New Australian Leadership

[Media Park]

Had this discussion at work today... and it was a no-brainer that Clarke would be the skipper, and let's face it, he's out of his slump...

Question is, which cricketers would you say are regulars, when fit? Talking Test side:

M Clarke, Watson, Katich, M Hussey, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle.

Well looking at those, you take out the bowlers, since the last bowler (tell me if I'm wrong) to captain a Test for Aus was Ray Lindwall!

Katich and M Hussey too old, so you're left with M Clarke, Haddin and Watson.

Haddin recently lost his T20 place to Tim Paine, who was anointed VC of that team, in grooming for higher honours. The next step will be within the next 18 months-2 years, when Haddin is replaced in the ODI side by Paine. SO I would be reluctant to look at Haddin, and you can't well pick Paine, unless you completely shaft Haddin, or play Paine as a specialist batsman, where he probably is not in the top six in Aus right now.

Then you're down to M Clarke and Watson, and that's what they came up with.

Good job, they got one right.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Well looking at those, you take out the bowlers, since the last bowler (tell me if I'm wrong) to captain a Test for Aus was Ray Lindwall!

Richie Benaud.

[Bulls forever]

Had this discussion at work today... and it was a no-brainer that Clarke would be the skipper, and let's face it, he's out of his slump...

Question is, which cricketers would you say are regulars, when fit? Talking Test side:

M Clarke, Watson, Katich, M Hussey, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle.

Well looking at those, you take out the bowlers, since the last bowler (tell me if I'm wrong) to captain a Test for Aus was Ray Lindwall Did Ray every captain Aus, certainly not regular!

Katich and M Hussey too old, so you're left with M Clarke, Haddin and Watson.

Haddin recently lost his T20 place to Tim Paine, who was anointed VC of that team, in grooming for higher honours. The next step will be within the next 18 months-2 years, when Haddin is replaced in the ODI side by Paine. SO I would be reluctant to look at Haddin, and you can't well pick Paine, unless you completely shaft Haddinvery happy for them to do that, poor mans Ian Healy, but Healy was a gun keeper, or play Paine as a specialist batsman, where he probably is not in the top six in Aus right now.

Then you're down to M Clarke and Watson, and that's what they came up with.

Good job, they got one right.

Certainly agree MP, options very limited, but correct decision made IMO.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Well looking at those, you take out the bowlers, since the last bowler (tell me if I'm wrong) to captain a Test for Aus was Ray Lindwall Did Ray every captain Aus, certainly not regular!

Ray Lindwall captained Australia in 1 Test v India, Mumbai 1956-57.

[Dutchy]

The only positive piece of news from this announcement is the final nail in the coffin of Katich's test career

[Media Park]

The only positive piece of news from this announcement is the final nail in the coffin of Katich's test career

Although I would welcome it, I missed that little tidbit...

[Jim05]

The only positive piece of news from this announcement is the final nail in the coffin of Katich's test career

At least the Kat shows some grit out in the middle, something the new Aussie captain could use a bit of

[Pup]

The only positive piece of news from this announcement is the final nail in the coffin of Katich's test career

At least the Kat shows some grit out in the middle, something the new Aussie captain could use a bit of

Here we go again.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Useless trivia No. 227:

A couple of weeks ago I met an Aussie bloke from NSW in a bar in Bangkok. We became mates and went to a couple of clubs, and now keeping in touch via emails. Turns out he's the brother of Michael Clarke's partner Kyly Boldy. Small world.

Go Pup, hope you do a great job as skipper.

[Rik E Boy]

Here we go again.

That's what I thought when I read Dutchy's post. Never understood the Kat hate. Even when he made runs The Dutchman still potted him. I was never a fan of Watson or Hodge but it's good to see Watson succeed and I would welcome the same from Hodge if he was given that opportunity. Why? Cos they wear the baggy green Dutchy they wear the baggy green.

regards,

REB

[Adelaide Hawk]

Here we go again.

That's what I thought when I read Dutchy's post. Never understood the Kat hate. Even when he made runs The Dutchman still potted him. I was never a fan of Watson or Hodge but it's good to see Watson succeed and I would welcome the same from Hodge if he was given that opportunity. Why? Cos they wear the baggy green Dutchy they wear the baggy green.

regards,

REB

There's a new wave of cricket supporter who lives in Australia but select a country to support like they would an AFL football team. The continual slandering of the Australian team and its' players by people who enjoy the benefits of living in Australia just annoys the hell out of me.

There was a time when someone pulling on a baggy green commanded support and respect ... sadly, those days have gone. Australia used to be a nation of dreamers. It's now a nation of knockers and whingers.

[OnSong]

Here we go again.

That's what I thought when I read Dutchy's post. Never understood the Kat hate. Even when he made runs The Dutchman still potted him. I was never a fan of Watson or Hodge but it's good to see Watson succeed and I would welcome the same from Hodge if he was given that opportunity. Why? Cos they wear the baggy green Dutchy they wear the baggy green.

regards,

REB

There's a new wave of cricket supporter who lives in Australia but select a country to support like they would an AFL football team. The continual slandering of the Australian team and its' players by people who enjoy the benefits of living in Australia just annoys the hell out of me.

There was a time when someone pulling on a baggy green commanded support and respect ... sadly, those days have gone. Australia used to be a nation of dreamers. It's now a nation of knockers and whingers.

I agree, sh!ts me to tears.

[Rik E Boy]

Here we go again.

That's what I thought when I read Dutchy's post. Never understood the Kat hate. Even when he made runs The Dutchman still potted him. I was never a fan of Watson or Hodge but it's good to see Watson succeed and I would welcome the same from Hodge if he was given that opportunity. Why? Cos they wear the baggy green Dutchy they wear the baggy green.

regards,

REB

There's a new wave of cricket supporter who lives in Australia but select a country to support like they would an AFL football team. The continual slandering of the Australian team and its' players by people who enjoy the benefits of living in Australia just annoys the hell out of me.

There was a time when someone pulling on a baggy green commanded support and respect ... sadly, those days have gone. Australia used to be a nation of dreamers. It's now a nation of knockers and whingers.

I was a dreamer. I played Cricket for twenty years before I worked out I couldn't play.

regards,

REB

[Lightning McQueen]

There's a new wave of cricket supporter who lives in Australia but select a country to support like they would an AFL football team. The continual slandering of the Australian team and its' players by people who enjoy the benefits of living in Australia just annoys the hell out of me.

There was a time when someone pulling on a baggy green commanded support and respect ... sadly, those days have gone. Australia used to be a nation of dreamers. It's now a nation of knockers and whingers.

Blah blah blah. So pretty much this is how we should think:
You are a knob, I don't like you. Oh, you play for Australia now, you're my hero.
Come on mate, back in the 80's they weren't on big coin, they could have a few coldies and durries in the changerooms and do whatever they like.
Now they are multi-millionaires and constantly under scrutiny in the public eye, respect isn't commanded, it's earnt.

[am Bays]

Is A Hawk saying we should all bow in due difference to Clarke? I think not. All he is questioning is our pre-occupation cutting down tall poppies. Huge difference been unfetted worshipping of Australian cricketers and unfoundfed criticisms based on 2nd hand information.

I have no real problem with people criticising Clarke, (don't agree with it) but what are peoples reasons or basis for this? Have they met him and he's burnt them and been arrogant towards them. Or is this opinion based on secondary information from popular mass media sources?

[Lightning McQueen]

Is A Hawk saying we should all bow in due difference to Clarke? I think not. All he is questioning is our pre-occupation cutting down tall poppies. Huge difference been unfetted worshipping of Australian cricketers and unfoundfed criticisms based on 2nd hand information.

I have no real problem with people criticising Clarke, (don't agree with it) but what are peoples reasons or basis for this? Have they met him and he's burnt them and been arrogant towards them. Or is this opinion based on secondary information from popular mass media sources?

I am not calling Hawk a knob, I'm saying that if I think someone is a knob, I wont throw my support behind them.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion, I respect Hawks although I don't agree with it.

As for Clarke, he was the next in line, I don't feel as though they had any other option at this point of time.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Go you Black Caps.

[Dirko]

A couple of weeks ago I met an Aussie bloke from NSW in a bar in Bangkok.

You went to a bar in Bangkok and met a bloke

What bar were you drinking in......

[Adelaide Hawk]

A couple of weeks ago I met an Aussie bloke from NSW in a bar in Bangkok.

You went to a bar in Bangkok and met a bloke

What bar were you drinking in......

Gulliver's Traveller's Tavern, Soi 5, Bangkok, just off the Sukhumvit Road. If you're ever there, drop in. Air-conditioned, you can watch international sport on the big screeen, and the girls are numbered amongst the best pool players I've seen anywhere in the world.

Back to what I'm talking about. It's about respect for the country in which we live, and respect for players who are representing OUR COUNTRY on the world stage. We should want Australia to be successful, but of late there is a style of cricket fan emerging who wants Australia to be, not only beaten, but humiliated in world cricket, and it is just pathetic.

There are footballers in my team who I don't particularly care for, but I sure as hell hope they play well for my team to win the flag. You can't like everybody, that's life. But to disrespect someone when they haven't done anything wrong by you is IMHO unacceptable. Some of the things I see written in this forum about some of the Australian players is just misguided and uninformed dribble ... opinions based purely on perception rather than fact.

And the amazing part to me is the team that people have just enjoyed knocking off Australia probably have an equal proportion of "knobs" in their team as the Australian team has. Certainly India does.

[Dirko]

but of late there is a style of cricket fan emerging who wants Australia to be, not only beaten, but humiliated in world cricket, and it is just pathetic.

Yep, agree with this. I myself am not a huge Clarke fan, but I hope he does well especially as the Captain , and especially in the next Ashes series.

Thanks for the Bar tip. Bangkok is a top spot for a few days before heading off to other parts...