Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Brilliant

The Old Batsman

Short of a Length

Outside The Line

Posted by Homer at 12/23/2008 10:33:00 PM

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think we all agree that Ponting is not the greatest captain ever but perhaps we should ask the question

How good would Taylor & Waugh would have been if they hadn't had Warne & McGrath?

I believe they still would have done better, particularly Taylor but their records would have been much more modest.

The Pav

11:18 PM, December 23, 2008
Homer said...

The Pav,

If I remember correctly, Taylor was already in his second year of captaincy when McGrath came along..Warne Debuted in 92/93, played one season under Border (the ball of the century!) and then it was all Mark Taylor from then on.

I think Taylor had a huge influence in molding them and the team. Waugh took the team to a whole new level in that he challenged them and they challenged established norms.

Waugh was lucky to have the entire bowling line up ( McGrath, Warne, Gillespie, Kasprowicz et al) at the peak of their powers.

And we did get a glimpse of life without the Big Two when India toured in 2003/04.

Here is the thing with Ponting as captain - he lets personal equations supercede the cricket. So Symonds gets a longer rope than usual, Gillespie got the cold shoulder after one bad series ( and Ponting did nothing to mitigate that), Shaun Tait is in the dog house after Perth 08, Krejza is being used and disposed, Hayden gets a longer run than usual despite not having been in the runs for over an year,Brad Hodge is in the dog house,Mitchell Johnson bowls 50 overs in a match.

And tactically, Ponting is not a patch on Waugh and Taylor ( although Waugh was a more defensive captain than Taylor).

Cheers,

11:47 PM, December 23, 2008
Anonymous said...

Homer

Agree with you but we wouldn't be having this conversation if Ponting had continued to have Warne & McGrath.

I think he has been handicapped in that effectively all his career all Australia had to do was throw Warne or McGrath the ball & triubles were over. He never knew what it was like to graft for wickets so he hasn't developed patience or the will to graft for wickets

I also think the tactical advise he is getting from the coaching staff is a bit ordinary.

They are complicating the game.

As Warne said "you attack with the ball or the field but seldom both"


I don't want to sound as an apoologist for Pointing's captaincy deficiencies (he's a moderate captain at best) only that perhaps he is being judged undely harshly

This Boxing Day test looms as one of the most important in recent memory.Not so much the result but what is Australia's process/spirit/organisation. The things that have traditionally been the strengths

Is it appropriate to wish you Merry Christmas? If so consider it wished.

Cheers


The Pav

12:34 AM, December 24, 2008
Jonathan said...

The Pav,

It's true that the topic probably wouldn't get much of a run if Australia has the old bowling attack, but some of us were complaining about Ponting's decisions even before his record started to slip. To me, the more interesting question is whether he would have become a better captain if he hadn't had those luxuries at the beginning.

2:59 AM, December 24, 2008
Gaurav Sethi said...

Thanks for the links Homer.

5:19 AM, December 24, 2008
Damith S. said...

Those two were hilarious posts from two very good new blogs.

1:39 AM, December 28, 2008
Anonymous said...

Hi Homer,

I want to link exchange with your blog. I have added your link to my link page at http://www.cricket-highlights.com/links.html;cat=1.

I would be extremly happy if you too can help me to promote my site by linking from your blog.

BTW Happy New Year to you.

With Regards,

Hitesh.

2:16 AM, December 29, 2008
Homer said...

The Pav,

McGrath and Warne retired two seasons ago. Last season, Lee was carrying the load for the team.

So when has Ponting really earned his corn as captain?

He overbowls Johnson, has had a public spat with Lee, cant decide on which spinner to go with in what Test, has completely cold shouldered Shaun Tait after the Perth meltdown earlier this year, supports Siddle by giving him one slip and 4 boundary riders - in short, Ricky Ponting as captain ( with over 100 tests behind him)inspires no confidence in his bowlers.

And that failing is Ponting's alone.

Cheers,

PS:- My apologies for the late response. My excuses - beer, shoveling snow, beer, eggnog.

Cheers :)

10:32 AM, December 29, 2008
Homer said...

Sure NC :)

Cheers,

10:34 AM, December 29, 2008
Homer said...

Indeed they are Damith :)

Cheers,

10:34 AM, December 29, 2008
Anonymous said...

Thanks Homer for putting my link.

Cheers.

11:57 AM, December 29, 2008
Anonymous said...

Cheers Hitesh :)

2:21 PM, December 29, 2008
Anonymous said...

The third day's play was a prime example of his absolutely ineffective captaincy.

9:27 PM, December 30, 2008
Homer said...

So was his defense of the 414 RGB ..

Cheers :)

12:38 AM, December 31, 2008
Anonymous said...

The captaincy was woeful in Perth as well.

But atleast in the chase there were proper batsmen batting and not the tail.

2:19 PM, December 31, 2008
Anonymous said...

Cheers for that, Homer. Glad to see someone's still reading.

(And nice work, Hitesh)

5:02 AM, January 01, 2009
Homer said...

agreed RGB

Cheers,

7:27 PM, January 02, 2009
Homer said...

D S,

All the time, although the posts are few and far in between.

Cheers,

7:30 PM, January 02, 2009

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