The changing of the guard - it's here.

[OnSong]

People of Australia.
I declare the current state of the national cricket team as a natural disaster zone.
As floodwaters sweep across the nation at one end, and drought grips the other half, it seems even our great land can't make its mind up, let alone the Aussie selectors.
If you weren't worried about the state of things while Huss and Hadds stacked on over 300 during the first test, putting the Aussies in the box seat, you would be now.
The innings loss just experienced hasn't happened to us in our home land since Perth 1993.
The golden years are well and truly over.
Our dominant era starting with Fujitsu Taylor, maintained by Johnny Walker Waugh and to a lesser extent Swiss Ponting, has well and truly faded.
Those calling for a return from our greats have to stop living in the past.
Haydos' hair is all but gone, McGrath is off playing Wii with the new missus and Warnie is promoting his latest chicken burger.
They're done.
They talk of peaks and troughs in the sporting world.
Welcome to the start of the deep, dank and damp drop towards the bottom of a trough.
It's time to rebuild. Let's stop looking at who is second best now and look towards who will be the best in years to come.
There is no short term answer to our downward spiral. The formula for getting back up there is simple.

1) Find a spinner who can TURN or at the very least FLIGHT the ball with reasonable accuracy.
2) At least two pace bowlers who will maintain line, length and use basic, yet small variation to secure wickets in long spells.
3) A few second string bowlers who either specialise in swing or raw pace.
4) Batsmen who INTIMIDATE with mental toughness. A batsman who is unbreakable in his mind wears away a fielding team's spirit.
5) Everyone must be BRILLIANT in the field. Catches win matches. Every run saved is pivotal. We're excellent in the field 85 per cent of the time at the moment. It needs to be back to about 97 per cent.

So what do we do from here? Slowly blood rookies or go for a big clean out and scrap 5, 6, or 7 seniors for some rookies?

[Rik E Boy]

Well, I went through all this weeks ago. Clean out should have already happened.

regards,

REB

[Dog_ger]

I know it looks pretty bad at the moment.

Like all things team.

Lets re-group and "Don't Just Do Something?"

"Stand There."

Put a $10er on Aussie to win the Ashes.

Your never going to get better odds.

Back your TEAM!

[mal]

A lot of players are under the pump from the SAFOOTY experts
The main focus is on Marcus North who is a bees dick away from being dropped
If NORTH is dropped, then Ponting must go as well
Pontings last 32 INNINGS he has made 1 ton[according to Dean Jones]
PONTING prob made a ton 33 innings ago ?
NORTH has made 5 tons in 35 innings

As bad as NORTH has been, he has scaped up a Test Average of about 35
In that same period what is PONTINGS average, I would say not much more


Ricky is 36 years old
No disgrace to admit your eyesight, reflexes etc have diminished
We all get old, and gotta know when your times up
Even I knew my time had come when I played my last game at 48 years old
If we could all bat well forever then Don Bradman would have played until he was 80, but he retired at 40

As for the rebuliding process, only 3 players from the current team might be in this team in 24 months time
Clarke, Watson and Johnson

So this could be the team in 24 months time

WATTO
HUGHES or MARSH.S
KHAWAJA
CLARK
LYNN
FERGUSON
SMITH
WADE or an aging HADDIN
JOHNSON
CAMERON/COPELAND the debate continues
GEORGE

M MARSH/CUTTING/QUINNEY/COOPER/HAURITZ/OKEEFE are all contenders as well

[Rik E Boy]

What is it mal you have against Tim Paine? First it was Ronchi who was the heir apparent and now you are spruiking Wade. Paine is clearly Australia's next keeper.

regards,

REB

[mal]

WADE/HADDIN/PAINE triple dead heat
I forgot about Timmy
REB anyone else ?

[Bulls forever]

What is it mal you have against Tim Paine? First it was Ronchi who was the heir apparent and now you are spruiking Wade. Paine is clearly Australia's next keeper.

regards,

REB

REB, I think the argument is valid. Paine has had an opportunity and certainly made the most of it, and I think is probably at this time a better keeper than Wade. BUT, Wade is certainly a gun batter, can he average 10 more than Paine in International Cricket, probably not based on what we have seen of Paine. AND, is averaging 10 more in international cricket worth the chance, when you drop the opener on not many and he tons up. I agree with you REB at the moment, but when Haddin gives it away in 2 or 3 years, the decision might be very different, clearly dependent on how long Haddin goes. He has missed (at least) 2 chances in first two tests, luckily they didn't cost us too many, but potentially very costly. His batting has been outstanding - no argument there.

[Bulls forever]

A lot of players are under the pump from the SAFOOTY experts
The main focus is on Marcus North who is a bees dick away from being dropped
If NORTH is dropped, then Ponting must go as well
Pontings last 32 INNINGS he has made 1 ton[according to Dean Jones]
PONTING prob made a ton 33 innings ago ?
NORTH has made 5 tons in 35 innings

As bad as NORTH has been, he has scaped up a Test Average of about 35
In that same period what is PONTINGS average, I would say not much more


Ricky is 36 years old
No disgrace to admit your eyesight, reflexes etc have diminished
We all get old, and gotta know when your times up
Even I knew my time had come when I played my last game at 48 years old
If we could all bat well forever then Don Bradman would have played until he was 80, but he retired at 40

As for the rebuliding process, only 3 players from the current team might be in this team in 24 months time
Clarke, Watson and Johnson

So this could be the team in 24 months time

WATTO
HUGHES or MARSH.S
KHAWAJA
CLARK
LYNN
FERGUSON
SMITH
WADE or an aging HADDIN
JOHNSON
CAMERON/COPELAND the debate continues
GEORGE

M MARSH/CUTTING/QUINNEY/COOPER/HAURITZ/OKEEFE are all contenders as well

My tip, Punter to be forced into retirement at end of Ashes Series, ala AB. I hope I am wrong but clearly signs that his reflexes are slowing.
AND onwards 24 months.
Hughes
Marsh, S.
Khawaja (?)
Watson - might open instead of Marsh to get left / right combination and Marsh at 4.
Clark - captain
Maddison
Paine
Smith
Johnson
Pattison, James
Hazelwood

Others - Mitch Marsh, Starc, Shannon Hurn (retires from West Coast & returns to cricket - deep from left field).

[Rik E Boy]

WADE/HADDIN/PAINE triple dead heat
I forgot about Timmy
REB anyone else ?

Not so sure about S Marsh but like your thinking on Lynn who looks the goods for the Bulls. I'd have Jaques ahead of S Marsh even though he is not at his best at the moment. As far as Mitchell Johnson goes if we can get the Mitch of a couple of seasons ago firing he's a walk up start but at the moment mate it's keep on walking.

regards,

REB

[mal]

S MARSH as an opener in Test Cricket, NO
As the revamped number 4, a longshot chance
NFC reckons heez better at 4, thats goodunuf for me

[Jim05]

Johnson should not play for australia again until he learns to bring the ball back in to right handers.

[smac]

He shouldn't play for Australia again until he can do anything deliberately. Every ball is a mystery when it comes to MJ.

[Media Park]

Pattison

I don't want to pick on you bro, but I hope you aren't talking about Darren, who played Test cricket a year or two ago... for the Poms...

[Killa]

Pattison

I don't want to pick on you bro, but I hope you aren't talking about Darren, who played Test cricket a year or two ago... for the Poms...

Darren's brother james he is talking about player a couple ODI in india

[Killa]

A lot of players are under the pump from the SAFOOTY experts
The main focus is on Marcus North who is a bees dick away from being dropped
If NORTH is dropped, then Ponting must go as well
Pontings last 32 INNINGS he has made 1 ton[according to Dean Jones]
PONTING prob made a ton 33 innings ago ?NORTH has made 5 tons in 35 innings

Facts are he has made 2 tons and 10 fifties in 34 innings and 3 innings have been ducks. so that is not that bad just haven't gone on to 100's. And sure he had plenty of starts in the 30's & 40's.

[smithy]

Well, I went through all this weeks ago. Clean out should have already happened.

regards,

REB

Hallelujah brother.

Prior to the Indian series at least.

[mal]

A lot of players are under the pump from the SAFOOTY experts
The main focus is on Marcus North who is a bees dick away from being dropped
If NORTH is dropped, then Ponting must go as well
Pontings last 32 INNINGS he has made 1 ton[according to Dean Jones]
PONTING prob made a ton 33 innings ago ?NORTH has made 5 tons in 35 innings

Facts are he has made 2 tons and 10 fifties in 34 innings and 3 innings have been ducks. so that is not that bad just haven't gone on to 100's. And sure he had plenty of starts in the 30's & 40's.

Good work Killa,
OK
If Ponting averages less than 40 in the same time North has averaged 35, I must ask why is North rightfully copping it, but Ponting is not ?

[Killa]

The averages for ponting and North in last 34 innings are:
Pontings 1360 runs @ 42.5 (2 x 100's, 10 x 50's)
North 1054 @ 32.94 (4 x 100's, 4 x 50'sm with 5 ducks)

[Killa]

Got another stat for the people want clarke dropped
1483 runs @ 47.84

[smithy]

Got another stat for the people want clarke dropped
1483 runs @ 47.84

Killa the stat man.

Can you please find out Clarkes batting stats for NSW before he was selected for Australia ?