dee-luded

I keep talking about culture & team environment that helps players output... You keep talking about players & individuals... ... at the moment its not individuals that are the problem,,, its the team environment & the lost winning ways/culture. fix the culture first, or all the kids we bring in will all continue to struggle in a festering team environment. I think the removal of the coach was the first shot at starting this procedure, & I reckon Boof is the one who seems to me to understand it. I think a few ex players are pushing for this change like Dizzy & Warne etc. & maybe quietly AB... who was over there at that time watching things. ... the first thing is to get a harmonious climate for the players to operate in together as a Unit. then we will start to see players at their best, & work out who stays,,, & which players need to make way for young talent. # Buchanan didn't make players more skilled, but IMO helped to create & maintain a winning environment.. even if warnie didn't like him. he may have helped with a more Pro attitude & disciplines? Hughes did have a great Eye, but that didn't translate into the test arena, & IMO that flamboyant attitude that may have grown from having that great eye in juniors, has I think caused him to grow into a risky player... thats why I do Not want him in the top order... but his rapid scoring ability I think could be handy in the middle.

I think most of our players have shown those qualities at 1st class level, in shields & what not, but thus far have failed to progress look at Hughes 4 years ago.. his numbers in the shield were fantastic, but couldn't translate into tests. I think the culture has gradually gone to the pits since we lost the likes of Tugga, Warne, Mcgrath, Gilly, Hussey, Langer, Martyn,,,, & then we remove one of the bearers of that team culture, for a playboy... Katich was in that team as well, and did his apprenticeship in that team learning the winning ways... http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/64062.html ..... how did the powers of Australian cricket get it all so wrong since?

I remember well, when we were going so poorly, we had to bring back Bobby Simpson, & he turned out a harder working side, with excellent fielding, & we built from there. we are in a similar position, but not quite as weak in talent now, but we have lost our invincable beliefs. & the poor leadership & arrogance has contributed to a loss of confidence in one another, & a fragmenting of team spirit.. for mine this is the fault of the board & team leadership. Boof is the type I feel who can rebuild this,,,, but the board, & selectors need to step back, & any who contributed to the breaking of the team spirit, should remove themselves.

I'm not against the idea of bringing in a (Kid), if he's that talented & ready... but only one at a time, whilst getting the experienced old heads back inplace to maintain the composure, & hard edged competitiveness & smarts. as far as the others they have to earn it, if their not proven performers. IMO Katich has with his stats in county. this team has lost its self belief, like the MFC... & trying to change the culture when all those greats had retired was Foolish.. a great way to setup the future, NOT.

your post about the availability of Katich was where I got the thought from, I'm just following on from your theme. But I have felt that Clark is a bit of a Punce for years, since he was just a batsmen, & even Punter, I wasn't fully convinced about as aleadder but we had success... but looking back in hindsight it was probably all the talent in that team, that papered the cracks... # In a strange sense, I almost hope Clark has a back issue & misses a test or even 2... they will almost have to reinstate Katich... ..... the direction they have been trying to take the Aussie team in, & change the culture IMO... has a feel about it like the demise of the acid tongued Norm Smith, removed by those who wanted a smoother appealing Coach. & both Teams had 'Change' forced on them after the Team Enjoyed a prolonged period of domination. they thought it was a good idea at the time. IMO the Cricket Board, the past Coach, & Clark, have a lot of questions to answer.

... to me we need to get this side steadied, after some awful games in the last couple of years. So I think we first have to go outside the normal rebuild framework, & plan a short-term campaign to right the ship first, by selecting those with the required toughness, who can do this job, then gradually do the transition to the most skilled. If we merged the top 6 off each list to find our most hard headed top 5 batsmen, who play well in all circumstances, we may be somewhere near what it takes. # so obviously clarkes our best bat in the team. clark/clark hussey/warner katich/watson smith/katich haddin/hughes voges/rogers Watson -shown he can, + bowl Rogers - tough Katich - proven performer at the top, fierce competitor, + part time spin + can open Warner - has the desire to be in the contest, can score quickly & dominate - part time spin + can open Clark - natural class + can bowl Smith/agar Haddin/Wade ------------------------ Siddle Harris Bird/Faulkner/Starc ?????? switch warner & clark if you want? we need a spinner who can remove their top batsmen # I reckon the ACB & the selectors have to suck it up, & bring back Katich for the good of our countries cricket. Lets hope Boof can get them all past the past...

Hi all. ... can I ask the more experienced cricket playing posters, to write down their top 12 Australian batsmen, including the likes of Katich who are currently out of the touring list, into 2 lists... List 1 rated against swing/seam bowling,,,, & list 2 rated against spin bowling.

I can't help but think Cowans loss of sturdiness has coincided with the passed Coach & the internal politics over the last couple of years... I always thought he was a very handy 'Rock' holding one end up as opener, whilst the other end could 'attack'... that I thought was our strength.

dit dit de dit it.... news just in....... Katich is alive after all, & someone said he was shipwrecked on a lost island somewhere in the maldives??? """ Katich offers selectors a reminder """ Simon Katich has turned out for an Australian team at Lord's – but it was a week too late to help Michael Clarke's side out of the mire they found themselves in the second Ashes Test. The former Test batsman is enjoying a prolific English summer with Lancashire, in contrast to the fortunes of Australia against England, sitting third of all scorers in county cricket with 874 runs at an average of 72.13. He chalked up another 85 in a guest appearance for the touring Sydney Cricket Ground XI in their match against a Marylebone Cricket Club selection at the Nursery Ground, next to the main arena at Lord's. The short boundaries and the standard of competition were a fair stretch from his 56 Tests – the last of which he played in 2010 – but his rich form for Lancashire continues to make a statement while Australian selectors do their best to look the other way. Katich made it clear in commenting to Fairfax Media last week that he would be available in these Ashes should he be called upon, dismissing national selector John Inverarity's statement last month that he thought the gritty left-hander had retired and would therefore not be considered again for Australia. "I never retired from international cricket," Katich said. "I was told by [former chief selector, Andrew] Hilditch I was never going to be picked again for Australia in 2010 – although he did say the same thing to me in April 2007." Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/sport/cricket/katich-offers-selectors-a-reminder-20130727-2qqpb.html#ixzz2aFdrotrp

play Clark @ 4 !!! force him to be a leader & step up. then we could play hughes & others after him. Warner at 3, as I suggested last year. turn him into a 'david boon' type,,, as he has the gravelly take all challenges on 'attitude'. he needs to be sculpted into that type we need. @ 1 watson @ 2 rogers @ 3 warner @ 4 clark @ 5 khawaja @ 6 hughes/wade @ 7 smith/agar @ 8 haddin @ 9 siddle @ 10 Harris @ 11 Bird/faulkner 12th man......

.... makes me think of the Cats at present & how they've transitioned so far from their aging stars, & managing to bring on their kids whilst maintaining the elite level of play.

more recent times the age appears to be going up is this a reflection of the distractions of 50/50,,,, 20/20,,,,, & other forms of cricket played lately?

Does Watson play any shots behind the wicket? or is he all drives?

Ryan Harris, I hadn't seen what he was capable of in Aus... but I'm now a fan. seeing his nice control & subtle swing. I see why everyone has been on his side. & an old fashioned goer it seems.

... maybe you guys should just do a First, & a Second 12,,, but done in batting order.... best No 1, & 2nd No 1 best No 2, & 2nd No 2 best @ 3, 4, 5, wicket keeper, bowlers.. If you do them seperately, then some discussion can be made about each positional selection.

http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/top-stories/jacquie-hey-on-her-first-day-as-cricket-australias-first-female-board-member/20121028982 http://www.cricket.com.au/about-us/the-board slapdash, or slapstick ? .... maybe depends on if your Australian, Or English... they'd be 'Laugh-In' loudest !

yeah I know, were in a leadership vacuum, but picking the most talented player is usually not the best skipper... see Selwood at the cats, great leader amongst other better players. IMO the best leaders are nearly always the grittiest gnarliest players, who succeeded thru sheer determination when less talented. ... too often the most skilful don't understand the lesser mortals & just don't get It... Punter was a 50/50 in my book with greats around him. Clark is Too 'self' for me, to succeed in a less talented outfit, in a weaker Australian Test Cricket Era. ..... we need to do a 'Bobby Simpson' rebuild... bring in someone to put Pup out of his predicament... & let him just Bat. clark would be a good lieutenant in the slips, tactically. But I think thats his limit.... he just doesn't have the maturity & manliness to truly lead.... & I wonder if THIS is why we have so many issues with him... maybe he wants to lead, but no one wants to follow him. ... to me there is One thing worse than no leader,,,, a poor one that no-one wants to follow.

of course character comes from within, but so does happiness, & happiness/harmony is crucial to get the best out of people. if your tearing a bad losing type culture apart to rebuild,,, then its OK temporarily to make 'some unhappy', for the bigger picture, but we are talking about the highest Senior Elite Test level... not a young rebuilding AFL side thats been Off for a decade. ... we need players as leaders who've been built out of grit, & mature fatherly disciplinary skills. Mark Taylor had them, as did Tugga Waugh,,, no frills there, but all class & guts.

... but you can see actual results and analyze them in your head.. just like looking at the sky & reading the clouds & the likely weather coming your way. it becomes second nature... intuitive if all these poor results were only rarely circumstantial, then we would just disregard, but so many things have happened around the the umbrella of Clark, its just Too crazy to ignore, just because he's getting runs & everyone else is useless. how many Aus players have to fall out with this guy, before people put the magnifying glass over him??? runs isn't everything... team harmony & laughter is crucial @ the senior international level. # just thinking about the game results in isolation, is unfair to the players who may be struggling in an environment that just does not suit them, & this sort of judgement is done without understanding of the personalities that go to making up the team environment. If it was one square peg then I'd say the problem was with the one, but too many have fallen out & the whole test team has gone sour. more sour than their talents. I think part of it was Arthur, but I think sutherland must have had a hand in trying to shake out our blue collar Aussie playing ways, & add pup to that trio, & voila. .. for mine we need to get back to some dirt under the fingernails type players, who play just for the baggy green, instead of the fist full of dollars... if we didn't have a player of the Ilk of Siddle over the last few years, we would be totally stuffed. ... we have to get rid of the pompous self loving types, from the leadership, & Re-start with some Grit.

can't you see it Macca, grab a mirror & hold it in front of your face & peer over your shoulder.... now think about the Watson, or is it the Clarke issue? I see this,,,, the whole team is struggling & off balance, since Clarke took the captaincy... he's the only one performing,,, other than when Warner was as well, & the rest of the Squad is flailing in Clarke's environs... what is the common theme here? ... since punter went on the skids & handed over its all turned to shyte except for party boy. & the teams renowned Grit has gone out the window with Katich & Punter & Hussey... & I'd bet Hussey could still play at this level as well.. I wonder why he left so suddenly,,, I don't believe the public excuse. ... the changing of the leadership batten has been diabolical.

& IMO this "young buy it off the shelf culture" ,,,, 'if it breaks just buy another'... is hurting us all around our world, & our 'quality things' are going out the garbage shoot with the disposables... ... this same attitude sounds like its in sport today as well, from the things you've said.... 20/20 isn't eyesight anymore. if true, I'm saddened to hear that even Punter has this I'm greater than the team attitude... we to @ the MFC have had this in recent years, where our leading players threw hissy fits & wanted a pension contract of a year, or 2..... without really being true leaders.... it seems the same as captain Clark... I don't think he's a Captains A'hole. IMO the team is performing less than its ability, even if its not the most talented we've ever sent... & I reckon its a lot because we have a number of differing 'cultural-values attitudes', amongst the players... & it looks to me that this has caused some conflicts over the last few years, & @ the centre of very nearly all of them,,, has been Clarke as captain.... I think he's poison, 'as a leader'. I like your Idea of bringing in some maturity, & I would try to replace Clark as captain. Keep him as the pivotal batsmen. make him bat at 4 & try play Hughes, Agar & Smith in the middle order. I still think Watson is a test player, but since Ponting dropped the captaincy, I think Watsons form has gone off... I think this is more about Clark, & the unhappy Test Team environment, than Watson himself. 'pretty boys should not be made captain'...

last 15 minutes... almost looks like as we try to become defensive, we fall. maybe we should stop putting up the shutters before the end of sessions, & just play our shots.

We need Ponting in the test team to help steady the ship morally & cricket wise. especially as the pace attack is more seam & swing. they don't seem to have any real tearaways. I'd welcome both back Katich as well. cricket australia has IMO caused all this controversy thru its decisions over the last 4 or so years.