The renaissance of Shane Watson

So Shane Watson won the first ODI for us. Thanks bro.

Truth is, I like to stick with my convictions; he's unlikeable and unworthy.

But now I'm in a tizz. For all his stupid wanky faults, he's... improving.

Firstly, he made 161 runs tonight. Excellent, he did his job (probably worthy of a bit more credit, but let's not overdo it here).

Secondly, he's not a total media disaster, at least it doesn't sound like it. He acknowledged the failure that was the Ashes in a way that didn't make a mockery of every cricket fan in Australia.

Then, apparently he's heading home to Queensland to lend a hand in the clean up. PR stunt? Unlikely.

What's he going to do next? Leave the field with dignity (har har)? It's like the renaissance of Shane Watson. The worm's slowly turning and before long he won't be in the Michael Clarke category of loathing anymore.

But he's still a prick. Right? Right?? Jesus, what is he?

He may still be unlikeable, but I'm not so sure about unworthy.

Let's turn to film to melodramaticise (did I just invent a word?) my dilemma.

Here, the men's only choice is between English bullets and ours.
But there's another way.
The way of courage.
The way of love of the Strayaland.
We must tell magnificent stories, stories that extol sacrifice, bravery.
We must make them believe in the victory.
We must give them hope, pride, a desire to fight.
Yes... we need to make examples.
But examples to follow.
What we need are heroes.

Do you know any heroes around here?

Yes, comrade. I know one.

Okay, I admit it. The next post about him I'm likely to be converted.

God help us all.

Funny but wrong

I was forwarded a joke today:

A bloke walks into a brothel and says "I'm a bit kinky, how much for total humiliation?"

The madam replies "$60."

"Wow, what do I get for that?" he asks.

She says: "A baggy green cap and an Australian Cricket XI shirt."

Yes, it's very funny.

But with a huge factual error.

I'd like to know which brothel would give me an Australian test shirt for $60.

So just when you thought you were safe in a joke, you find out you'd even be paying exorbitantly for your kinky humiliation.

There really is nowhere to hide.

Better the devil you don't

Australian cricket is in some pretty serious denial tonight. This is nothing new, but you'd think now would be a good time to just come clean and admit there are problems.

Shit, even Obama could admit there were problems, and I think he had a bit more to lose.

As a consequence of this denial, I've decided that they're all - the officials and the players - a bit like doctors. This is in the sense that when something goes wrong they all band together in a showing of rampant elitism, pretending all's well, and that we shouldn't question them or their methods because they know best. But underneath the self-indulgent, egotistical collusion, there's a festering pit of discrepency and incompetence.

Not to put too fine a point on it.

"Crisis? I don't think there's a crisis in Australian cricket at all," Clarke said.

What the fuck?

Some home truths:
We were defeated by an innings three times in a five match series.
We last lost the Ashes in Australia 24 years ago. I was six months old.
In recent times we have lost to South Africa, India. We drew with Pakistan.
We are fifth in the Test rankings.
Ponting is the only captain in a century to lose three Ashes.
Oh God, there's more, you know it.

There's a sentiment that being the Australian cricket captain is a more important job than the prime minister. Sure this might indicate that our priorities are seriously misordered, but it exists. When we get sick of our government, we get rid of them. So listen up, Cricket Australia, the people are speaking, enough of your media spin, your stage-managed PR bullshit, your whimsical attitude that trying your best is good enough. At this level, it isn't, and stop evading the issue.

Australian cricket is in crisis. You've screwed up, big time, and the way to get the confidence of your public back is not by saying it isn't true.

It is true. WE SAW YOU.

My solution? Sack the lot, starting with James Sutherland, down through Hilditch, Neilsen, Ponting, and beyond.

A lot of money is invested in sport in this country. And cricket is not a sport just for the private school boys, with exclusivity betrayed by accent, and money attached. Kids here, from a young age, are encouraged to believe they can play for Australia, in whatever their sport is. There is a huge pool of excellence out there, there is talent out there, we just need some representatives willing to fetch the axe, and begin a proper process of renewal.

For the good of the country.

Just a little confidence

Alastair Cook.

While I'm not as passionate about the man as someone who posts on this blog who is not me, he has been the star of this series. Unequivocally.

He's become the first Englishman to ever do this; the third best that; he's been compared to, whisper it, Bradman, and; Jesus Christ, the stamina of the lad (take a deep breath ladies).

He's become a bit of a hero.

Before this series kicked off I thought England's uncharacteristic confidence gave them the edge. Well the edge, the corners and the sides, over an Australia more scrambled eggs than omelette.

“We're aware it's a tough assignment going to Australia and winning, very tough, but we're in a good place to do it. We're quietly confident we can do it without being over-the-top arrogant.”

Those were Andrew Strauss's words at the time, and he's certainly come good on them.

It's amazing how far a little confidence and faith in yourself can get you. Ability and talent as well, of course, but you arguably can't have one without the other.

Scariest part about all this for me is that Cook's only 26, and only just 26. He could be trouble for us for a long time to come. Worse, he could even define our trouble for a long time to come.

In summary, the most dominating tour of Australia by someone called Cook since 1788.

I just hope the impact won't be as permanent.

When you go from fan to follower

I find myself in an odd situation today. Sitting in my room, drinking my mandatory morning coffee and chowing down on a makeshift ham roll, I looked down at my hands and they were shaking. Shaking in the way I pray to a god, who may or not be there, to let the batsman get a century. Only thing is, said batsman was Alastair Cook. Granted I would be happy for him to get his century and then be bowled out along with the rest of his chums for two runs, but it is a worry none-the-less.

But if I dig down deep enough and be true, I recall a similar feeling way back at the WACA in 2006. It was different however. It was blazingly obvious that despite his century, England could not win. Freddie even admitted this in the press conference after they lost. So I was happy to see a youngster get his century. Now Cook’s century, and as I speak it is forming into a double, could win England the game. I will grant you, he has seen a bit of luck this innings, and a lot of shoddy of Australian bowling that he has merely had to take advantage of, but still, he deserved it, and I wanted him to get it.

At present I still have a dislike of England. Strauss because he is captain, Bell because he is a girl, Colly because he is a ranga, KP because he is a prick, Tremlett because he gives me the jibbles, basically I have a reason to dislike them all, except for Cook. I hear what you’re thinking, that I must feel this way because I fancy the lad. While this is true, it is not the reason. I fancy KP, but I would happily see him go under a truck before scoring a century.

However, I think I may have nailed the problem. When I fell in love with cricket, only five years ago, shameful I know, I was an angry, vicious Australian supporter. I hated all other players with so much disdain I would bark like a feral dog when they were dismissed. But now it would seem, while yes, I am a fan of my dear Australian team, I am a follower of cricket. And the latter trumps the former. I want to see a good game and I want to see good cricket, and if my boys aren’t playing good cricket, I won’t come to their defence when they lose.


By Ruth.

Selling out

There's a video on YouTube of the England cricketers saluting their supporters with a group sprinkler dance at the conclusion of the fourth Test.

Here it is:



What I find strange about this is that it's been uploaded to the Cricket Australia channel.

Does anyone else find that a little puzzling?

Sure I could understand if it was the MCG posting it, or the Barmy Army, or a player, or someone. And I can understand that press conferences and interviews make it to the CA channel, no problem. Even soirees at my future residence Kirribilli House.

But a celebratory dance by the victorious opposition, after we've played beyond poorly? Succumbed to defeat by an innings more than once, showed shocking form without an ounce of humility, with a dusting of bad sportsmanship thrown in for good measure.

When we've lost on home soil for the first time in a thousand years?

Don't get me wrong, do your little dance, enjoy your moment, thank the fans.

But Cricket Australia, really, will they stop at nothing for a few hits? Dance on our ashes, go on.

Anyway. Some of us were doing this lame dance move long before England cricketers decided to make it even lamer.

It's all over

Yet, still overpriced.

Happy New Year everyone!