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Time to retire boys!

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Name one player in the Aussie cricket team who hasn't had a form slump at one time or another.

It's easy to sit by as an armchair critic and say so-and-so must go, bring on some new blood, but the issue is what is best for the team. Chopping and changing the team every time someone has a bad run isn't necessarily the best option.
 

Think you're missing the point a bit here mate, this isnt about form slumps, its about when u just get too old, too slow. There has to be a point where its not about form, its about not being good enough anymore and the game has passed you by. Happens to every single athlete sooner or later, the question is when are they ready/willing/able to admit it? Noone is talking about chopping and changing, im talking about bringing in people who are coming into their prime, not being on the wrong side of it. What is best for the team is having the best players in it, not memories of the best players. Hell, why dont England bring back Colin Cowdrey again.... maybe he is in good form ATM!
What is wrong with being an armchair critic? These people play for themselves but they also represent us as a nation. That gives us the right to have an opinion and express it. Its great watercooler/forum talk
 
Finally some sanity prevailing in the Aussie selection commitee, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus into the squad, Kreyza omitted. Im a big fan of Hilfenhaus (20 wickets @ 17 this season) able to swing the ball a mile in most conditions. Should have been given his chance a long time ago, at least the attack wont be so one dimensional
 

Terry Alderman.

Until that clown ran on the ground and injured him!
 
In light of events in the last couple of days, started thinking about the Aussie XI. Could this XI be anymore impotent than the current team?
In batting order; (i have only included players that are fit and available as of today)

Simon Katich
Mike Hussey
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
David Hussey
Shane Watson
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Nathan Hauritz
Ben Hilfenhaus
David Siddle

Several points here, ill start with the exclusions
1. Hayden - gone-ski, piss off, get lost, read the writing on the wall (see numerous posts above on why, and subsequent failure since). Having said this, will prob make a ton in Aust 2nd innings and hang around (unfortunately)
2. Symonds - dicky knee, should not have been included ahead of Watson if not fully fit. Batting since return average. Undisciplined & falls 2 a rash shot 90% of the time. Unfortunately his attacking mentality with the bat is also his weakness, which is OK when AUS are 5/300, not so good when they are 5/150
3. Lee - main weapon (pace) gone now bowling around 140km/hr mark, these bowlers are a dime a dozen in international cricket these days. Unable to swing the new or old ball. Very predictable, either bowls short/full with very few balls that create uncertainty

Inclusions/changes to order
1. Mike Hussey - brings experience to the top of the order (along with Katich) and has experience opening. No.4 does not suit his technique. Clarke has shown ample maturity and defensive prowess to take No.4 position. The sooner this is done, the better.
2. David Hussey - much in the same boat as his brother was before he broke into the test team. Run machine, well suited to the No.5 position. Deserves to be given a chance in the test arena now, or unfairly may be consigned to the scrap heap (ala Brad Hodge)
3. Watson - disgracefully ommitted from the team after an above average performance in India. Shows good pace and movement of the ball in the right conditions. Rated higher than Symonds in every aspect except the field IMO
4. Hilfenhaus - for God's sake when will Australia play someone who can swing the ball? This was the sole reason the Poms took the Ashes, and we have our own first genuine swinger since Damien Fleming, but they wont give the guy a chance. Has international experience, albeit in 1 dayers.

Australia suffers ATM from the lack of a pace bowler that can tie up one end..... GET BETTER SOON STUART CLARKE! Although unfashionable this guy is the linchpin to the Aussie attack. Sadly we have no1 else who can bowl the dry line ATM and we are suffering badly. Hauritz is in, simply because there are no other options. OK performance in S.A.s first innings in Melb, but did not turn one ball past the blade, all dismissals were from mis-timed sweep shots. Will not be so lucky in the second innings
Dont get me wrong, im not saying the side i have selected will return us to former glories, far from it, but IMO it is the best we can muster at this current time
Would love to hear feedback/differences in order. Please explain why and dont just post XI players
Cheers
 
Australia desperately needs players that swing the ball.

No surprises that Johnson has been their best bowler, and he's the only one that moves it through the air.

It was absolutely cretinous that they picked Symonds as a specialist batsmen. The old boys club never changes. There are 3-4 obvious choices over Symonds as pure batsmen - his form since being sent away and fiddling with Lee's wife has been abysmal.

But I would have picked Watson anyway. He has been very harshly dealt with IMO. Got no idea what their problem is with him.
 
Looking awfully like a One day or 20/20 side there Sprinhill Not that there's anything wrong with that if it gets results.

I agree with Chops re: Watson. Although i can tell you that the reason Symonds is in the team is because he attracts the crowds.
 
white_crane said:
Still think Hussey hasn't had a form slump?
Click to expand...

Definitely has now.

We really need, D. Hussey/ North/ Voges moved straight in for Symonds. Absolute joke he is in the team.

All three are much better bats, and have better first class bowling records as well.
 
Openers

I think I would have to go for Phillip Hughes for Sydney.

He is only 20, and looks the goods. 600+ runs at over 55 (in a beaten side)

Chris Rogers is 31, over 800 at 80 odd

? Klinger from SA, over 900 runs, high average, not sure how old he is

Phil Jacques available for South Africa.

Hayden looks like he is badly out of form.

Time to rejuvenate. Time to take a calculated risk

I think Symonds is finished as a test player
 
Look to me like its time for Symonds to pull the pin. Double failure in the state match against WA there is no way the selectors can justify taking him to South Africa for the return series. Seems its going to be an absolute massacre over there
On a seperate note cant see why Katich isnt brought into the one day team, much like Langer he is thought of as scoring too slowly. On the contrary they are/were both fine one day players for their states. Would bring experience and stability to the middle order which is sadly lacking ATM. May not set the world on fire with 6s but he would be damn hard to get out. Give me 50 runs off 65 balls anytime at the crunch, rather than the 12 off 10 like guys like Cameron White will give you
Thank God the Kiwis are here we may have a chance of winning more than 1 match. Wouldnt suprise me if they took the series. Their one day side always poses more of a threat than their test team, and they really fire up.... especially now they know the Aussies are easy beats LOL
 


so u judge the value/ability/worthiness etc etc of a sportstar by how much u have to pay for a ticket etc to see them play ----------- human beings are such vain creatures --------

i agree with Snake (above) -------------

tall poppy syndrome is just typical human (particularly OZ) interpretation of the 'unreal' world -----------

if yr 10 y.o. son is out there busting his a*se playing soccer/footy/afl/whatever against the local hotshots (and getting his a*se kicked) ---- do u say to him after the game --- u played a sh*t game!!! --- or do u give him encouragement?? -----

but u dont entertain the thought of being considerate to a pro sportsperson who is going thru a ruff patch cause they earn a crapload of dough!!! ---- who's actually got the problem, us or them ??? -----

not a personal attack springhill --- just an observation of how screwed up humans who live in an affluent society are in their interpretation of what is really important in life -------------- money money money
 


No offence taken mate
We all judge the value of a sportsman by what we are willing to pay to watch them. For example if you had spent $200 on a ticket to watch Rafa Nadal, which Rafa would you rather see, the one that is playing ATM or the Rafa that played 3-4 years ago. Bet i know! And why? You want value for your $100
Why are the CHEAPEST Superbowl tickets US$1000? Because you're seeing the best of the best
You're asking 3 different Qs there with value/ability/worthiness. Take Andrew Symonds for example

Do i judge his value by how much im willing to pay?
Absolutely, thats called market forces. If hes not worth it noone will pay it

Do i judge his ability by how much im willing to pay?
No, i judge his ability by the level he is capable of playing at, has played in the past and the level his teammates play at, and by extension if he deserves a place in the team

Do i judge his worthiness by how much im willing to pay?
No, worthiness in my eyes is an ethical/moral thing. Does his behaviour/demeanour/attitude make him worthy of the baggy green? Hell No

That 10 year old son example is a loaded Q and a bunch of w@nk! You have an emotional connection with your son you could never compare with your enjoyment of watching a professional athlete.
 
dont mind me Spring/H. just having my sunday arvo rant after a coupla beers i was gona start a thread on humans and their unrealistic perceptions on the value of money, and this thread was as far as i got, so i thought id have a 'dig' ---


actually a lot of people are just as likely to pay the dough to see him fail if they dont think hes up to it ---- humans seem to get great pleasure out of watching failure

springhill said:
For example if you had spent $200 on a ticket to watch Rafa Nadal, which Rafa would you rather see, the one that is playing ATM or the Rafa that played 3-4 years ago. Bet i know! And why? You want value for your $100
Click to expand...

fair point but its interesting y people cheer like hell when their 'less preferred' player double faults at a crucial point ---- or continually belts the ball out etc.

people like to back their favorite ---- re Symonds --- the SA or English supporters are happy to pay to see him fail ---- are they getting value for their buck?

springhill said:
Do i judge his worthiness by how much im willing to pay?
No, worthiness in my eyes is an ethical/moral thing. Does his behaviour/demeanour/attitude make him worthy of the baggy green? Hell No
Click to expand...

lol ---- he hasnt done himself any favours has he ----- would u forgive his 'naughtiness' if hed been scoring a string of tons though?



springhill said:
That 10 year old son example is a loaded Q and a bunch of w@nk! You have an emotional connection with your son you could never compare with your enjoyment of watching a professional athlete.
Click to expand...

haha --- i probably deserved that didnt i ---

of course it was a loaded question --- i was 'loaded' when i asked it -- lol--

i still think the dollar value of a sportsperson is a no more than a superficial manipulation --- we are conditioned in western society to gauge everything in $ and cents ----- doesnt make it right or wrong of course --- i just like to scratch under the psychological surface --- interesting what u find at times --- cheers.
 
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