Shallowest of shallow barrels
The top-order batting clique that we sent over to Aus looked pretty damn strong and possibly the strongest we have to call on: Ryder, McCullum, Guptill, Taylor. So Ryder has to go and spoil it by having a sore shoulder. There seems to be a good chance that he won’t play in the series at all.
And who do they choose to replace him with? Craig Cumming, who we last saw three years ago scoring a forgettable 13 – in fact you might have forgotten entirely that he ever played ODIs.
This is a dramatic weakening of our top order. In the 12 matches they have respectively played, Cummings has scoring 161 runs and Ryder 330. How is it that our second tier is half as strong as our top selections?
January 29th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Hello dear blogging friend,
Cricket with balls has now moved, true story.
We are now at cricketwithballs.com, so if you could update our address in your blogroll that would be great.
Ofcourse if you already had us down as .com, never mind.
Cheers.
January 29th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I think Cumming is a good selection, especially when you think the main alternative would’ve been Sinclair.
It couldn’t have been Flynn, because they haven’t got his number,
see here
January 29th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
From afar, molesy’s hunches haven’t seemed too wide of the mark thus far, if indeed that’s what it is…
January 30th, 2009 at 10:23 am
I think Cumming is a good selection, especially when you think the main alternative would’ve been Sinclair.
Is Cumming going to be the next Sinclair?
I’m not about to advocate for Sinclair, but I have seen much more from him in ODIs than I ever have from Cumming. I don’t think I like the idea of using a good domestic/poor international in a run of form drafted in as cover for injury. I would rather see someone with a proven track record used, even if they are out of form.
If Cumming (or Papps or Bell or Mason) were to fight their way back into the team, I would prefer it were for a whole series. Given time to properly prepare and train for the conditions.
It is also a real shame Cumming is going to miss the Shield final. Surely he’s better off playing in Hamilton than suffer a hiding to nothing at Perth. And it is unfair of the selectors to put him in this position I feel.
It couldn’t have been Flynn, because they haven’t got his number,
I think it is easier to remember someone’s number when you are giving them good news.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
“I think it is easier to remember someone’s number when you are giving them good news.“
True, but to convey the message by text and get the number wrong is not a great look for a sporting body.
Makes it harder for the selectors to then turn around a criticise players for poor judgement and execution.
Even if it is a bit funny.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
True, but to convey the message by text and get the number wrong is not a great look for a sporting body.
It could hardly be worse. Maybe if Glenn Turner took Flynn off his Facebook friends list?