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.