2015 Ashes.

[Barry G]

No better in tubbies day, we even had involment through Warne and Waugh remember. Also the Sth Africians with Cronje

And that is why I don't know why anyone gives a stuff about the results in India etc, but at least he could lead from the front in Pom land and get the results. Which is my entire point.

[achjimmy]

With Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist ,and slats and that quality. I could poke both eyes out and get a result leading that team
in the UK, especially against the upper class cronies they had playing  ! Tubby was great one of my favourites but he was blessed as he will be the first to admit. That's my point. I didn't like Clarke as Captain particularly either but he helped rebuild AU side after the guts had been removed . The windies are still trying to rebuild 20+ yrs later

[D4D]

...but he helped rebuild AU side after the guts had been removed.

Agreed, Warner, Hughes, Johnson, Starc, Harris, Smith etc. have all been influenced/grown by Clarke under his leadership.

[Swannie]

and is a bigger show pony than the last 10 captains put together.

Nothing wrong with being a show pony if you got the cash, the ladies and set up for life good luck to anybody I say

Swannie

[Moggy]

Not convinced that smith has the mental toughness, though...


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So who could be captain then? Surely not warner, haddin's done & has no interest in the job. Bring watto back .
Maybe kattich might get a recall,  now with clarke going.
The biggest down for smith will be a lack of senior players to call on for advice, but he's a long term prospect or at least next summer :-)

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[D4D]

Some good memories here
http://www.cricket.com.au/news/michael-clarke-retires-best-test-innings-highlights-australian-captain/2015-08-09

[lino6]

What ever you think of the bloke, Clarke could bat.

[Bird]

Clarke:

[alnjan]

What ever you think of the bloke, Clarke could bat.

Just not lately.....even Watson was out batting him

[lino6]

Just not lately.....even Watson was out batting him

True, but when I said he could bat I'm talking about the bloke who scored 4 double tones in a calendar year. The guy who scored a triple century. Gunna go out on a limb and say Watson today would out bat Bradman today, but I still put Bradman miles above Watson (and Clarke).

Reckon the last 4 test captains played too long. It was just that Waugh and Taylor had some handy players to hide behind. Ponting and Clarke didn't.

[listo]

I'm not so sure that Bradman & Watson belong in the same hemisphere let alone the same sentence

[aussie9]

I have been a horse trainer for 40 years and the Stewards ram down our throats that all the rules and regulations for our sport are to ensure the "Betting Public" have confidence in an honest system
Now that we can bet on most sports, cricket included, how can players play with injuries that are often undisclosed or play after getting pain killing shots etc
If our horse don't perform to an acceptable standard, thy are sent back to the trials until they do perform satisfactorily
Why can't cricketers or any sportsman be sent back to state or grade games until they re qualify for A Grade selection
If Clarkes head hasn't been in the right place since Hughes unfortunate death, he should have stated as much to selectors and been sent to the trials with reduced pressure. This would also let some new blood get a chance to show us what they can do at International level.
People bet on Australia winning the Ashes and should feel robbed if players knew they weren't coping and still played.
My missus, on the other hand, reckons they were all tired from carrying their Big Heads around!
Just my thoughts anyway


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[achjimmy]

I'm not so sure that Bradman & Watson belong in the same hemisphere let alone the same sentence

quoting bird

X 253165163828

[achjimmy]

I have been a horse trainer for 40 years and the Stewards ram down our throats that all the rules and regulations for our sport are to ensure the "Betting Public" have confidence in an honest system
Now that we can bet on most sports, cricket included, how can players play with injuries that are often undisclosed or play after getting pain killing shots etc
If our horse don't perform to an acceptable standard, thy are sent back to the trials until they do perform satisfactorily
Why can't cricketers or any sportsman be sent back to state or grade games until they re qualify for A Grade selection
If Clarkes head hasn't been in the right place since Hughes unfortunate death, he should have stated as much to selectors and been sent to the trials with reduced pressure. This would also let some new blood get a chance to show us what they can do at International level.
People bet on Australia winning the Ashes and should feel robbed if players knew they weren't coping and still played.
My missus, on the other hand, reckons they were all tired from carrying their Big Heads around!
Just my thoughts anyway


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Best solution  ban betting on all sports 

[dales133]

Nothing wrong with being a show pony if you got the cash, the ladies and set up for life good luck to anybody I say

Swannie

Agree completly. ..unless you become shane warne.
That should be illegal

[achjimmy]

True, but when I said he could bat I'm talking about the bloke who scored 4 double tones in a calendar year. The guy who scored a triple century. Gunna go out on a limb and say Watson today would out bat Bradman today, but I still put Bradman miles above Watson (and Clarke).

Reckon the last 4 test captains played too long. It was just that Waugh and Taylor had some handy players to hide behind. Ponting and Clarke didn't.

Yep and I reckon it's the bucks, let's just hang around for a year or two and top up that super by $2-3million?

Here's a thought after 5yrs or before 30 switch the contract to performance based where they don't get a cent until there above a certain average. Then see if they wanna play on simply to review LBW decisions

[achjimmy]

Agree completly. ..unless you become shane warne.
That should be illegal

Don't tell me Shane warne gives you the 5h1+s ?

[dales133]

Advanced hair *selfie* .. yea yea..*selfie* ...im not alone.

[achjimmy]

Advanced hair *selfie* .. yea yea..*selfie* ...im not alone.

Lol yep pretty ordinary. But I gotta say the latest ad where he's rooting somebodies misuses is pretty funny taking the p155 out of himself?

But love him or hate the twit was an amazing cricketer .

[lino6]

Stu McGill was the same, brilliant on the field, bit of a toss off it. Both brilliant leg spinners though.

[dales133]

Yea he was.
I just wish hed take a leaf out off julia gillards book and stfu when he retired.

[Barry G]

It would be interesting to see some from earlier eras in the modern context.
Keith Miller for instance, like some in other fields in that era (JFK for instance) he would've found the instant media a pain.
His "pressure is having a Messerschmidt up your arse" comment deriding the existence of 'pressure' in the sport would be welcome today.
He was a bit of a bad boy', but a great cricketer and, above all, leader.  I would have him over Bradman, batting averages aren't everything.

[Bird]

Nothing wrong with being a show pony if you got the cash, the ladies and set up for life good luck to anybody I say

Swannie

There is when it interferes and ****s up and makes you not capable of doing your job.. 

[Davepatrol]

The biggest problem with the Aussie team is they play to much one day cricket with the smash and run attitude and take the same attitude into the test matches.

[Robbo]

What more can one say.