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Blewett pushed into retirement
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Matt79
Global Moderator
I quite liked him for a long time, but honestly, the part where he says he under-achieved is pretty accurate, and the internal SACA politics aside, I'm not a fan of guys in their mid-30s who had a Test career and who are not going to get back into the Test team sticking around to collect the cheque and in doing so denying younger players an opportunity to improve their game at FC level. It's a bit different if you're a Shane Warne or Darren Lehmann, who will be providing plenty of experience and 'teaching' to the young guys coming through, but Blewett for mine isn't in that category.
So to that extent I applaud his decision - which I've no doubt was aided by the fact that he seems to be a chance to turn the commentary thing into a steady gig.
For a while he was a quite exciting, and later a solid batting prospect for Australia.
So to that extent I applaud his decision - which I've no doubt was aided by the fact that he seems to be a chance to turn the commentary thing into a steady gig.
For a while he was a quite exciting, and later a solid batting prospect for Australia.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
He was known to have been shopping himself around a bit last season; Chairman of Selectors Paul Nobes has made it very clear Blewett would never get another game under his watch.
And Blewett not being a guy who could teach players - I think that's a bit harsh without knowing the guy. It just seems like many of the "julios" get that sort of wrap.
I know what you mean, but if these guys still enjoy their cricket, and people think they can still contribute, it's a bit harsh to just write them away.
And Blewett not being a guy who could teach players - I think that's a bit harsh without knowing the guy. It just seems like many of the "julios" get that sort of wrap.
Matt79
Global Moderator
Agree, to an extent. I don't want to say that if you're not a future test player you have no business trying to hold down a FC slot - if you extend that logic far enough, 99% might as well never bother playing at all. However, I do think that the fact that, from a big picture perspective, we want to have young players who have the potential to develop into international prospects coming through the ranks, and sometimes the seasoned 'FC pro' can have the side-effect of denying those opportunities. I suppose the flip-side is that they often improve the standard of the competition which in turn produces better players. I wouldn't have said Blewett fell into this category previously, but I'd guess he's probably getting to that point now.
Again, agreed - it was probably harsher than what I meant to say, which is that I think in cases where guys are exceptional cricket players and cricketing brains, like Warne and Lehmann, then its fantastic to have them around as much as possible, almost regardless of whether they're still a force on the field. But that's exceptional. Blewett's experience and knowledge no doubt could have been, and probably has been, immensely helpful to the SA team, but I don't think he's quite in that exceptional category as a 'playing coach/mentor'. Which is hardly a knock against him tbh. And obviously this is all based on what I've seen as an outsider, so its probably got as little merit as any other discussion regarding a player's personality and off-field contributions!
Matt79
Global Moderator
That's true - as I said in my reply to Jack, I guess it's a balancing act...
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
He's one of those players which I find randomly people will say "yeah I like Ponting and Hayden... but my favourite player of all time is still Blewett."
He was okay to watch, I wouldn't say I was a big fan. It seems he has a future in commentating going by his recent appearances.
He was okay to watch, I wouldn't say I was a big fan. It seems he has a future in commentating going by his recent appearances.
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Just for a second I thought you were saying I like Hayden.
Would have been cue for a
if so.
marc71178
Eyes not spreadsheets
Interesting to see you how reconcile that with your stance on Kolpaks and the like.
chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
Considering the job that Blewett did with SA, when he was captain. I thought he did a really good job personally. I reckon he would be good coach for their young batsmen. Mind you with Lehmann, Elliott (who meant to be an assistant coach or something), Blewett and maybe Greg Chappell as head coach, its a bit over kill with so many batting orientent coaches/experienced players. You will probably get all four giving you different advice during the season.
On the issue of older players hanging around too long, personally i think its worse when younger players get thrown into the starting XI too early or your batting line up is full of inexperience batsmen. I got no problem with quality batsmen like Blewett hanging around, who have played at the highest level. The problem i have is when you have the Greg Mail's of the world hanging around and not letting the Jarrad Burke's get a game. Its about having a balanced batting line up with experienced and talented players in the same side.
On the issue of older players hanging around too long, personally i think its worse when younger players get thrown into the starting XI too early or your batting line up is full of inexperience batsmen. I got no problem with quality batsmen like Blewett hanging around, who have played at the highest level. The problem i have is when you have the Greg Mail's of the world hanging around and not letting the Jarrad Burke's get a game. Its about having a balanced batting line up with experienced and talented players in the same side.
Richard
Cricket Web Staff Member
Completely separate issues, for a variety of reasons. 1, I've always said that good non-English-qualified (whether Kolpak, EU-passport or overseas-player) players are always worth a go, it's the ones who are barely if at all better than the English ones (and they're the large majority) that I'd rather do without. 2, retaining established ex-international players is no different in cost - and that's the major issue I've got with import (of any kind) players, nothing to do with forcing-out home-grown players - to bringing in younger, lesser-quality players.
honestbharani
Whatever it takes!!!
well, he was a very good player and unfortunate to have not had more internationals. Hopefully, he will have a good career in the commentary box or wherever he is gonna go now.
age_master
Hall of Fame Member
He might have been pushed into retirement but i think he was about due, better to retire then try and ride it out and perform for another year. He seems to have a commentary gig waiting for him at the moment which is a good excuse to go now too.
Craig
World Traveller
Would of been one of those players had he been born in England/New Zealand/West Indies/South Africa or anywhere else he would have had a longer go and in turn likely would have been more successfull if going by the law of averages.
Been a while since I saw him bat properly, wasn't it his technique that caught him out?
Been a while since I saw him bat properly, wasn't it his technique that caught him out?
