The PlanetCricket View: Australian cricket news: McDermott quits and ODI Squad announced

[PlanetCricket]

Article by baggy_blogger -

Quite a few events have taken place over the last few days in the Australian cricket scene.

Most importantly is the upsetting news that Craig McDermott has quit as Australia’s bowling coach. It’s a huge loss after the terrific work he did with the bowlers. He focused on the fundamentals, redeveloped the foundation for our bowlers and then built things up by focusing on each and every bowlers core skills and how they could execute their abilities as a team. The results show.
He’s been given plenty of public support from the players and I wish him all the best as he has clearly done a brilliant job. Cricket Australia has a huge void to fill!

The reason given for Craig’s departure was purely due to the demands of touring and the overall work schedule which was affecting his family commitments. Family comes first in life and if you have the opportunity to walk away feeling you’ve done a damn good job at what your were doing and can afford the chance to have some time out, go for it.

It interesting though as I figured with his knowledge having played cricket (although in a different era) he would know the demands and that the support staff share the same demands as the players. In any case his decision has been made.

For more information regarding his departure, here’s the official article at Cricket Australia: Click here.

Read the rest of the article on Australia ODI squad selection here.

This article is from The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click here.

TWITTER
@BaggyGreenBlog
@Ianbaggygreen
@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo



More...

 

[sifter132]

It might only be me (always dangerous starting like that...)...but I think it could be a good thing that McDermott is moving on.

I think of the learning process and think that perhaps our fast bowlers have already gleaned a lot from McDermott already, maybe most of the technical knowledge he has. Why not move onto another coach? a) for a fresh set of eyes, b) for more knowledge that will add to our bowlers abilities, and c) the new coach may work better with certain individuals who McDermott hasn't helped as much. And if the new coach isn't helpful for a guy like Siddle who McDermott seemed to spark, he can always consult with McDermott if he hits a slump.

I just imagine coaches can get a bit stale with their advice. It's why I'd like to see Langer replaced as batting coach, by a new guy with new ideas. It may be exactly what the young batsmen need. You don't want to rotate coaches too often as players will get mixed messages about what to do, but occasional rotation helps keep their coaching fresh and players looking for new ways to improve.

 

[Sedition]

I hear what you're saying Sifter, but I'm not too happy about the timing of it. With guys like Pattinson, Cummins, Starc, Cutting, Bird etc. just breaking into the side, it would've been nice to have McDermott around a bit longer.

As you say though, there's nothing stopping the current crop from getting in contact with McD or any past legend and sponging some advice.

 

[aussie1st]

I'm definitely worried given our last bowling coach couldn't drill in the basics which many fans were saying for years - pitch it up. But as long as we don't get a Cooley clone we should be alright, the man who fixed Hilfy would be good.

And yea we really could do with a new batting coach.

 

[sifter132]

As you say though, there's nothing stopping the current crop from getting in contact with McD or any past legend and sponging some advice.

Yah, McDermott will be at the centre of excellence right? I just don't think he wanted to tour.

And yeah...Cooley...don't get me started. No one improved under him, except perhaps Hauritz - and critically not Mitchell Johnson, Australia's most important project. He should have been moved on after 1 or 2 years - not 4 or 5 years. Langer is similar. Who has improved their batting under his watch? Clarke was already good in 08/09, Warner is the only young guy showing results.

 

[Cricketdude]

Couldn't Mcdermott just work part time so he doesn't travel or only travels occasionally? he could have stayed for another 2 years...

 

[Sedition]

Australia news: Waqar interviewed to replace McDermott | Cricket News | Australia | ESPN Cricinfo

Waqar Younis, the former captain and coach of Pakistan, has been interviewed for the position of Australian bowling coach, as Cricket Australia intensifies its search for the man to replace Craig McDermott.

Not a bad choice if CA rolls with it. Can't help but feel an Aussie would be more dedicated to the cause, but there's certainly some skills that could be learned from Waqar, and combined with what McDermott has left behind, we could once again stretch the gap between the best and second best bowling attacks in the world.

The other potential candidates mentioned in the article sound pretty crap. Gillespie would be my pick for an Aussie. If only McGrath's priorities weren't family and charities.

 

[Robelinda]

If Fleming could spare the time, he would be ideal. THE BOWLOLOGIST!

 

[sifter132]

^Yeah I agree. Why can't we get McDermott and Fleming to split the duties?? They both don't want to spend their lives on tour, what about half their lives? Just an idea.

 

[aussie1st]

Waqar easily the best of that lot but Gillespie is a good fall back.

 

[PlanetCricket]

Is Waqar Younis a candidate for the Australian bowling coach vacancy?

Article by baggy_blogger -

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?

This is from The Baggy Green Blog!
Thanks for reading this article written by Ian.
To comment on this article, click here.

TWITTER
@BaggyGreenBlog
@Ianbaggygreen
@SylvesterAu
@Dan_Stapo



More...

 

[sifter132]

Waqar's a great name, but at the moment that's all that's being said. How good a COACH is he?? He coached Pakistan but would he have found that job if his name was John Younis rather than the great Waqar Younis?

I think sometimes as fans we fall into the trap of hoping we get these coaches with great PLAYING reputations. Often those guys don't make good coaches because they had so much talent that they never struggled with the problems that the players that need coaching are facing. I'm happy to be convinced of course, just putting it out there. Same for any Aussie equivalents BTW: Gillespie etc.

 

[aussie1st]

Well unlike say a Justin Langer, Waqar won't be staying past his welcome if the bowling goes up in smoke.

 

[Rehan_24]

Waqar's a great name, but at the moment that's all that's being said. How good a COACH is he?? He coached Pakistan but would he have found that job if his name was John Younis rather than the great Waqar Younis?

I think sometimes as fans we fall into the trap of hoping we get these coaches with great PLAYING reputations. Often those guys don't make good coaches because they had so much talent that they never struggled with the problems that the players that need coaching are facing. I'm happy to be convinced of course, just putting it out there. Same for any Aussie equivalents BTW: Gillespie etc.

Agreed to an extent... But what about Reverse swing?? the new lot of Aussie bowlers, if they learn and mastered that art.... Boy!!! that would be so lethal for the opposition

When Waqar coached Pakistan, He has had his problems with Captain and Selectors, Under Australia, I think he will perform more better