World Cup Blundering
Preparation is everything and Australia’s preparation for this years world cup isn’t going smoothly. A defeat in the Commonwealth bank series by England and now a defeat by New Zealand has shown a lot of vulnerabilities to this Australian side.
The latest loss relegates Australia to #2 in the ICC ODI rankings with South Africa #1. The other teams that defeated Australia recently, New Zealand and England are ranked #4 and #7 respectively. At least we have a dead rubber game against New Zealand and two world cup group games against Scotland and the Netherlands (not certainties the way we are travelling), before serious competition starts on Saturday the 24th March when we take on South Africa in the last group game.
Reasons for Australia’s latest form is coming thick and faster than a binger Lee Thunderbolt and from everyone who has an opinion. The latest one is from resting one day wicket Keeper/batsman Adam Gilchrist who is stating that the scheduling of the Chappell-Hadley series is a hindrance to the up coming world cup instead of a help to the teams preparation. I would of thought that playing Cricket for not only ones country but for Australia would be one of the greatest experiences an Australian male would ever have in his life. Understandably players need to be rested but I’m sure there are people around that would give anything for an opportunity like this. Everybody else goes to work each day and it’s not like being on a Cricket Australia contract is like being paid award rates for an 80 hour fortnight and only getting four weeks holiday a year.
I believe Australian selectors did the right thing by resting a few players in preparation for the world cup and by trying some likely touring players in these games being played in New Zealand, but something’s gone wrong.
Bearing in mind that Ponting, Gilchrist, M.Clarke and Brett Lee are not playing. My Thought are:
Jaques and Hayden – No form at the top order (Maybe we should have been opening with Watson)
Our Bowling is pitiful – We have good fast bowlers but we don’t have Bowlers that are constant swingers of the ball (e.g. the likes of Hilfenhaus (probably not old enough yet))
Cameron White – Is a great hitter just don’t let him bowl
Hogg – The time has come, he’s struggling big time (give Cullen a go (he’s probably not old enough also))
McGrath – As Above ( I cant bring myself to say it – the man’s a legend)
Fielding seems way off compared to when Ponting is about.
The omission of Stuart Clarke – Too similar to McGrath
I’m sure this a just a bitch slap that will bring us back to getting our eyes focussed on the ball and in particular the world cup.
Here’s my world cup squad of 15 in batting order: Watson, Haddin, Ponting, Hussey, Hodge, Gilchrist, White, S.Clarke, Tait, Cullen, Bracken. Rest of squad: Hilfenhaus, Hopes, M.Clarke and katich. If fit I would replace Lee and Symonds with Tait and White respectively.
