Warner's Offer Highlights Holes in Selectors Doctrine

As we approach a month out from a Test series that for... ever... really... was considered exciting to watch, but that Australia would never ever be in danger of losing on their home turf, and suddenly are now facing down the barrel of losing for the third time in succession, it seems that the predictable squad that Australia generally chooses at the start of the summer may be in for a slight revamp. And as per usual everyone has their opinion of which player should be the smokey that comes from out of the clouds to fill a place.

That place of course is the one vacated by Cameron Green, whose summer has been sent to rehab after announcing he required surgery on his broken back. Despite his enormous talent, his second major operation on his back now leaves his career in a state of limbo. Can he recover in time for next season's Ashes contest? Will he be the same player? Will he be able to force his way back into the squad if he is fit? No doubt those questions will continue to be chased over the next 12 months.

One question no one expected to hear again was whether David Warner would play Test cricket if the selectors asked him to return. As it turns out, that WAS the question that lit up both the mainstream media and social media over the past few days, after what appears to be an innocuous question in an interview published this week on The Code had Warner seemingly renouncing his previous statements about retirement, and saying that if George Bailey still thought he was the right man for the job then he was willing to kit up straight away and head into the fray. And the media hounds starting frothing at the mouth.
Of course, all of this was nonsense. Warner knew he was now out of cricket apart from his many forays into the domestic T20 competitions worldwide but also savvy enough to know that that comment would provide him with enormous amounts of free publicity to stay in the public's eye for a little while longer. And the selection panel and Cricket Australia, having finally been able to throw off the anchor that Warner's continued forced selection despite average form over the previous two years had created, were ever going to entertain any such idea of offering him a return.
The fact that this was such a huge blowup is indicative of two things. Firstly, that there are apparently so many contenders fighting for one place in the Australian top six, and that those who were considered to be the main contenders a month ago have failed to light up the scoreboard in the opening rounds of the Sheffield Shield. It also points to the selectors weakening argument when it came to selecting Warner's replacement nine months ago, choosing to elevate Australia's best number four to open rather than one of the several candidates around the country who ACTUALLY open the batting for their state.

The selectors have had two years to pick any of Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris or Matthew Renshaw as an opener in the fading light that was the last part of Warner's career. Harris got four Tests against England at home three years ago, and was then cast aside when the selectors couldn't face leaving out Usman Khawaja after he scored twin tons in Sydney as a late replacement for the covid infested Travis Head. Matt Renshaw got a similar chance in the middle order a year later and then another in India when the selectors decided to drop their best bat for fear he couldn't play spin. Bancroft hasn't been sighted since 2019, but has scored more runs than anyone else in first class cricket over the last two years. The opportunity has been there for the selectors to give any of those three a decent spell at the top of the order for Australia, but the fact that they have not suggests they don't want to. The fact that none of them are banging down the door at the moment is also unfortunate for them. The one who has is 19 year old Sam Konstas, with twin centuries in the first Shield match and a reasonable 40 in the second. But already it feels as though the selectors are slowly leaking to their media favourites that it is too early for him and that he needs more time.

George Bailey was quite open when Warner retired that they were going to pick the best six bats in Australia and worry about the order after that. It is fair to say that my opinion on those best six widely varies from George Bailey. They have already made clear that Steve Smith, who opened in New Zealand and looked uncomfortable the entire time, will be moving back to number four. If that mentality hasn't changed from the selectors, then you won't see an opening batter chosen. You will instead see someone like Western Australian wicket-keeper Josh Inglis chosen, because he fits the mould of batter they currently want in the team (ie Head, Marsh). Then one of those three will open. Marsh and Head have both opened in white ball cricket recently, leading some quarters to suggest they can do the same job in a Test match. Inglis has opened in Shield but with little success, and of course has opened in white ball cricket domestically, but like Marsh and Head for the Australian white ball teams, we all know is NOT the same as opening in a Test match. And yet, the selectors may well be about to tell you otherwise.

Another part of this story is the constant attempt to insist that the team requires an allrounder in the team, in order to offload the workload of the three major fast bowlers in the squad. With Green out of the picture, and Marsh always at the point of breaking down, there currently isn't a viable option in the team to do that job (no, Labuschagne's seam bowling is not the answer). So it is also very possible they won't pick another batter. Instead, they may consider putting Marsh or Head up to open, bring Alex Carey to 6, and then choose an allrounder of sorts to bat at 7 and bowl some overs. In this instance there are some reasonable candidates. Aaron Hardie has shown excellent form with the ball, and hits the ball hard. He was on a shortlist two years ago to perhaps play in Sydney, and his recent white ball form for Australia shows a lot of promise. There is also Beau Webster, leading run scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season, and not only bowls seam up but off spin as well. That helps the bowlers workloads given they will all want to play all five Tests. If the selectors deem it necessary to have someone offering up more than a token over here and there this summer, this may also be a path they are considering.

Whatever happens over the next month, be prepared to be very disappointed with Australia's Test squad this summer. That doesn't mean they can't win the series whichever way the selectors go, but my fear is that the selectors will continue to ignore form and instead will pick players like England do now, on the kind of player they might be if they are on their best day, rather than on actual performance on the field. And whichever way they go, it will also probably mean Marnus will be seeing a lot of the new ball this summer.

T20 World Cup 2021: Warne's Warbling More Dangerous than Loss to England

The cricket media used to be the most reliable section of journalism. There was little hysteria with extreme results, good or bad for the local team, and the analysis of the game was generally thoughtful and reserved. In the age of social media and parts of the media more interested in clickbait than actual commentary on the game, that kind of composure is becoming a thing of the past. Instead we have a multitude of former international cricketers who are more interested in having their voice heard above everyone else’s, and don’t mind too much if what they say today completely contradicts what they said yesterday, or what they will say tomorrow. I bring this up after the barrage of opinion that has come in the last three days, firstly over Australia’s unfortunate but not unexpected capitulation to England in their T20 World Cup clash, but also with India falling similarly to New Zealand and now in danger themselves of missing out on the semi-finals of the tournament. So as a result, what I can offer you today is my own opinion on what has transgressed over the past week or so, and see if I can outshout those ex-Test cricketers who seem to love to create drama, on today’s episode of The Casual Mankadder, right here on Thoughts From the Metal Cavern.

It has been an interesting few days in international cricket, and depending who you are listening to and on what day, Australia’s World Cup campaign has either been a success or a complete disaster. Last Thursday you might have been led to believe that Australia was on track for a famous victory in this World Cup, and the likely victory over England was about to prove that. Come the following day and it was obvious that Australia was a shot duck, likely to miss the finals and all because the team needed to be completely revamped from the combination that had lost that day... even though they had won their first two matches. As hard as it must have been for Australians, worse was to follow for India, who having already allowed their main rivals Pakistan to flog them by 10 wickets, then managed to lose again to NZ, this time by 8 wickets. And as with Australia, the knives were out, with so many ex-players who had turned themselves into experts simply by leaving the game and moving to a commentary box now suggesting mass changes for the rest of the tournament.

The main thing about this – Australia and India supposedly struggling – is this. T20 cricket, from the outset, has been a gamble, a toss up. Any team can defeat another team on the day. It is the format where upset results come far quicker and more prolifically than any other form of the game. If there is a distinct advantage of, say, batting second in a tournament, then the toss of the coin can be the deciding factor rather than the skill of the two teams on show. If all aspects appear equal, then it is pressure that can stall an innings, proving to be vital in the outcome of the match.

The West Indies squad contains players such as Gayle, Bravo, Russell, Pollard, Narine, all players who are the T20 mercenaries of the world, travelling around to all of the T20 domestic competitions, and have played more T20 cricket than any other players in the history of the format. And yet, the Windies so far have barely fired a shot in anger and are no guarantee to make the semi-finals. India host the world biggest annual T20 domestic tournament, the IPL, and has the cream of international stars playing in it as well, which as a result should mean that Indian players have the best possible upbringing in the T20 game, and indeed are feted by their board and their commentators alike as such. All of their young domestic players are raised in this tournament, a place where they can stake their claim to further international honours. And yet, India has now lost twice – to very good opposition it must be said - and are now also in danger of missing out on the semi-final stage.

What this has shown again is that T20 cricket is a fickle game. Australia defeated SA and SL comfortably, and in the days leading up to their clash with England the media talk was all about the great match that was to come, and could Australia upset one of the tournament favourites. When it comes to pass that they don’t and instead get summarily thrashed by a team that has proven to be far superior to Australia in both white ball formats over the past four years, its panic stations, and suddenly massive changes are needed, especially from our good mate Shane Warne.

Far be it for me to try and lock horns with the experts of the game such as Shane Warne and Michael Clarke. For guys who at different times were left out of the Australian team and were very vocal (then and now) about the injustice of it all, the notion that Steve Smith should not be chosen in Australia’s T20 XI still seems a little far fetched. Six months ago, if it had been suggested that Smith would have been left at home with an eye to playing the longer formats of the game and prepare for an Ashes summer, I would have been in favour of that, given the inconsequential draw of T20 cricket for most cricket lovers and a desire to ensure we can retain the Ashes this summer. But with Smith in this squad, the idea that he should be left out of the team doesn’t stack up. No matter what these two giants of the game believe is Smith’s lack of strike rate and big hitting in the T20 game, suggesting he should be replaced – by anyone – is ludicrous. Indeed, I believe it can be answered by your thoughts on this one simple question: Who would you pick in your best Australia team – Steve Smith or Mitch Marsh? Or Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis? In any situation, if you are betting on either Marsh or Stoinis to be more effective with bat in hand, then the tournament is already as good as over. We all know Warne has a penchant of, when constantly asked for his opinion, choosing teams that suddenly have two or three players in it that no one else in the country is thinking about. It’s his way, and like all of us armchair selectors, he has the comfort of knowing that his thoughts never actually have to be tested in the real world. Heaven help us if he ever really did become a selector. Imagine the mayhem that would ensue.


In the international version of T20 cricket, it appears from the outside that the best teams have a team plan, one that is followed no matter who is actually picked in the squad. England have done this best in recent years. Their plan has been to attack from the outset. If that works, great, keep going. If it doesn’t.... well, keep attacking and see what happens. They pick their teams based on this philosophy, leaning heavily on aggressive batting led by Buttler, Roy, Malan, Bairstow, Morgan, Livingston, and allrounders Woakes, Ali and Jordan. Billings can’t even get into the XI, while in this tournament they are even with Root and Stokes and Archer who would probably only have made this squad stronger. The bowling attack is balanced between pace and spin, and there are lots of options if something goes berserk.

Australia doesn’t have players like England, and so any effort to play the same way, as Warne suggests Australia must do, to me is uninformed. You have to play to a plan that works for the players you have in your team. And at the moment that is compromised, because teams have worked out Australia’s batsmen. Four of the top six have been in the ODI and T20 top six for Australia since before the 2015 ODI World Cup. That’s almost 7 years ago. Bowling at a length and cutting into Finch’s pads has him out LBW or bowled almost every time. Bowling around the wicket and cramping warner has stopped his ability to score runs (thanks Stuart Broad). The constant change of mind by selectors and coaches and captains as to how best use his ability has seen him only show his true depth on stagnated occasions. And keeping the ball a foot outside off stump keeps Smith at best at a run a ball, which opposition teams are happy to do until he gets himself out in frustration. Added to this is the rotation of so many players in the other batting positions in the top six, such that no one really knows if they are going to be able to secure their position like the other four mentioned previously – players like Stoinis and Marsh and Carey and Wade and McDermott and Henriques and Head and Turner – and there is a real confusion as to just how the team should play its batting. England currently have no such problems. They know their role and execute it. The same with the bowling. Australia’s big three in Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood rarely play together in T20I because it is often these matches where they get their rotation rest breaks in the season. As such, other bowlers like Kane Richardson and Jhye Richardson have gotten their chance and have done well, but now that the big three are together, they sit on the sidelines. And though both Starc and Cummins are capable of big hitting at the end, they are really specialist bowlers, and with Australia playing four specialist bowlers on most occasions while other teams are able to boast more substantial all-rounders with bat and bowl, it does leave Australia’s ability to bat through the order compromised.

Before this tournament started I didn’t think Australia would reach the semi-finals. Despite all the grief and moaning since the defeat to England, Australia now only has to win its final two games to do so, against the Windies and Bangladesh. They have lost to both nations in recent times - and a lot - but it was with a half strength side that didn’t truly reflect this squad. Given the performances of the West Indies so far, and the fact that Bangladesh’s best player Shakib Ul Hasan is now out of the rest of the tournament with injury, and that South Africa still has to face England themselves, then really, from this point, if Australia DOESN’T make the semi-finals, it will have no one but itself to blame for it.

Podcast: Episode 59: 45 Years of Rainbow's "Rising"

It has been a week of remembrance, being that it was 11 years ago this week that the great Ronnie James Dio left the building, probably on the back of a flying dragon brandishing a sword and singing about rainbows. And as it turns out, I’ll be discussing rainbows today, in particular the band Rainbow, and their sophomore album “Rising”. The album was released 45 years ago this week, and so I’ll delve back in time a little to discuss the elements that brought it together, and play some of the tracks for you as well. So sit back, throw the horns, and let’s get into a little stargazing on Thoughts from the Metal Cavern.

 

Podcast: Episode 58: Holding the Ball! Round 9

Week 9 proved to be a shocker for some of the big teams from the 70's and 80's, but impressive from the resurgent clubs at the top of the ladder. After a look back on round 9 I once again turn my attention to that basket case known as the Collingwood Football Club, before showing off my non-existent tipping skills for round 10.

Podcast: Episode 57: The Casual Mankadder: Ball Tampering

In my newly reshaped and retitled cricket sub-podcast titled "The Casual Mankadder", today we will discuss the same thing the rest of the cricket media has dredged up this week, with more discussion about the sandpaper incident of 2018. So let's get it all out there again, and discuss why this keeps being brought up all the time, when every other incident of ball tampering in the history of cricket seems to have been confined to history.

Podcast: Episode 56: In League With the NRL Round 10

Welcome to today’s episode of Thoughts from the Metal Cavern, and in particular this week’s instalment of In League with the NRL. Magic Round has been and gone, and there was plenty of action on the field that we’ll have a short discussion on. Then we’ll move along into week’s Talking Point, which today has a look at the onset of players being chased and signed for next season when we are barely a third of the way through the current season, and also have a sneak peek at what the Cronulla Sharks may do to revive their fortunes next year. And then we’ll finish with me throwing some darts at the dartboard to come up with my tips for next weekend.

Podcast: Episode 55: Album Reviews: Michael Schenker, Alice Cooper, Accept, KK's Priest, Helloween

On today's Album Review segment, we have a look at three 2021 album releases - Michael Schenker Group's "Immortal", Alice Cooper's "Detroit Stories" and Accept's "Too Mean To Die", as well as two singles preceding their album's release, K.K's Priest's "Hellfire Thunderbolt" and Helloween's "Skyfall". Enjoy!

Podcast: Episode 54: Holding the Ball! AFL Round 8

More AFL talk for you diehards who like AFL and like listening to some bozo talking about it. After having a quick look at last week's matches, today's Talking Point delves into the debate over playing strips, both the ones that some restrict one club from wearing, and a discussion on the need for 'clash' jerseys to come into play for all clubs. Finally my tips for next weekend are made available for you to ignore completely.

Podcast: Episode 53: In League With the NRL: Round 9

Round 9 of the NRL competition has been run and won, and I have a look back on the matches played and give a short analysis of what went right and wrong. And in today's Talking Point I look back on the end of the first half of the Eels vs Roosters match, and discuss the ins and outs of refereeing decisions and the worth of the Bunker and what can be done to avoid it happening again.

 

Podcast: Episode 52: Album Review: LORD's "Undercovers, Vol.1"

In the modern age of album releases, having albums entirely consisting of cover versions of other songs is not unusual. What you do hope for is something out of the ordinary, something that sets those songs apart from the originals, and can transcend the fans of both the original band and the one who is covering it. Come in and have a listen to how a high class Australian metal band does it.

Podcast: Episode 51: Should NRL Move To a Conference System

The world of rugby league lost its collective mind again for a few days when those words "Conference System" were mentioned in passing in the circles of the media. And while it has been summarily dismissed by most, is it something worth pursuing? My opinions have been noted here before, but I'm willing to outline them again just for the sake of another podcast episode.

Podcast: Episode 50: Why Josh Lawson Should Get An Oscar for Mortal Kombat

Haven't seen the reboot of Mortal Kombat yet? Well, not only are you missing out on an entertaining film with lots of enjoyable death sequences, you haven't seen what should be the first role nominated for next year's Academy Awards - Josh Lawson's portrayal of Kano. So today's podcast is the start of my efforts to have this come to fruition, to publicise the excellence of this performance. F*%king whoops!

Podcast: Episode 49: Holding the Ball! AFL Round 7

The ins and outs of the 7th round of the AFL gets the microscope placed over it... well, the broken pair of binoculars anyway - and we discuss who the winners and losers of the round were. Today's Talking Point sadly focuses on the continuing disaster that is Collingwood's 2021 season, and what may happen going forward as we look at the coaching and recruiting situation the Club faces.

Podcast: Episode 48: In League with the NRL Round 8

We've reached round 8 of the NRL, and we look back on the round as it took place and see how the teams are travelling. Then on this week's Talking Point, I discuss the overkill of utilising the broadcast of what is occurring inside the dressing sheds, and the outcry of emotion over Brett Morris not being able to end his career 'the way he deserves to'.

Podcast: Episode 47: 40 Years of Van Halen's "Fair Warning"

40 years seems like a long time, not just after the loss of EVH last year. But that's how long has passed since the release of this iconic album. Today we take a look back on some of the great songs spawned by its release, and discuss whether it is as great as some fans believe.

Podcast: Episode 46: Holding the Ball! AFL Round 6

Anzac Day is done and dusted, and there have been some surprising results over recent weeks that has thrown the whole competition into mass confusion - or perhaps that's just me. Today I have a look at where we stand after six rounds of the 2021 premiership. And in today's talking point, I discuss what has happened to Collingwood and GWS, less than two years after they played one of the best preliminary finals ever, to both now looking at a long long season ahead.

Podcast: Episode 45: In League With the NRL Round 7

We've made it almost a third of the way through the season, and the big guns are starting to flex their muscles. We discuss how a few of the teams are travelling and what may be their strengths and weaknesses after round seven. And on today's Talking Point, I rave on about the amount of wasted time that carries on in the modern game, and how some of these aspects are slowly starting to destroy the enjoyment of the game.

Podcast: Episode 44: Album Review: Smith/Kotzen's "Smith/Kotzen"

The pandemic in 2020 has already brought forth a few gems when it comes to new albums, and this pairing from beloved guitar gods Richie Kotzen and Adrian Smith is one of the most unlikely ones. The music is blues-based which may be slightly left of field, but if you come in for the guitar solos, you won't be disappointed. I offer my opinion on what is produced in this episode.

Podcast: Episode 43: What Does the Contract List Say About Australia's Cricket

This week, Trevor Hohns announced the 17 players who have been offered Australian contracts for the next 12 months. And it has raised some questions not only about how Australia's players look going into that 12 months period, but what the selectors see as to our prospects in that time period. None of it appears positive, as we ramble on about in this episode.

Podcast: Episode 42: Album Review: The Offspring's "Let the Bad Times Roll"

The Offspring never left the building, but it seems to have been forever and a day since we got some new material from the band to shine some light on a grey day. Well fear no longer, as the lads are back with their new album. In today's episode I run the rule over the new songs, and decide if the band still has the fire and anger that made it one of the best bands from the 1990's.