Australian central contracts announced - Interesting...

[sifter132]

2009-10 contract holders Doug Bollinger (NSW), Nathan Bracken (NSW), Stuart Clark (NSW), Michael Clarke (NSW), Callum Ferguson (SA), Brad Haddin (NSW), Nathan Hauritz (NSW), Ben Hilfenhaus (Tas), Brad Hodge (Vic), James Hopes (Qld), Phillip Hughes (NSW), David Hussey (Vic), Michael Hussey (WA), Mitchell Johnson (WA), Simon Katich (NSW), Brett Lee (NSW), Graham Manou (SA), Shaun Marsh (WA), Andrew McDonald (Vic), Marcus North (WA), Ricky Ponting (Tas), Peter Siddle (Vic), Andrew Symonds (Qld), Shane Watson (NSW), Cameron White (Vic).

Source: Cricinfo - Tait overlooked for Australia contract

Interesting stuff here. First, the headline is no Tait, but honestly he probably doesn't deserve a contract. He's hardly played in the last year and isn't likely to play much in the next year, especially after missing the T20 World Cup.

Here's my rundown of interesting selections:
Surprising contracts:
*Brad Hodge, still getting a contract. Is this the selectors giving him some sympathy pay? Or are they saying he's definitely in Australia's plans? I can't work it out. I think he only makes a team if there are multiple injuries, with the exception probably of T20. But then, they didn't select him for the T20 either this year...
*Graham Manou - I can't see why a guy who will never play for Australia, barring an injury to Haddin should get a central contract. Probably will tour for the Ashes, but that might be the only time he wears a green cap.
*Andrew McDonald - I saw him as an injury replacement for Watson and Symonds, nothing more. Obviously the selectors see different. They must be thinking of taking him to the Ashes, otherwise I can't see where he fits.
*Cameron White - Couldn't even get picked for the T20 World Cup squad, the form of cricket where he has easily had the most success. Didn't make the ODI tour of UAE either.


Missing?:
*David Warner - When compared with White, I thought Warner was the more loved by selectors but no, apparently not.
*Shaun Tait - As mentioned, probably doesn't deserve the contract really, but the selectors could have given him one just to encourage him to come back strongly.
*Jason Krejza/Bryce McGain - As far as I can see, Nathan Hauritz is our only contracted spinner.
*Phil Jaques - Was going well in Test cricket until his injury and only got a play a couple of first class games last summer in a desperate bid to tour South Africa. Deserves some love

*Edit* Forgot Adam Voges - Poor guy, decided to get married instead of take his place in the ODI squad in South Africa and he now no longer has a central contract. Hope he got lots of wedding presents

 

[aussie1st]

McDonald was always getting a contract, the selectors rate him very highly. I'm expecting him to be picked as a bowler for the Ashes and used in a similar role like in SA. Hopefully he isn't actually picked in the 11 but I see him in the squad.

Hodge is a strange one, I figured the selectors moved on from him already.
White is easily the selectors favourite, he got picked as the spin bowler. That says it all really.

 

[smssia0112]

White needs to come good with the bat this season to justify the development selectors have put into him. Hardly surprising that they gave Symonds another contract, but certainly a bad decision in my opinion - he is past it as a cricketer and is a loose cannon as a person.

Hodge is by far the most surprising one - you'd think he's in their plans for something, just wonder what that something is.

 

[Aussiebushrange]

I think we should have added another specialist spinner. Nathan Hauritz to me is not going to be one of the great international spinners in the world and he just doesn't impress me to be honest although I know we don't have any other spin prospects and with a second spinner we could have more spinners to turn to when or if Hauritz goes bust.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

No contract for Tait and Warner This Hillditch is an ahole : he forgot we won worldcup 2007 without Lee and that time tait was our main weapon. How come no contract for our rising star Warner :


Why on earth MCdonald got a contract :o he is absolute useless.

 

[bladescape]

I personally hope that Hodge's is considered to be a permenent fixture in the team,he's good enough.

Warner and Jaques should have got contract's,really poor stuff from Hilditch!

 

[smssia0112]

No contract for Tait and Warner This Hillditch is an ahole : he forgot we won worldcup 2007 without Lee and that time tait was our main weapon. How come no contract for our rising star Warner :


Why on earth MCdonald got a contract :o he is absolute useless.

Warner is Twenty20 only, no reason to give him a full contract. Tait is unfit and uncommitted, he has talent but he doesn't deserve a contract. We are wasting time and money investing in his future.

 

[Howsie]

I find it odd that Brad Hodge got a contract, he hasn't played for Australia for about a year now and he isn't the youngest player going around. Dave Warner missed out too which is also wierd. But the big shocker is there is no room for Shaun Tait.

 

[bladescape]

I'll agree with Aus5892 on Tait,unfit and isn't on form,no reason for a contract.

 

[angryangy]

The fact with Tait is that CA would be confident that they have a good group in Clark, Lee, Bracken, Johnson, Siddle, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus. Siddle is the new man in, a player who is already a key part of Test plans and although he has not played much limited overs, he is in those plans as well. He isn't making much of an impression and so he's just not as valuable right now.

It's a similar story for Jaques, one of the best batsmen in the country, but he has been chronically injured for almost a year. In the mean time any spots he is in contention for have been usurped. It's unfortunate, but what can you do? He could still somehow play for Australia in the next 12 months, it just means his value is outside of the top 25 right now.

 

[Left_Hander]

Like many have said I'm suprised by the inclusion of Hodge. It doesn't seem like they are going to pick him, so why give him a contract? Interesting to note that they're only two openers that have got contracts (Hughes and Katich), unless you count Clarke and Hussey.

 

[sifter132]

Like many have said I'm suprised by the inclusion of Hodge. It doesn't seem like they are going to pick him, so why give him a contract? Interesting to note that they're only two openers that have got contracts (Hughes and Katich), unless you count Clarke and Hussey.

Yes, that is something I kinda overlooked. Given that lack of opening batsmen it's amazing Chris Rogers or Phil Jaques didn't get something. Rogers in particular had an excellent Shield season and should have made my 'unlucky' list. And he's been picked for a Test before so we know the selectors can see him in a baggy green.

Trouble is, Australia has used so many players in the last year that it's hard finding a contract for everyone. This is probably a strength though, as the selectors have now seen a lot of players at international level.

 

[aussie1st]

There have been reports that Rogers and the Aussie players don't see eye to eye and so we may never see Rogers in the Baggy Green again.

 

[Left_Hander]

Is Rogers not seeing eye to eye with the senior players or the whole squad in general? Seems strange to me.

 

[aussie1st]

Wasn't much about it as the story was on Hayden retiring and so they were looking at other opening options. But him not getting a contract could be more due to the fact he is only seen as a Test player.