Not Worthy of a Thread - interesting articles, thoughts etc

[Nige Cooper]

Could he finish his career as England's greatest ever batsmen? Gooch statisticaly the best, followed by Stewart, Gower, Boycott, Atherton...

Don't forget Hammond, Compton, Hutton etc

From facebook today:

Australia batsman David Hussey has renewed his hopes of making a late Test debut in next year's Ashes series.

Does Dave deserve to don the whites?

GTFO, he's 35 years old, I thought we were actually starting to look towards the future

[Red Bear]

Don't forget Hammond, Compton, Hutton etc

From facebook today:


GTFO, he's 35 years old, I thought we were actually starting to look towards the future

Was going to mention those names, along with another pommy opener around that time who averaged 55 or so (Sutcliffe maybe?)

[James Pattinson]

Dave Hussey should be currently in the test side anyway.

[Notorious_29]

All for Dave Hussey, deserves his crack at Test cricket. Has a lot of experience playing in English conditions.

[Damon_3388]

A couple of good articles from Daniel Brettig on CricInfo:

Lee remains an irresistible force

It was said of the Velvet Underground that while their audience was small, everyone who went to see them formed a band. A little less than 6,000 spectators were huddled around the Stormont ground in Belfast for Ireland's rain ruined match against Australia, yet there would have been few who walked away from the game's all too brief 10.4 overs without dreaming of bowling as fast and well as Brett Lee.

On days like these Lee can still feel like cricket's most irresistible force - certainly its most dashing. His rhythm is mesmeric, his line pristine, his swing fiendishly late, his speed thrilling and terrifying all at once. At 35, Lee is also craftier than he once was, and his use of the new ball provided a masterful lesson for all aspirant young bowlers watching. They included a teenager who was first inspired by Lee and now bowls alongside him - Pat Cummins.

After playing his final Test match in the last week of 2008, Lee has kept playing through serious foot and elbow injuries in limited overs matches, continuing to be an exemplar for both pace bowling and enthusiasm. His value can be seen as much off the field as on it, for he remains among the most recognisable and widely admired names in Australian cricket. This is not to say he is more figurehead than fast man, far from it. The opening over in Belfast confirmed his worth.

Lee entered the match needing another five wickets to overtake Glenn McGrath as Australia's most prolific limited overs wicket-taker, and for a frenzied few minutes looked like blowing past his former pace partner inside one over. Will Porterfield arrived a fraction of a second too late to play the first ball of the match, swinging into him at 90mph and zipping past a crooked bat to splay the stumps.

"I saw it all right, I just saw it go past me," Porterfield reflected later. "It was a decent enough nut, I pushed at it a wee bit, but it nipped back as well. These things can happen first up, he put the ball in the right area and you've got to give him a bit of credit as well. You've got to expect that if you're playing a team of quality, they're going to come out and hit their straps first up."

Ed Joyce was the next man out, his vast experience of playing the moving ball with Middlesex counting for little. Edging across the crease to cover the stumps, Joyce could make nothing of his first ball, which thudded into his front pad and drew a vehement appeal from Lee and his slip cordon. The umpire deemed it to be missing leg stump by centimetres, much to the bowler's surprise, but not his frustration.

Here was a moment for thought. A younger Lee might have cursed the decision, wondered at his luck and hurled down a bouncer to threaten Joyce's helmet but not his stumps. He may also have strained for a yorker and sent it hurtling down the legside for a wide or a glanced boundary. Instead, armed with 13 years of jousting with batsmen of all techniques and inclinations, Lee aimed for off stump again, if anything with less inswing than before. Conscious of getting too far across and letting the ball whir into his pads again, Joyce did not cover up completely, and the ball seamed away a fraction to flick off stump.

Lee wheeled away in familiar celebration, the face that launched a thousand Weetbix campaigns, and locals blinked at a scorecard reading 0 for 2 after three balls. An awed Cummins dubbed this opening burst "ridiculous". Niall O'Brien ground out the rest of the over, and Lee did not add to his wickets, but his bowling remained a most compelling sight throughout a spell of 3-1-10-2. It was all the more worth savouring for the fact it will not be seen for too much longer.

"To lose two wickets in the first three balls is never ideal, but he started pretty much on the money and it was always going to nip around a bit," Porterfield said. "There's not much more you could've asked of your opening bowler and we would've been looking for the same."

Cummins, for one, is grateful to have watched Lee down the years, first as a spectator, and latterly a teammate for New South Wales, Australia and the Sydney Sixers. "He's been the face of fast bowling for a while in Australia," Cummins said. "His raw pace and always being a great competitor. It's hard not to look up to him as a kid. He's everything that a young pace bowler wants to be."

Cummins is far too young to remember the Velvet Underground, but he has vivid childhood memories of Lee. He is faster and better for it.

David Hussey given Test hope

David Hussey's hopes of a belated call-up to the Australian Test team at the age of 34 are no longer as forlorn as they once seemed. John Inverarity, the national selector, has said that Hussey's inclusion in the slimline Cricket Australia contract list for 2012-13 indicates he is, alongside the uncontracted Peter Forrest and George Bailey, at the front of the queue for Test batting places.

On his arrival in the United Kingdom for Australia's ODI tour, Hussey said he had never felt more comfortable in the national set-up than he did right now, and expressed optimism that he might still earn the baggy green cap that has eluded him over a prolific first-class batting career. At times he has been passed over for lesser credentialed batsmen, but Inverarity said that now he was as close as ever, needing to perform staunchly over the next 12 months to push his way in.

"If you look at the middle order options should we need replacements," Inverarity said. "We have got our top six at the moment but if you are looking for a middle order option and the ones that come very much to mind are Peter Forrest, George Bailey and David Hussey. They are the ones that are to the fore at the moment."

The dearth of highly performing young batsmen coming through the Australian system has been a cause of concern for some time, as indicated by the fact that Inverarity and his fellow selectors - the captain Michael Clarke excepted - chose only six specialist batsmen out of 17. The onus now is on Bailey, Forrest, Steve Smith and others including Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja to lift their standards.

"It has been a case for many years in Australian history. Bradman in the 1930s, Neil Harvey, Greg Chappell, Ricky Ponting, Doug Walters all these types of players coming through," Inverarity said. "We would very much like to have some of those players emerging. We need more good young middle order batsmen coming through. At the moment they are not really obvious but we have some good back-up players in Bailey, Forrest and David Hussey."

In contrast to Hussey, Ed Cowan is a Test batsman, having now played seven matches, but did not receive a contract, partly due to his Test-only status, and partly because he is yet to fully grasp the spot he was given on Boxing Day against India. Inverarity is an unabashed fan of Cowan's intelligence and even temper, and described him as an "integral" member of the Test XI.

"Everyone must keep performing, but Ed is firmly in place as our opening batsman at the moment. He is firmly in place," Inverarity said. "He is a fine young man, an intelligent man and he is an integral part of the test team. We have in as captain of the Australia A team and we think he has real leadership potential. He has four matches in England which will be terrific preparations for the Ashes the following season."

A nice acticle from Brydon Coverdale, also on CricInfo:

Emerging batsmen must earn their stripes

The purpose of a central contract system is right there in the name. Central. The aim is to put on retainer the players expected to be central to the team's performances in the coming year. George Bailey and Ed Cowan could come to fit that description this season. If they do, they will be rewarded. They will also provide Australia with much-needed batting depth.

Neither man should view being left off Cricket Australia's contract list, which this year featured only six batsmen, as an insult. They are both new to international level. They may become long-term prospects. They may drift back to state cricket, as plenty have before them. Their fate, like that of all of Australia's young batsmen, is in their own hands. They can't ask fairer than that.

Simon Katich might disagree after his omission last year, but there is one undeniable truth about Cricket Australia's contract system. Eventually, the right players always earn a deal. Sometimes the wrong ones do as well. That is another matter.

But the right players, those who become key performers for Australia during a contract year, will be upgraded to a national contract. It is built into the system. Call it natural selection. Last year, Katich was not in Australia's plans, so there was no point signing him up. Others, Matthew Wade and Nathan Lyon for example, became regular internationals and were contracted mid-year. Simple.

To be upgraded to a national contract from outside the initial group, a player must accumulate 12 points based on a system where each Test appearance is worth five, an ODI is worth two and a T20 international earns one. Bailey is the country's Twenty20 captain, but has still only played nine times for Australia. If he can make himself a regular ODI player on top of his T20 duties, he will earn a contract.

Cowan has played Australia's past seven Tests. He has shown promise, but that is all. He will need more than the odd half-century and an average of 29 to make himself a viable long-term Test prospect. But if he is good enough to hold his place for three more Tests, he will be upgraded.

There are others in the same situation, notably Clint McKay, Daniel Christian and Peter Forrest. They are all likely to play enough games to be upgraded. But why not make them earn it? In the past, too many contracts have been awarded prematurely. Too many contracts have been awarded full stop.

Only 17 men have been handed deals for the coming year, down from 25. A less bloated list is no bad thing. England awarded only 13 central contracts last year, and their criteria for a mid-year upgrade is even tougher. They seem to be coping.

Now, players won't just make up the numbers. Remember Cullen Bailey, the young legspinner who was contracted in 2007? He did not play an international match that year, and hasn't come within cooee since. Adam Voges was handed a contract in 2007, 2008 and 2010, for the grand total of 15 ODIs and four T20s.

Not that this year's 17-man squad is perfect. Mitchell Johnson can count himself extremely fortunate to have been included. Presumably the selectors view him as a first-choice player in the ODI and T20 sides, for his Test bowling in recent times has been about as intimidating as his Movember moustache.

The retention of Brad Haddin is an indication that the selectors either believe he is still the No.1 wicketkeeper ahead of Matthew Wade or are yet to make up their minds. After a disappointing year in both Test and one-day cricket, there would have been justification for leaving Haddin off the list.

Clearly, Ricky Ponting is not going anywhere in a hurry. His outstanding series against India bought him more time in the Test side, although a poor tour of the West Indies followed. The selectors want him around and he wants to be around. He is likely to be part of the Test side for at least another summer.

Ponting is one of only six specialist batsmen given contracts this year, along with Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, David Warner, Michael Hussey and David Hussey. There is no reason the split between bowlers and batsmen should be more even - it is a contract list, not a starting XI - but the imbalance does indicate that John Inverarity and his fellow selectors want more from the wider batting group.

That is far from ideal a year out from the Ashes, but nor is it a surprise. This is a team that in the past year has relied on four men - Clarke, Ponting, Warner and Michael Hussey - for more than half its Test runs. It is a side that was bowled out for 47 in a Test match in November.

Young batsmen like Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Phillip Hughes have let Test opportunities slip over the past year, while Cowan, Bailey and Forrest are still proving themselves. There are others showing promise at state level - Joe Burns, Liam Davis and Rob Quiney, to name a few - and it is up to whoever is given a chance to grab it.

Australia's young bowlers have been doing that over the past 12 months. It's no wonder there are seven fast men and two spinners in the contract list. This year it's time for the batsmen to make themselves indispensable. Cowan and Bailey would be a good start.

[Red Bear]

Good guy Brett Lee has declined a NSW contract saying it should go to a younger player, will simply play on a match by match basis

Brett Lee declines Cricket NSW contract

[Rumblah]

Good guy Brett Lee has declined a NSW contract saying it should go to a younger player, will simply play on a match by match basis

Brett Lee declines Cricket NSW contract

Thank fuck, but WHY WAS HE OFFERED ONE?

[Special]

This was from the other night

Maxwell inspires maiden Royals win

By Sports Desk
Published on Monday 25 June 2012 09:00

Glenn Maxwell kick-started the Royals’ Friends Life t20 campaign at Canterbury.

The Aussie all-rounder smashed a spectacular 66 not out from 32 balls to claim a six-wicket south group triumph over Kent Spitfires yesterday.

And with it the Victorian, who has been playing Southern Electric Premier League cricket for South Wilts, chalked up Hampshire’s first t20 victory of the campaign.

After their opening fixture against Sussex Sharks was abandoned, the Royals suffered consecutive defeats to Middlesex and Kent.

But yesterday they were back on song – showing just why they were champions in 2010 and semi-finalists last term.

The Spitfires would have been confident of netting back-to-back wins over Hampshire after Darren Stevens’ 44-ball 60 had propelled them to 135 for six.

Stevens clubbed four sixes and three fours as he put his side in control on a bowler-friendly wicket.

Kent were further buoyed after the break when they removed in-form Royals opener Michael Carberry for just six.

And after Jimmy Adams (31) and James Vince (17) had briefly got the chase back on track, the Royals were reeling once again at 59 for four.

Enter Maxwell – and an instant impact.

The Melbourne Renegades blaster smashed his fifth ball high over extra cover for six to light the blue touchpaper for a firecracker of an innings.

In the next over he pulled Adam Ball for a second six but it was in the 14th over the 23-year-old Australian all-rounder really pressed the accelerator.

With off-spinner Tredwell being kept in the attack by Kent captain Rob Key, three more driven sixes and a reverse-sweep four by Maxwell meant 23 runs came from the over and Hampshire, suddenly, needed just a run-a-ball to win.

Maxwell, however, was only just getting going.

He then turned his attention to Matt Coles, hitting him for his third four to reach 50 from just 22 balls and in 14 minutes.

The Australian was controversially denied another six in the 17th over when he pulled Azhar Mahmood high over the mid-wicket rope only for Ball to leap into the air, catch the ball and then fling it back on to the field of play while still airborne.

Hampshire captain Mascarenhas came on to the field to query the decision, as Maxwell was credited with just one run for his big hit.

But umpires Martin Bodenham and David Millns ruled that Billings’ feet had not touched the turf before he released the ball.

Maxwell reacted to the umpires’ decision by hitting Coles for two more sixes, while Sean Ervine also slashed a full toss square on the offside for four in an 18th over – which cost another 17 runs.

The match was then wrapped up when, with just six runs required, Maxwell hit the first two balls of the 19th over both for four.

How are the other aussies going in England this year?

[laz cat]

How are the other aussies going in England this year?

Starc has been dominating for Yorkshire in the 20-20s.
6 matches, 13 wickets, economy rate of 6 an over.
Top of the wickets table.

[Special]

And he's done it again.

Big-hitting Australian Glenn Maxwell produced another explosive FL t20 innings as Hampshire beat Essex with two overs to spare at Chelmsford.

The 23-year-old Aussie smashed an unbeaten 60 from only 24 balls as the visitors overhauled their opponents' total of 176-4 to win by six wickets.

And 30 of those came in one over off spinner Tim Phillips, Maxwell three times putting him out of the ground.

Simon Katich made a more leisurely 42 off 38 as Hampshire got home on 177-4.

Maxwell's explosion of shots came a few days after he struck a match-winning 66 from 32 balls in beating Kent and leaves Hampshire well on course for a place in the quarter-finals.

Essex, who slip to third in the group, had looked set for a much bigger total after an opening stand of 83 from James Franklin, who went on to hit 78 from 49 balls, and Mark Pettini (38).

Holy fuck that is ridiculous hitting! Would surely be a chance at an aus t20 gig this summer..

[Axel.]

Cricket Australia
The Cricket Australia Youth Selection Panel (YSP) today announced the final 15-player squad for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup which will be held in Queensland in August, as well as an 18-player squad for the pre-tournament camp and series against Pakistan later this month.

The Australia U19 World Cup squad is:
Agar, Ashton Vic
Bancroft, Cameron WA
Bosisto, William WA
Buchanan, Meyrick Vic
Conway, Harry NSW
Hain, Sam Qld
Head, Travis SA
Paris, Joel WA
Patterson, Kurtis NSW
Peirson, James Qld
Sandhu, Gurinder NSW
Steketee, Mark Qld
Stevens, Nicholas Qld
Turner, Ashton WA
Wildermuth, Jack Qld

Additional members for Pakistan Series:
Gotch, Sebastian Vic
McClelland, Joshua Qld
Gregory, Alex SA

[TSYW]

Fuck me, some of those Qld players are terrible.

[Rumblah]

Who teh fuck?

[sXe]

Australia in England 2012: More pain before gain for Pat Cummins | Cricket News | England v Australia | ESPN Cricinfo

The example of Brett Lee is relevant to Cummins' case. Lee made his first class debut while still a teenager in the 1994-95 season but a series of injuries and adjustments to his bowling action meant he was a far more hardened bowler by the time he earned his first Test cap against India in 1999. Lee has previously stated that young bowlers have to experience pain and injury over time to understand their limits, rather than being nursed through by medical and fitness staff.

"Most importantly, you don't want guys at 17 or 18; the first time they feel a niggle, they go to the physio and say 'my calf's hurting me' and they have three weeks off," Lee said last year. "They don't know where the line is."

Interesting theory. I don't know what to make of it.

[Rumblah]

Lee is a fucking idiot.