Answers Required

[Adelaide Hawk]

Nielsen: Thanks for coming, don’t let the door smack you on the nether regions on your way out. This team is in desperate need of some Justin Langer style coaching. If anyone can engender the Baggy Green spirit amongst the players it’s good old Alfie.

CA just gave Tim Nielsen a three year contract extension in August.

Oh God, I wasn't aware of that. It could be a bigger disaster than Richmond's 5 year contract to Wallace

[Q.]

Correct me if im wrong but wasn't Troy Cooley recruited as the bowling coach after we 1st lost to the poms in England a few years back? What has he done for our bowling stocks? They bowl up and down fruit!

Meanwhile the Poms worked their ball to perfection (shiny/rough) and swung and seamed the ball with ease! Why aren't we working the ball to look like that?!

[Phantom Gossiper]

Correct me if im wrong but wasn't Troy Cooley recruited as the bowling coach after we 1st lost to the poms in England a few years back? What has he done for our bowling stocks? They bowl up and down fruit!

Meanwhile the Poms worked their ball to perfection (shiny/rough) and swung and seamed the ball with ease! Why aren't we working the ball to look like that?!

Because we have dumb bowlers! Sick of hearing the Ch9 commentators say "Oh when Mitch Johnson manages to swing the ball he is so dangerous", he bowls snot and its no good thinking about what he is like WHEN he swings the ball if more often than not HE ISNT! The poms can perform magic tricks with their ball, move it both ways even reverse, seam it but i don't think its because of bowling coaches

[smithy]

I think he meant Ian Chappell, Chuck.

Pretty sure Greg didn't debut until 1974 as well.

I think maybe Chuck was referring to Ian Chappell - He isn't really all that well liked by many, and incredibly arrogant and self-obsessed. I think his influence in Aus cricket is greatly exaggerated and over-inflated. He was good, but not as good as he likes to promote...

I think you'll find the players that played under him rate him highly enough and would walk over hot coals for him.
He certainly helped transform AUS cricket from boring easybeats to the worlds best team.

[Grahaml]

He isn't liked by many according to Ian Botham, but you don't see him short of friends.

The big problem with our bowlers is they can't bowl a good spell often enough. I reckon we bowled 2 in the series. Johnson in Perth and Siddle's hat trick spell. And it's not that we can't swing the ball as much as the English. We do, repeatedly. Hilfenhaus actually swings the ball more than Anderson, but the difference is Anderson has variation and consistency. Hilfenhaus has no variation, and even his consistency isn't great. He serves up too many 4 balls and too many balls that a good batsman under some pressure can maneuvre around.

[smithy]

He isn't liked by many according to Ian Botham, but you don't see him short of friends.

.

Are you referring to Ian Chappell with that comment ???????

I'm sure you know the history between those 2.

[Grahaml]

He isn't liked by many according to Ian Botham, but you don't see him short of friends.

.

Are you referring to Ian Chappell with that comment ???????

I'm sure you know the history between those 2.

Correct. This idea that Chappell has no friends is something that Botham has been pushing for many years. Given the history I wouldn't put too much currency in what either says about the other.

[Gozu]

Nielsen: Thanks for coming, don’t let the door smack you on the nether regions on your way out. This team is in desperate need of some Justin Langer style coaching. If anyone can engender the Baggy Green spirit amongst the players it’s good old Alfie.

CA just gave Tim Nielsen a three year contract extension in August.

Oh God, I wasn't aware of that. It could be a bigger disaster than Richmond's 5 year contract to Wallace

Taking him through to the end of the next Ashes series in 2013 too.

http://cricket.com.au/news-display/Niel ... sion/21701

[JK]

He isn't liked by many according to Ian Botham, but you don't see him short of friends.

.

Are you referring to Ian Chappell with that comment ???????

I'm sure you know the history between those 2.

Correct. This idea that Chappell has no friends is something that Botham has been pushing for many years. Given the history I wouldn't put too much currency in what either says about the other.

Dont necessarily see the relevance in how many admirers a bloke has anyway

[Adelaide Hawk]

I think he meant Ian Chappell, Chuck.

Pretty sure Greg didn't debut until 1974 as well.

I think maybe Chuck was referring to Ian Chappell - He isn't really all that well liked by many, and incredibly arrogant and self-obsessed. I think his influence in Aus cricket is greatly exaggerated and over-inflated. He was good, but not as good as he likes to promote...

I may suggest you take a little time and find out what Ian Chappell did for cricket in Australia. Chappell was liked by everyone he needed to be liked by. The rest don't matter. He had the balls to take on Bradman and the ACB and win. A huge win for players and the future of the game. I wish we had a 28 year old Ian Chappell around the traps at the moment, the Australian team wouldn't be an embarrassment as it is now.

[Media Park]

surely you still have to earn a baggy green??

Not if you bowl left arm orthodox.

Or play for NSW...

[Rik E Boy]

Here's my comments on the Aussie players in this series. As you can see, I have not been particularly enamoured of our efforts:

Watson: Not an opening batsman. Has done a good job but simply doesn't make the most of good starts and turn them into 100s. Too risky early and his inability to make the transition from limited over cricket to Tests makes him a liability as an opener. No doubt worth a spot in the team but maybe should be moved closer to the middle order.

Hughes: Obvious footwork and technique problems that will ensure he has a mediocre career unless some serious work is done.

Ponting: I fear the worst for Ricky. He’s either lost his edge in sharpness of vision, or he’s simply just not watching the ball all the way onto the bat. His captaincy is not good enough to endure a lapse in batting form.

Clarke: I have been a supporter of Clarke over the years but, like so many others, I’m starting to lose patience. Funnily enough, it was his highest score of the series that was the turning point for me. 80 not out, facing Pietersen to survive until stumps, and he wasn’t able to do it. It displayed a lack of leadership and fighting spirit. Needs to pull his finger out, and pronto.

Hussey: Stuck it up a few people with excellent performances early but dropped back to the field as the series continued. Maybe he was just tired from having to pad up before he could put his feet up, who knows? But, we have to face facts, we’ve seen the best of Hussey and he’s well and truly closer to the end of his career than the start.

North: I would suspect we’ve seen the end of his Test career.

Haddin: Very serviceable both as a batsman and keeper. Not the greatest keeper I’ve seen but does enough to keep his spot. Besides, we may need him to captain the team.

Johnson: It seems we have to accept that we will see match winning performances on occasion, or just plain ordinary ones. There doesn't appear to be any middle ground. Unfortunately there is way too much of the latter for my liking. Needs 24/7 coaching from Glenn McGrath.

Siddle: Gives it everything he’s got. Not a polished performer and not a great thinker about the game, but I love his grit and determination. Hopefully he’s learnt by now that his best performances came when he pitched the ball up and threw in the short one as a shock ball … not the other way around.

Doherty: What in hell were the selectors thinking??!!

Hilfenhaus: At times in his career has looked a Test bowler with late swing, but seems to have lost what he had. Really needs to work hard to get it back.

Bollinger: I used to think he was the best new ball bowler in Australia in terms of making the batsman play. After his Test in this series, I’ve changed my mind.

Beer: Did his best and nobody can really criticize that. For him to succeed at this level he needs to produce a chinaman that spins sharply, otherwise he will be just one of the many who tried. I can’t see him spinning Australia to too many wins, but then again, we also need runs for him to do that. Definitely not a spud like Doherty.

Katich: Hurry back, we need you. Opener, spinner, captain .. we need the lot.

Harris: Will be interesting to see how he rehabilitates after injury. Like Siddle he has a very competitive spirit which I enjoy. You always feel you’re getting the best he can offer.

Khawaja: Thank goodness for Usman. One of the rare things that made me smile throughout the entire series, and perhaps the only thing that gives me hope for immediate improvement in this team. Should be a long term player and, dare I say it, future leader.

Smith: Has a lot of raw talent but whether it will blossom enough to be a success at this level, only time will tell .. and he HAS got plenty of time on his side.

Nielsen: Thanks for coming, don’t let the door smack you on the nether regions on your way out. This team is in desperate need of some Justin Langer style coaching. If anyone can engender the Baggy Green spirit amongst the players it’s good old Alfie.

Well played.

regards,

REB

[Jase]

Nielsen: Thanks for coming, don’t let the door smack you on the nether regions on your way out. This team is in desperate need of some Justin Langer style coaching. If anyone can engender the Baggy Green spirit amongst the players it’s good old Alfie.

Is Alfie Langer the Aussie batting coach...if so do you want him in charge of the whole shebang?

He's an angry little man I'll give you that, and was an absolute gun as a player but not sure if he would be what you would want to take charge of the whole team...

He reminds me of a cartoon character actually, the little dog that used to yap yap yap away with his mate the big bulldog (Matty Hayden) in those Loonie Tunes cartoons...

I'll shut up now...

[redandblack]

Good analysis, AH, but I'd disagree about Watson not being an opener.

You say he doesn't go on to get big scores - correct, but you also say he's too risky early - Can't agree.

In a side where there's little to enthuse about, he's been comfortably the most consistent batsman and his technique is a lot better than most of the rest. It's not as if there are other openers knocking on the door.

He obviously needs to work a lot on parts of his game, but opening with him is well down the list of problems. If he didn't open, I'd bat him at 4, not 6.

Our problem is that there was a time when Australia 'A' would have done OK in a Test Match. Now we're struggling to find any other players up to standard at all.

[Hondo]

Hussey: Stuck it up a few people with excellent performances early but dropped back to the field as the series continued. Maybe he was just tired from having to pad up before he could put his feet up, who knows? But, we have to face facts, we’ve seen the best of Hussey and he’s well and truly closer to the end of his career than the start.

He finished with 8, 0, 33 and 12 which undid some of his good early work and is a reminder that he is past his best. I say this to counter some of the posts that want to make him captain. He'll be 36 when we next play a test. He was very important to us in those first 3 tests but I can see him feeling the squeeze under 2 scenarios:

1 - they persist with Khawaja at no 3 and shuffle the others down a spot (retaining Ponting). Ponting to 4, Clarke to 5 and then Hussey is in the all-rounders spot at 6. Not much lower you can go than batting 6 as a specialist batsman at age 36.

2 - Katich returns for Hughes leaving us with three batsman over the age of 36 (Katich will also be 36 when we next play a test) which may be one too many if the selectors want to avoid 3 batsmen retiring at once

[whufc]

Hussey: Stuck it up a few people with excellent performances early but dropped back to the field as the series continued. Maybe he was just tired from having to pad up before he could put his feet up, who knows? But, we have to face facts, we’ve seen the best of Hussey and he’s well and truly closer to the end of his career than the start.

He finished with 8, 0, 33 and 12 which undid some of his good early work and is a reminder that he is past his best. I say this to counter some of the posts that want to make him captain. He'll be 36 when we next play a test. He was very important to us in those first 3 tests but I can see him feeling the squeeze under 2 scenarios:

1 - they persist with Khawaja at no 3 and shuffle the others down a spot (retaining Ponting). Ponting to 4, Clarke to 5 and then Hussey is in the all-rounders spot at 6. Not much lower you can go than batting 6 as a specialist batsman at age 36.

2 - Katich returns for Hughes leaving us with three batsman over the age of 36 (Katich will also be 36 when we next play a test) which may be one too many if the selectors want to avoid 3 batsmen retiring at once

time to get some youth into the side.

its all good and well to go over to Bangladesh and clean sweep them 2-0 with Katich, Ponting, Hussey, Haddin and Hilfenhaus BUT realistically that does not help the future of Australian cricket.

I would rather win the series in a tight 1-0 battle with younger players in the side who will be part of the Australian cricket set up for the next 5-10 years.

[valleys07]

I would rather win the series in a tight 1-0 battle with younger players in the side who will be part of the Australian cricket set up for the next 5-10 years.

Not even sure if the bangladesh tour is still going ahead whufc.....unless you have heard something i havent??

[Drop Bear]

Nielsen: Thanks for coming, don’t let the door smack you on the nether regions on your way out. This team is in desperate need of some Justin Langer style coaching. If anyone can engender the Baggy Green spirit amongst the players it’s good old Alfie.

Is Alfie Langer the Aussie batting coach...if so do you want him in charge of the whole shebang?

He's an angry little man I'll give you that, and was an absolute gun as a player but not sure if he would be what you would want to take charge of the whole team...

He reminds me of a cartoon character actually, the little dog that used to yap yap yap away with his mate the big bulldog (Matty Hayden) in those Loonie Tunes cartoons...

I'll shut up now...

Only thing is Alfie can back up the yap yap yap with whack whack whack (of the fist variety).

[Psyber]

A tough but fair summary of the team there AH.

I agree. Also, I agree that there do seem to be deficits in coaching.
Some players need specific coaching to enhance their skills, and to correct technique errors.
Others need to be encouraged to learn the discipline and concentration needed in the longer game.

There also seems to have been a tendency to play the "stars" regardless of form.
Perhaps they need an occasional break to refresh and this could be used to give promising players a chance to gain experience and show what potential they have to develop.
I would have thought it made good sense to include up and coming players at strategic times to help in their development and identify their coaching needs, so replacements are ready when the need arises.

[on the rails]

This was easily the worst series performance I have witnessed in my lifetime from an Australian side. Even allowing for the WSC defectors in the mid to late 70's, the Rebel tours of the 80's and the dominance of the Windies through those era's, Australia has never set so many unwanted records in a series. Even when the Poms thrashed us in 70's with our "B" grade outfit during WSC at least we had some players like Hoggy who stepped up and at least made some sort of contest - this current series bar a fluke in Perth was a shambles given there were no real excuses re availability of players. Harris getting injured prior to the first test and then through the boxing day test didn't help the bowling stocks but to be honest we were exposed big time!

Give England their credit, they had a settled well picked and planned squad and game plan with lots of back up, variety and backbone and were worthy winners. They probably will look back now and wonder how they didn't win 4-1 or 5-0.

Australian cricket will suffer even more if Michael Clarke is the answer as Captain moving forward. I'm with WHUFC, out with the old, blood as many young players as we need, give them an extended time to prove themselves, this chopping and changing of players 1 test in one out or never to be seen again just doesn't do anything for team balance, harmony or consistency.

Batting issues I think we can solve relatively pain free however the spinning stocks and fast bowling stocks need to be boosted big time and quickly! Lets hope we dont try and uncover more Hilfy's - we need some genuine tall pace bowlers who bowl with discipline and a bit of variety.