"Australian Cricket in crisis"- Michael Clarke

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausvsl/content/current/story/318415.html

Their batting will still be pretty good for the next few years, I reckon. But the bowling will be the big question mark, particularly on flat pitches.

Australia without 2GM to be weaker SHOCK!!!!

Thanks Trev ...

embee wrote:Australia without 2GM to be weaker SHOCK!!!!

Thanks Trev ...

You're dead right of course, but I've been surprised by how many Australians I've spoken to who absolutely deny this.

Without Langer they'll be worse too IMO. Did quite a bit of Haydos' hard work for him and got some tough runs. Still think the Kiddie and Roy are a bit too 'flashy'. Could be two down - four down in not much time.

Of course we will be a lot weaker, i don't think we are going to be whipping boys or anything though.

We wouldn't stand a chance if the current side played the side from a year ago but thankfully the 2006 australian team isn't who we are going to be up against in the next couple of years.

In some ways it should be more fun, during the really dominant times it felt like anything less than a clean sweep of a series was almost a failure now we will be happy with any sort of series wins we get.

please don't yell wrote:Of course we will be a lot weaker, i don't think we are going to be whipping boys or anything though.

We wouldn't stand a chance if the current side played the side from a year ago but thankfully the 2006 australian team isn't who we are going to be up against in the next couple of years.

In some ways it should be more fun, during the really dominant times it felt like anything less than a clean sweep of a series was almost a failure now we will be happy with any sort of series wins we get.

**pats pdy on the head**

Sure champ. You tell us.

Nah need better bait than that champ.

keep trying though you're bound to hook one eventually.

please don't yell wrote:Nah need better bait than that champ.

keep trying though you're bound to hook one eventually.

Alreet.

Your summation of Ponting being God due to his facing the mighty men loads was sh!t and also lies.

Batfink Begins wrote:

please don't yell wrote:Nah need better bait than that champ.

keep trying though you're bound to hook one eventually.

Alreet.

Your summation of Ponting being God due to his facing the mighty men loads was sh!t and also lies.

What's up, Danny? Get knocked back again?

Batfink Begins wrote:

Alreet.

Your summation of Ponting being God due to his facing the mighty men loads was sh!t and also lies.

<insert standard indignant response here>

I'm just trying to mix it up here. Y'know. Make waves and sh!t. I was telling the truth though, Ponting isn't big daddy because he faced Ambrose three times out of his 110 Tests.

MacGill is about as good a replacement you could ask for, Stuart Clark was on par with Pidge when he retired IMO and with Ben Hilfenhaus/Shaun Tait/Mitchell Johnson coming through the future is far from bleek, although an injury or 2 could make it interesting and test their reserves. On the batting front Clarke is beggining to look solid in tests and Haddin to replace Gilly and batsmen like Rogers D.Hussey etc. in the wings batting should be no problem for the forseeable future.

On the flipside it should hopefully make their tests more competitive....

Haddin has serious shades of the FTB syndrome when I see him bat. Just doesn't strike me as someone Australia would like to have as long term replacement for Gilly.

doremi wrote:Haddin has serious shades of the FTB syndrome when I see him bat. Just doesn't strike me as someone Australia would like to have as long term replacement for Gilly.

Gilchrist is one of the great players of all time. It's no surprise that the next best isn't as good.

TBH - I'd prefer Haddin to most other international keepers.

It looks like Haddin will get his chance sooner rather than later, as speculation if rife that Gilchrist will call it a day at the end of this season.

doremi wrote:Haddin has serious shades of the FTB syndrome when I see him bat. Just doesn't strike me as someone Australia would like to have as long term replacement for Gilly.

Gilly will not be replaced ...the future keepers will all be the best batsmen who doesn't look too silly with the keepers gloves on ...

Henry wrote:It looks like Haddin will get his chance sooner rather than later, as speculation if rife that Gilchrist will call it a day at the end of this season.

I think it is "before the start of next summer". Aust has 18 tests between now and then!

Gilchrist's retirement will cause some shuffling in the JAMODI batting order.

I think it is "before the start of next summer". Aust has 18 tests between now and then!

18?!

Ok, so 2 against Sri Lanka, 4 against India, 3 against Pakistan, 4 against the Windies........

Who are the other 5 tests against? They're probably due a tour to New Zealand, but that normally doesnt happen until February/March.

2 Tests against Bangladesh at the Top End
4 Tests vs India in India

http://in.sports.yahoo.com/icccricket/pdfs/ftp_2006-2012.pdf

Then 2 Tests vs NZ, and 3 vs Sth Af next Aussie summer.

Although the 3 v Pak must be in some doubt now.

JGK wrote:Although the 3 v Pak must be in some doubt now.

from Cricinfo article:
Cricket Australia is keeping an eye on the political situation in Pakistan ahead of Australia's scheduled tour there in February. However, no decision on whether the trip will proceed will be made until January at the earliest.

2 against bangles and 4 against india. thats 19!

we have 3 against pak, 4 against aus, 3 against saf, 2 against zim (?!?), 3 against sl, 4 against aus, 3 vs eng and 3 against pak before the end of next year. 25 in 14 months! thats ridiculous

South Africa are touring Aus again so soon? Shouldnt the Windies come out here again before South Africa? Strange.