NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Queensland could probably do with him.
-
Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
***Official*** Australian Domestic Season 2008/09
- Thread starter Jakester1288
- Start date
Woodster
International Captain
Saw Cosgrove play a few one-day games for Glamorgan when he is in England in 2006, and he could certainly strike the ball, mind you with that weight behind it it was hardly surprising. He looked a real talent, yet you knew that his one problem appeared to be his physique and how dedicated was he at getting into something like decent shape.
Travis Birt was at Derbyshire the same year, and he too looked a decent player, but failed to do anything of note in 2007, when he returned. Seems another that has failed to push on so far, after a pretty decent 2005/06 season in Aus. How do people rate him in Oz ?
Travis Birt was at Derbyshire the same year, and he too looked a decent player, but failed to do anything of note in 2007, when he returned. Seems another that has failed to push on so far, after a pretty decent 2005/06 season in Aus. How do people rate him in Oz ?
Mister Wright
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Birt's certainly got potential, but not in the Michael Clarke or Ricky Ponting class imo. More a 2nd tier player, when compared to those, but given we don't have many of those sorts (Phil Hughes maybe, but he hasn't stated this season that well) that maybe what Australia gets in the near future. I think of all the promising young players in the country who aren't in the international mix atm George Bailey has the most promise.
Top_Cat
Request Your Custom Title Now!
You're on the right track. From what I hear (I only 'hear' things these days since I haven't played for so long, feel like Mark Felt sometimes....) it's more narcissistic than that. More like he doesn't feel as if he needs to score runs because everyone should know he can and his fitness doesn't matter.
Cossie surely won't leave SA. As far as discipline goes, it doesn't get any softer than SACA so I doubt he'd improve his position anywhere else. Truth is, he actually is a really, really talented player, not just a striker of the ball. Can hit long and finesse the ball around too. He actually can bowl too. Comes down to him when all is said and done.
As for the current game, I'd tip Hodge for a double. Geez he looked strong today.
Last edited:
Mr Casson
Cricketer Of The Year
Well the days where you can be a fat **** and all is forgiven as long as you score runs are over - everyone knows the game is just more professional than that, and when you are a professional, 'good enough' isn't good enough. He'd almost certainly be a better player if he was lighter, maybe not at striking the ball or in terms of co-ordination but his stamina and running between the wickets and the like would be infinitely better, and that's really what it comes down to.
I think the SACA has taken the right approach with him. He could be good enough to play for Australia but he'd never survive the rigors of conditioning that comes with it unless he starts to address the fitness side of things more seriously.
Top_Cat
Request Your Custom Title Now!
You're absolutely right and that's the key point. But, he's not even scoring at present. If his method was working, he'd at least have some justification for biting back. Right now, he's not even scoring well for the Jets. That there I'd guess is the main reason he's playing Second XI.
Woodster
International Captain
Brad Hodge is an outstanding player, and his case just exemplifies the strength Australia have in the batting department, that such a consistent run scorer cannot make the squad to India. That is why players such as Cosgrove, have to go above and beyond the call of duty. If simply scoring stacks of runs is not enough for Hodge to force his way in, why on earth would Cosgrove think he can do that while also carrying an obvious fitness problem. And of course, once the runs dry up, he doesn't even have the professional attitude to fall back on.
Mr Casson
Cricketer Of The Year
Well this could be good for him in that respect I suppose. Once he realises that he's not King **** and that there are things he has to/can do to take his game to the next level he'll probably figure out that there's more to scoring runs than just hitting the ball.
Woodster
International Captain
Absolutely it could be good for him. I don't know what character Cosgrove possesses, but he must look at people like Hodge as a role model, and realise what is required to even get close to national selection. Some of these players think a couple of games for the 'A' team and we're nearly there. In reality they are some way from making full international honours, consistency and professionalism must be maintained throughout, and currently it appears Cosgrove is coming up some way short on both counts.
pup11
International Coach
Look Cosgrove has always came across as guy with an old school way of thinking for a bloke of his age, you can always read in his interviews where he casually mentions that his weight shouldn't be problem as long he is scoring runs or as long as it doesn't effect him as player, and still after every season he doesn't fail to mention that he has lost 10 kilos during the off-season, and how hard he has worked on his fitness, but tbh the guy just seems to get bigger and bigger after every passing season.
Obviously Cosgrove seems to be a guy with very poor work ethics, who is just not willing to go that extra mile to improve himself as a cricketer, he is just relying on his natural talent to pull him all the way through to the top, and he is probably just ignorant or dumb not to understand that, that ain't gonna happen, as you already said gone are the days when you could hope to play at top level irrespective of your fitness levels, fitness is very important aspect nowadays and Cosgrove can't shy away from that fact, i think its highly improbable that Cosgrove would ever get lean in his lifetime, but atleast he can put in a honest effort at on working on his fitness.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
TBH, I think Cosgrove could play First Class cricket for South Australia for a long time, even as the fatty he is. He needs to actually score runs though, and he just hasn't done that consistently. Given his stature, he's not going to be given special favours or backed out of a rough patch.. if he wants to be that size, it's fine, but he has be an awesome batsman to do so and he's just not at the moment.
pup11
International Coach
I think that's the whole point, in order to score runs he has to get fitter, when he was scoring lots of runs there were tongue in cheek comments made over his size but nobody really gave it too much emphasis since he was getting the runs and that even helped him break into the Australian team (if only on a trail basis), Cosgrove is a real talent but he shouldn't let that go to his head (which i am afraid he probably has), if he expects just because he is talented he would get any preferential treatment then he would be proved wrong, which SACA have done by dumping him from the FC side, which is very good decision imo.
I don't necessarily agree with you that he can go on playing FC cricket being as huge as he is now, yeah i know how many runs you make are important than to how many kilos you weigh at the end of the day, but i think it has come to point where that excess weight might be taking its toll on Cosgrove's game, his reflexes, footwork, and stamina could all be getting effected by his excess weight, so he might score a few runs but i think lack of fitness would more or less let him down on more occasions.
If i am not wrong i read somewhere that someone in SACA recently commented that Cosgrove was scoring a few runs but for a player of his caliber he was hardly converting those cameos into big knocks, which they felt was just not acceptable for them, again his fitness could very well be the reason for his non-ability to play those long innings, so if were Mark Cosgrove i would chuck those hamburgers, milkshakes and other junk food and try to get a bit fitter.
GIMH
Norwood's on Fire
(Y)
Top_Cat
Request Your Custom Title Now!
You've hit upon the key bit, really. With him it's not a lazy body as he actually does a ton of physical work but lazy mind. Lazy mind with regards diet/drinking (so that although he's carrying muscle, he's also carrying fat) and towards scoring runs (believes scoring a run-a-ball ton then getting out, job done).
Darren Lehmann was exactly the same in the early days although he at least was scoring runs other than when he went to Victoria for a season. Immensely talented, just needs a little bit of self-discipline.
NZTailender
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Cosgrove is basically Australia's Jesse Ryder, except you're not as hard up for players as us.
Mister Wright
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Bloody Noffke carrying in the Bulls again!
Top_Cat
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Was at the SA vs Vic game again, confirms my suspicion the pitch is flatter than flat. Tom Plant batted okay but he pretty much occupied the crease, didn't really try for any big shots. I played with Danny Harris many years ago and it would seem nothing has changed, the Vics obviously picked him as someone to target and went after him, especially McDonald who chucked a few balls at him in follow-through. The ball before his dismissal, McDonald threw it and Danny grabbed it, gave it to Wade. It got to him because then he went for a big swipe across the line and was caught from a ball he hit down onto his pad that ballooned up. Sucked, really, because he was just starting to get into stride, picked out some singles, etc.
Klinger was cautious but at least he tried to force the play a bit because Plant was content to just hang around and push the gaps. One or two really nicely timed shots, I think he should definitely stay at 3. Looked very professional.
Point is, though, the Vics actually bowled quite well. Nannes and Harwood were aggressive with lots of short stuff, McKay bowled a great line and was quicker than I thought and Jack's mate 'Dutchy' Holland (honestly, can professional sportsmen please think of another nickname for someone who has that surname? Please?) was pretty good although not super-threatening because of the pitch. Slightest bit short and he got hit, no room for error. McDonald was straight but I thought they might have upped the pace a bit against him.
All that resulted in 1 wicket in 50-odd overs. They really couldn't have done much more, I only remember one real chance off Harwood late in the day off Plant. SA should just bat time and get 1st innings points because without a really sporting declaration, this game isn't going anywhere.
Still, was nice to see the SA batsmen only two of the three components of a Redbacks collapse. The straight bowling and the ultra-defense was there but the get-out shots weren't for a change. Get the feeling Klinger is what they've needed at 3 for a long time, someone who can change gears if needed.
EDIT: Tait and Rofe did a couple of circuits of the ground and sat behind me on the second. Man, they can talk crap! Basically had a debate over who pulled the most chicks, Dhoni or Harbhajan. Dhoni 'goes alright', apparently.
Klinger was cautious but at least he tried to force the play a bit because Plant was content to just hang around and push the gaps. One or two really nicely timed shots, I think he should definitely stay at 3. Looked very professional.
Point is, though, the Vics actually bowled quite well. Nannes and Harwood were aggressive with lots of short stuff, McKay bowled a great line and was quicker than I thought and Jack's mate 'Dutchy' Holland (honestly, can professional sportsmen please think of another nickname for someone who has that surname? Please?) was pretty good although not super-threatening because of the pitch. Slightest bit short and he got hit, no room for error. McDonald was straight but I thought they might have upped the pace a bit against him.
All that resulted in 1 wicket in 50-odd overs. They really couldn't have done much more, I only remember one real chance off Harwood late in the day off Plant. SA should just bat time and get 1st innings points because without a really sporting declaration, this game isn't going anywhere.
Still, was nice to see the SA batsmen only two of the three components of a Redbacks collapse. The straight bowling and the ultra-defense was there but the get-out shots weren't for a change. Get the feeling Klinger is what they've needed at 3 for a long time, someone who can change gears if needed.
EDIT: Tait and Rofe did a couple of circuits of the ground and sat behind me on the second. Man, they can talk crap! Basically had a debate over who pulled the most chicks, Dhoni or Harbhajan. Dhoni 'goes alright', apparently.