Ricky Ponting

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Australia are still regularly scoring 350-400 runs which is enough to win Test matches. It's just that our bowling stocks are pretty poor at the moment.

Thats not true. It seems the bowlers are helping make a lot those runs. Also with these pitches being produced these days scoring 400 is no problem.
One experienced bowler is performing below standard, Mitchell is a second year player and the rest are first year. Blaming the bowling is BS.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

The whole point of Australia A is to blood the youngsters. Test cricket is about winning matches and as fun as it is to say "play the youngsters" in this case it really is pointless.

Yes its fun playing with old blokes that lose and its pointless trying anything new out.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Yes its fun playing with old blokes that lose and its pointless trying anything new out.

Walk away from this one, Ernie. Lantern has hit the nail right on the head.

There is no reason to go for "youth policy", it's crap. We don't have restricted lists where we have to develop players for the future, we've got a whole domestic competition to do that.

There is no reason a 30 yo shouldn't debut - Hussey was 30 when he was first picked and he'll play at least for 4-5 seasons and play 50 tests - that's more than Dean Jones played. Matthew Hayden got recalled when he was heading towards 30 and he's finished up with over 100 tests.

The problem is certain players have gold passes and others get picked on reputation. Hayden is finished and should have been dropped after India. Symonds should never have been recalled until he had made some runs in the Shield.

Lee was average in India and dreadful in Perth. He's a decent bowler in the Craig McDermott/Merv Hughes class but they're treating him as if he's Dennis Lillee. In form he's a quality bowler, out of form he's a fast-medium who bowls gun-barrell straight.

If we picked the best team we have we would have won this series.

[mighty_west]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Walk away from this one, Ernie. Lantern has hit the nail right on the head.

There is no reason to go for "youth policy", it's crap. We don't have restricted lists where we have to develop players for the future, we've got a whole domestic competition to do that.

There is no reason a 30 yo shouldn't debut - Hussey was 30 when he was first picked and he'll play at least for 4-5 seasons and play 50 tests - that's more than Dean Jones played. Matthew Hayden got recalled when he was heading towards 30 and he's finished up with over 100 tests.

The problem is certain players have gold passes and others get picked on reputation. Hayden is finished and should have been dropped after India. Symonds should never have been recalled until he had made some runs in the Shield.

Lee was average in India and dreadful in Perth. He's a decent bowler in the Craig McDermott/Merv Hughes class but they're treating him as if he's Dennis Lillee. In form he's a quality bowler, out of form he's a fast-medium who bowls gun-barrell straight.

If we picked the best team we have we would have won this series.

Spot on.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Who says its a youth policy? Its a old man policy. If you are 30+ and haven't debuted, sorry but your time has past. Its hardly change all old for new.
Whats the point debuting someone in a lost series for a few years of service instead of trying someone that could be around longer.

[Sedat]

Re: Ricky Ponting

The problem is certain players have gold passes and others get picked on reputation. Hayden is finished and should have been dropped after India. Symonds should never have been recalled until he had made some runs in the Shield.

It is the Australian cricket club, not the Australian cricket team. And besides, it will cost too much valuable time and money for the CA sponsors (the only people that truly matter in CA's life) to re-cut their ads so that they don't feature Symonds, Hayden and Lee ad nauseum. It reminds me of the unofficial rule (ie: from the club president) in the late 80's at the Brisbane Bears that Capper could never be dropped from the side irrespective of form.

How would guys like Hodge and Watson feel seeing a half-arsed underachieving wanker like Symonds be given the keys to the city time and again, when these guys have been cut adrift after 1-2 'failures'? If you have a certain level of natural talent, of course you are going to eventually make a shitload of runs if given enough freebie opportunities to do so, and Symonds eventually proved that truism in about his 15th test. But he has also proven to be self-involved, wildly inconsistent and thoroughly unreliable at test level pretty much since he started. Sure he can field, just make him 12th man like the Windies did with Harper.

Putting the players to one side for a moment, why the hell was Nielsen just given a 2 year contract extension by CA? He hasn't exactly bathed in glory since he took over from Buchanan. And what further incompetence can Hilditch and co perform before they are held accountable and sacked from their posts?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Who says its a youth policy? Its a old man policy. If you are 30+ and haven't debuted, sorry but your time has past. Its hardly change all old for new.
Whats the point debuting someone in a lost series for a few years of service instead of trying someone that could be around longer.

Then Mike Hussey would never have played test cricket

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Then Mike Hussey would never have played test cricket

Its not saying it the policy for all time, it probably should be the policy for now when they need to rebuild.
Probably being a bit harsh on David Hussey as he is only 31. Bowlers over 30 a no no.

[Mantis]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Its not saying it the policy for all time, it probably should be the policy for now when they need to rebuild.
Probably being a bit harsh on David Hussey as he is only 31. Bowlers over 30 a no no.

So which 'old' bowlers have debuted in the past 5 to 10 years?

I can't think of too many.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Ricky Ponting

So which 'old' bowlers have debuted in the past 5 to 10 years?

I can't think of too many.

Stuart Clark.

We got a few really good years out of him as well.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Whats the news on Stu Clark? I heard a rumour that the injury could be a career breaker... I would hope not, he is very reliable and the closest we have to the MCGrath bowling machine like line.

Anyway... my two cents... Where there were a couple of option I went the younger player for a policy change a la Hughes vs Rogers

Lee out for Hilfenhaus
Haydos for Hughes (sorry to say because I love the way the man bats when he is on)
Watson for Symonds (career over mate, your not interested anymore)

M Hussey needs a kick up the bum, maybe give his bro a match...
R Ponting replaced by M Clarke for the captaincy (Bold move but would signal a changing of the guard and the intentions, Ponting would be there for support still.) Maybe M Hussey as vice for now, other ideas? Who might be around a while is the question...

Also, need to develop a LEGGY, pick a young guy and develop him. Chuck him in vs Bangaladesh and in dead rubbers.

Think I preferred Jason K over Hauritz even though HAuritz was a bit better at keeping the runs down but Jason K might be a longer term prospect and a bit more attacking.

Thankful for Mitch Johnson, developing well and damn it if he doesnt look like a batsmen.

P Siddle shows some promise, must have been great for him with the MCG crowd behind him.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Okay... Just heard watson cannot bowl for 6 months....

Any other allrounder option? Callum Ferguson as a project?

[GVGjr]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Okay... Just heard watson cannot bowl for 6 months....

Any other allrounder option? Callum Ferguson as a project?

Watson can't bowl again? If so, then that might be the last we hear from him as a test cricket candidate. He was always one LT injury away from ending his test prospects.

Henriques isn't ready, Cam White might get back into the picture as a number 6 who bowls a bit.

[Twodogs]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Who says its a youth policy? Its a old man policy. If you are 30+ and haven't debuted, sorry but your time has past. Its hardly change all old for new.
Whats the point debuting someone in a lost series for a few years of service instead of trying someone that could be around longer.

It's nothing to do with age. If you're right to go then you are right to go.



Be it Hughes or Rogers to take Hayden's spot then form and ability to take the next step should be the only factors taken into consideration. Whether that player is 20, 30 or even 40 shouldnt enter into it.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ricky Ponting

I just read the article on Watson so he is as good as finished until the ashes.

Looking at some guys who might potentially hold down the number 6 spot and bowls some decent overs and I see the following players:

Hopes - Probably isn't up to holding down the number 6 spot. Handy bowler.
Henriques- Potentially very good but his batting hasn't been good enough
Smith - Batting has been OK and his bowling is interesting but he is still a fair way off.
North - Missing at the moment but is an experienced batter and very handy off-spinner.
White - He could hold down the number 6 spot but his bowling isn't strong enough. Might be the front runner though.
Noffke - A bowler (injured at the moment) who can bat very well but he couldn't hold the number 6 spot. Perhaps Haddin at 6 and Noffke at 7 might work.
McDonald and Thornley aren't strong enough with bat or ball.

Any others?