Shane Watson - sook?

[Hawkeye]

I give full marks to Usman Kwaja's (sp ?) manager, for actually coming out and saying some positives about the whole thing, despite his boy's axing.

[Rooster_Luke]

The whole thing is a shambles! I love all sport, cricket included but I've become very frustrated with it this summer.
The rotation policy is crap.
Every second bloke in shield cricket is a chance of wearing the baggy green.
They play waaayyy too much cricket.
Clarke is a fantastic batsman but seems like a twat of a captain.
And now this. Give me a break! They need a kick up the arse and maybe a some change out of their pockets but being left out of the test, you're kidding me!
Clarke had it in for Andrew Symonds and Simon Katich and look what happened to their careers, maybe Watto has just found himself on that list too...

Rant over

[stsae]

The whole thing is a shambles! I love all sport, cricket included but I've become very frustrated with it this summer.
The rotation policy is crap.
Every second bloke in shield cricket is a chance of wearing the baggy green.
They play waaayyy too much cricket.
Clarke is a fantastic batsman but seems like a twat of a captain.
And now this. Give me a break! They need a kick up the arse and maybe a some change out of their pockets but being left out of the test, you're kidding me!
Clarke had it in for Andrew Symonds and Simon Katich and look what happened to their careers, maybe Watto has just found himself on that list too...

Rant over

Who do you suggest takes over as Test captain???

What happens when the next Dickhead disagrees with the Captain or Coachs requests, no matter how stupid they may seem???

Test cricket is about having the mental toughness to compete for 5 days in the oppressive heat and against adversity. Clarke has proven time and time again he has that ability. Those 4 blokes have proven very little in that regard.

It's a TEAM sport. Your leaders are to be respected and followed into battle, not ignored or dismissed when you don't agree with a simple basic task.

I agree the rotation policy is out there and not something I agree with. But I fail to see the point in this obvious problem with players discipline???

Andrew Symonds was a fantastic cricketer but by his own admission wasn't interested with the official side of the game. And that's fair enough, but it's not protocol in a TEAM environment. Katich was a very good cricketer but he chose to have a go at Clarke the way he did and he signed his own papers, never to be handed a baggy green again. He could've easily approached the situation in a TEAM environment in a better manner.

What has Watson ever done in test cricket??? I can't see why, other than there is no one as experienced currently, he's even earned the right to be a VC.

Too much cricket I agree. But is that too much pjyama cricket??? Test cricket hasn't increased it's workload much from the 80-90s from what I've noticed. The other forms have though. And we all know they are $$$$ driven.

Rant under.

[Rooster_Luke]

Who do you suggest takes over as Test captain???

What happens when the next Dickhead disagrees with the Captain or Coachs requests, no matter how stupid they may seem???

Test cricket is about having the mental toughness to compete for 5 days in the oppressive heat and against adversity. Clarke has proven time and time again he has that ability. Those 4 blokes have proven very little in that regard.

It's a TEAM sport. Your leaders are to be respected and followed into battle, not ignored or dismissed when you don't agree with a simple basic task.

I agree the rotation policy is out there and not something I agree with. But I fail to see the point in this obvious problem with players discipline???

Andrew Symonds was a fantastic cricketer but by his own admission wasn't interested with the official side of the game. And that's fair enough, but it's not protocol in a TEAM environment. Katich was a very good cricketer but he chose to have a go at Clarke the way he did and he signed his own papers, never to be handed a baggy green again. He could've easily approached the situation in a TEAM environment in a better manner.

What has Watson ever done in test cricket??? I can't see why, other than there is no one as experienced currently, he's even earned the right to be a VC.

Too much cricket I agree. But is that too much pjyama cricket??? Test cricket hasn't increased it's workload much from the 80-90s from what I've noticed. The other forms have though. And we all know they are $$$$ driven.

Rant under.

Mate, you're probably right. I've made some unjustified statements stemming from my frustrations with the current cricketing administration.

Clarke is the only and best choice for captain, he just irritates me sometimes (my problem not anyone else's).

I agree that the 4 players have absolutely done the wrong thing but I don't think anyone will be able to convince me that the punishment fits the crime.

I'll agree with you on Symonds, his attitude wasn't good enough for test cricket however I won't agree with the Katich issue.

Watson is lucky to still be in the test side anyway but as you know, with the loss of Punter & Huss we are craving experienced players.

And yes, the amount of test match cricket is fine but after sitting through an endless summer of ODI and T20 my appetite for cricket is well and truly satisfied.

Either way, I love discussing/debating sport issues and a difference of opinion is always a good thing

[stsae]

Mate, you're probably right. I've made some unjustified statements stemming from my frustrations with the current cricketing administration.

Clarke is the only and best choice for captain, he just irritates me sometimes (my problem not anyone else's).

I agree that the 4 players have absolutely done the wrong thing but I don't think anyone will be able to convince me that the punishment fits the crime.

I'll agree with you on Symonds, his attitude wasn't good enough for test cricket however I won't agree with the Katich issue.

Watson is lucky to still be in the test side anyway but as you know, with the loss of Punter & Huss we are craving experienced players.

And yes, the amount of test match cricket is fine but after sitting through an endless summer of ODI and T20 my appetite for cricket is well and truly satisfied.

Either way, I love discussing/debating sport issues and a difference of opinion is always a good thing

Mate opinions are like arseholes, we all have one.

Yours is as valid as mine, hopefully not as large as mine.

Vigorous debate is a good thing, I fully agree.

Bloody frustrating I also agree watching the cricket this summer. Has been for me the past few summers.

I firmly believe the Aussie cricket selectors and suits are as bad as the former NSW Origin selectors, something is not quite right there IMO.

Hopefully the blokes now know what is expected of them and the blokes that play this test do so with that old Aussie test match "dig the heels in attitude".

I am pleased to see Pattinson and Usman at least have accepted their crime and punishment as fair and want to make amends for their silly behavior.

This article is very good IMO.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1226595355299

The analogy to Maguire and Merritt are very good. Just shows by admitting fault, taking the fall like a man you can always redeem yourself as Merritt did against us last week.

Watson IMO could learn a lot from that attitude. But I reckon he's missed the boat now. I always thought he'd be our next Hayden. But he has zero in the mental side of the equation it would seem.

I haven't heard Johnson, who I believe falls into the mental midget class of Watson personally, comment as yet.

[Rooster_Luke]

Mate opinions are like arseholes, we all have one.

Yours is as valid as mine, hopefully not as large as mine.

Vigorous debate is a good thing, I fully agree.

Bloody frustrating I also agree watching the cricket this summer. Has been for me the past few summers.

I firmly believe the Aussie cricket selectors and suits are as bad as the former NSW Origin selectors, something is not quite right there IMO.

Hopefully the blokes now know what is expected of them and the blokes that play this test do so with that old Aussie test match "dig the heels in attitude".

I am pleased to see Pattinson and Usman at least have accepted their crime and punishment as fair and want to make amends for their silly behavior.

This article is very good IMO.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1226595355299

The analogy to Maguire and Merritt are very good. Just shows by admitting fault, taking the fall like a man you can always redeem yourself as Merritt did against us last week.

Watson IMO could learn a lot from that attitude. But I reckon he's missed the boat now. I always thought he'd be our next Hayden. But he has zero in the mental side of the equation it would seem.

I haven't heard Johnson, who I believe falls into the mental midget class of Watson personally, comment as yet.

That is a good article and an interesting point of view. Whilst I thought it was a harsh punishment, I do hope that it is a wake up call to the entire squad because what they have been dishing up lately has been woeful. If only Mickey could suspend some of the administrators too haha

Agree that Johnson and Watson don't seem to have the heart to really fight for their position but I hope that Patto comes back bigger and stronger because I really like him.

[chook 56]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1226595355299

Phil will be pleased that you are again reading a News Publication....maaaaate

[stsae]

Phil will be pleased that you are again reading a News Publication....maaaaate

I've showered and sterilized my mind and eyeballs again maaaaaaaaate.

Good article though.

And Luke I reckon Patto will man up and show he has learnt from this incident. Already his and Usmans attitude makes the VC look like a petulant child.

[milanja]

There is only so much u are gonna take as a player for test match cricket these days, there is too much incentive from IPL, and other 20/20 leagues from around the world these days. being able to leave your family for a month and make in excess of 500k and then staying in oz and make that money in the BBL must beat touring countries like india,sri lanka zimbabwe risking your health and life in some instances and being away for 6months of the yr.

Culture of cricket has changed and so has the value of the baggy green imo.

[Guest]

the 'rotation policy' was Cricket Australia's disguised attempt at blooding cricket players in before the 10 match Ashes series.
I thought it was pretty obvious. There is no 'rotation policy'. Australian bowlers (and batters I guess) aren't getting injured due to poor physiotherapy, in fact, the medical standards have never been higher, they are getting injured due to an overload of cricket.
in terms of players being 'rested', it is either due to a showing of form or a lack of form. CA is trying to find the best bunch of cricketers in the country to take to England, then back here. The more they chop and change, the more likely they are to strike gold and find someone who is ready to play for Australia.
James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Moises Henriques look to be good examples.

[stsae]

the 'rotation policy' was Cricket Australia's disguised attempt at blooding cricket players in before the 10 match Ashes series.
I thought it was pretty obvious. There is no 'rotation policy'. Australian bowlers (and batters I guess) aren't getting injured due to poor physiotherapy, in fact, the medical standards have never been higher, they are getting injured due to an overload of cricket.
in terms of players being 'rested', it is either due to a showing of form or a lack of form. CA is trying to find the best bunch of cricketers in the country to take to England, then back here. The more they chop and change, the more likely they are to strike gold and find someone who is ready to play for Australia.
James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Moises Henriques look to be good examples.

IMO when Aussie cricket, or any sport for that matter, is at it's strongest has been when we have had the most consistent line up possible, without chopping and changing for the sake of blooding new talent.

I don't understand the rotation policy, especially in test cricket. That form should be the pinnacle and be for those who earn the baggy green, not given away cheaply.

Look at QLD in Origin. They have always stuck with those who have done the job before, no matter what their club form may be, and they have usually benifited from that policy.

NSW on the other hand has been known to play blokes cos they have had a few games in succession where they have played well, or pick a average footballer cos his team is currently flying, and often it's proven to lead to failure and more changing. Then you end up with the Hindys or Lyons who are left out or won't play the selectors games and they are True Origin players.

That analogy is why I believe the Aussie selectors are like the NSW selectors. Reactionary and looking for the quick fix instead of sticking by players who they know can get the job done but may temporarily be down on form.

[Parkway_Drive]

I read this morning in the SMH?? that it was quoted that Watson 'wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed'. He may have had problems understanding what was required and to come up with a few short phases would have stretched his brain beyond capacity.

His test performances with the bat alone he brings nothing to the table anyway, except a mediocre batting average in the low to mid 30s. His bowling at times was handy however he cannot do that anymore as he is so injury prone.

Won't not lose any sleep if he doesn't play test cricket again.

BTW JJ Congratulations on getting to the 1000th post milestone.