Sir Why You Little

Tonight's edition of 4 Corners certainly puts the issue of World Cricket in a Bad way, as far as integrity is concerned. Match Fixing allegations that the ICC do not really want to act on so far. If you missed the Episode i strongly suggest you watch it this week. Troubled Times sadly.

Maybe i am from the milky way HT i definately don't come from the same planet as the Australian Selectors, and for that i am proud.. Brad Hodge still Rocks, but sadly his address is Victorian.

Whiteboard Wednesday has been a revelation to me, You may have already known about a lot of those inner workings- i was not. Particularly the episode on list management. That is the type of transparency i am talking about. Supporters feel way more involved now. You can even read it on here. My Dad who is 75 next week loves getting Text messages from Stynesy. Cam Schwab Twitters it all helps. The ACB selectors are in a Dark cave compared to this. It's just an observation i have been really impressed with over the last 3 years. Let me say this. I really hope the Aussies fire up over summer. I want them to play well, but right now there doesn't seem a lot of direction, if i am wrong i am sure you and others her will tell me!! B)

RR you and i must come from different planets i think, If you don't believe the MFC has become more Transparent & open with its members since the new board took over, than before then we obviously follow different Teams. I would prefer the ACB do the same type of thing, But it's just my opinion. If the Cricket over this coming summer is anything like what we saw this week, then i & many others i suspect will not watch, as i would prefer to enjoy my summer than be [censored] off. Ch 9 must be a tad worried as they have scheduled a lot of air time to cricket, & if the Poms start thrashing us, they will lose wheelbarrows of cash. So it may be in the ACB's interests to be a little more open. Let us see. Btw. i am well aware of who & what John Benaud is....but i will keep an eye out for the book, could be a very interesting read. Sportsbooks in the city have it, do you know??

I agree that timing is everything in terms of when positions become available. Hodgey was stiff, but was still disguarded very quickly (Jamie Siddons was even more stiff with his timing) What gets up my Cruits is that some players are given a lot more time to flourish than others? Thus my Selectors being more transparent comment. Tell the Cricket loving public what the long term plans are so that we can all understand the logic of decisions. It is something that the MFC have done really well, we can still crack it from time to time, but yes we know and understand the long term Template. Cricket lags badly in this dept.

What you write above RR is no more than your own opinion, once again & not the Gospel. Unless of course you are an ACB selector yourelf, and therefore happy to protect your own position!! B) Michael Hussey has always had mental toughness yes, hence the name Mr Cricket-but that does not mean he is immune from retirement when the time is right. Totally separate situation there RR You say above Hauritz is not good enough, but because there is no ready made replacement he should keep his baggy green. Is that the fault of 20/20 rubbish or has sheffield shield stocks fallen away?? Because i haven't thought Hauritz is up to it for quite a while. Not a good outlook for the country is it. Pakistan have these problems because their country is stuffed, Australia is not in that position. Say what you like about the Golden Contracts, i still do not agree with the concept of creating Fat Cats. Not healthy in the long term.

I use Hodge as an example of a cricketer who was never given nearly as much chance to prove himself as others have been. I never said Hodge should be used now RR. His time has passed sadly.

Fair call, but does it give it give Hauritz the right to play this summer? I don't think so, but he may well do so because there is not enough time to make a replacement. Does that mean the selectors have been doing their job Fully?? It is a tough call 50/50 I think the biggest problem the ACB has is the Handing out of the "Golden 25 Contracts" (i think its 25) I do not agree with that at all. That just causes to big a gap between those that do & those that don't have. It also gives the Golden few the chance to lose that edge & get away with it IMO. It's the same philosophy as a long AFL contract eg 5 years. I don't like them as too many things can change in that time. 1-3 year contracts i favour. You play well you get rewarded. I think in some ways we are seeing the ACB backed into a corner of it's own making, and the results are the current Test Team. I have never liked the Golden Contracts concept, Each player should be able to make a claim for a spot on form and mental toughness, and not so much on a long term Handshake to the lucky few.

I am sure they do 45-Far more than i have, and i wish they would take a few more risks, that is just it. The Bowling of Hauritz on the last day just gone, could not have been worse than someone else, but he keeps getting a game.! Why? Imagine if Donald Cockatoo Collins was played for MFC week after week just on the off chance he would produce a "Blinder"....The Selectors would be lynched by the members. What is the difference with the Cricket selectors?

Cameron White should be in the side, i have already mentioned him, but of course he is a victorian!! silly me. I used G S Chappell as an example only (Big Changes have been made-Not) Hilditch deserves to face the media no doubt, He is protected species for sure on a good (part time) wage!! Lets see how G.S. Chappell goes in the next few weeks, as he came from the Australian Cricket Academy he should have good information on the young players around the country. It is a better option than playing the 3 "list Cloggers"

I agree with you RR, i know Test Cricket is a Tough Gig, 11 spots-1 mistake as a batsman and that's your day finised-i understand all that. Yes the selectors have a hard job for those and more reasons, In the case of Hussey though its not a case of him being out of form. He is past his best as a batsmen. It's not his fault, happens to us all. So i can't see the point in playing him any more. North has been way to Hot & Cold, & has had a dream run from the selectors. Brad Hodge comes to mind, imagine if Brad was given all those chances, A lot of the problem comes from the fact that we the Public do not know the selectors agenda, they are not accountable. Time they were IMO. Hauritz a 5-6/10 is probably fair, but is that a reason to continually play him-is he ever going to be a 7-8 player? I doubt it, we are not going to get any more out of Hauritz. This situation is not a new one, we all know that. And yes i will admit, i don't know all the young replacements around the country. But playing the 3 afore mentioned i see no gain for anyone. While Cameron White for one is not being played. If he was from NSW he would be in for sure. I do not expect all cricketers to make 50-100 runs every innings & bowlers to take 5 fors each match, but when they continually fail and the average just keeps plummeting it is time to move aside. Have some faith in raw kids, and come out and tell the public. Then we will be cool about it. But if the current team stays the same for the ashes series & Punter keeps telling the Media that everything is ok, & we played good Cricket in patches-People will not watch or not turn up to games. The selectors should become more transparent..take some chances, & it should have started last summer against the Paki's as i said earlier.

So you are saying North Hussey & Hauritz are contributing enough to the Australian XI both now and over the last 18 months are you? Sorry i don't, and thus they are taking up places where younger players should be getting a go. Thus List Cloggers is fair enough-not a nice name i agree & Harsh, but enough is enough. Is it a possibility that our Test selectors are too conservative??

Correct TU, but don't you think these were things we already knew before the Indian Tests were played? That is exactly what frustrates me.

Sorry RR I Forgot for a moment that you are always Right. The 3 List Cloggers i have mentioned should not be in the team ok, they prove nothing. Smith should have played more during the year, but its too late for the ashes now. So it's going to be more of the same. Channel 9 must be stoked.... Thus my point that the indian Tour proved nothing.

Apart from Bolinger none of these guys have had a sustained run at test cricket, to build up any confidence, while M Hussey Hauritz, and dare i say North have all played past their use by dates. You are not shy to get stuck into Players at Melbourne who have stayed too long, so why not the Test Team. The Age and the Hun were both Scathing today of the performance today, are they both wrong as well?

So you would continue to pick M Hussey and Hauritz? Personally for mine their time is up as players so yes "list Cloggers" We use the term for the MFC why not the Australian Cricket team, because that is what they are now. We all age, and our time passes. That's the way it is. I get the feeling on this thread people are too precious of the Aussie XI. We are all prone to bag the Demons at times but never the Cricket side. Time for The "Mr Cricket" academy or the Commentary job. Warnie may be out of line a little, but he is just frustrated-He may be a card playing [censored], but he does know how to bowl better than almost all, and what Hauritz was throwing down yesterday was below bad

Your opinions once again RR, and you are entitled to them as i am, but going by what i have heard on talk back radio since the loss last night i am not alone. And yes i would love an uncapped young player to rise to the occasion as much as you, but are they being given the chance?? That's what i have been asking. Hussey, Hauritz are now list cloggers. Marcus North is hanging on by a thread. Btw "a wasteland of facts" is a bit rich.

Cool i thought so. They are not that strong going into an ashes campaign, and i say again that sadly the australian Test side and selectors have learnt very little in the past 18 months. Maybe the Poms need to Thrash us on home soil, so we can see some real action. Hurts a lot to say that, but treading water proves nothing.

Thanks TU i knew somebody would do it, i am eating a late dinner. Those averages are pretty average and going down i would say. North certainly looks better after his Ton last week, but should it save his spot? Not for me. So for the ashes series will the selectors name a side to Win, or name a side to minimize the loss? Sad to think that way before a series against the enemy. I just don't think a lot has been learnt since the last ashes series. So i hope like '89, a few more new names make the journey. Nobody backed them did they.

what's the point 45, Hussey Hauritz & North don't deserve to play in the test side, or do you think they should??

And the Test average of the 3 afore mentioned players for this year would not be much better. Warnie got carted when he first played, but they persevered. We got thrashed today in this test, and what did we learn from it? As far as getting ready for the ashes it was a waste of time sadly.

Smith should be playing, after Warnie gave him some lessons last year, his action improved dramatically, persevere with him. Cameron white should be playing. Even David Hussey should get opportunities. There's a few players for you. M Hussey, Hauritz & North should no longer be selected. Why do the selectors persist? That is all i am asking.

But the trouble is, he doesn't do it...Thinking and doing are different skills obviously.

Cool now it makes sense!! If a bowler continues not to bowl to plan, then as captain first i would ask why? and try to fix it. If it continues then a new bowler must be used. Ponting has always been reactive as a fielding Caotain. Sadly it dilutes his efforts with the bat. His innings yesterday was one of his best, Pity we can't have a seperate fielding captain, because it's not Pontings forte. I would hope they would plan (Captain & Bowler), but whatever it is, is not working, and it hasn't worked now for way too long Why persist playing people who are not going to cut it, or should retire. Play more kids, see who does stand up. Because we still do not know at present with about 5 spots in the Aussie XI I don't mind losing if i see new blood trying to make a go of it. Like the MFC post 2007. Watching Hussey and Hauritz & of course Marcus North is just ludicrous and has been for over 12 months. You think we are a solid chance to take back the ashes over there right now?? It's too late to make changes now, the selectors have missed the boat. The old Dart may lose the series for us, but we won't win it looking at this team IMO

Sorry i just read that about 5 times and am not exactly sure what you are saying? I would hope Ponting would set a field in consultation with Hauritz to enhance what Hauritz plans to do with the Ball. Can't see this happening from either man at present-i will keep watching.............. I am not the cause of the Australian Cricket sides problem as you allude too-I just don't think the selectors have done nearly enough post Gilchrist retiring. Sadly i think it's too late for this summers ashes, unless the Poms are more useless than Australia which we all know is possible!