H_T

WYL, they have backed Clarke in until after the World Cup (ref: Greg Chappell). I fail to see the reasoning behind "3 games to go" as it is most evident there are more than three games, given the Cup includes at least several games.

Indeed. He will have to be pushed if he is to go. My suggestion for CA: I've read it bit over the Summer in relation to the structure of Australian cricket and respected views from alot of media from within the cricket fraternity (ie. Geoff Lawson, Roebuck, Reed, etc to name a few) even down to the great wisdom and visionary of the one and only WYL . This suggestion admittedly, has been mooted by Roebuck and I think it might well be worthwhile looking at. The bloke CA might be interested in talking to, to help take cricket forward in Australia, played over 45 Sheffield Shield games for Western Australia alongside the great Dennis Lillee during the 70's. He represented Australia in Hockey as a player with high distinction , even as Captain, and now coaches the Australian Men's Hockey team ( the Kookaburra's) with success. He is Dr. Ric Charlesworth. He has also been highly successful coaching the Australian Women's Hockey Team to World Champion and Olympic Champion status for a lengthy period of time. In between, he has had various stints with Fremantle Football Club as an assistant coach and helped out where necessary putting structure's in place. I think he definitely has the credentials and know-how, if interested, to add something to benefit cricket in Australia - whether that be coaching or getting structures (ie. it might be coaching structures, state level structures, management or even fixturing of the three forms to benefit all forms, etc..) in place to improve cricket in this country. If anything, he is indeed over qualified for such task as Roebuck suggests here. In this article, it even mentions his level of interest for coaching Australia at the time Bob Simpson became coach of Australia. *Charlesworth has since been quoted as being interested, but he has immediate plans for now - particularly coaching the Men's hockey team to Gold (again) at the London Olympics - so perhaps down the track. Certainly CA should at the very least speak to him IMO and sound him out. Even if it means picking his brain for a short stint. * I've been fortunate to hear him speak and talk about his plans and strategies as coach of the Men's Hockey team prior to the Champion's Trophy last year. I have a particularly keen interest in the sport. He is nothing short of sensational and very impressive in communicating. Definitely has a great mind, and it comes as no surprise he was a genius on the pitch when playing. The same mind & determination that also saw him a regular in the Sheffield Shield with a great eye. It also came as no surprise to find the Kookaburra's whip hosts India's butt in the final for the Champion's Trophy - 7-0 !! IIRC. On a personal note, the sport of Hockey is a sensational game and should be of more significance in Australia, seeing as our country has dominated for a period of time in both men's and women's hockey at a world (international) scale. I recognise why other sports are more popular and are promoted more domestically and why they have more numbers - with good reason no doubt.

Good argument put forward AoB. But I'm afraid it won't make an impression...

I held the same view - for Test cricket in particular. Certainly injury has played a big part in that regard. He has done well to get back in time. It will be interesting to see how he goes in India. I'll search for his stats over there and see how they stack up. He did bowl around the ~145km/h mark with good control, which is not pedestrian by any stretch. So he is still pretty slick. As he stated post match, he may well provide good experience for the younger bowlers over there. edit: According to stats - Cricinfo ESPN Brett Lee's ODI record in India is: 13 Matches - 13 innings he bowled in - Overs - 98.2 Maidens - 8 Runs - 472 Wickets - 13 Avg. - 36.30 S/Rate - 45.3 Economy - 4.80 Games against in India: India - 9 West Indies - 2 (1/45 off 8 overs) New Zealand - 1 (2/31 off 8 overs) England - 1 (0/25 off 9 overs) Best Bowl - 3/37 off 8 overs against India @ Deccan. (Hyderabad) *Brett Lee's overall ODI bowling average is 22.85 - economy 4.71

And maybe you should be more accountable and fess up your mistaken views. He is right. You WYL, made predictions prior to the Summer that CA faced poor crowd attendances. They have been anything but ! Record Test Match crowds and healthy figures for the T/20 & ODI's to date. Thankfully your views escaped the "great Demonland crash of 1/11" and are plain for all to see.

I wouldn't be surprised if David Saker was even on CA's radar. This successful tour by the English has now put his name up in neon lights. There would be plenty of other options available. Mind you - it's not all about David Saker, it's about those blokes named Tremlett, Bressnan, Anderson, Finn & Swann applying what they know to be the best plan. ie. Giving the Aussies no room, outside off and varying their balls waiting for mistakes by the Aussies. Strategic planning is the first step and some of these processes may well already be in place, but will take time to bear fruit. Lawson's article that titan posted recently gives much insight IMO and the fundamentals that need to be addressed.

What were the arguments put forward RR ?

How on earth 1st vs 2nd wasn't able to have the option of referrals is beyond me. The ICC should either have it for all Test Matches or not at all. Not here and there in my view. While I'm at it, if we're going to use technology get it right. Let the 3rd umpire have hotspot, hawkeye and the snicko technology at their disposal. Paul Harris missed out on getting Dravid out which was plum (hitting middle stump). Hit the pad first before bat clearly on replay. They weren't able to refer, had the technology been available, Dravid would have been out and the Test may have taken a late turn (at the very least a different path).

Common sense prevails.

Make that 20 catches. Tend to agree with 45 given the comparitive data and argument presented re: Haddin/Prior. I was of the same opinion of the Watson/Strauss talking point...up until that run out. Or should I reflect on the run outs in the series. Watson has looked wonderful at times and so sure in striking the ball. Nothing looks better than his off drives for four. Technically and yet powerfully so sound. He just....let's himself down - with what I call blonde moments (hope none of you are blonde ) - brain fades which let himself and his team down. IMO Hughes was just as much to blame having not run the first hard as well as his hesitation. That runout today was school boy stuff.

Found that a very interesting article by someone in the know (former Pakistan coach...) and found this quite interesting from Lawson:

Yeah that's fair enough. Watson has four 50's and Strauss three 50's and a century. Fwiw: - Series stats Watson - 397 runs from 9 innings @ 49.62 ; HS of 95. Strauss - 307 runs from 7 innings @ 43.85 ; HS of 110. All I asked was can a case be mounted....

Can a case be mounted for Watson over Strauss as opener ? Or does Strauss get the nod due to his century and probably his captaincy ?

Unbelieveable player. What a Test Match. Day 5 is a must watch. Should go down to the wire with these sides. They've been neck and neck throughout. Kallis has now passed Ricky Ponting for Test Match centuries. Kallis 40, Ponting 39. Fwiw Tendulkar is on 51. Harbhajan 5 wickets.

Somebody say demerit points ? what demerit points ? B)

Amazing. 146. Well bowled by Morkel. I was banking on Sachin getting a red ink. 75 demerit points for excessive emoticon use.

Tendulkar bowled by Morkel for 146. Trail by ~20 runs. Nothing in it. titan - your pick btw.

Tendulkar has surely passed that now, 136* at Tea in Cape Town. Class personified. Being treated to an absolute Cricket feast in this game. Steyn starring, Kallis, Laxman, Tendulkar starring, Harbhajan starring. Great clash 1 v 2. Prior to the series I and others tipped South Africa at home, I get the feeling India may edge ahead here with Tendulkar at the helm. The pitch has a few demons creeping in and any lead (trailing by ~46 at the moment) will be very handy.

Did RR beat you to Martin ?

Quite rightly recognised as a first round draft pick in D'lands Best Int. XI.

Kallis is durable, very durable. It's amazing a guy of his bulk and size has played at the peak for so long. Hitting the crease bowling time after time I would have thought may cause an injury or three. But no, he has continued on his merry way. Magnificent cricketer and competitor.

Whole heartedly agree. I was too focussed on Test Match cricket to make note of that.

Now averages 46 with the bat. Less than 16 for this Ashes series. Not sure why only 15% out of 3000 + *Daily Telegraph readers (*note: A Sydney paper) want him as Australian captain. But it might have something to do with his love for body art and modelling underwear as well as his poor form with the bat. Looks a very nervous player out in the middle, very fragile. Clarke I would suggest is in need of an injection of confidence as well as a tough fought out innings - an almost S.Waugh like gritty innings (game saving) - that the 'punters' might find attractive. Then they might turn around. His bat must do the talking. Not at One Day or Twenty/20. But Test match cricket. *Usman's innings today I thought was very good. Beautiful straight bat. Defended well, very watchful. Brilliant debut innings full of poise, patience and a good eye. Softest hands I've seen since..... reminded me much of David Gower. Made 37 but occupied the crease and faced over 90 balls in a good little partnership with Watson. Just what Australian cicket needs and a good replacement for Ponting at no.3 IMO.

Saw the Indian openers facing Steyn & Morkel and equally interested. Particularly Sehwag. Sehwag doesn't have much footwork at all to someone like Steyn. Appearing awfully flaky. The South African's planned accordingly with Smith at short cover/midoff in the catching position. Sehwag was out in the previous Test caught behind in slip driving on the up against the swinging deliveries of Steyn (outswing), and fell again driving on the up this time holding out to Smith with four slips in place and stuck on the crease. Sehwag is awfully flighty against good opposition and gets made to look second rate, despite a good Test record. The Test series in South Africa supports this. Hit & miss. Kallis is superb. I posted recently (it may be in the Best International XI thread) a comparison between Ponting-Tendulkar-Kallis their averages as well as their contributions held since turning 34. Kallis is held in high regard here at Demonland.

It's an exciting time for many to make hay while the sun shines in the second half of the shield season. RR's pick in the other thread.