Redbacks - the solution

[Dogwatcher]

certainly not the second solution

[Pinarello]

Enter our team in the second XI comp!

[MightyEagles]

Aligin them to a SANFL club.

[Dogwatcher]

[stampy]

sell them

[overloaded]

Waiting for a press conference on Monday.... Surely he cant stay after this

[gossipgirl]

start footy season earlier

[shoe boy]

Okay, you have just received a phone call saying that the reins of south Australian cricket have been handed to you, what would you do? Change the board? Restructure grade cricket? Clean out the coaching staff? Send the team to a psychologist?

Take the emotion out and restructure district cricket!

[Dutchy]

2 points in the last 18 games

[overloaded]

2 points in the last 18 games

[Power From Port]

if i had the rein to SA Cricket this is what i would do to the Grade Comp

Cut the comp back to 10 Teams Maximum 8 teams Min. The three teams i would cut from the comp would be Adelaide University, Prospect and East Torrens. reasons for those sides are Adel Uni Have No Junior Sides (could be a sh*t reason but meh). Prospect for Lack of Strength of the club and being within a 20 minute drive of 6 other Clubs. East Torrens because they are too close to Northern Districts and Tee Tree Gully and dont need that many clubs so close to each other. Cutting the size of the comp down would improve the comp overall because you have more competition for A Grade Spots so in turn a higher standard comp

What I would also do is hire the best curators possible to improve the standard of the Grade Pitches. MOST of the pitches from what i have seen are roads and allows most batsmen to make runs and offer little to bowlers. by making the pitches more bowler friendly it will teach the batsmen to work for their runs and develop proper techniques which the shield side desperately need so by the time they make the SS Side they know how to bat on such pitches and make a hell of a lot more runs then what they already are.


By improving some of these things it will produce a lot more homegrown sheffield shield players which is what the side sorely need.

[gadj1976]

If I were in charge of SACA, I'd be reducing the number of limited over and T20 games to a minimum. Teach players at junior level to play correct cricket strokes, understand how to build an inning, understand that conditions (and pitch conditions) can affect how you play and respect your oppositions capabilities.

First things first, stop bringing in internationals or recruits from overseas. Let the world see our open wounds, not try and wallpaper over the cracks (the size of the grand canyon).

Then I'd start with grade cricket. Grade cricket, which I might add I've never been part of, is suffering because the standard has subsided people work weekends, therefore the comp needs to be flushed with financial compensation for those who play. That will attract players, who otherwise have to work to pay the bills. HOW the comp gets flushed with money is the big question mark.

That will mean we don't lose guys to suburban cricket (no disrespect intended). It will mean that not only the VERY good or well off keep playing district at the expense of their careers but those that are tradies, or those trying to forge a career can keep playing at the expense of some weekend overtime. That will create depth as well as strength in the comp.

Then the Shield. Given all the above, the shield team becomes the best of the best. Pressure for positions creates pressure within and players get used to playing for their position.

This plan (in short form) will take years to implement. Obviously the concern is that T20 is taking the imagination of the young - and that needs to be reversed (Test cricket is suffering the same problem with the younger generation).

My thoughts, happy to discuss.

Gadj

[whufc]

Some of my ideas may already be happening as im not close to the state cricket scene.

Ok to start of with i would announce that at the end of the 2013/2014 district season the comp would be split into two divisions based on that seasons ladder postions. All contracted Redbacks and potential shield players would be expected to playing in division1.

As far as i read the situation it has generally been the batsmen that have let the Redbacks down in the last 10 years.
As others have said there would be an expectation to improve the quality of grade cricket pitches. Roads would not be accepted, we need the batsmen getting a decent workout on a regular basis. there would be members of the coaching/selection panel at every single A Grade game.

A new coach would be put in place with his number 1 KPI being sheffield shield performances. We would build a squad to
win the shield if performing poorly in the ryobi was a bi-product we would accept that. The Strikers would obviously be out to win the comp we may have two different coaches for the comp.

Not sure how training currently works but every session would be an intense work out especially for the batsmen. If the contracted bowlers cant steam in at training due to risk of injury, fitness training etc etc thats fine. The best under 21 bowlers in the state would be invited to every single training session to steam in and give our batsmen match like workouts. The use of bowling machines would be limited and strategically used to improve various deficiancies. There would be no easy batting sessions.

The Adelaide Oval pitch would be given a bit more life and would be an outright producing pitch, its vital the pitch isnt a road because 2 points dont cut it when looking to m ake the shield final.

Selective recruiting, Phil Hughes is a very good selection. Two problem areas that need to be fixed. The house would be thrown at the best full time shield batsmen in the country, preferbly a number 3 eg, Brad Hodge or a Khawaja this year moving to QLD, we also need a quality spinner but there dont seem to be to many of these around. Whoever we recruit has to have a proven record at first class level as a minimun and be expected to play for at least 3 years when coming here.

The best chemistry in my opinion that would be the ultimate aim, would be a top 6, keeper at 7, 1 spinner, 3x pacemen, potentially a batsmen who is a very part time bowler. Obviously if the right player came along that would change but that would be the sides balance i would be looking for.

That would be a start, ill post more ideas as i think into them.

[DoublebluTiger]

Play one game with the team and it's all mental. Problem solved!

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/redbacks-have-mental-problems-botha-20121012-27hrs.html

[Jim05]

Play one game with the team and it's all mental. Problem solved!

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/redbacks-have-mental-problems-botha-20121012-27hrs.html

Hope he has a good hard look in the mirror, saffer wanker

[heater31]

Some of my ideas may already be happening as im not close to the state cricket scene.

Ok to start of with i would announce that at the end of the 2013/2014 district season the comp would be split into two divisions based on that seasons ladder postions. All contracted Redbacks and potential shield players would be expected to playing in division1.

As far as i read the situation it has generally been the batsmen that have let the Redbacks down in the last 10 years.
As others have said there would be an expectation to improve the quality of grade cricket pitches. Roads would not be accepted, we need the batsmen getting a decent workout on a regular basis. there would be members of the coaching/selection panel at every single A Grade game.

A new coach would be put in place with his number 1 KPI being sheffield shield performances. We would build a squad to
win the shield if performing poorly in the ryobi was a bi-product we would accept that. The Strikers would obviously be out to win the comp we may have two different coaches for the comp.

Not sure how training currently works but every session would be an intense work out especially for the batsmen. If the contracted bowlers cant steam in at training due to risk of injury, fitness training etc etc thats fine. The best under 21 bowlers in the state would be invited to every single training session to steam in and give our batsmen match like workouts. The use of bowling machines would be limited and strategically used to improve various deficiancies. There would be no easy batting sessions.

The Adelaide Oval pitch would be given a bit more life and would be an outright producing pitch, its vital the pitch isnt a road because 2 points dont cut it when looking to m ake the shield final.

Selective recruiting, Phil Hughes is a very good selection. Two problem areas that need to be fixed. The house would be thrown at the best full time shield batsmen in the country, preferbly a number 3 eg, Brad Hodge or a Khawaja this year moving to QLD, we also need a quality spinner but there dont seem to be to many of these around. Whoever we recruit has to have a proven record at first class level as a minimun and be expected to play for at least 3 years when coming here.

The best chemistry in my opinion that would be the ultimate aim, would be a top 6, keeper at 7, 1 spinner, 3x pacemen, potentially a batsmen who is a very part time bowler. Obviously if the right player came along that would change but that would be the sides balance i would be looking for.

That would be a start, ill post more ideas as i think into them.

Actually most of your ideas are already in place in some form. Emerging Redbacks Squad has the fringe players plus the left overs training on a regular basis and is where the 2nd XI will be selected from.

However standards of pitches need to be looked at. Trent Kelly is fast building a reputation of a quality curator and he needs colleagues at other grounds as well and SACA be prepared to offer advice/assistance from their own grounds team. This week has become especially noticeable that the clubs need to take a proactive approach to pitch preparation to assist getting a wicket going for a game this week. For example in Tasmania they cover the wicket every day to ensure the best possible chance of cricket being played. Most wickets in Adelaide this week would have only had 1 day preparation because of the weather. Some will be ok others will be below standard.

[Ecky]

Who are the Redbacks who have played Test Cricket (for Australia) over the past 10 years?

Lehmann, Gillespie, Tait, Cullen, Manou, Harris, George, Lyon I think.

How many of these are currently involved in our Shield team (on or off field)? Just Lyon.

I reckon one way we would have been much better is if we retained Lehmann, Gillespie and Manou in off-field roles.
Cosgrove staying would have helped a lot too.

[heater31]

Who are the Redbacks who have played Test Cricket (for Australia) over the past 10 years?

Lehmann, Gillespie, Tait, Cullen, Manou, Harris, George, Lyon I think.

How many of these are currently involved in our Shield team (on or off field)? Just Lyon.

I reckon one way we would have been much better is if we retained Lehmann, Gillespie and Manou in off-field roles.
Cosgrove staying would have helped a lot too.

Won't get any of them involved with SA cricket again unless some SACA administrators move on first......

[prowling panther]

Who are the Redbacks who have played Test Cricket (for Australia) over the past 10 years?

Lehmann, Gillespie, Tait, Cullen, Manou, Harris, George, Lyon I think.

How many of these are currently involved in our Shield team (on or off field)? Just Lyon.

I reckon one way we would have been much better is if we retained Lehmann, Gillespie and Manou in off-field roles.
Cosgrove staying would have helped a lot too.

Won't get any of them involved with SA cricket again unless some SACA administrators move on first......

Now we know where the problem is, what chance is there of getting it fixed.

[The Patriach]

Headhunt Darren Lehmann for next season - ditch Botha/Cox etc and use the money to bring back Boof!

Grade Cricket Overhaul

Adelaide/Adelaide Uni Merge
East Torrens/Tea Tree Gully Merge
Kensington/Prospect Merge
Woodville/West Torrens Merge

Grade Teams
1) Adelaide (Buffaloes + Uni)
2) Eastern Bulls (East Torrens + TTG)
3) Kensington Prospect
4) Woodville West Torrens
5) Northern Jets
6) Southern Districts
7) Glenelg
8 ) Sturt
9) Port Adelaide

A bye would exist - but that's not all bad.