Time to call 'over'

The three Pakistan Cricketers involved in the match fixing scandal, which has over-shadow not only cricket but also the wider world of sport, has been brought to a close today. But the unanswerable question is - is it still rife in cricket? The answer surely lies with the ICC and their anti-corruption unit. However, all the signs point to yes it is still prevalent and not a one of problem. The ICC anti corruption chief, Sir Ronnie Flannagan, said it ‘was not rampant’ within the game and that he thinks ‘it is engaged in by a tiny number of people.’.

This seems to be at odds with the consensus amongst the crickets elite. Steve Waugh stated there had been 56 approaches reported to the ICC over the past year, whilst former England wicket Keeper Paul Nixon said he had been approached presumably after 2007 when he stated that he had never been contacted with regards to providing information or sport fixing.

Today’s verdict has to be a positive in stamping out corruption. Players now know that you not only face a ban but you will be prosecuted if you par-take in this illegal activity.

You will go to jail if you get caught.

A strong message in itself but this also includes a ban of a minimum 5 years for each of the players involved – Asif and Butt’s careers are over. They will never again play for their country – they have squandered their talent and the best years of their life. No longer will they be able to tell their children of the day they made their international debut or taking their first wicket. This pleasure has gone for them.

Butt, Asif and Amir must also serve as a personal deterrent; their anguish was clear to see in their faces and they have grovelled to be allowed to walk free - to live life with their families. Butt in particular, who’s wife gave birth yesterday, is a sad example of this. He know will miss the first 2 and half years of his Childs life, he will remain on licence in the UK following the first 15 months custodial sentence. Visits will be few and far between from family as they struggle to maintain a lifestyle bought with bung money who all live in Pakistan. The next tempted cricketer must be reminded of this shame, the loss of liberty and the loss of a cricket career when they are approached to change a game for money.

The ICC, now as before, has a duty to back up this stand, take this by the horns and ensure spot-fixing and corruption are stamped out – question all rumours of involvement and charge where evidence allows. They must ensure that this will become an isolated incident that proved the watershed for Cricket. In every region, at every level.

Bopara - overs and out?

Ravi Bopara, at 26 years old, should be starting to hit his prime in an England shirt. He made his debut in 2007, aged 21, and has gone on to play in 69 ODI’s. Despite having been around the England set up for many years has never managed to cement his place in the side, often being jumped in the queue to be the next cab off the England batting rank.

More recently, Eoin Morgan who’s unorthodox playing style and ability to score big runs at a quick pace, cemented his place in the side ahead of Bopara. Equally it became impossible to leave out Jonathon Trott – he scores such a weight of runs at such a good average, despite his strike rate being deemed a tad below par (78 which compare well to great players such as Jaques Kallis).

Bopara now seems to have secured himself as the man in possession of the number 5 slot having been given an extended run in the side to see if he can make the big contributions and become a match winner to work alongside Morgan. This is tenuous position to be in with other candidates not so much knocking at the door, more barging through and demanding a game.

Ian Bell, for one, has played such good cricket over the past 18 months it seems harsh to leave him out. His beautiful stroke play and ability to manoeuvre the ball, tick over the scoreboard, seems distinctly lacking in the England middle order. However, it must be noted he has never really made a spot in the side his own and he would have to prove his selection justify his selection in runs (and strike rate) just like the rest of the pretenders.

Samit Patel has battled back his weight demons which kept him out of previous England squads and has the potential to become a dangerous player – his dual ability to score runs and his front line bowling would be a massive plus for England. Proving he has ability in the 4^th ODI against India - scoring an impressive 70 in a losing cause - he is a long way of ensuring his place in conditions outside the sub-continent.

The county system is also producing a new generation of batsmen, with Bairstow getting his chance in India, whilst Alex Hales and Jos Butler are also getting their first taste of International cricket having featured in the T20 squad.

Is time running out for Bopara to prove his worth at this level? Undoubtedly he has talent, you can see that in his County averages, but he has yet to set the international stage on fire. A comparison for all to see is between Ravi and another, now, Essex man - Owais Shah. They have now played almost identical number of games (RB 69 – OS 71) and have almost identical statistics. In fact Shah, has a better average, OS’s 30.56 to RB’s 20.92, strike rate, OS’s 78.67 RB’s 75.06, and even more astonishingly has scored exactly double number of 50’s and 100% more hundreds. Astonishingly, Ravi has only scored six 50’s and no hundreds in his time playing in the England one day side .

When Shah was dropped there was a feeling that this was a bit harsh, especially as now current ODI Captain Cook was included. However, the selectors dropped Shah and the door was swiftly closed behind him. They moved on and never looked back – and rightly so.

Shah, had a long career for England which he can be proud of, but he also needed to be moved out the way for the likes of Morgan to come in and flourish. This may now be the same for Bopara, he has been given every chance, and then every chance again but you cannot consistently fail at this level and expect to get picked. Perhaps they should not shut the door on such a promising talent, like they did with Shah, after all at only 26 he has time on his side.

To watch Bopara play he seems a mixture of emotions, cocky but unsure. He never seems settled at the crease always seems full of nervous energy, thrusting his hand away from his body going at the ball, which is at odds to his public persona as a laid back calm individual.

If England are to move forward as a limited over’s side then they need to apply the same ruthless but fair policy to the selection of this side as they do so well in the Test arena. Getting the best players out of County Cricket and giving the time to show their worth. However, when that time has expired it is time to move on and give someone else the opportunity.

Out of the Ashes

Half a year later, and the dust has settled. Test, One Day-ers and World cup’s have come and gone for England and they find themselves in a new battle against the best side in the world. It seems like a distant memory, a distant dream, when everything clicked, fell into place and they wrestled the Urn from Australia for the first time in three decades. Maybe I am over-romancing but it was bloody good wasn’t it!

England have moved on to fresh challenges and have new mountains to climb. Their intentions laid bare for all too see; they plan on climbing the highest mountain, becoming the world number 1 and staying there.

But what of the old foe? They next meet in an Ashes test in 2013, only 2 years away (moved a year early to stop it clashing with a world cup), but what will lead Australia out of the Ashes?

The first major change is that Ricky Ponting will not be leading the side, and is largely expected to have retired before the next Ashes comes around – he’ll be pushing 39 if makes it. His successor, Michael Clarke has long been touted as the heir to his thrown, by the selectors but not necessarily by the public. A lot has been made of his publicity seeking lifestyle and he has received an uneasy relationship with the aussie press because of it. Not the most popular figure. He’ll be on the looking to start positively and score a few runs himself to keep the press pack of his back.

The earliest casualty to the squad was opening batsman Simon Katich, relieved of his contract with Cricket Australia having played only one match in the Ashes. This you may have thought, would have done him some favours. The only man to escape with his reputation enhanced was Mike Hussey, ironically in a dreadful run of form prior to Ashes selection. However, CA see their future with the young Phil Hughes- no stranger to England fans after he was found out by their attack in 2009 and was dropped after only a few tests. He averaged 16.16 in the 10/11 Ashes in 6 innings and his composure seems worryingly fraught, and has a tendency to flap against a short ball.

He does have some pedigree having played in 56 first class games he averages above 50 and did hit some late form at the back end of last season Sheffield Shield - hitting 54 and 115 against W.Australia and 138 and 93 against the Tassies. It’s worth remembering he also stormed on to the scene with a flourish of hundreds against the best attack in the world, at home and away, against South Africa. Perhaps he should be given a chance to improve his technique and fight for a place - the real question is should he be doing that in test cricket?

The next new man in, so to speak, is Khawaja. He had a solid start on debut, looking organised in team where he was replacing the injured Ricky Ponting – No pressure there then. It would be hopelessly unfair to judge him on his single Test but (I’ll do it anyway) looks like he could play more in the future. He played in County cricket this season for Derbyshire scoring at a healthy average just below 40 - including one century and one 50 in the 8 innings he played. Son of Geoff, Shaun Marsh is the only new batsman in the squad to face Sri Lanka not to have played a Test. Although he is by no means new to international cricket he has played 33 ODi's, albeit without ever being able to hold down a regular spot.
Andrew Hilditch told the press as the squad was announced, that Marsh 'has comes into the Australian Test squad and has been in our minds for some time as a player who could have a real impact at international level in all forms of the game,".

It's of little surprise that Marsh is included in the test squad having been in and around selection since Australia toured India in 2009. Khawaja and Marsh will be vying for the number 6 left vacant after North was dropped and Steve Smith was sent back to Shield Cricket to hone his skills.

It's also interesting that they have not given an opportunity to Cameron White, held in high regard in t20 and ODI cricket he has not been given the chance at test level. He has played only 4 test matches in 2008 all in India, playing as a leggie rather than a batsman. He managed a not to terrible average of 28 in that series and it is astonishing to think he was batting down the order at number 8. His first class record is also pretty good shading over an average of 42 with a highest score of 260*. There must be someone on the selection committee willing to fight his corner for a counter-punching or taking-a-game-away number 6. He seems made for it as a hard hitting batsman and his bowling is much better than part -time which can come in handy when balancing the team.

Smith, has in some ways become symbolic of the Australian selection policy over the winter. There was no 'next cab off the rank' selection scenario which has worked so well for England and the cupboard seemed utterly bare. This was nowhere more evident than in the spin department. Thoroughly muddled selection meant that 3 different spinners were included in the side for only 5 tests, and they went with an all seem attack in the third test. Xavier Doherty was wildly out of his depth and one can only imagine he was selected as he was the only left arm spinner on the continent, on the grounds that KP had a well publicised weakness against them. As Athers correctly pointed out, 'he did get his man, just a little too late' after KP amassed a double century in Adelaide.

Beer, is the spinner who survived the Ashes earning a place on the Sri Lanka tour doing enough in his only test match in the series, however his figures finished at 112/1 in Englands only innings in the match. His record in first class cricket however is not a great return either having bowled in just 22 first class innings with 31 wickets at a high average 45.

Nathan 'what have I done wrong?' and 'I cant be any worse than that lot' Hauritz, on the other hand, has seemingly been cast into the dark never to play again. He must have done something akin to sleeping with the selectors’ grandmothers as he miles from selection with no sign of a reprieve. Despite many thinking he is the best of a bad bunch, he was adjudge in his early part of his career as someone who could not spin the ball. Although, there is something to be said for slow bowlers; Ashley Giles, although he couldn't turn a spit-roast, had a pretty decent return for his time in international cricket and as he was presumably seen as the best spinner in England at the time - Swann was seen as too immature by Big Fletch...let you draw your own conclusions on that one.

Nathan Lyon is the total unknown in this squad and appears to be a complete shock selection. When asked about his prospects of earning a seat on the plane to Sri Lanka the 23 year old said "I personally believe I'm well away from that. I'm just looking forward to playing here with the Redbacks in the domestic season. As a kid you always want to grow up playing for your country, it would mean everything."

Originally from New South Wales, he is now signed up to bowl his off-breaks for the Adelaide Redbacks. Having played only 4 first class matches taking 12 wickets at 43 doesn’t really sound like the next international sensation. The rest of his experience comes from playing grade cricket during most of the 10/11 season for Prospect Cricket Club in South Australia where he earned his call to the Australian A tri-series side to face Zimbabwe and South Africa A. Lyon, to his credit, did impress again becoming man of the series for his 11 wickets.

With questions raised about his inexperience former Victoria stumper and S. Australia coach Darren Berry backed Lyon declaring “they've been brave enough to pick him ... they've got to give him every chance … not one or two Test matches and then say he's not ready… They've picked him, it's their responsibility now and in Australian cricket we need to embrace this young spinner and give him an extended run."

The selectors axe, however, is delicately balanced over all Australian spinners in the wake of Mr. SK Warne, only the finest of horse hairs stops the sword of selection come down from above them to axe them from team (that’s right I’m mixing metaphors) Another Doherty perhaps? Drafted in to early not given enough time to develop his own skills and learn his trade. Lyon does look like he has some potential to succeed and the opportunity to bowl in the sub-continent will doubtlessly be a sharp learning curve. This really does feel like another knee-jerk selection, with so little experience he would be better off learning his skills in the first class game and then slowly introduced into the high pressure international set up.

We are really hitting into the tail now. The quick’s were lambasted during the ashes series. Ryan Harris & Peter Siddle escaped with some credibility but not many others. Hilfenhouse Was exposed as a bit of a trundler, perhaps how they percieved Anderson - as a nip a few if the ball was swinging bowler but otherwise lacked potency on the hard flat aussie wickets. The House, has since been dropped by the selectors. Johnson, meanwhile, looked frail and precious; he played well in Perth with the freemantle doctor providing some much needed assistance but did little else. hardly showered himself in glory by claiming he had an in-swinger which, if he did have, he kept it very well hidden.

Doug the Rug was deemed by Phil Tufnell as a shambler during the ashes, and that seems to some up his bowling demeanour. He would shuffle in off not a massive distance and looked a bit lacklustre – he was another to relieved of his green baggy. However, he can feel slightly aggrieved, his left-arm angle creates problems for opposition batsman and he can swing a new ball, whilst his character comes across as a typical laid back aussie. His 50 wickets have come at a pretty decent lick of just over 25 too. Perhaps only losing his spot due to Johnson being a left armer and the selectors felling there was not enough space for the both of them in sub-continent attack.

With quick Australian bowlers not exactly in short supply, there must be a few questions raised as to why so few are available to play at test level. If Tait was fit enough to play test cricket surely he would be must pick? perhaps a moot point. Moreover, what about Dirk Nannes? If he was deemed to have the test skills they could have a fast spear head to the attack. Some would sight his age, at 35, as a negative but cricket must always be about winning test matches as much as bringing youth through.

The new quick who will be fighting it out for a brand new baggy green is the 6ft 4 Trent Copeland, who made his debut in the 2009/10 season for NSW. Despite his lack of experience he is definitely making waves in shield cricket. He took 8 wickets on debut and took the 3rd most wickets in the competition - despite only playing half of the matches.

The other quick in contention is Victorian James Pattinson, brother of England one test wonder Darren, and his stock is rising quickly as a medium-fast pace man who can swing the ball. At only 21 years old and having played only a handful of first class matches (again!) he admitted it came as a bit of a shock;

"It has come a bit unexpectedly. A year ago I hadn't even played many Shield games.

"But I'm definitely aiming to get a game over there. It will be great to go over there with two great bowlers like Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson."

He has, however, had some success in the shorter form of the game already earning a bowl in an ODI against Bangladesh whilst also earning a contract in IPL playing for Kolkata Knight Riders.

The old Australian guard have now all left, their most successful captain is returning to the ranks and the legends are drifting off into our memories – it’s time to leave them there. Australia need to forget about them, get over their losses and move on. Let the new boys compete for selection amongst each other not amongst the ghosts of the past.

Australia Test squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson (vice-capt), Michael Beer, Trent Copeland, Brad Haddin (wk), Ryan Harris, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle.

Read more:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/aussies-urged-to-support-shock-spin-selection-20110726-1hxz5.html#ixzz1U3UrDs99

http://www.espncricinfo.com/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/default.stm

Spins and Outs

Right better make it look like I’m doing some work at the moment as I am currently doing next to nothing but reading cricket scores and even this tap tap tapping away is a good a thing to do as any other while the boss is away. In fact while I am doing this I might write a new blog about cricket.. Now for a subject…. How about spinners at the world cup? Seems topical as the great Muralitharan, and I am fully aware there are about a dozen ways of spelling his name depending on where you look, has taken a his final wicket on home soil.

Right, where to start. Probably best to have a look at the two spinners who are going to be stepping into the main man’s shoe’s...

Mendis blasted onto the international scene in early 2008, taking 3 wickets on debut with an economy of only 3.20 against hard hitting West Indies led by the hard hitting Chris Gayle (who in fact became his first victim!), amid the intrigue and wonder at his re-invented carrom ball. Of course there is always going to be intrigue around a new younger spinner taking wickets seemingly at will. Then taking 17 wickets in the 2008 Asia Cup and finishing the year with an astonishing 48 wickets in 18 matches. However, inevitably, the worlds batsman gradually figured out his bowling and while he still poses a threat with his variation he can no longer be considered a lethal spin bowler. The mystery surrounding the carrom ball faded and it appeared to be nothing more than a ball that doesn’t spin.

Like Mendis, Herath came to prominence in 1999 with his own mystery ball. He has shown good control generating flight, grip and turn in his initial years but after living life on the fringe he was finally dropped and spent 6 years in the wilderness before being recalled to the ODI squad in 2010. The left-arm Orthodox continues to be steady rather than explosive having taken only 14 wickets in 15 games. The fact that he is a left-armer and creates a different angle is big reason why he is in the team having only taken a disappointing 3 wickets at the current world cup 4 less than the part time off spin of Dilshan, who at the time of writing is also the current WC reading run scorer. Herath’s report card should state that he must do better if he is not to be unseated by a younger spinner in months to come.

The World Cup 2011 has surprisingly, unlike the 2007 dreadfully dull event, been full of stories – although the fact that it is (and almost a pre-fix to the words world cup) 6 weeks long it is still bloated.

Pakistan are never far away from the headlines and this time Captain Boom Boom is making them all for the right reasons. So far, and with a possible 2 games to go, Afridi has taken 21 wickets in 7 games at an average a little over 10 at the world cup. It has taken a long time for him to lose the tag as a bit part spinner and now, due to inconsistency with his batting combined with a ‘see it, hit it’ approach. If Pakistan are to go on and win this World Cup, Afridi will have had a big impact – you can not keep him out of the game.

Looking down the list of wicket takers brings us to two of the South African spinners. Robin Peterson, the slow leftie, has look rejuvenated in Sub-continent conditions having taken 15 wickets which equates to 38% of his total ODI wickets and currently out-bowling Captain to be Johan Botha. Interesting decisions will have to be made when they return to the harder flatter wickets of the Southern Hemisphere as to who gets the nod. A name South Africans are likely to become familiar with, if they aren’t already is Imran Tahir. The Pakistani born leggie has been a revelation and is surely the missing link in SA’s formidable attack. Morkel, Steyn and Kallis can now add Tahir in the list of the bowlers to be feared in their line-up. In this World Cup he has taken 14 wickets and that’s even after missing 2 games through injury.

Big Benn is another spinner who has impressed this world cup having taken 12 wickets a long with English counter part Swann. Benn and Swann both finished as their respective countries leading wicket takers although to many an Englishman’s surprise the former out bowled the later with an impressive average of 19.85. Although both have been hampered by poor fielding and the figures do not truly reflect how well Swann bowled. Trott and Swann the only real two stand out performers for an inconsistent England side both on the pitch and in selection.

For the Indians, surprisingly the only spinner to cause any real damage is the increasingly all-round performance of Yuvraj Singh. Who has previously been dropped by Pakistan in the previous year due to poor form. He may also improve his tournament figures of 11 for 271 by the end.

Others Spinners have not have been the impressive Balaji Rao of Canada. Taking an impressive 9 wickets with a decent average of 33 but and economy of 5.5 lets him down. New Zealand’s Main spin threat of Dan Vettori has missed most of the world cup through injury to provide any real threat and no others have taken over ten wickets. Although as I write the Kiwi is doing a fine job of slowing the sri-lankans down to create what will be a tense finish in Colombo.

So what is the point I am getting at here. Having had a look at all the spinners on show who would I pick out of any team to replace murali? On the evidence of this world cup it would have to be one of two Pakistani’s. If Afridi is already one of the world’s best One-day bowlers and now the South African Tahir has started his international career he certainly looks like he has what it takes to become one of the most feared bowlers.