Thought of the Day…on Australia’s selections

News relating to cricket following a World Cup can be like having soup on Boxing Day after a big Christmas meal. Pretty light on and a struggle for cricket writers and readers alike after a glut of coverage in the preceeding 6 weeks.

Thankfully, Shane Warne was able to create reams of printable material in the immediate aftermath of the match by turning the focus from the teams victory & the successes (and failings) of the tournament to one of the great questions of all time: “howthirsty are you?”.

Possibly wanting to divert from the embarrassment of Warne, Cricket Australia (CA) have announced their contracted players for the next year, as well as the touring team that will be going to (at least) the West Indies in May.

The selection of players, and non-selection of other players, always creates much debate and CA have seemingly outdone themselves in creating more reams of print and interest in the team through this announcement.

Either they are ridiculously confident of success in this series and in the coming years, or they have jumped the shark.

Seen here: CA's selectors

As a rule, teams are selected on the basis of probability of success, ability to execute team plans, balance, experience, depth and youth.

CA also have another category; “reward”, which is usually reserved for senior players who have served the teamwell in the past & are being given another year to top-up their superannuation.

Looking at the contracted team first, it is pretty easy to categorise the team into “experienced” and “future”, including whether the “future” players are proven or not, as shown in the table below:

At first glance, this categorisation shows a good balance between Experienced (5) and Future players (6).  There is possibly some controversy in the inclusion of Ryan Harris and Shane Watson as “Reward” players, but given their history of injuries it is unlikely they will be playing much in 2016.

In Watsons case, this is exacerbated by All-Rounders of the quality of Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell all waiting for their turn.

The definition of Mitchell Starc as 'unproven' may rankle some too, particularly given that he was the Player of the Tournament at the World Cup, but he is still unproven at Testlevel despite his potential and ability.

The last category, unkown, is probably the most interesting.  The inclusion of George Bailey in the squad is probably largely due to his experience, as well as the need for a back-up middle-order batsman to Michael Clarke’s back, but his red ball average hardly justifies it.

Baileys age, 32, hardly puts him in the future category either.

Aaron Finch’s inclusion seems to be something of a calculated risk.  The Captain of the T20 team, Finch is a leader, tactically astute and a proven hitter in short-form cricket.  He is also an opening batsman, which the list only has 2 of (depending on how you classify Watson).

That being said, he is also lacking form in red ball cricket and his recent One-Day form is hardly convincing.

The inclusion of Shaun Marsh is, as ever, the sort of thing to make your brain explode.  Surely he has photos of someone?  Joe Burns must throwing one of the worlds best tantrums right now.

Artists impression of Joe Burns.

Moving onto the touring team, the list has a similar look:

Peter Siddle is obviously being rewarded for years of service in the team with a nice holiday to the West Indies, a good place for bananas, and possibly as bowling cover for pitches expected to take spin that will require bowlers to hold up an end.

The inclusion of PeterNevill is also a positive, as he provides Australia with a wicket-keeper batsman (rather than a batsman-wicketkeeper) who can also bat in the middle order and has leadership abilities.  You almost wonder why he wasn’t contracted ahead of Bailey, S Marsh etc.

Fawad Ahmed and Adam Voges are obviously being rewarded for good form in the Sheffield Shield, which is the right message to all Australian cricketers.

Both have momentum and form on their side and could do well on the West Indian pitches, at least.  As Guardian writer Geoff Lemon reminded me, leg-spinners like Ahmed have had some success for Australia in England in the past.

Not naming names.

And there again, is Shaun Marsh.  Nothing against him personally, but his selection really does remind me of the time Fonzie was put up to this dare:

Top5: Reasons why India will win the Cricket World Cup

Last weeks game between Bangladesh and India proved a bit inevitable, with India coming out easy winners and progressing into the Semi Finals of the Cricket World Cup.

This has led India to playing Australia on Thursday night at the SCG.  While India's record against Australia in Australia this summer isn't exactly glittering, there are firm reasons why India should be regarded as favourites, including:

5. Runs, lots of runs.
Put simply, the Indian team can bat the hell out of cricket.  Their openers include a bloke who has 2 ODI double centuries to his name and the talent doesn't really level off until you get into their bowlers.

This level of talent has allowed India to set menacing totals through the tournament, which could be challenging to Australia who have more of a hit-or-miss approach to batting, while also allowing them to chase seemingly any target.

And this is just their last 5 games.

This World Cup has seen games won through big scores and India are the biggest scorers of all. 
 
4. Form and Confidence
One criticism you could make of India is their engagement with the press, they seem totally disinterested and give very general remarks.  They don't seem to know who they are playing or care.

They are strutting.

While they came into this tournament with an unimpressive record, they have turned their form around in the bat of an eye.  They were focussing on the World Cup, this is the tournament they are here for, they are focussed on winning and they are doing it.

3. Rain
Australia is a Country in the Southern Hemisphere.  Our Summers occur from November through February, then we hit Autumn in March.  It is in March that the sun stops to shine so much and it starts to rain.
 
This may seem obvious but still be news to the organisers of the World Cup.

For the uninitiated: Rain.

Scheduling a finals series for the end of March in Australia means that it is very likely that it will rain and matches will get washed out, or interrupted.

This suits India down to the ground due to their scoring ability and their lack of ability in losing wickets.  Should games be reduced and decided by the Duckworth-Lewis method, its very likely to be in Indias favour with their fire-power. 

2. Ravindra Jadeja 
Jadeja is the best spin bowler of the last 3 teams in the World Cup & the 2 remaining teams aren't great players of spin, this puts India in a unique position to win the tournament as they can have more variable bowling plans and attacks.

He also grows a sweet 'mo

Daniel Vettori has been excellent for New Zealand, with his influence in the game against Australia changing the momentum away from Australia and ultimately winning it.  That being said, Vettori is hardly spinning the ball and doesn't bat as well as Jadeja.

Glenn Maxwell for Australia is becoming a good holding bowler, but will be of little threat to India.  Maxwell can change a game with his batting, but then so can any of the Indian top 7.

Jadeja has a similar ability to change games with the ball as Vettori but has done so more regularly throughout the competition.  Expect the opposition to be wary of him, which will reduce run scoring at the very least. 

1. Injuries
Put simply, India have'nt suffered any major injuries in this tournament or leading up to it.  Their XI is settled and in good form.

They are the form and healthy side going into the Semi Finals and it will take a real upset to defeat them.

Thought of the Day: Aussie approach is on-the-money

Taken from theage.com.au today (20.03.2015):

Apparently Australia is going to take its match tonight against Pakistan like a final.

I guess that's a good thing, as it IS a final.

Top 5: Thoughts on the India v Bangladesh match

India take on Bangladesh at the MCG this very afternoon, in a game that will decide which team will progress to the semi finals of the Cricket World Cup.

Taking some time to view the game as a Cricket lover, there are a number of issues around it that immediately spring to mind. 

5. This game is good for Cricket
While being a cricket tragic, I don't actually know a lot about Bangladeshi cricket. 

For instance, I'm not sure if Bangladesh have ever played at the MCG before this World Cup.  I can recall them playing a 2- Test Series in the Northern Territory against Australia many years ago in which Steve Waugh managed to become one of the first players to score a century against every Test-playing nation, but little else.


Comparing that series to this game is a great example of how this game is great for cricket.  Not only is an unsuccessful team in the finals, but they are getting 'big game' experience against a very successful side at (arguably) the biggest venue in cricket.

Moving away from that feel good story, a game involving India at the MCG in the Cricket World Cup finals is sure to involve a lot of fans going and watching the game on TV.  And that means more money for the game.  Hopefully.

4. This game is bad for Cricket
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been making a lot of statements around this World Cup about whether it is the last tournament of its kind, or even whether the format will be reduced to only include Test playing nations.  Obviously this is a bad idea for growth and the game at large.

A Quarter Final involving India is the minimum that the ICC (read: BCCI) would accept and the structuring of this tournament has almost guaranteed it. 

One could certainly argue that improvements could be made to the tournament, though it will be hard to convince the ICC to make them if they pose any risk of all of India not making (at least) the Semi Finals.

3. The atmosphere will be the best of the Quarter Finals
For anyone in Melbourne who doesn't have plans after 2:30 today, it would be well worth your while getting to the MCG to take in the atmosphere of the game, even if you aren't a cricket fan.

The Indian and Bangladeshi fans are some of the loudest and most enjoyable going around, and with over 50,000 of them expected at this game; it is sure to have a cracking atmosphere.

These guys, they make noise.

 Compare this prospect to the low turn out of the South Africa v Sri Lanka game last night (even though the Sri Lankan crowd were in full voice) and the prospects of the Australia v Pakistan (though the Pakistani crowd is sure to show the Australian fans how to support their team) and  New Zealand v West Indies (bring back the steel dums!) games, and its sure to be a hoot.

2. There will be a lot of runs
It has been well documented that India has, arguably, the best and most balanced batting line up in the World Cup.  One of their openers has 2 (that's TWO) ODI double-centuries to his name and the level of talent doesn't really start tapering off until you pass their wicket-keeper, who can also bat a bit.

Bangladesh, similarly are no slouches in wielding the willow, and will relish the Indian bowling attack which, while being decent, they will see as threatening as Englands.

I can look at this for hours.

1. The losers tag is already prepared
India are expected to win this game, and easily.  If they don't; they will be labelled as weak, questions will be raised about their bowling attack (and possibly their mental state) and effigies of the players / management will be burned.

I've always thought their was good money to be made in the effigy building business.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, are expected to lose and will be labelled as 'valiant competitors' or some such in the outcome if they do.  It's doubtful effigies will be burned, which, is a good environmental outcome at least.

Top 5: Ways to improve the Cricket World Cup

I'd like to make one thing clear right now: The Cricket World Cup has been pretty great so far.  There have been some great games, close games and upsets. 

After an Australian summer of Test Cricket with a disinterested opponent, some meaningless ODIs and the empty-big hits of the Big Bash, it has been a real (local) success at least.

Now that has been said, there are obvious ways to improve it, improve the image of ODI cricket and bring more people to the sport (as players and spectators).

Here are my Top 5:

5. More games
This may seem obvious, but while there is (at least) one game on every day, there could certainly be a lot more.  More games that are more accessible will bring in more fans.

Australia, one of the host countries, played Saturday night against New Zealand in what was  its first game since the 14th of February (two weeks).  In defence of the organisers, one game was washed out, but there is an existing precedent for teams to play an ODI every 2 to 3 days.  Why are fans being denied?  It is only dragging out the tournament & reducing interest in it.

This Monday there was no game at all played.

An empty MCG.  Normally only seen on Melbourne Football Club match days.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), arguably the best sports stadium in the most sports-mad city in the country, has a 21-day break between games.  Further, the MCG is the only ground in the State of Victoria that is hosting games. 

The last time the World Cup was in Australia there were regional games held throughout Victoria that created interest in the game and brought international games to regional areas.  It was a win-win.

There are many people sitting around wanting to go to games, not least those in Queensland, but there is simply no option to go.

4. More teams
This follows on from the previous point, particularly if the ICC want to ensure that the competition goes for 6 weeks.

Some of the best games of the tournament so far have involved the non-Test playing teams (disparingly referred to as 'minnows'), including; Ireland upsetting the West Indies, war-torn Afghanistan winning their first ever World Cup game (against Scotland), Ireland beating the UAE in a nail-biter, Zimbabwe pipping the UAE, and England being smashed by everyone.

These games may not have shown the best talent in the world, but they have been played with passion by players who wan't to do well.  Similarly, cricket fans want them to do well, the players are representing the sport they love.

By creating more games with more teams, the competition will attract more fans.   There are only 14 teams playing in this World Cup, and there are several more that could be there including; Kenya, Holland and Hong Kong.

Some may scoff at the attractiveness of Holland v Kenya as an event, but given that some of the best games have involved the 'minnows' & there is genuine interest in the tournament, all games become relevant.

3. Change the opening ceremony
This goes without saying, but the opening ceremony to the World Cup was really terrible. Really.

Little wonder it wasn't promoted, it was reminiscent of a Rock Eisteddfod or other similar poor presentation.  Darryl Braithwaite played and without taking anything away from the creator of 'Horses', I last saw him play at the Melbourne Show.

I also saw this.  It was better.

The World Cup Captains all had to walk through picnickers along tarpaulin onto the stage while being stalked by bizarre dancers.  It was weird and uncomfortable.  Also, it didn't precede a game.  It was a stand alone night of nothing that meant nothing and just left everyone confused and a little embarrassed. 

2. Get rid of fielding restrictions
When Australia first hit 400 runs in an ODI match (back in 2006), I thought the world was about to end as a score that big was surely a sign of the apocolypse.

Since then, scores of 400+ have become a regular feature in this World Cup, reducing the level of competition between bat and ball and the contest overall.  A 6-hitting competition maybe adequate for T20 games as they only last a few hours, but 8 hours of it gets very tiresome.

And his team just hit 300+

My first thought around evening up the competition was to remove boundary scores and simply make batsmen run 4s and 6s (balls hit into the crowd would also increase spectator interest if they were suddenly part of the game), though this would be difficult to police.

The most obvious other approach would be to get rid of the fielding restrictions in ODI games, as well as the 'power plays'.  Batsmen don't need any help any more.

1. Improve the telecast
Again, fans will only go to or tune into something that is interesting.  For this World Cup, Australian fans have only had Australian games broadcast on free-to-air television.  All of the other games are only available on Pay TV. 

If administrators are serious about making the event something that attracts fans, make it accessible to them and put it on TV.