Rhino Richards

My thoughts exactly. I thought the Didak/ Shaw and other incidents would have scuppered the Pies.. Times like this with either make or break St Kilda as a side. We will wait and see.

I love the way anonymous posters like to have wide swings at public figures who at least think outside the square. Whether this idea has any real legs to it, Sheedy has had a real positive impact on AFL over a long period of time. Sure he has had his hits and misses. But attacks like the OPs are more reflective of the author than the target.

Of course you wouldnt WYL it does not suit your suffocatingly narrow terms of reference. Tait has been a very effective strike bowler at times in the limited over forms of the game. I am sure he is a sure bet for selection but I while I may not have selected him myself, Australia is not overflowing with options given the injuries at state. And your comment about Tait bowling one over and taking LSL is more reflective of you WYL. Dismal. Keep sticking the pins into Hilditch WYL. He'll be gone in April. The issues in Australian cricket extend well beyond your facile attacks on individual. It would be great if you actually sweated some of the important issues in Australian cricket with some thoughtful input rather than the tepid torch bearing cwusades you seek to make but end up looking ill informed in the process.

Well done to work off Rogues suggestion. OK so what have they done of recent to suggest they are one day options. Siddle may lack the variation for the one day game and Nannes has not featured of late in the OD arena. I am not sure there are compelling options that necessarliy make Taits selection a "comedy" For someone who claims to work/ have worked in the media you really do miss alot. Hilditch is not a media performer and most of that work has been done by Chappell this summer. His comments suggested neither arrogance or disregard but a defensive response to media criticism. Given their is to be a review of the performance of all sectors of Australian cricket the comment was indeed ill timed and should have been better managed. But as usual you take things out of context and relevance. Got enough pins to stick WYL?

Another great scathing essay WYL. Well researched, thoughtful and deeply incisive. FWIW. His post Ashes comment was at worst ill judged. Whether we had retained the Ashes or not, Hilditch was not going to take another contract. The ACB have been planning and are grooming G Chappell for the C of S. Given Australia has six front line quicks injured and thats not including the strike power of Hilfy, Mitch and Dougy. who would you have chosen beside Tait and what would your World Cup strategy have been WYL???

You know what. I could have predicted you would come back with that dumb response. "Well if you dont agree with me then you must think he is doing a good job". Its dimmer than your scathing essays. Just like you dont read and understand other posters point of view. Go and re read his scathing essays. Probing stuff.

Scathing. You cant even put together a substantive point when challenge. I am sure Hilditch is shaking in his boots for the next misguided revelation. Keep on the case Sherlock.

Correct. And the arguments that the Indians put forward just does not make sense for not doing so. FWIW, I think the use of the technology and referral system worked pretty well. I believe the accuracy will further improve as the technology (hot spot) is improved or enhanced.

I think we are all in agreement. I dont think anyone bar WYL is making the argument to the contrary. But the selection of the consolidated X1 has been based on what people have produced. If the Australian batsmen had to face the Australian bowling in the last two tests then the batsmen may have well got amongst the runs facing that trash and Clarke wouldnt be nicking it all the time (well, maybe not). Do we discount the performance of Cook, Trott and co becasue they faced pie throwers for 4 tests? I dont think so. Particularly in Melbourne and Perth your statements were true. On flat tracks like Adelaide and amazingly Brisbane this time, Haddin looks a gem of a batsman And I agree its a line ball debate and people seem to have their choices.

Re read what you quoted. No thats not correct at all Indeed. Hopefully the start of something....

Take it as you want 45... Prior has worked on and improved his keeping immensely since those early days. The same issue of rubbishing could be levied at Alistair Cook. What a series. I only raised Alan Knott's performance in 1970-71 to try and put some context on Prior's performance. WYL is quite misguided actually comparing Prior in the same league as Knott for wicketkeeping.

Arguably the greatest English keeper of all, Alan Knott took 24 catches in six tests to set a record for a keeper in Australia. Prior has 23 catches from 5 Tests. Its a fair comparison in performance. As WYL has said Haddin has had a good series but Prior has been brilliant. (I cant believe I have quoted WYL at all. And for good measure today, while the bowling has been good, Haddin in his brief stay was cavalier at times and struggles against the spinners.

I cant think of a catch dropped by Prior. I can recall a few from Haddin. IMO Prior has shaded him as the total package. But its a good contest. And HT, Prior now has 21 catches.

Prior (18) has taken nearly three times as many catches as Haddin (7) has taken this series. We are talking about wicketkeepers here. Prior's performance has been impressive.

Agree Titan. I would have Strauss over Watson for this series. It a good contest. Haddin has been shaded by Prior. But there is no competition for the other positions. England 639, Australian 280 is afair summmation of the series.

Mitchell Johnson's current spell 4-0-53-1. Smart bowler. Hilfenhaus is now finally swinging the new ball. Its a pity its the 3rd new ball of the innings. Embarrassing.

Great game in Capetown indeed. As Australia slides to its 3rd innings defeat in this series. We beat England 5-0 in 2006-2007 in a complete whitewash. Notwithstanding the final scoreline here of 2-1 or 3-1, England have dealt Australia a humiliating whitewash in return. If you pick the best of the series, Hussey would be the only selection instead of Collingwood.

Agree. I have to apologise to Hilfy with my Scott Muller cant bat, cant bowl jibe. It was unfair. He is a far more accomplished batsman than a bowler. ATM he has 1-92 and it actually improves his seris average! The same assessment could be made about Johnson. While I am not sold on Clarke as Captain I do sympathise with him in the field when his bowlers serve up the short and legside tripe. You just cannnot effect a plan when that happens. I am happy to give Beer a chance. He certainly has more variation than Doherty and he had to bowl in terrible situation. The batsman have failed and the opening bowlers bowling carp only gives him no support or protection. The pitch is now a belter. Unless Aust is batting by stumps tonight, the game will be lost with the Poms 200+ in front with wickets in hand. And 3-1 would be an apt assessment of the Series result. According to some he is the No 8 batsman. B) If he makes a few in the 2nd dig then I would persvere with him.....unless someone better arises

I dont think we do disagree WYL. I, like others are trying to understand the substance of your point of view. I cant see there's much to disagree with. Happy New Year. B) And I have him in my Best International XI. B)

Well done. Missed the point AoB was making. In the Ashes 2009, Clarke made 448 at 64 with 2 centuries. He averages over 50 against South Africa and his long term average against England is 46. Aob is right. A proven class player who is in a form slump. He needs to turn it around though and quick. Not sure about being Captain.

They have four talented quicks lead by Anderson. They are supported by a capable spin bowler and thye have put in place better planning then in past tours. Andy Flower did not stand up to Mugabe. He realised that life in Zimbabwe was on the slide, made a public stand against the regime and never returned to the impoverished country. Cant blame him for that. Why does the nunmber of board members impact adversely on the potential issues of communication? They dont. They are seperate issues and its another case of grasp at unconnected matters trying to make a point. A pleasant change.... Well theres a ground breaking straw poll. Wow. Are they the same people that avoid the Shield matches or dress up as seagulls to attend? And a good point about the contracts....Make'em all eat bread and water. That will toughen them. Hughes, Khawaja, Beer, Doherty, Smith, Harris etc. Any player performing conssitenly at Shield level that is demanding selection?

Uneven footmark at the crease.

Nice concept. However, we are probably 1 to 1.5 years from collecting the best 15. I can find 8 to 10 that could be given any assurance. There is such a wonderful opportunity for young players to put their hand up with wickets or runs to get a Test cap. Its been that way for 12 months but few have done that.

It did when Langer retired then Hayden. Good idea lets suspend him in his final test match. Worthy penalty and it will help deal with the trauma caused to the kiddies in junior cricket. His career is over past Sydney. I think there will be alot of discussions going on behind the scenes between now and Sydney. It should be his swansong and he should go out with the career accolades that should merit him. Best No 3 since Bradman. And a successful captain through a difficult period.