***Official*** Australian Domestic Season 2007/08

[vic_orthdox]

Not really surprised by Crosthwaite staying in the side. I think the coaches rate his ability to finish at the end of the innings; he's pretty good at collating a quick 30 off 20 or so rocks. Nannes is probably more suited to the 4 day arena, while I think Lewis will still play nearly all the OD games he's available for. Surprised at Denton missing out though.

 

[brockley]

Clean bowled... No doubt that Nathan Adcock is outPic: Matt Turner

Redbacks crumble to huge defeat
By Daniel Brettig
October 17, 2007 SOUTH Australia's latest batting catastrophe happened in part because the team was still struggling to elude the ghosts of past failures, according to new captain Nathan Adcock.

Young Victorian paceman Peter Siddle became the latest interstate bowler to feast on the Redbacks when he obliterated what remained of SA's batting to complete a 270-run win for the Bushrangers on day four of the Pura Cup match at Adelaide Oval today.

Resuming at 4-27 chasing 348 to win, the hapless SA lost three wickets in Siddle's opening over of the day to be 7-35.

He would claim two more to finish with 5-27 as SA subsided meekly for 77 - their lowest ever total against Victoria in matches at Adelaide.

Gerard Denton (2-20), Dirk Nannes (2-11) and Bryce McGain (1-13) shared the rest.

Jason Gillespie (18) was left with the dubious honour of top scoring for SA in both innings after making 49 yesterday.

Adcock said it was never helpful to walk out to bat knowing that your team had crumbled so many times before.

”I don't think it's going to be a helpful thing, it's there, and that's just something the best way to change is to play better and have some positive stuff to look back on,'' Adcock said.

”If the mental stuff isn't right, that shows itself in physical aspects, there's definitely mental elements to what we haven't done properly.''

Much has been made of SA's more professional approach to the game in the lead-up to this season following a strenuous review of coaching and support staff, plus the appointment of Adcock to replace Darren Lehmann.

But Victorian captain Cameron White correctly pointed out that there was little fresh blood among the players, as SA fielded a very similar team to the ones they have picked for the last few seasons - meaning old wounds were never far away from re-opening.

”We played well and they've had the same side for the last couple of years,'' White said.

”I'm not sure what their next level of players are like, not sure if they're sticking with their home talent or whatever, but they haven't got any new players in, so it's up to SA to decide if the guys in this team are good enough to make the level.''

In-form Bushrangers batsman David Hussey was named man of the match for his double of 104 and 74 not out on a pitch that was never easy for batsmen.

Matthew Elliott and Gillespie began safely enough, getting through the opening spells of Denton and Nannes, but Siddle's first over of the day brought a fearful clatter of wickets.

Second ball Elliott pushed tamely to second slip, the fourth was fast, straight and sent Adcock's middle stump cartwheeling, and the sixth caught Graham Manou's edge to second slip in a mirror image of Elliott's demise.

Gillespie and Cullen Bailey inched the tally past 50, and they went as far as 64 before Gillespie allowed a Siddle delivery to sneak through and again remove middle stump.

Ryan Harris pushed only half forward to be clearly lbw eight runs later, and last man Daniel Cullen nicked McGain's leg break to slip.

 

[Mister Wright]

This south australian side would struggle in the aussie 2nd xl comp,i would back NSW 2nd xl to beat them.
Lachlan stevens hasn't got a queensland contract,maybe he should head back to the redbacks.

Made his debut in South Australia IIRC.

 

[Clarence]

This south australian side would struggle in the aussie 2nd xl comp,i would back NSW 2nd xl to beat them.
Lachlan stevens hasn't got a queensland contract,maybe he should head back to the redbacks.

Stevens has made some good early runs in grade cricket as well, would not look out of place in a first class side.

 

[brockley]

Andy Delmont to make his debut for SA on friday,expect a different sa batting line up by the end of the summer.
Bichel,watson,love and probably hopes,kasperowicz and hayden will be unfit for qlds' game vs NSW,how harsh is that with NSW full strength.

 

[Nate]

Not against it.

Tait to play tomorrow aswell.

 

[Laurrz]

go vics...

btw will Macgill play a game for NSW before the test against Lanka or what :S need to know how he's going...

 

[Nate]

Should be playing the one against the Bulls I think. Would be good to gauge exactly how crap he is.

 

[Laurrz]

wow NSW bowling attack will be

Lee Bracken Clark MacGill

christ... thats almost as good as our test bowling attack...

 

[stephen]

wow NSW bowling attack will be

Lee Bracken Clark MacGill

christ... thats almost as good as our test bowling attack...

Too bad that Lee and Bracken are useless at test level.

IMO our strongest test bowling lineup is:

Clark, Johnson, Hilfenhaus and MacGill.

Hilfenhaus got 85% of his wickets as top order wickets last season. He was also the leading wicket taker in the domestic competition. He is dangerous with the white ball and the red ball and I believe should be ahead of Tait and Lee for test honours.

Lee has perennially disappointed at test level, which is a shame because he's one of the best ODI quicks of all time. A bit like the Bevan of bowlers.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Hmm, Lee's useless at test level compared to two players who've never played a test? itstl

 

[stephen]

Hmm, Lee's useless at test level compared to two players who've never played a test? itstl

No, Lee is just useless at test level. Johnson and Hilfenhaus are unproven at test level, but at least they have the backup of an awesome first class record.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

No, Lee is just useless at test level. Johnson and Hilfenhaus are unproven at test level, but at least they have the backup of an awesome first class record.

First Class Records
Lee: 392 wickets @ 27.66
Johnson: 67 wickets @ 27.74
Hilfenhaus: 99 wickets @ 27.52

Indeed, sir. You present a compelling argument.

 

[Prince EWS]

First Class Records
Lee: 392 wickets @ 27.66
Johnson: 67 wickets @ 27.74
Hilfenhaus: 99 wickets @ 27.52

Indeed, sir. You present a compelling argument.

And that's without the challenge of test cricket effecting Johnson's or Hilfenhaus's averages...

 

[stephen]

First Class Records
Lee: 392 wickets @ 27.66
Johnson: 67 wickets @ 27.74
Hilfenhaus: 99 wickets @ 27.52

Indeed, sir. You present a compelling argument.

Perhaps I should have made myself clear. Johnson and Hilfenhaus have both performed very well at first class level in recent years. Lee has been consistently poor at tests since his initial golden run was over. He is one of the few bowlers to have over 200 test wickets at an average over 30.

Harmison and Hoggard are the only specialist fast bowlers who have also taken over 200 test wickets at over 30.

Lee - Before 2002 - 17 matches, 72 wickets, average 24.47
After 2002 - 42 matches, 159 wickets, average 34.83

Do we really want to keep an aging bowler, who's main weapon is speed (which is fading) who has averaged nearly 35 for the last 5 years, despite playing nearly every test match over bowlers who are both in form and have more than one trick up their sleeve?

 

[stephen]

And that's without the challenge of test cricket effecting Johnson's or Hilfenhaus's averages...

Well at least in Hilfenhaus' case, he hasn't had tail end wickets to bolster his average. Last season 85% of his wickets were top order wickets. And he topped the wicket taking tallies.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Do we really want to keep an aging bowler, who's main weapon is speed (which is fading) who has averaged nearly 35 for the last 5 years, despite playing nearly every test match over bowlers who are both in form and have more than one trick up their sleeve?

Unless I'm hugely mistaken, I'm pretty sure Kaspa played in front of Lee for at least a few of those years.

And since the end of the 2005 Ashes, he's done alright. Taken 72 wickets @ 28.83, including 3 5-fa's. He led the attack without McGrath and did it well.

And why would you drop your most experienced fast bowler for a rookie on the back of losing McGrath and Warne? It's begging for chaos.

 

[stephen]

Unless I'm hugely mistaken, I'm pretty sure Kaspa played in front of Lee for at least a few of those years.

And since the end of the 2005 Ashes, he's done alright. Taken 72 wickets @ 28.83, including 3 5-fa's. He led the attack without McGrath and did it well.

And why would you drop your most experienced fast bowler for a rookie on the back of losing McGrath and Warne? It's begging for chaos.

So his stats have slightly improved against the weakest batting attack of the top 8 nations (WI), on the SAfrican greentops and against Bangladesh. I might note that the only series that he has any claim to being our top bowler in was against SAfrica in Australia. Clark was far better in all the series in which he played and BLee mostly picked up tail enders and was considered our weakest bowler in the ashes.

I just cannot rate Brett Lee post 2001. He is simply not a test quality bowler.

 

[stephen]

And why would you drop your most experienced fast bowler for a rookie on the back of losing McGrath and Warne? It's begging for chaos.

Agreed, the selectors should have dropped Lee years ago and placed him one place ahead of Gillespie in the pecking order. Now we're stuck with him. Clark and MacGill are competent and experienced enough to lead the attack IMO.

 

[Top_Cat]

Bit of an embarrassment at Adelaide Oval the other day. Oye, going to be a familiar tale this year I suspect. Only one real game-breaker in the top seven (Cosgrove). Matt Elliott will have the occasional day out because he's such a good player but I suspect his injuries are affecting more than he lets on and he'll only be able to block out the aches a few times a season.

It was obvious what was happening a couple of months ago. After the end of last season, the word around the traps was that the SACA's lack discipline which I think is spot on the mark. It's why they dropped guys like Manou and Cosgrove last year and stuck with Shane Deitz (a reasonable 'keeper and far better bat). After last year's disaster, I was expecting a Jeff Hammond-type character to be appointed as coach to straighten the boys out a bit. Could not have been more wrong; Sorrel is a great guy but doesn't strike me as the hard task master type. Similar is Nathan Adcock; ultra-friendly guy but not likely to stamp authority (despite being a paid shark i.e. lawyer ). So you have a touchy-feely captain and coach in a team which already lacks discipline...... and then pick Manou over Deitz, this despite that he hasn't been smacking the ball around in district cricket for a while now. I heard that Deitz turned up to training schtonkered but I also heard he knew he was not the preferred 'keeper this year which sucks considering he was good with both bat and gloves last year. He's a somewhat emotional type and I wasn't surprised to hear his reaction might have been to hit the town. Sure it's unprofessional but understandable in a few ways.

Very conservative selections in general. The top six are nick-and-nudge merchants with the exception of Cosgrove and there are many signs that all is not well in the team; almost all of the dismissals were caught behind the wicket or fairly agricultural swipes after being tied down for a short while. It's the usual story with SA; tie them down and watch the self-destrction begin. Dirk Nannes, Peter Siddle and Gerard Denton bowled very accurately because they knew what would happen. Good solid bowling but not of the 'all out for 74' variety. It wasn't even Vic's strongest side on the paddock and they creamed SA. It's easy to believe it's an issue of technique (and it is to an extent) but it's more temperamental than anything.

The bowling was reasonable and it's good to see Ryan Harris stepping up a bit. Good, hard player and great team bloke. But I think this fantasy that SA seems to have that they can pick both spinners and get away with it is starting to unravel, especially since neither of them is a great bat. Neither of them is bowling particularly well and were ineffective on a wearing Adeladie deck. When Tait is back, what I hope is that they give either Cullen or Bailey a rest. What I also hope is that when Lehmann is fit, the selectors don't drop Cam Borgas to fit him in but he's been stuffed around by the selectors so much he'd be used to it by now. And there's no getting away from the fact that, as much as I like the guy and as nice a guy as he is, they're carrying Nat by batting him at 6. I reckon he should bat at 7 and bowl more or SA should have picked another batter as captain. Also, Manou shouldn't have been given the job as 'keeper without some serious runs at grade level.

Sadly, knowing the SA team, what I strongly suspect will happen is the following;

Drop Cam Borgas for Lehmann
Drop Ryan Harris for Tait and keep the two spinners in the side
Keep Manou in the side for the rest of the season
Keep carrying Adcock at number 6

And watch SA self-destruct all season even with Boof and Tait (One a seasoned former Test player and another one of Australia's best bowlers in the WC) back in the side.