Cricket - an afterthought

I just read this quote from the skipper of the Channel 9 All stars re the reinclusion of Andrew Symonds:

"That's what we all love about him. We all love his personality and the way he is around the team.
"I love the way he goes about his cricket on the field as well."

What is on SBS?

Channel 9 All Stars featuring Andrew Symonds

I have resolved to refer to the former Australian cricket team as the "Channel 9 All Stars" from now on.  I remember fondly the days when form counted for selection purposes. Now it is "great to have his spirit back amongst us" - I made that quote up but it's my take on the "Andrew Symonds re-selection - come back Andrew all is forgiven", endless saga that has emerged as the only distraction from the "Punter are you a true Anzac, mate how could you not go over the top into the face of the machine gun when your mates were depending on you?" tale that we have brought back from the home of cricket.

Andrew Symonds is a good cricketer - but should he be in the Australian squad?  I'm not going to quote his stats (I'm too lazy to look them up) but my feel is (and this qualifies now as a basis for writing) that he isn't a great cricketer. He has played some good innings at test level and taken some handy wickets.  He is a marvelous fielder - but he is not the man who should be rushed back into the squad at this point of the season. I don't follow the breakfast cereal cup all that closely but I haven't been aware of stellar form so far.

I think the reaction of the Australian team to Ando's reinstatement sums up the insular, cocooned nature of the team and the reason why there has emerged a breach with many of their former supporters. There is a view that some should be there because they are liked by the chosen - not because they have been scoring runs or taking wickets.

I look forward to the Black Caps niggling us to the point of frustration and Ando being 13th man.

Bring on New Zealand!

I for one am looking forward to the series against the team from New Zealand. This should be a closer series than the one we just lost against India.

Will Jason Krezja keep his spot. Will Matthew Hayden (Haydos to himself) retire at last? How many overs will Michael Hussey bowl? Will Brett Lee do better?

We must wait ten days before the series gets underway.

Bring it on!

Supercoach eschews goal scoring for better passing down back!

It took me some time to work out. 

A number of the TFC boys are fronting up for Futsal over the "summer" - we call it that because we have already used the terms winter, autumn and spring.  I was an interested observer last night - seeing the third grading game of the pre-season.  

I was struck by the TFC skill down the back - good in close duels - of which the TFC boys won their share.  Their opponents - not being as schooled as the TFC machine finished off their forward thrusts with obvious moves - a number ending in goals.  TFC however was practising the down back strategy and passing. Goal scoring comes later in the pre-season.  

I was taken by the similarity to the old footy coaching ploy - bring the ball out at training just before the season starts - concentrate on fitness, strategy and team building until then.  The TFC boys kept up their training routine - their opponents oblivious, thinking they were scoring a great victory.

Supercoach treated the game of futsal with the respect it deserves - it is to outdoor football (the beautiful game) as the PS3 Tiger Woods Championship Golf is to a round of 18 holes at St Andrews.

Mind you , I am all the wiser now - it was until passing the Wagon and Horses that I thought we had lost.

Supercoach - we salute you.