Posted by jrod on January 31, 2008 under VIC | 
Memo to all fans of Victorian Cricket
There is no conspiracy
There is no selectoral bias
There is no grassy noll theory.
And the CIA has nothing to do with this.
Victoria does not have a player in the Australian team, because at this time there is no spot for a Victorian in the Australian team.
Test wise, only two Victorians are currently in the form to play for Australia, the other three are not quite there.
Future PM David Hussey is in breathtaking form at the moment. But the King Probot Hussey, Pup and Roy are all making runs. Generally selectors don’t drop guys making runs, I have stated my thoughts on Michael Clarke being dropped, but we all know they aren’t going to drop him on my recommendation.
CWB’s Nice Bryce McGain is the other player playing at the level of test match standard. He has two hurdles to over come, one is old agedness and two his lack of a first class record. Is he a better bowler than Brad Hogg, king oath, but he is not at Staurt MacGill’s level either.
Brad Hodge has not had a good year (except for the runs he made against a new texas eleven with 2 fit bowlers counts) and would now be behind Hussey, Katich and Pomersbach in the selectors mind. Plus do we really need more Brads in the side.
Peter Siddle is in good form, but he has only played 3 matches and Doug Bollinger had taken 2 ten wicket hauls this year at roughly the same average.
Had Andrew McDonald replicated last years form he would be very close to selection by now, but he hasn’t due to injury and therefore is down the list. Noffke is in superstar form and would be ahead of him at the moment anyway. Plus he does have red hair.
One day wise we were unlucky not to have a player in the side.
David Hussey is unlucky again, but the only batsman, I repeat batsman picked ahead of him is Brad Haddin, who on his last tour with Australia smashed the Indians everywhere. It is hard to drop a guy who performed so well the last time he played. Domestically Hussey has had the better year, but only marginally. Every other batsman deserves his spot ahead of Hussey at this stage.
Brad Hodge, well he had his chance in India, and he batted horribly. The selectors have picked the player in Haddin who made the runs there. He now finds himself on the list behind Hussey and perhaps even Voges, but Pontings love for the man means he could leap frog them if there is a spot available, especially if it is a top order spot.
McDonald hasn’t been in sensational one day form, but you know who has, Noffke and Hopes. And they were selected because of that fact. Case closed.
Dirty Dirk Nannes & Bryce McGain were the two best 2020 bowlers in the big bash, both are over 30 and one is injured.
If Nannes was fit I would have hoped he would have got a call up for the 2020 game ahead of Hilfenhaus, but he isn’t and there fore not in the side.
This isn’t all bad news, because this is the first Victorian team we have had in quite some time that has had multiple players with a shot of making the main team.
I didn’t even mention Cameron White or Aiden Blizzard, one who has played and one who in the future could be a chance.
But let us not be whiney little babies, as this means we have a full strength state team to pick from for the rest of the year.
And by then someone in the Australian middle order will be injured and Hussey will be there.
Tags: aiden blizzard, andrew mcdonald, brad haddin, brad hodge, brad hogg, bryce mcgain, cameron white, david hussey, dirk nannes, doug bollinger, michael clarke, peter siddle, simon katich
Posted by jrod on January 5, 2008 under VIC, WA |
Victoria lose 20 20 game.
Victorian started the game like Ben Johnson in the 88 olympics, they were none for 50 of 4.5 overs.
That was when Blizzard went out, and from there it was scrappy.
They did manage to get to 180 odd.
Pomersbach, Ronchi and Voges all took slices out of that score, until the forgotten Zimbabwean Ervine came out and got the Warriors home comfortably.
It was the loss they had to have, as long as they don’t have another one.
We have won this tournament 2 years in a row, we deserve that ticket to India.
In other news today, I heard a cricket show on RRR called cricket weakly, who devote some of their show to getting (Future PM) David Hussey into the Australian team.
Last week they called for Ponting to be dropped, next week they may ask for Michael Clarke to be dropped. Or Brad Hogg even, the Future Pm bowls some great offies.
Cricket weakly is on RRR at 9am Saturday mornings, what were the odds I’d be up at that time.
Must be fate.
Posted by jrod on December 12, 2007 under VIC |
In thinking about Victoria’s victory today I’m reminded of Rosie Perez in White men can’t jump, when she said in a thick latino accent,
“Sometimes when you win, you really lose, and sometimes when you lose, you really win, and sometimes when you win or lose, you actually tie, and sometimes when you tie, you actually win or lose”
It never made sense to me before, but now I get it, she was talking about the fact that when Victoria won, it really lost, because they failed to get Bryce McGain a haul of wickets.
As much as we all want Victoria to win the pura Sheffield cup Shield, what we really want is Victorians in the Australian side.
I am so sick and tired, (after 2 test matches) of watching smug NSWelshman, coy Westerners, slow Queenslanders or ex Tasmanians.
One Victorian, is it too much to ask for?
McGain is still the best spinner in the country, but a 5 for would have been nice. I think he was a bag of wickets away from really having a shot at playing. Now its either Hogg or Tait I fear.
But lets not dwell on Former Cricket With balls own Bryce McGain, let us get all gaga over Siddle, the man with a bowling average of 11 after 2 games.
This is a list of the bowlers he has taken more wickets than this year, all of which have played at least 4 games.
Stuart Clark, Jason Gillespie, Mitchell Johnson, Brad Hogg and Ben Hilfenhaus.
So if Bryce isn’t going to get the gong, let me flim flam over to Siddle, who is now Our Siddle, until he fails or he starts to annoy me for some petty reason.
Posted by jrod on December 10, 2007 under TAS |
Well we would know the answer to that question if he could stay fit for more than 2 days at a time.
I can tell you what he looks like, he looks like a damn good bowler who knocks up getting wickets.
Oh and he also looks a little like a Mexican wrestler.
According to the official site he is a 24 year old young fast bowler, who this year is averaging like 10 runs per wicket, after a game and a half.
Thems good figures.
Lets not get too excited over him though, he is a Victorian fast bowler, so we can only expect him to play 3 first class games a year.
As for Tasmania’s capitulation, you can only assume it was a good toss to win, but having seen some highlights the ball was still hooping around when Quiney and Jewell put it beyond doubt.
So perhaps the Tasmanians didn’t put in the hard yards.
The only problem I can see for Victoria in this match as it stands is that Our Bryce McGain may not get a 4th day wicket to toil on.
His only hope may rest in the nail clippers of Brad Hogg.
Posted by jrod on December 6, 2007 under TAS, WA |
…
Something weird happened in a state game today.
Western Australia played Tasmania in Hobart (thats not the weird part).
By stumps on day 3 (of a 4 day match) the Western Warriors were 310 runs in front.
Obviously a declaration after some heavy hitting in the first hour or so was going to follow.
Instead the Warriors batted for another 50 overs declaring at tea, pretty much draining the game of life.
Now if you had a wrist spinner in your side, and he was essentially playing for his spot in the first test, wouldn’t you give him a crack at a team needing 350 on the last day of a pitch that generally wrist spinners like?
Who gives themselves one session to bowl a team out?
Then when Western Australia get out into the field, for their one session, Brad Hogg doesn’t even bowl one over.
Not one, Hussey bowled two, but Hogg, none.
On top of that, the whisper around the campfire is that Hogg has a finger infection.
If Western Australia had won, they would have been two points off top position.
So, um, what the fu(c)k is going on?
If he is injured, why has this not made the news yet?
Are they keeping him with a good average so he is more likely to be picked?
Have Tom Moody and Adam Voges started taking LSD?
Is this a conspiracy against Cricket with balls own Bryce McGain?
I need answers people.
Posted by jrod on December 4, 2007 under VIC |
Apparently there are whispers around the traps that Cricket With Balls Own Bryce McGain could be a dark horse to play for Australia.
And no I didn’t start them myself, because although I think it’s a good idea, I didn’t want to be the one to jinx him. So now that it’s already circulating, I can comment without guilt.
Over at Are you a left arm chinaman they asked a rather long winded yet eloquent question about Our Bryce. So I will try and answer it as best I can.
We all know Bryce McGain is older than Jesus, but Jesus was a wicketkeeper, and they generally have to retire at a younger age. Problems with their hands and such.
Leg spinners, with the exception of Warne and now MacGill, age exceptionally well, and no one has aged better than Our Bryce.
So lets look at his chances of playing:
The positives
Is he bowling well enough to play for Australia, fu©k yeah.
Very rarely these days do Australian spinners dominate domestically. Funky was the last who springs to mind. Bryce is continually taking wickets, and getting out good batsmen, what more can the selectors ask for?
He is on track for a 40 wicket season, thems good numbers and he is bowling with the leading wicket taker in the competition at the other end.
He is the only man to derail Simon Katich this year, who as we know, is a good player of leg spin (for a crab).
Where is the first test again, oh that’s right, his home ground, boom.
He has experience on his side, not so much first class experience, but life experience that only elderly gentleman can have.
He knows his craft inside and out, and he isn’t some part timer who happens to get wickets.
There isn’t much footage of him, so who ever India’s coach ends up as, he won’t have much to go on.
He generally seems like a nice guy (how else could he become Cricket with balls Own), and since in my life I have had negative experiences with the two other alternatives, I would say he is the nicest option.
Right at the moment he is hardly bowling a bad ball, his length and flight were flawless against the New South Welshman.
Stuart MacGill is falling apart.
He can bowl all day, which against the Indians could come in handy.
The Negatives
Stuart MacGill has 200 test wickets, Brad Hogg has been playing international cricket for a long time now.
Playing your first test against India when you’re a leg spinner is like sending a goalie out to face Brazil on his first International. Laxman, Dravid, Tendulkar & Dhoni, oh my.
He has played only ten first class games, half of them this year.
Brad Hogg has taken less wickets this year than McGain, but he does have the superior average and strike rate.
He is from Victoria, so he has the wrong shade of blue cap on his head.
Shaun tait is back baby, and he so wants to knock off some Indian scalps.
Ponting likes class players, and what Ponting wants Ponting often gets. Ponting wants MacGill, if MacGill isn’t fit, then it shall be interesting to see what Ponting wants.
He is the same age as the two alternatives, so it may be fresh blood, but it aint young blood. Even if he is well preserved.
I like him, so like Craig Howard and Ian Harvey before him, that weight could be the one to sink him.
The Verdict
There are very few surprises when it comes to selection these days in Australia. Other than Shane Watson. In general the Australian selectors play it safe, Bryce is not the safe option. Kerry O’Keefe is talking him up, so now all he needs is Terry Jenner, Ian Chappell and a Rupert Murdoch paper on his side and he is really no chance.
I want to believe they are thinking of him as a realistic option, but I just can’t see him getting picked. I think if MacGill is fit, Ponting will demand him, and if not, they’ll take the man they know over the man they don’t.
But aint it nice to be mentioned.
Update, MacGill is out for the first 2 tests. It’s down to Tait (pontings bag man in the wc), Hogg (the semi logical choice) or McGain (Cricket with balls Own). The choice is obvious.
Posted by jrod on November 3, 2007 under VIC |
My player profiles aren’t like those prissy ones you read in official match day programs.
This one is filled with my observations, right, wrong and otherwise. I’m not going to over stat you or dwell on what his child hood coaches or Terry Jenner might say.
Batting.
Like most tall batsmen, can look awkward when not in great touch. Works his way into an innings well. I always feel like he gives you a chance if you attack the stumps early on. Once he is on song he looks like an ancient Greek warrior, and really it is only his confidence that gets him out. He bats like an all rounder, similar to someone like Freddy Flintoff. This is a strength and a weakness.
He makes breathtaking 70’s and 80’s. He needs to make great 130’s, hell completely awe inspiring 200’s would be better. Can look a bit odd playing a short ball, but it does not seem to be a weakness. Hits the ball as hard as anyone in the world. That six off Dan Cullen a couple of weeks ago is still travelling. Look he can bat, but unless he averages over 50 at first class level in Australia you’d have to say he’ll struggle to ever make the national side.
Bowling.
I remember seeing him when he first came onto the scene and he seemed to have much better control than he does now. The two things I notice with his bowling are that he bowls way too many legside balls and that good batsmen milk him with ease. The legside stuff is ugly, he is essentially an Aussie version of Anil Kumble, and Kumble hardly misses the spot. White has to do the same. The other one is tricky, Everytime I have seen White bowl to a really good batsmen, Lehmann, Langer, and Collingwood they seem to score off him seemingly at will.
It’s not all bad news though. He has great variation, and when he is bowling well he seems to be able to trouble batsmen. His action does look rushed but I understand he is trying to get through the crease. Even though he is a quick leg spinner he may in fact be suited to the longer form of the game when it comes to bowling.
Fielding.
Great slipper, has good stillness that is the most important thing about being at first slip. In the one day game he may not be as quick as the other fielders, but he reads the game to so well and has such great coordination that he still causes more than his fair share of troubles. Looks ugly, but gets results, I knew a girl like that once.
Captaining.
Probably his greatest strength. Problem is he may never get to show it if he doesn’t start making big scores with the bat. Seems to understand batsmen really well when in the field. He understands the best place to put his field, and when he doesn’t he is willing to experiment until he finds the right mix. Like all bowling captains he doesn’t bowl himself when he should and bowls himself when he probably shouldn’t.
Problems.
Not enough big scores. Ponting doesn’t seem to rate him as a bowler. Ponting doesn’t seem to like his constant advice on strategy in the field. His bowling isn’t good enough right at the moment for international cricket. He is behind Shane Watson, Andrew Symonds, and Brad Hogg. He can’t seem to not annoy Ponting. Good batsmen like facing him.
Plusses.
Has enough talent to be a 10 year player for Australia. Has an abnormally great cricket mind. Is still young enough to work on his batting and bowling. Is immensely respected by his teammates in Victoria. Can hit the ball further than anyone else. Is possibly the best 2020 domestic player in the world. Is a better middle order batsmen than Shane Watson.
The Package.
Would probably be batting number 7 for most countries in the world right now, maybe even 6. But he aint in most countries in the world. He needs runs, he needs maidens and he needs to play a long spell for Australia in the one day game so he can get his feet.
The Uncle J Rod verdict.
He is one of my favourites, however my favourites don’t have good selection records, (Chuck, Elliott, and Harvey)
Australia’s loss is Victorias & Somersets gain.
Will have a long career with Australia but it may not be in the format he wants.
Posted by jrod on November 1, 2007 under VIC, WA |
More notes from the bushranger v warriors the other night that somehow I forgot to blog earlier.
Brad Hodge pulled a sharp bit of work in the field and then spent the next 30 seconds watching himself on the big screen, he looked quite impressed with his work.
You know it’s a quiet game when you have a your mp3 player in one ear and you can still clearly hear Michael Hussey tell David Hussey that he was dreaming after a big swipe off Sean Ervine.
Its such a shame to see Sean Ervine playing for the Warriors. I still remember him giving his all in the perth test where hayden temporarily borrowed Lara’s record.
This is victorias new mascot.
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This is an actual photograph of Brad Hogg catching Adam Crosthwaite. Remember when Adam was going to be the next aussie keeper.
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Oh and these photos are from my phone so obviously they aint great.
Posted by jrod on October 31, 2007 under VIC, WA |
Since I know a dude in Colac and a Colac player made his debut for the Vics today here is my attempt at Rupert Murdoch style news brief about it.
Colac native, Aaron Finch made his debut for the Victorian bushrangers last night in the heavy defeat inflicted by the Western Warriors. Finch got his first chance in the big time when Cameron White steered a shocking short ball to backward point leaving the Vics at 4 for 130.
Finch was a ball of nerves on his way to the wicket and David Hussey (future Pm David Hussey) tried to calm him down as best he could. Finch looked nervous between balls, but was still solid when each ball arrived. After six balls he got off the mark by squeezing Brad Hogg to backward point for one.
His nerves still a problem in the next over he started to set off for what could only be described as a suicidal over throw and was only saved by David Hussey’s experience. The following over Finch was struck on the pads by Brad Hogg, the umpire gave it not out after considering it. Next ball Finch was gone completely beaten in flight and ended up almost losing his footing as Gilchrist completed the dismissal.
He made 2.
For the 20 year old opening batsmen from Geelong this was surely just a stepping stone in his career. He will learn a lot from this experience.
Posted by jrod on October 29, 2007 under NSW, VIC |
Never underestimate how much a Victorian hates a New South Welsh man.
Stuart MacGill was a dead certainty for the first test at the gabba.
Matthew Hayden smashing him on a flat life less all too common scg pitch meant nothing.
But then the victorians decided that they would help the charity case that is Brad Hogg.
The man who usually doesn’t take 8 wickets in season let alone a match.
So now Australia might actually go into the first test with a man who in a whole career has taken less wickets than Jacques Kallis does in 3 years.
So one more message for the Australian Selectors is this.
Don’t pick Australia’s nicky boje on one good first class in a career and because he gets wickets in one dayers.
This one is simple chaps, don’t f*ck it up.
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