time with the Australian team and his impact has left a big footprint for all to see. Our bowling unit has started to build a reputation as one that should not be handled with disrespect and the Test performances from the bowlers has certainly seen a dramatic turnaround after the dismal 2010/11 Ashes series, which was a major reason for a number of changes in the Australian landscape (Argus Review).
The news that we've been provided with is that one of the men interviewed for the position of Australian bowling coach is none other than Waqar Younis - former Pakistan Test/ODI bowler.
Growing up in the 90s watching cricket, every kid knew about the lethal bowling duo from Pakistan known as Wasim and Waqar. As a youngster Waqar was one of my favourites to emulate when playing garden cricket.
Wasim Akram is still regarded as one of the best left arm fast bowlers of the modern era and Waqar - who is without a finger on his left hand - was a spectacle to watch in limited overs cricket and it was hard to not be drawn into the thrill of his lightning pace.
Had I seen him play live, it would have been a real treat to have seen him hurling down deliveries in real time during the days when batsmen weren't as well shielded as they are now. Bowlers were even scarier then!
When he bowled out batsmen, they just seemed to instantly walk off the pitch with utter disbelief, the acceptance that their downfall was as a result of ferocious, tactical bowling.
I think the day I realised Waqar was well past his best and that his playing days were as good as over was during the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup when he bowled hideous beamer at Andrew "Roy" Symonds. Roy destroyed Pakistan that match in one of his most entertaining innings when it mattered most for his career, but I remember that innings as one where Waqar's career was at the end. The signs were there.
Come the end of his career, as a player he was accomplished and he is not just a great Pakistani cricketer but a legend to the cricket world. He remains one of the most talked about bowlers when we discuss reverse-swing and his general control with swing bowling during his prime is something our fast bowlers would be eager to lap up with the mentorship of Waqar.
His suitability for the Australian team?
Waqar has been based in Sydney, Australia since 2005.
He has the advantage as a "foreign" cricket professional who has been exposed to local and cultural knowledge which should help him mix with the team culture and the fanatics. More so he has spent time with the New South Wales Blues so he will understand the demands, attitude and team spirit with which he will be working with in Australian sport.
He has been fresh out of International cricket for a while now since resigning as the Pakistan coach in 2011 due to personal reasons. The politics within Pakistani cricket is a major distraction upon the love of the game which so many of their supporters have. No doubt when in a position of responsibility such as a coach it can't be easy with all these distractions.
Although I don't intend to come across as disrespectful to any Pakistan cricket supporters who follow my writing, the work environment within the Australian cricket team carries professional pressure as it does with any team but it is mostly factors of pressure to generate performance based results. There is still the never ending conquest to win the vote of confidence with the players and supporters as well, but the external pressures are far less than that of the Pakistan cricket camp.
The shift may be a good one for Waqar having had a bit of a break from that environment. He may have the opportunity to settle into an environment which may allow him to really show his true colours as a bowling coach with a bunch of guys who will want to make an impression based on all the positives they have taken from the brilliant job done by Craig McDermott.
Understandably we'd prefer to see a bowling coach come in the form of a former Australian cricketer, which is the natural way to think in terms of comfort and history.
It's exciting to know that Cricket Australia has gone out of their comfort zone with the appointment of staff in coaching or managerial positions e.g. Mickey Arthur and Pat Howard.
We've seen a gradual turnaround in performances from the Test and ODI teams and both Arthur and Howard have played a vital role. One comes from another cultural background having had real international success, while the other has been involved within and played a different sport. The appointment of Waqar Younis shouldn't be seen as a negative based on this.
All in all if I look at these aspects along with my personal admiration for Waqar as a cricketer, I think it would be a boost to our side from the outset. The major factor would be the performance delivery and I have confidence that the appointment wouldn't be a light decision given the massive task to replace McDermott with an intense cricket schedule coming up. If Waqar gets the job, it will be for the right reasons.
What are your thoughts?
A video treat: An example of what these blokes could do!
Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram in action.
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click on the 'Comments' tag at the end of the article.
@BaggyGreenBlog
@Ianbaggygreen
@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo
02 June 2012
The ECB announce the 2013 Ashes fixtures
The ECB has announced the dates for the 2013 Ashes fixtures, as well as the limited overs fixtures to follow thereafter. We still have to endure five match ODI fixtures but the main event is of course the Ashes series where our boys will be battling out in the land of the old enemy to regain the Urn.
There is a limited overs battle just around the corner though for the Green and Gold players as they take a trip over to the United Kingdom to play England and a once off match against Ireland in Belfast.
Below you will find the fixtures for the 2013 Ashes series but don't forget to check out the Fixtures tab right here at the Baggy Green Blog to see where and when the boys will be playing the respective forms of the game.
The limited overs UK tour starts on 21 June 2012.
Here's the Squad in case you missed it or need a refresher:
Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, George Bailey, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner.
2013 Ashes fixtures:
July 10-14
First Test Trent - Bridge
July 18-22
Second Test - Lord's
August 1-5
Third Test - Old Trafford
August 9-13
Fourth Test - Chester-le-Street
August 21-25
Fifth Test - The Oval
Welcome to The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click on the 'Comments' tag at the end of the article.
@BaggyGreenBlog
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