Five depressing words for an England fan

I’m pleased the scorecard is updating with decent regularity. And I’m wondering if Mark Waugh’s advice to Gilly to “tone it down” is rubbing off? It’s all Watson as we steam towards the hundred.

try being a west indies fan on for size!

I find it amazing that:
a) Stuart Clark was dropped from the ODI team in Australia after his brilliant showing in the Ashes
b) was originally left out of the WC squad and only got in through injury to Brett Lee
and c) comes on in this game as the eighth – EIGHTH! – bowler, behind Michael Clarke and Shane Watson.

And cleans up with 3 for 16 in 6 overs.

Australia have some great players, but some of their management and selection defies belief. Remember how long it took them to drop Dizzy? And Katich? How they dropped Hodge after he scored a double ton? And then blamed losing the Ashes on the team being too matey?

Poor decisions like these is what will cost them the tournament, and cost them even more dearly after it.

Angus… what’s the name of the Chocolate Factory your parents own?

Hi, Michael,

I’m being very picky on this particular aspect of Australian managment, because there are very, very few other flaws in the rest of their game.

Christ, at times if you were to analyse England, you wouldn’t know where to start.

Let alone Scotland.

When people look at Australia, they see a team that has taken cricket to new heights, which previously they wouldn’t have thought possible. And they’ve managed to maintain it. They have, during parts of the last 10 years, been close to cricketing perfection.

I’m not criticising their rotation policy, field placing etc, etc. When I say there are problems with aspects of the management and selection, I mean that in a respectful way. Because I expect Australia to be flawless, all the time.

I don’t think anyone looks at other countries as they do Australia. It’s the top dog.

So, with that in view, I do fear for them in the short-to-medium term, with so many players reaching their career ends, and so few newcomers being blooded, particularly in the bowling. (I still think it was their selectors who cost them the Ashes in England. If they’d swapped Hussey for Martyn, Hoddge for Katich or Clarke, and McGilla for Dizzy, England would have been weeping. And that’s not just something I say in hindsight.)

So, to bring it back to the World Cup. They’re still a good side. They’re still favourites. But there are weaknesses that weren’t there before. It’ll make for a more exciting tournament.

P.S. The chocolate factory is run by my girlfriend’s family. Her name is Candy, and she has a sister called Coco. No joke. It is the most amazing chocolate you’ll ever taste. It’s called La Cabosse d’Or, and it’s just outside Montreal. Highly recommended.

The best part of the game was when Paul Allot was interviewing the Prime Minister of the island. He was extolling the virtues of his Island, making a big pitch and going on and on about how he loves cricket. Cue a big shot from an Australian opener, and the Sky people wanted to talk about it but the PM just kept on droning on.

Tait’s good form was pleasing, but he’s always going to be the sort of guy that either takes wickets or goes for 80 off his ten overs.

And runs for Gilchrist are always a good omen. And beating England, even in a practice match, is always a good thing.

Scott, runs for Gilchrist is a bad omen! haven’t you notice that for every match he scores well these days, he follows up with a couple of bummers? Not much point doing well inthe warm-up and falling flat after that. I like Gilly, but wish he’d stayed home longer and given the more consistent Haddin a chance.

Kathy, stroll over to Patrick at LIne and Length – that’s an Englishman trotting out the “normal service is resumed line” about Australia. Don’t always knee-jerk, girl

Even an edit option would be nice…

Fiona – Gilchrist’s pattern is slightly different. He’ll score big in the next few games (Scotland and the Netherlands, ha!), and then when we really need him for Super Eights, he’ll hit his customary form slump.

Still, he launches the innings and sets a tone. Even if he gets out for 20 or 30 odd, he’ll make them off minimal balls, leave Australia 40/1 off 5, and most importantly rattle the confidence of the opening bowlers. If he has to be removed due to expensive figures, then that team’s main strike-weapon is out of the picture for a significant period of time, and probably won’t bowl out his 10.

That was a great breakdown Angus, thanks mate! It does put it in perspective and I guess I find myself proud to find that outsiders are setting such expectations on the Australian team that we Australians do.

Regarding the Chocolate Factory; I ask because I worked for a Chocolate Factory for 5 years in Colorado. We had a master Franchise in Canada so it had me wondering. And while it’s funny, I believe you. We had a receptionist named Kandy and was replaced by Joy when she left. Funny stuff.