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Josh Hazlewood: the next pigeon?
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of November, 2 Comments »
Oh god. Australia might have found the next Glenn McGrath: Josh Hazlewood is a 17-year-old metronome who can bat.
Never mind. Given the modern way (and unlike McGrath) he’ll spend weeks in the gym, gain far too much upper-body muscle, forget to run, be able to hit sixes with one arm but won’t be able to bowl more than three-over spells without collapsing.
PS: you might call Hazlewood a squab … geddit?
2 Comments »My top Ashes ten
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of October, 2 Comments »
I offered my top ten Ashes heroes for Patrick Kidd’s excellent series, which you can find below. It’s by far from definitive: basically my favourites, the ones I’ve most enjoyed in action or having read about. Nevertheless: cuss me in the comments if you wish.
Our guest blogger this week, to go with the continuing series on Ashes Heroes, is Will Luke, bright young thing of the Cricinfo stable, tabloid fodder and something of a grandfather in the blogging world as he began his Corridor blog way back in 2004, rather than surfing the post-Ashes euphoria like the rest of us. Here’s who he has picked as his ten Ashes heroes:
Richie Benaud The consummate allrounder on the pitch (a fine Ashes captain in the 50s too) and the voice for a generation (or two) in the commentary box. His MCC Masterclass (circa early 1990s) on leg spin is a hidden gem for young, aspiring leggies.
Douglas Jardine A rare Englishman whose name makes Australians flinch. And he didn’t care if they were made to flinch by his tactics, either.
Steve Waugh Embittered, determined, mostly ugly but wonderfully free-flowing if needed. Never, ever defeated and nearly always rose to the biggest of occasions time and again. Unflinchingly stubborn and the first Australian I begrudgingly had to admit to myself that, yes, he was probably a hero.
Shane Warne If perhaps not the single biggest factor in Australia’s Ashes dominance in the 1990s, then certainly the most entertaining cricketer and character in a generation. Love rat extrordinaire.
Dennis Lillee A menacing, angry figure. Unbelievably skilful. The Ashes footage I watched (sadly on video) of him bowl will always stick in my mind.
Darren Gough The heart of ten lions and gave hope that anything was possible when clearly it wasn’t. You’d want him in a war trench just for his optimism.
Ian Botham Everything was possible. 1981, yadda yadda.
Andrew Flintoff Everything is possible. I don’t think any Englishman had struck an Australian for bigger sixes than those sky-scraping missiles he whacked in 2005. His over to Ponting was gold-dust.
Glenn McGrath He always seemed to gain a yard in pace against England. That was my/our feeble excuse. Bastardly metronomic yet a wonderfully unhinged interviewee. In fact, he was just wonderfully unhinged.
Adam Gilchrist It wasn’t enough that Australia had McGrath, Warne and the Waughs. No. They had to produce this dynamo of uninhibited savagery and, worst of all, he was unfailingly honest and polite to boot. An all-round git of an entertainer who created the new breed of batsman-wicketkeeper.
Australia’s lone pessimist speaks out
By Scott 2 years ago, at the start of January, 4 Comments »
Happy New Year from a thoroughly sun-drenched and baked Adelaide, where we’ve just finished our 4th 40 Celsius day in a row. Any English readers who wish to swap some cold and rain, please leave a note in the comments.
Meanwhile, the media hereabouts are starting to get stuck into the Indian team after their performance in Melbourne. Steve Waugh came out and said that Australia could stretch their winning run, currently at 15 Tests, to 30, if they continue their current form. If Steve Waugh thinks that, I shudder to think what Glenn McGrath thinks.
I was glad to see that Ricky Ponting has generally looked to just win the next game and not come out with any big statements of this nature. I think Australia will have their work cut out for them to hold India in Sydney. It is worth remembering when you look back at India’s poor performance in Melbourne that they’d only been in the country a little over a week, and their one warm-up fixture was washed out. I certainly expect India to put up a much better showing on a ground that suits their game. There will be a lot of runs and it will be hard work for the Australian bowlers to get India out this time around.
I actually think India have a good chance of winning at Sydney- they have two quality spinners, and good enough fast bowling, and some quality batsmen. They just have to bat first, perform with the bat, and put the Australian batsman under some real pressure when India bowl. Australian batsman haven’t had to deal with pressure for a while, and if that happens it will be a real test for them.Anil Kumble’s team has one injury worry though that could put a spanner in the works, with a cloud over Zaheer Khan. Zaheer bowled well in Melbourne and would be sorely missed.
4 Comments »Too highly rated?
By Ian 3 years ago, mid-July, 8 Comments »
I see Kevin Pietersen has been knocked off the top spot in the ODIs by Ricky Ponting. Very difficult to argue with that – Ponting is surely the stand out batsman in both forms of the game. Looking at the other batting rankings, it is difficult to find fault, although on current form, Shiv Chanderpaul ought to be in the test top three at least. Also, I struggle to understand how Mahela Jayawardene doesn’t break into either top ten, while Hussey retains a top five place in both. He’s very good, granted, but is he top five?
The bowlers are altogether more perplexing. For one, how can Shoaib Akhtar still be at number 10 in tests? He’s played four tests since the start of 2006 and taken only a handful of wickets. Maybe in the current game, not playing is the way to climb the rankings. Likewise, Jason Gillespie (22) is still deemed a better Test bowler than Lasith Malinga (28)!
Agreed, it must be difficult to devise a workable system. Also, stats don’t tell the full story. But things start to look decidedly suspect when you inspect the Best Ever Ratings, which is a list of players at their peak. Ponting at four is just about fair enough, given his recent dominance. However, Peter May above Viv Richards shows a flaw, while Matthew Hayden in the top ten is just crazy. KP (21) is one place higher than Sachin and two places higher than Wally Hammond. Enough said.
For the bowlers, I half expected to see the list packed high with bowlers of yesteryear, given how modern bowlers are meant to have struggled, but it does put Murali, McGrath, Pollock, Waqar and Warne in the top 15. Of course, Warne should be in the top three, if not top of the pile. Wasim Akram limps in at number 57 behind the likes of Ntini, Shoaib and Harmison, which doesn’t seem right.
That said, like most critics, I can’t think of a better way. There must be some bright spark at Cricinfo with a formula….?
8 Comments »Ooh, ahh, Glenn McGrath. Spoofish video
By Will 3 years ago, at the start of March, 14 Comments »
Best watched at about 10am, in your office, and ideally when you’re boss / team-leader / line-manager or someone else is giving a speech. Shortly afterwards, and for the remainder of the day, you’ll be unable to say anything other than Ooh, ahh, Glenn McGrath…
If you can’t see it above, click here.
[via CI]
14 Comments »More injury woes for the Australians
By Scott 3 years ago, mid-February, 9 Comments »
Ye gods, the news keeps getting worse.
While New Zealand will field their first choices during the three games, Australia have left their captain and vice-captain at home and Andrew Symonds is recovering from a serious arm injury.
Adding to the visitors’ lack of power is a Brett Lee ankle injury and a hip problem to Michael Clarke, who is second-in-charge after Ricky Ponting decided to have treatment on his back and Adam Gilchrist rested. The changes mean Australia have picked a raw squad, including Adam Voges, Cameron White, Brad Haddin and the on-standby Phil Jaques, and the competition that has been wedged into a crammed itinerary has become an inconvenience, even though they were upended in the CB Series finals.
If Clarke is ruled out, Matthew Hayden will be the only one of Australia’s top four who is batting in his usual position while Brad Hodge, the No. 5, is keeping Symonds’ spot warm. The third-year series that the organisers pipe-dreamed would develop into an All Blacks-Wallabies rivalry is achieving the credibility of a pre-season warm-up.
Well, rivalries take some time to develop. And this particular chapter of the Chappell-Hadlee trophy is suffering because it is caught in a wedge right before the World Cup. There wasn’t time to hold it earlier in the summer though. I like the concept of the annual series though, and given ten years it will be a highlight of the summer.
The injury to Lee gives Mitchell Johnson a chance to strut his stuff as a key strike bowler. When fit, Lee, Bracken and McGrath are just about certain starters, and there is a lot of competition for the fourth bowling slot. Johnson has a chance to take it.
Meanwhile New Zealand have the chance to win back the trophy against an unbalanced Australia which is collectively as out of form and low on confidence as any Australian side has been in limited overs cricket, at least in the last decade or so. I’m looking forward to watching three very keenly contested matches.
9 Comments »Big Brother isn’t watching you
By Scott 3 years ago, mid-January, 11 Comments »
All you people who have been watching this ‘Big Brother’ imbroglio should hang your heads in shame. When the British Prime Minister is commenting on it, then it’s a sure sign that England’s sense of priorities are warped. No wonder England’s cricket team doesn’t win much.
Mind you they came close last night- a four wicket victory and a bonus point to Australia doesn’t indicate how tense it was out there for a while. That Australia won was due to the nerves and good luck of Michael Hussey, who got a clear edge early in his innings. However, unlike Adam Gilchrist, he’s never been a walker.
Who knows what might have happened if England had set Australia a decent target? England got their first opening partnership of 50 thanks to the introduction of Mal Loye. The rest of them went down to McGrath and co very meekly.
And to make matters worse for England, Michael Vaughan won’t be available for another couple of matches. England’s one day summer is turning out as bad as was feared.
11 Comments »Australia’s retirements
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of December, 8 Comments »
What does it say of a side who, on the verge of losing three established players to pasture – two of whom have almost single-handedly provided the jugger in the naut for the past 15 years – seem unfazed by the effect it will have? Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne have both announced their retirements and it seems Justin Langer is next.
It just seems Australia all have their rose-tinted goggles on. It’s certainly time to celebrate their careers, but what the hell about the future? Is this blind, cocky, Australian arrogance that these three can be easily replaced? Langer can – Australia have enough batting reserves to form another side entirely – but what about the bowlers? Stuart Clark has been remarkably consistent since he came in, but how will he respond being the attack leader in the absence of McGrath and Warne? The pair fed off each other for 12-15 years: one sucking the confidence and fluency out of the batsmen at one end to allow a more attacking line from the other. Clark has benefited hugely from both of them. And as good as he clearly is, I refuse to believe he is the new McGrath.
Brett Lee is never going to be the Test bowler Steve Waugh expected he would become. He is brilliant in one-dayers but too expensive, too raw in Tests to lead the attack (which makes Clark’s introduction to the side even more important). So, assuming Langer retires, what would your Australia side look like for 2007?
As ever, they have the best part of a year in which to formulate a replacement team; they’re in India for a Test series in November but, before then, one-day cricket reigns supreme.
8 Comments »Buchanan saves the kookiest ideas till last
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of December, 18 Comments »
Sydney is not only the swansong for Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath; it is also the last Test for John Buchanan as Australian coach. And not a moment too soon, if his latest media intervention is anything to go by.
Speaking to reporters at the MCG this morning, Buchanan said Australia was hoping for more of a challenge from England, which he thought had played without aggression, self-belief or thought of challenging the opposition for large parts of the Ashes series.
“I’m hoping that they really enjoy the New Year, come back with a new resolve and are really ready to take us on head-on in Sydney,” Buchanan said.
“I think we’ve been tested at certain periods of time but England haven’t been able to sustain their skills through the course of a five-day Test match. We’re quite looking forward to that in Sydney.
Short of baring his arse at the England team bus, I can’t think of a more insulting thing that Buchanan could have done. As an Australian, I can tell you that I wouldn’t have been too impressed if Duncan Fletcher had come out before the Oval Test in 2005 daring Australia to fire up.
It is a well established rule in all sports, not just cricket, that when speaking to the media of your opposition, you speak of them respectfully, and give them their due as worthy opponents. It does not matter if Australia are playing England, Zimbabwe, or Andorra at Test cricket.
When it comes to religion, I am an atheist. However, I am a devout believer in the cricketing Gods, and I fear their wrath. Buchanan’s actions could provoke a powerful response.
And I give thanks to all the Great Cricketing Gods that this is Buchanan’s last Test in charge. I’ll miss Warnie and Pigeon. Not sure I’ll miss Ned Flanders though.
18 Comments »McGrath 150-0 England
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of December, 1 Comment »
While Shane Warne added a gold lining to his script with his 700th wicket, on his home ground, and another five-wicket haul against England, Glenn McGrath was chugging along at the other end. He might have easily ended with more than a solitary scalp but, on a day of records, one of them nearly passed by unnoticed.
In dismissing Sajid Mahmood, McGrath claimed his 150th Test wicket against England. He has taken them at under 21 runs each and, it occured to me yesterday, I’ve seen nearly every, painful one of them.
The metronome started ticking in 1994 at the Gabba but it wasn’t memorable, and few who witnessed this spindly twig could’ve forseen a future champion. 0 for 40 from 10 in the first innings; 0 for 47 off 14 in the second. His enforced half-step into the stumps on delivery seemed a clever move but awkwardly executed. He didn’t look a natural.
A few months later, picked for Australia’s epic tour of the Caribbean, McGrath showed the qualities which would become a blueprint for fast bowlers. He took 5 for 68 in the West Indies’ second innings at Bridgetown - dismissing Brian Lara for the first time – as Australia took a series lead. After a draw in the 2nd Test at Antigua, McGrath took 6 for 47 to rout West Indies for 136. West Indies won – it remains one of my favourite Tests – but McGrath showed his class. Here’s the Daily Telegraph’s report:
McGrath, 25, a two-metre tall bush bloke from Narromine, held his
press conference barefoot and in shirt and shorts yesterday,
hardly the vision splendid of Australia`s knight in shining ar-
mour.But with the Ashes new-ball pair of Craig McDermott and Damien
Fleming injured and back in Australia, that is how “Pigeon“
McGrath has emerged in the Caribbean, having won the man-of-the-
match award in Australia`s first Test win in Barbados with 8-114
and now a candidate for the same honour in Trinidad.
McGrath sat in the players` box and scrutinised the West Indies`
attack on Friday, observing how Curtly Ambrose (5-45), Courtney
Walsh (3-50) and Winston Benjamin (1-13) bowled a fuller length
to avoid being cut or pulled with the ball digging into the pitch
and standing up.With several hundred Australian spectators following the team`s
progress, McGrath is still coming to grips with the personal war
chant – “Ooh, aah, Glenn McGrath!“ – reverberating around the
boundary.“It`s something I`ve never experienced before,“ he said. “It
started in Barbados. Hopefully, we`ll bring the cup home for
them. We`re real confident. We are here to win, and that`s ex-
actly what we`re going to do. The guys are pretty keyed up. If we
nail this Test, it will be great. It`s a pretty tense dressing
room. The main thing is that everyone wants everyone else to do
well. The attitude could not be better.“
Even the champions have to work hard. They always seem effortless, filled with luck and fortune but there’s blood and tears behind the smooth veneer. Anyway, he’s finished…and thank God for that!
Little Australia
By Will 4 years ago, at the end of December, No Comments; be the first!
The double act comes to an end. This stupendous piece of photoshopping courtesy of Mike at FlintoffsAshes.com.
McGrath calls it quits as well
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of December, 3 Comments »
So he’ll stay on until the World Cup, and then hang up his boots.
No Warne and no McGrath. Who will shower the opposition with verbal abuse and unplayable deliveries now?
3 Comments »Retirements?
By Scott 4 years ago, mid-December, 13 Comments »
There’s plenty of gossip going around that Warne and McGrath will retire at Sydney. Maybe. I think McGrath will say nothing but retire after the World Cup. As for Warne, I don’t think even he himself knows what he’s going to do.
But I’d still be a bit cautious on this one. I’ll wait till there’s an actual announcement.
UPDATE – Warnie has confirmed his retirement. Bugger!
13 Comments »Spin City
By Scott 4 years ago, at the start of December, 5 Comments »
John Buchanan’s attempts to spin Australia’s bowling in the Second Test looked even more ineffective then Shane Warne’s leg-spinners.
Admittedly, the pitch offered nothing, and England batted superbly, but you can hardly say Australia have bowled well after taking only six wickets in nearly two full days.
McGrath spent time off the field fixing his boot in the opening session to ease a heel problem. Although he has not been complaining about the injury, his effectiveness was limited and his speed has dropped significantly on the flat surface. “He pounded down 20-plus overs,” Buchanan said, “so, so far so good.” He returned 0 for 103.
Warne gave up 167 runs for the wicket of Geraint Jones while Brett Lee also won praise from Buchanan for his 1 for 139. “I think Brett’s bowled exceptionally well,” he said. “He’s held his pace and bowled good lines. It’s encouraging for the second innings and the rest of the series.
“The measure of Shane’s bowling is how many bad balls there were. He bowled a couple late yesterday when he got tired and maybe a few today. His control has been excellent, he hasn’t got the rub of the green, a bit like Brett.”
Stuart Clark was the only bowler not to win compliments from Buchanan and he was the man who performed the best. Throughout the first two days he troubled England with short and full deliveries and added three victims to continue his strong series.
Excuse me while I roll my eyes at that one. McGrath was clearly not fully fit, and the Australian team heirarchy deserve censure for allowing him to play. Mitchell Johnson probably wouldn’t have fared any better but at least there wouldn’t have been a worry about him worsening an injury.
From an English point of view, the day belonged once again to Collingwood and Pieterson. They were, it has to be admitted, magnificent. They learned their lessons from Brisbane and gave England the whip hand. And it was good to see that Flintoff was prepared, late in the day, to lead aggressively from the front. Fancy declaring, and taking the new ball for himself. Full marks to Freddy on that one!
England can attack on day three. It will be interesting to see how Australia’s batsmen, and England’s bowlers, respond to the challenge.
5 Comments »The plot (and the humidity) thickens
By Scott 4 years ago, at the end of November, 4 Comments »
The second Test here in Adelaide has had an interesting prelude with the news that Glenn McGrath will need a fitness test in the morning. It appears that his troublesome heel isn’t getting better and there must be doubts as to whether or not he is fit enough to last five days.
Faster then you can say ‘Mitchell Johnson’, the English writers are reminding us of Edgbaston. Certainly, removing McGrath from the game goes some way to making it an even contest, but that won’t help England’s bowlers take 20 wickets.
What might help though is that about 4pm this afternoon a sudden downpour hit the city of Adelaide. I was about a mile from Adelaide Oval when it struck, and if the pitch was uncovered when it happened, it will have had an effect on it. It was not very long, but it was enough to put a dampener on the Oval (and me).
The recent hot spell that has been engulfing Adelaide will now subside, and players should enjoy almost perfect weather conditions to play in, without the enervating heat of Brisbane, and there might be more humidity then at Brisbane as well. So the fates are turning ever so slightly in England’s favour. The question that remains is, are they good enough to seize the moment?
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