Australian Domestic Cricket

[mattfb]

I think all the negative comments about not letting top talents play is rubbish

Warner (Playing for Australia already)
Hughes (In contention for Australian spot) (Played for Australia's under 19 world Cup)
Henriques (Been regarded as a future Australian player... Played for Australia under 19's in World Cup)
Steven Smith (Still young)
Bird (Bloody quick) (Been around for a while but only peaked in the last 2 years. Still only 25)
Hazlewood (Only played 1 game but praised as the next McGrath.)

That's 6 top talents we have discovered in the last 2-3 years. You could throw in O'keefe, Kwhaja and Forrest into that list as well. So thats 9. All of these players are getting more then enough games, and still have over 10 years of cricket in them so not playing 1 or 2 games for the entrance of Brendon McCullum doesn't change anything. Not all of those 9 are playing constantly anyway, so McCullum coming in doesn't make a difference.

Basically what I'm saying by listing 9 talents is I doubt we are going to find a hell of a lot more anything soon, so McCullum coming in probably isn't going to stop a youngster.

 

[irottev]

I agree. In-fact NOT signing an overseas player until now has helped developing younger players. Had they gotten someone over from England county or something a player would have missed out every single game.

Katich may be telling the truth, who knows. McCullum was never going to be available for much of it.

I hope after all this McCullum makes a decent contribution. Heck i'd take a quick 20 or 30. But after all this I don't wanna see him fail haha.

Hopefully they address this in the commentary box for todays game. Love to hear what those old fuddy duddys Lawry and Benaud have to say about it. Haha. Nah I love those guys seriously.

 

[aussie1st]

Some interesting developments on this front.

Mott played a key role in securing Brendon McCullum for the Blues, having developed a strong relationship with him during the inaugural IPL season. He suggested McCullum as an overseas prospect for the Blues before the Twenty20 Big Bash season began, and Gilbert inquired into his availability when New Zealand played NSW in November.

It turned out that all of NSW's games clashed with McCullum's commitments for New Zealand and his home province Otago.

After NSW won through to the final last Saturday, McCullum was again contacted but Otago would only release him if they qualified for their domestic Twenty20 semi-finals. To do so before NSW's final, Otago had to win with a bonus point, and an inspired McCullum scored 82 off 94, and Otago dismissed Central Districts one run before the bonus point was lost.

Otago agreed late last night to release McCullum, although the player will donate his match fee of about $6000 to his club. "Hopefully, that shows that for me this is not about the money," McCullum said. "I'm really glad that Otago see the big picture. When it came down to the final decision it was really up to them and whether they would let me go, and I'm thrilled they gave me the opportunity to play for a prestigious state like NSW."

Torn between two teams: Mott's Knights could give NSW blues - Cricket - Sport

So maybe Katich was right, NSW did want him but because he was contracted to Otago and NZ they couldn't get him.

Sounds like NSW reject Shane Warne as well as a few other players.

Shane Warne was sounded out as a possible marquee player for NSW but had no interest. Pakistani paceman Sohail Tanvir was offered to the Blues earlier this season but Mott felt he had enough depth in his pace attack.

 

[bushy]

The vics should just go buy gilly hayden warne and land plus of these player gayle/oram/taylor

 

[aussie1st]

You guys can go do that only thing is you will get booted out of the comp

 

[mattfb]

Glad we rejected Warne and Tanvir. McCullum is just like a replacement for Warner, except more reliable.

 

[bushy]

u didnt reject warne. warne rejected u

 

[mattfb]

Either way, it's good we don't have him.

 

[aussie1st]

Hmmm have I missed something seems McCullum thinks he can play for Otago, I thought the IPL team got priority.

The league could be expanded beyond eight teams and include a New Zealand team. If that were to be Otago, McCullum would not hesitate to rejoin them.

"It's kind of tough," he said. "You have to go through a number of different situations but Otago is where I've grown up playing cricket, so I'm sure NSW or Kolkata would understand.

Sure to be a big hit - but Warner-McCullum opening act is unlikely - Cricket

 

[IloveGilly]

Pretty confusing how this all works and how many bloody teams he will end up playing for. Nonetheless, looking forward to tonight. Don't have high expectations in case he fails.

 

[irottev]

Victoria won the toss and are batting. NSW + McCullum will be chasing.

McCullum isn't even keeping wicket. Wow. He's got it good.

 

[aussie1st]

Well you can't put Smith in the field, if you have seen him you will know what I mean. Guess this could be the better way for us to win as our batting is pretty fragile, don't want another poor total. Hopefully the bowlers don't give too much for the batters to do.

 

[Big Man]

Hoping for a good game of a cricket for the neutral supporter.

 

[irottev]

I'm hoping McCullum gets some runs as an NZ supporter. Even a quick 30 would be nice.

 

[aussie1st]

Blizzard has been disappointing, I keep watching Victoria's matches to see him fire but he keeps getting out cheaply. Katich almost dropped a sitter too, still good bowling by Cameron and Bollinger so far.