The man who should lead Australia out of T20 hole has just been sacked
There has been a significant pile-on from many former Australian greats on national cricket selectors following the Twenty20 World Cup debacle in Sri Lanka although underperforming players need to carry most of the can.
I didn’t want to mention this again but, the defence of Steve Smith’s omission from the squad is not only comical, it sadly demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of the flexible and adaptable nature of 20-over cricket.
Australia didn’t make it past the group stage of the Twenty20 World Cup.Credit: AP
Maybe Mark Waugh is right, a specific T20 selector is required on the panel. Mark himself filled that role in the past so he has working knowledge of what it takes to be effective in choosing the best XI at the right time in changing environments.
There is no doubt that an Australian team minus Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will be worse off. So the next crop of bowlers should come from the best of the BBL, which had just concluded as Australia took on Pakistan in the warm-ups. You can’t get much more contemporary than that.
So why wasn’t Sean Abbott, with his change of pace and batting ability, warming the pine at the World Cup? In the slow bowling spot Matthew Kuhnemann has been outstanding but overlooked for the underperforming Cooper Connolly. Loyalty is one thing, ignoring the bleeding obvious is something else. Cameron Green lost his bowling radar before the Ashes and hardly bowls in T20 but at least he bothered the scorers in the Lahore series, although he didn’t look comfortable once the Sri Lankan spinners came on.
In defence of the critics, these issues were spotted before the Cup started. I guess one consolation in losing to Zimbabwe is that the Africans have now beaten Sri Lanka as well, so kudos to them. Zimbabwe is now looking the goods for a semi-final berth with the likes of Sikandar Raza, Blessing Muzarabani, Wellington Masakadza and Brian Bennett leading the way.
Tim David trudges off after being dismissed against Zimbabwe.Credit: Getty Images
The specialist selector theory has merit. The corollary is that it is time the Australian T20 team had a specialist coach.
Head coach Andrew McDonald has a very full schedule and from August Australia have a hectic Test program, that coupled with the decline in the T20 team’s performances points to some reimagining of the 20-over pathway.
Fortunately for Australia – and very unfortunately for the NSW players – a veteran, extraordinarily credentialed coach has become available. Blues and Sixers coach Greg Shipperd has had his contract broken after originally been granted another season. The decision has not been rationally explained. His work with a young and developing squad has been meticulous and given there are over 30 players of NSW origin now contracted to the other states it would seem that the state is doing all the heavy lifting for Australian cricket.
This needs to be recognised in a more tangible form. Maybe if cricket had transfer fees ala soccer, then NSW and its clubs would be enhancing facilities and developing support coaches and staff in bigger numbers than it already does? It’s time for Cricket Australia to come to terms with the inequities of a system that is biased toward states who prefer to raid rather than develop.
Experience: Greg Shipperd was shown the door by NSW.Credit: Getty Images
Shipperd’s record with the Sydney Sixes is unmatched and comes on the back of a lengthy tenure in the Indian Premier League at Delhi.
Continuity of success in elite sport is very difficult as opponents constantly seek an edge, a change in technology, revolutionary training methods and analysis but the essence of continued excellence is the ability of the players to be well coached and to adapt.
Dynasties are rare in modern sport, and if you can buy all the best players then winning is easier but not guaranteed. The Sydney Sixers have made the finals nine years out of 11, reasonable signs that the coaching staff are on the right track – especially with significant player turnover across a decade. The Perth Scorchers have won more titles in that time but have a losing record playing away from home.
The Sixers have won more games on the road than anyone else in Big Bash history, so if it’s not broken why fix it? Anyhow, the fix is in which leaves the silver lining for Australian cricket.
Put Shipperd in charge of all T20 selections and coaching. He can appoint his own advisers and support staff, taking the load off McDonald, George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide.
McDonald never leaves the dressingroom to personally check on the new talent, which is fair enough as he is the coach and needs to attend to team schedules and plans, but he is one of just three who control the immediate future of each format.
The eyes and minds are spread thinly and yet are still not covering enough territory. Selection is not about depending solely on the numbers; observing the nuance of game situations is vital to a genuine perspective on performance.
Prima facie, it appears the selectors need to get out of the house and check out what’s healthy, what’s wilting and what’s growing in their own backyard.
They are isolated in a closed system which is limiting objectivity and enabling players to become too comfortable with mediocrity. It’s time for thinking outside the silo.
NSW and the Sixers’ loss should be Australia’s gain.
