PlanetCricket
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- Jan 13, 2010
Article by AngryAngy -
Amidst an injury and apparent psychological crisis, this is a good thing right? A bit of graft and pluck from the matinee cast? I just cant help but feel that it’s a bit sad really, a bit too futile. We’re already hearing who is set to be picked and it doesn’t seem like runs or wickets are going to change that, only a good clubbing to the knee. The real irony is that the greater contest is in choosing any three bowlers who got carted around by Brendon McCullum. It’s not that Warner is terrible. He has loads of talent and his form is hard to question, but is he a fighter? Or rather, is he enough of a fighter that his selection should already be written in?
Australian cricket has seen so many prize thoroughbreds that it doesn’t really understand the productivity a camel, goat or ox could bring their family. Many would suggest that even a few of their older horses are worth more as glue. Some could be put out to stud; I for one have been adamant that Shane Watson needs to start working on the Test side of 2040. However, there’s so much focus on talent that many of the important aspects are completely forgone if they’re not convenient. Jason Gillespie’s Test double-century tells us two very important things; for one, that the forward defence is still the most important skill, but secondly; that you must give your opponent enough time to truly show how awful they are.
Here, you’ve got a game where perennial Aus A stalwart Ed Cowan puts in the hard work for a big hundred that seems to be bereft of context. Warner has already been picked, hasn’t he? No Shield to win and possibly no higher honours to glean, but they all do their jobs anyway. If Cowan had made 65 as well, neither opener would really be to blame but the result would be a touch embarrassing and as much as we tell ourselves that tour matches mean nothing, or that NZ are an international side, getting thumped by New Zealanders means a lot. Pride could yet be injured, but that’s the nature of the game. For all the talk of the spirit that cricket has, the game itself isn’t really fair, it’s more like playing ‘hot potato’. If you get going it’s suddenly your responsibility to win the game. It’s dominated by low scores and the expectation is routinely that one or two will go forth and do all the work.
While selectors eternally gush for youngsters wrapped in silken swaddling, this Test side really needs someone who wasn’t ready-made, someone whose job description has actually hung on the price of his wicket. One who has lived in the dark back alleys of Australian cricket and isn’t going to paint themselves a hero, just going out and playing cricket, without expecting red carpet, a massive cheque, or a ‘fairytale ending’. Also, someone who isn’t a gormless dispenser of platitude and presser clich?. Okay, so maybe the Test side doesn’t need it as much as the rest of us.
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Amidst an injury and apparent psychological crisis, this is a good thing right? A bit of graft and pluck from the matinee cast? I just cant help but feel that it’s a bit sad really, a bit too futile. We’re already hearing who is set to be picked and it doesn’t seem like runs or wickets are going to change that, only a good clubbing to the knee. The real irony is that the greater contest is in choosing any three bowlers who got carted around by Brendon McCullum. It’s not that Warner is terrible. He has loads of talent and his form is hard to question, but is he a fighter? Or rather, is he enough of a fighter that his selection should already be written in?
Australian cricket has seen so many prize thoroughbreds that it doesn’t really understand the productivity a camel, goat or ox could bring their family. Many would suggest that even a few of their older horses are worth more as glue. Some could be put out to stud; I for one have been adamant that Shane Watson needs to start working on the Test side of 2040. However, there’s so much focus on talent that many of the important aspects are completely forgone if they’re not convenient. Jason Gillespie’s Test double-century tells us two very important things; for one, that the forward defence is still the most important skill, but secondly; that you must give your opponent enough time to truly show how awful they are.
Here, you’ve got a game where perennial Aus A stalwart Ed Cowan puts in the hard work for a big hundred that seems to be bereft of context. Warner has already been picked, hasn’t he? No Shield to win and possibly no higher honours to glean, but they all do their jobs anyway. If Cowan had made 65 as well, neither opener would really be to blame but the result would be a touch embarrassing and as much as we tell ourselves that tour matches mean nothing, or that NZ are an international side, getting thumped by New Zealanders means a lot. Pride could yet be injured, but that’s the nature of the game. For all the talk of the spirit that cricket has, the game itself isn’t really fair, it’s more like playing ‘hot potato’. If you get going it’s suddenly your responsibility to win the game. It’s dominated by low scores and the expectation is routinely that one or two will go forth and do all the work.
While selectors eternally gush for youngsters wrapped in silken swaddling, this Test side really needs someone who wasn’t ready-made, someone whose job description has actually hung on the price of his wicket. One who has lived in the dark back alleys of Australian cricket and isn’t going to paint themselves a hero, just going out and playing cricket, without expecting red carpet, a massive cheque, or a ‘fairytale ending’. Also, someone who isn’t a gormless dispenser of platitude and presser clich?. Okay, so maybe the Test side doesn’t need it as much as the rest of us.
More...
