Rhino Richards

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.

Agree. How about we find get the openers and then move Watson down the order? Got enough pins there?

Big statement there fella!! In essence you are agreeing with what i said earlier. Ponting hitting a 200+ is highly unlikely (Happily eat my words on that. Crap. It was a fineable issue. I am sure the kiddies did not lose too much sleep from the tewwible Wicky Ponting. FFS, this is coming from the same person that thought Shane Warne was a good knock around bloke and suitable to be Test Captain. I am quite sure you wouldnt understand at all.

No they do know more than you on this. They have chosen him as a batsman at 6 while giving him some development for the future. I am not sure he is justifying his batting position. He's sure as hell does not justify his selection as a bowler. And selecting him as a bowler does not mean he should bat 8. Your last sentence is absolute crap WYL. Unless they both make double hundreds plus that save the Test, Ponting is finished at Sydney if not before. Clarkes innings will say more about his current form as a batsman. He be judged as a captain when he is captain. And given that fact that we have newbies there for Sydney then it makes not sense having White there as a first time captain and who has not justified himself as a Test player. Think about..go on. I want a captain who justifies himself as a Test player first and can lead people second at that level. Cut the trenches crap. Clarke is a class player and you only have to go back to the Ashes 09 where he was superb. He is in a form slump. And Clarke was never once a bowler. He got 6/9 when the planets aligned in his first test. He has taken 15 wickets since. He was finished as a bowler well before the injury. He has never come across as a leader to me. Cameron White was an inspired project thanks to Hooksey. He deserves a shot. Ugh ugh. Cut it out!! By batting him at 6 instead of 8 the selectors could kill his spirit!!!! And you want to play him as a front line bowler. You're more in agreement with the selectors than you think. At least the selectors actually stand for something and understand the circumstances they are in.

So you are playing a specialist batsman at 8!!!! FMD. When are you going to realise that you cant hide batsman in a Test match. If he is not good enough to bat 6 or he is not good enough to bowl spin then he should not be in there. We have 11 spaces in the team and you are let a player with "nerves" get a free ride. He knows what is required at Test level so let him go back to Shield level and prove his worth and his confidence. But it truly bad for team line up to have a batsman at 8. I would not be adverse to Cameron White in the longer term but no one gets a guarantee in the role for any period. They must perform. And with so many first gamers and newbies over the next 2 years they need to ease White in. Its tempting to drop Smith and pick White for Sydney. Clarke will captain. Ponting will be out with an "injury" and is finished unless he can play a 200+ and lead to a draw for Sydney. The potential landslide result and his outburst with the umpires might seal his fate. Its the only way he should go to Sydney.

You have hardly touched the surface of the issues with those alleged "changes". Smith is no certainty to make it with bat and ball at this point (but he is young) and batting him at 8 when he doesnt bowl. Marsh should come in for Hughes who has neither the technique or the temperament for Test cricket. The issues with Watson opening would be worse off at 3. Silly move. Ponting will be "retired" hook or by crook after the Sydney Test. And the player to replace him is the current VC..Clarke. I am not enamored with CLarkes form but he is a proven class batsman and I not sure they will pull out a freshie to Captain in his place. And if you are thinking Hussey D should have replaced Clarke at the start of the series then you really are naive. A bad case of hindsight with no insight. Its not a matter of faith in Cricket Australia. Its a matter of undertaking the right analysis and taking the appropriate corrective action needed. As you have proven time and time again uninformed sweeping criticism work well on talkback but do little to address the problems. Its ironic that you make reference to Hilditch's cave when you have supplied some true neanderthal thinking thus far on the woes of Australian cricket. FWIW, I think they should make the following changes: In/Out: Marsh for Hughes. Cameron for Hilfy. If Ponting does not pull up "fit" for the next Test then I would play Khawaja. Clarke to Captain. Three first gamers demands that they at least have a Captain with some experience. Might do Clarke some good. He could hardly do worse than now.