Crawf
Doin' the Mess Around!
What are people's thoughts on the state of our Test Cricket team? You might have the view of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' But i personally would say it is time for certain players to be retired and for more youth to be injected into the side, as painful a process as that might be.
The age of the players being introduced to the Australian team is ridiculous. Alistair Cook is only 21 and he's opening the batting for England. The kind of experience this guy is getting, how good will he be at 30! Admittedly at the expense of Trescothick, but at least he's getting a go.
Compare that to Australia, who were really 'biting the bullet' by putting adding the youthful Hussey and Clark into the team when they're 30 and above! Admittedly they have been very successful, but surely the strategy of introducing such mature players will not always have such success. Why can't Australia bring in an up and coming 20 - 23 year old similar to Cook, and give him Test exposure while there is still a strong contingent of mature players to support him?
Just look at the debut ages of some of our top players-
Shane Warne - Debut 1992 - Age 22 (turned 23 later that year)
Glenn McGrath - Debut 1993 - Age 23
Ricky Ponting - Debut 1995 - Age 20 (turned 21 just days after debut)
Brett Lee - Debut 1999 - Age 23
Now look at those waiting in the wings-
Stuart MacGill - Age 35
Nathan Bracken - Age 29
Phil Jacques - Age 27
Mitchell Johnson - Age 25
Shane Watson - Age 25
Shaun Tait - Age 23
Some of these guys MUST be introduced in the near future, or how will they have a chance to turn into champions like our current players? Leave Clarke in the team for good as well. At 25 he is an investment Australia is ready to cash in on.
If not, Australia could become similar to the Brisbane Lions, where all of their stars retire or get injured at the same time, and suddenly they're running around putting untried youngsters into the team. A line up from Lee, Bracken, Tait or Johnson, at their current fitness, experience and form, would not win Australia the match. One day, but not at the moment.
Bring in Jacques and bring in Johnson now, but also trial more up and coming 21 year olds while we still have our Langers and Warnes carving the opposition up.
The age of the players being introduced to the Australian team is ridiculous. Alistair Cook is only 21 and he's opening the batting for England. The kind of experience this guy is getting, how good will he be at 30! Admittedly at the expense of Trescothick, but at least he's getting a go.
Compare that to Australia, who were really 'biting the bullet' by putting adding the youthful Hussey and Clark into the team when they're 30 and above! Admittedly they have been very successful, but surely the strategy of introducing such mature players will not always have such success. Why can't Australia bring in an up and coming 20 - 23 year old similar to Cook, and give him Test exposure while there is still a strong contingent of mature players to support him?
Just look at the debut ages of some of our top players-
Shane Warne - Debut 1992 - Age 22 (turned 23 later that year)
Glenn McGrath - Debut 1993 - Age 23
Ricky Ponting - Debut 1995 - Age 20 (turned 21 just days after debut)
Brett Lee - Debut 1999 - Age 23
Now look at those waiting in the wings-
Stuart MacGill - Age 35
Nathan Bracken - Age 29
Phil Jacques - Age 27
Mitchell Johnson - Age 25
Shane Watson - Age 25
Shaun Tait - Age 23
Some of these guys MUST be introduced in the near future, or how will they have a chance to turn into champions like our current players? Leave Clarke in the team for good as well. At 25 he is an investment Australia is ready to cash in on.
If not, Australia could become similar to the Brisbane Lions, where all of their stars retire or get injured at the same time, and suddenly they're running around putting untried youngsters into the team. A line up from Lee, Bracken, Tait or Johnson, at their current fitness, experience and form, would not win Australia the match. One day, but not at the moment.
Bring in Jacques and bring in Johnson now, but also trial more up and coming 21 year olds while we still have our Langers and Warnes carving the opposition up.
