WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

[LostDoggy]

Australia was beaten in Perth in a great Test match and in Melbourne after being in a sound position on Day2 and then leaving an awkward total for SA to get in the last innings on Day 5.

We have played against a very good Test side, yet there seems to be no recognition of this, simply that Australia is hopeless. There is an over-riding view by many that Australia has a devine right to win Test Matches.

Now some posters have probably not seen anything in their lifetime to suggest otherwise but to those of us who have been around for sometime and who take the time to study the game and it's history, Australia is often vulnerable and like all sporting teams, subject to peaks and troughs in performance

I think some recognition of the strength of the current SA and Indian sides is justified. Both countries have set themselves to knock us off and after the retirement of some of the greatest players in Test history, we are no longer able to dominate the game.

A bit of reality wouldn't go astray.

Led by the Murdoch press who continue to employ journalists with little knowledge of anything related to the game, we are being brain-washed that the current team, management and selectors are hopeless. One scribbler described the current situation as possibly the lowest in Australia's history - F$%& me!

We have calls to sack the captain, drop players of the ilk of Hayden, Katich, Hussey, Lee, Symonds and Haddin (before he got a ton against NZ). Let's get rid of the coach and the entire selection panel must go

A little bit of sanity wouldn't go astray

This is a tough business. Things do not always go our way. The opposition have copied almost everything we do and are bing succesful - for now.

We will respond. We may never reach the state of domination again but we will remain near the top of the ratings because our structure is unique and reliable.

Sure, we will make changes but champions deserve a better guarantee than their last innings. And when we make changes, there will be no guarantees that they will be successful because like footy which brings us together here, selectors never know whether a new player will succeed until they give him a go.

Since the retirement of the greats and one or two wonderful support players, we have run into the best oppposition that we have had for a number of years. India now have quicks who can really play, SA have unearthed solid batsmen who play with a bit of guts and have a couple of excellent quicks.

On top of this, Australia has suffered injuries at crucial times, none more hurtful than those to Lee and Symonds and in India, Ponting and a couple of slows which has meant we are looking at 3rd and 4th choices in that role.

And after all this, we have still made SA work really hard to knock us off.

I guess what I am trying to say, is that whilst the results have not gone our way, we are a long way from rack and ruin as some would suggest. We are re-building but we are not at rock-bottom and in the meantime some good things are happening eg the emergence of Johnson, the maturing of Clarke, the establishment of Katich the batting of Haddin and I think Siddle shows some promise

In the wings are Hughes (in particular) and Jacques and hopefully the various injuries get resolved.

We are not as far away as many believe.

[Topdog]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

Very very well said.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

Pretty much spot on mate.

The Herald Sun caters for the lowest common denominator. Whenever Australia has to play a test it needs to be all about Australia. As stated, Australia have been in very strong positons to win in all three tests. Sadly, the masses would much rather read an exagerated, dumbed down article about how awful Australian cricket is than a logical, well-written piece about the quality of the South Africans/Indians.

[ledge]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

I have said all along Australia has the players, but you have to be prepared to make tough decisions, the selectors arent up to it.
We all know that Australia lost great players that you wont replace and expect some sort of drop but this is hurting the public because the selectors wont face the fact they need to bring in new players.
That is reality.
Lets face it they admitted Symonds would have played again except for injury as with Lee who hasnt got a wicket or 2 for ages, the Hayden selection says it all.
Another question, who goes to India without a spinner??
I in no way blame the players, they try their hardest and no player is going to say dont pick me.
Half of this negative attitude comes from bad selection, no one is blaming the players.

[ledge]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

I will also add in agreement with you completely SA and India are very, very good teams and should be given credit.

[LostDoggy]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

Lets face it they admitted Symonds would have played again except for injury as with Lee who hasnt got a wicket or 2 for ages, the Hayden selection says it all.
Another question, who goes to India without a spinner??
I in no way blame the players, they try their hardest and no player is going to say dont pick me.
Half of this negative attitude comes from bad selection, no one is blaming the players.

1. Of course Symonds would have played again if he did not have an injury and so he should. have a look at his scores in Test cricket.

2. Lee got 9 wickets against the Kiwis in Adelaide. Did you expect to drop him then?

3. Hayden - Champions deserve chances beyond their last innings. Have a look at ALL of his dismissals - 2 tragic umpiring decisions and 2 run-outs. Try looking at the story behind the stats. Having said that he is clearly on notice but some atitudes towards his rention are disgraceful. One clown in today's pres began his piece on the subject referencing Hitler forFFS

4. Nobody goes to India without a spinner and neither did we. A bloke called Mc Gain got injured (on top of Casson) and there goes the first two picks

You are highly selective in your memory of facts to support your proposition that the Selectors are no good. As I said earlier, they have had to contend with rapidly changing circumstances and deserve some leeway as do the players.

[Sedat]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

1. Of course Symonds would have played again if he did not have an injury and so he should. have a look at his scores in Test cricket.

I'd expect far more than 2 lucky centuries in over 40+ innings from my test no. 6. That's not to mention his disregard for the team ethic and his half-arsed attitude. Symonds is as over-rated in test cricket as anyone I can recall in living memory. Plus he was afforded the luxury of 10-15 test matches of near complete non-performance with bat and ball at the start of his test career before he finally started to repay the losses - any first class cricketer worth their salt would eventually perform if given that much rope.

But the kiddies (and especially the sponsors) love him because he has those dreadies and the face paint. On-field performance is secondary when you are a "marketable commodity"

[ledge]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

4. Nobody goes to India without a spinner and neither did we. A bloke called Mc Gain got injured (on top of Casson) and there goes the first two picks

And as i said we didnt take a spinner to India and Ponting came out before the series and said i dont care what the Indians think we will blast them out with pace.

You are highly selective in your memory of facts to support your proposition that the Selectors are no good. As I said earlier, they have had to contend with rapidly changing circumstances and deserve some leeway as do the players.

It wasnt rapidly changing circumstances with players ageing you couldnt see it coming?
They have had 3 to 5 years to bring up younger players but insist on bringing older players into the team.

2. Lee got 9 wickets against the Kiwis in Adelaide. Did you expect to drop him then?

Krezja got a heap of wickets in a Test and got dropped.

Your not serious about Symonds are you?
The bloke is a joke and another reason to sack the selectors after his misbehaviours and taking him back with no form whatsoever then playing him injured!

Interesting statement made on the radio about the Sydney Test was that the players look like they want to play as a team and seem to have a drive they didnt have in the first 2 Tests .
I think that says it all.

[Mantis]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

4. Nobody goes to India without a spinner and neither did we. A bloke called Mc Gain got injured (on top of Casson) and there goes the first two picks

And as i said we didnt take a spinner to India and Ponting came out before the series and said i dont care what the Indians think we will blast them out with pace.

Krezja got a heap of wickets in a Test and got dropped.

And there I was thinking that Krezja got his 'heap' of wickets in India.

[ledge]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

Sorry about that Mantis it was after that series, but good point why didnt Krezja go to India if Australian selectors thought he was good enough to play on Australian wickets?

[LostDoggy]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

Australia has lost the only two series in 2008 that mattered while beating up on the Kiwis. If this is to be seen as some sort of situation to be content about then sure, the criticism is off-base.

But criticising the team doesn't mean not recognising the quality of the opposition, rather, it is aimed at the performances of the Australian test team -- it is one thing to lose well, but the losses have been tame, lame and uninspired. Far more un-Australian than the media criticism of Hayden.

If there was evidence of strong, imaginative leadership, unlucky brilliance, or tenacious doggedness in losing, Australians are very forgiving of such performances (see the public and media reaction to Mark Taylor's difficult early years), but confused tactics (or non-tactics), ridiculous selections of unfit and out-of-form players that smack of favouritism (un-Australian), lame and pathetic excuse upon lame and pathetic excuse (un-Australian), and boorish, lazy protection of media whores (un-Australian!) do not merit any kind of sympathy, from the public or the media.

You reap what you sow, and Ricky Ponting and Andrew Hilditch's version of arrogant, old boys' fraternity protectionist rubbish was always going to come back and bite them in the butt -- the culture of snooty Spice Boys superstardom that permeates the Australian cricket team now is not the same one of class, professionalism, excellence and most importantly, grit, that the team displayed under Messrs. Waugh and Taylor (who inherited a far inferior team to Ponting). It is (apart from one or two notable exceptions) soft, lazy and indisciplined (how many loose shots were played in the second innings of the second test, the most important innings of this series?), and we have all come to expect better.

So don't bloody tell us about sanity or reality. We're all hard-nosed cricket watchers here in this country, and we know when something is on the nose. This team, and especially what passes for leadership in this debacle, deserves nothing but contempt, and we will have our fill of shouting until blood is spilt, and some sort of heart and character is restored to the culture of our premier national sporting team.

[Mantis]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

Sorry about that Mantis it was after that series, but good point why didnt Krezja go to India if Australian selectors thought he was good enough to play on Australian wickets?

Krezja did go to India. That is where he took 8 for 200+ in his first test.

[Twodogs]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

Nothing.

[ledge]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

Lantern congratulations exactly what i have been saying as soon as Australia lost the Ashes.
Ponting inherited a great team his captaincy isnt great, but the selectors are not helping him at all with this crap selection of teams, all i can say is thank god some got injured so others got a chance, because these selectors would just keep playing these older guys.
Look at this side now a few younger guys and the fire is back in the belly.
Should have started this a year ago.
Go get them Siddle, Macca, Johnson i say, now lets start playing younger batsmen who deserve the chance to get Australia back on track.

[ledge]

Re: WHAT ABOUT A BIT OF REALITY....and SANITY?

Krezja did go to India. That is where he took 8 for 200+ in his first test.

OOPS!