Rhino Richards

Ponting spoke of the withdrawal of the CA contract for Katich. Katich was dropped from the Test team during the Ashes series in 2010 on form. At the time it was choice between Hussey, Ponting and Katich as the senior players under the gun. And asking Arthur how we deal with Australian cricket team is like asking Mark Neeld how Roos should re build the MFC. Arthur was definitely part of the problem and source of significant division in the team and the ACB have dealt with him. The process to do so was found to be wanting. The difference between Arthur being in charge and Boof Lehmann is stark and wide. And ask Shane Watson about Arthur...... And as for Shane Watson, he rivals Bernard Tomic as the biggest underperforming sook and prima donna in Australian sport. I can't think of another player who has been given so much opportunity to perform for this country at Test level and has delivered so little on and off the ground. Watson would do well to pull his head in and get his front pad out of the way and just make runs. Change in Australian cricket needs to be undertaken from the Board down. And regardless of what happens in this series, Clarke is unlikely to go on regardless of the ashes outcome given his chronic back problem ( must all those pins you have put in that doll) While still Australia's premier batsmen, he was hindered significantly with it. In the absence of leadership alternatives in the player rankings, George Bailey is being groomed for the role. And FWIW, you can actually spend some time and actually understand what is actually happening. Now remember small steps first....

Irony never had a more obvious example.If and I mean if you did actually understand what Ponting was saying he was saying a number of things about the state of Australian Cricket from the Board downwards. And Clarke made an error of judgement dating Bingle. No issue there. It's no great error that much of the stupidity performed by a number of Australian cricketers over recent years. What does that have to do with his tenor of captaincy? Pretty much s.f.a. But that won't stop the goon squad dribbling over some false injustice. Ponting has a lot of pertinent issues to say about Australian cricket. Let's hope its gets more intelligent consideration than shown in some quarters

You should be because you got it wrong again. Ponting issue was the termination of Katichs CA contract. Katich was already out of the Test team. It wasn't a Clarke vs Katich issue but keep fantasising. It will hide the embarrassment.

Zimbabwe will always be shackled by political system and failed economy that has destroyed the greater community and in the process, completely routed the cricket talent they have. Its a pity that Zim players but for country will for the foreseeable future remain a sporting minnow.

They both have deficiencies and each have been rightly subject to scrutiny. The 3rd midfield does not mitigate the deficiencies of other players including Watts.

Full marks to Ahmed by honouring his beliefs by refusing to wear the Australian Test costume that displays the VB logo. While I understand the need for sponsorship I can t stand the infiltration of alcohol and gambling into sports program's. Historically it was tobacco. It's a pity the garish and ubiquitous VB logo appear on the Australian shirt and jumper. Particularly when we are playing so poorly. Well done Ahmed.

Possibly. I think Whites sun has set somewhat in the Test arena. So after 10 years its probably time for a change. Mind you Wade needs to improve his batting and keeping. If captaincy enhances that focus and not distract it then fine.

FWIW, there are definitely aspects he has to work on and I'd hope Roos can do that but generally I thought the delivery too him was limited after 1/4 time and a number of times the long kick to him was 2 on 1 or 3 on 1. He never had a chance. But as you say he is a sublime shot for goal. Given his past 5 years, his trade value is limited, I would hope we could improve through a Roos and at least we get some upside out of him.

Good post TD. After debuting in 1973 as a 19 yo, Candles Bright never really cracked it at Test level. Lack of variation and the absence of a killer trick really limited him at the top level. I can recall one Ashes tour where Bright and Skull OKeeffe shared the spin bowling and I was sure neither spun one ball of the track and the Poms could play them blind folded. Nevertheless, Bright was a great Victorian player and Captained the side to a title if I recall correctly. Very competitive at Shield level and a plucky lower order batsman. Actually played the Madras Tied Test where he battled through with gastro (like a number of the team). I look forward to tracking Ahmed through the early Shield rounds.

McGill is very good on the red wines...... I thought Mallett was the best finger/front of hand spinner that I have seen play for Australia. Tim May had one good season then was washed away when Warne came along. Other than that they have been pretty forgettable.

If we had a full fit list of bowlers, MJ is finished. But we don't and if Harris and Starc join the injury list as it stands and MJ does well at Shield level at the right time then..... I don't like it but there you have it. Scary.

I think that Lyon is a step by step case and is not guaranteed three Tests. For example if he was savaged at the GABBA by Pietersen then I reckon he's out. His past treatment by selectors suggests he has few credits and much improvement to make. I think Ahmed is the next cab. I think Agar is a player of the future but I am just not that sold on the success of finger spinners in this country. You have to be really good to do well. There are a number of finger/orthodox spinners that have come to Australia and died by a thousand cuts!! (and pulls!) If Agar can rise above that then well and good but I think he is a long way off.

I hope you are right that Ahmed is. Lyon is seat warming atm.

Fair assessments all around including Rogers and Lyon. Jury is still out on Lyon but there is no one better ATM.

Well done Faulkner on getting the player of the series Ian Bell as your first wicket. Definitely something to tell the Grandkids. And another catch to Brad Haddin. And based on what the GEM TV coverage advised this is Haddin's 27th dismissal for the series. He is one short of Ian Healy's Ashes UK Test Series record but Healy had six tests in that series and quite possibly McGrath and Warne. The record by any Ashes keeper is held by Rod Marsh in an Ashes series (c Marsh b Lillee...) where he took 29 catches. Haddin is two off. His record per Test is 2+4 5+1 5+2* 2+4 2 and still going!! * Rain stopped play but he had been involved in 2 out of 3 wickets up to then. Its amazing people wanted Haddin out for Brisbane..

The general public still love their Test cricket in India but there voting with their feet and expressing their love for the shorter forms of the game. This is the same throughout Southern Asia. Its great TV fodder for the burgeoning middleclass there India and the book making business is going gangbusters. The BCCI and their executives are making huge profits from the sale of rights to the IPL and shorter form competitions. In fact lack of public interest and poor scheduling has meant attendances at Indian Tests are patchy. I seem to recall the previous (not the latest) tour of India, Jim Maxwell commented that at one venue that crowds had swelled on the 2nd day of a Test due to the influx of local school children who had been given free tickets to attend. You could hear them as a group in the effects mike. Its a great gesture to the kids but gives you an idea on the status of Test cricket there.

There good points Macca. Besides the odd World Cup I cant remember one meaninful ODI. They all blurr from the past. And yes it is the money. Regardless of Test and ODI rankings, India dominates cricket and has done so for the past 15 years. In that time the seat of power of the ICC has moved London to India. I had read somewhere that India derives 75% of the Cricket world's revenue. This has allowed the BCCI to thumb their noses at other cricket nations and the game in general. When you look at the cricket world, it is largely divided into the traditional cricket nations like England, South Africa, Australia and the minnow New Zealand then you have India, as the proverbial elephant that dominates and financially bankrolls the countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. The West Indies are a small league collective of small impoverished or financially challenged countries. All these Indian supported countries have unstable corrupt government, poor or destroyed economies and all are in someway financially in debted to the BCCI. And all these countries have a vote at the ICC and guess what happens when there is a vote for the good of the game...... The BCCI is a corrupt and conflicted body run by privileged crooks who have continually have their snouts in the trough. They can only look at the best interests of the game from the view of what cuts them a % of the deal. Its appalling, dishonest and the integrity of the game is in question (re betting scandals). India with its fervent love of the game could do so much for it. But on a number of levels it doesnt. In fact it does the opposite. Cricket is in a new orbit with India's influence. And its not necessarily a healthy or satisfactory journey for the game.

The 5th day will centre wicket practice where the real focus will be back in Australia when the Gabba Test starts. And we have another meaningless ODI series to keep our interests up.....

Fair points on all counts. I really like Starcs potential. Tall left hand that's quick and can move the ball. We had not had that since the beanpole Bruce Reid played. Starcs a good bat also.

The stats for DRS provided by the GEM commentary team showed the DRS success rate between Australia and Ngland has not been all that different with a slight shading to England. This would have been even close had the Khawaja decision correctly assessed by the 3rd umpire. There is no doubt we were poor with the DRS early ( re Watto and Hughes) relative to England. But I thought we had smartened up in that area while England have lapsed badly in the past two tests.

Oh and the 200 is up in the thread...well played.

Agree Macca. The preponderance of meaningless one fixtures in IPL and elsewhere. The evolution of short duration fly in fly out Test series. The compression of Test Series into short time frames. Lack of time between the end of one Test to another. In Australia's case opening up the 2nd innings on the same day you have completed a Herculean effort in 1st innings. I don't have the link but Peter Bruckner wrote a succinct explanation of the problem. If they don't wind back the schedules then you just need a panel of bowlers to use. Anyone for rotation of bowlers?

Great knock by Steve Smith. Most deserved. Pity about the rain.

Exactly right. The lack of leadership traits outside the captain in Australian cricket is a pressing CA problem that been recognised by a number of formal players and cricket commentators. Its ironic that the next potential future captain (Cowan) is unable to grab a spot in a weak batting line up.

Fair enough you did make a sensible and ratoinal position about Clarke some time ago. In regard to Faulkner, if he bats below seven then he aint an all rounder. I dont think he is good enough to sustain a Test career at this point as a bowler especially given Harris and Siddle are shoe ins and there is a need for a strike bowler. While I did not see Starc bowl in this Test, I would have thought 135 kms in England, he is comparable in pace to the English quicks and Harris. He has bowl well in his last Test so I cannot figure why he was dropped in the first place. IMO Faulkner got his chance because: 1. He is on the touring party 2. Its a dead rubber 3. Australia is one batsman short at No 6 with Cowan, Hughes and Khawaja failing 4. They would have considered spin at the Oval but Agar went home early with a virus. As a result they have picked a team with 5 batsman and 5/6 bowlers. Its unbalanced. Faulkner needs to do well in this Test otherwise for the foreseeable future he will be squeezed out by other options. And as you said he is not a No 6 batsman and thats the pressing gap the team has going into the Gabba Test.