We'll see how Australia cope when they are shorn of all their 30something current players...
And again, Australia HAVE been missing many key players at various times in the past and have STILL either won or at least not capitulated.
The 1995 tour of the WI is a case in point: Australia, before the Test series even started, lost Damien Fleming and Craig McDermott, two of their senior bowlers at the time just off successful series for each of them against England a few weeks before. Did the entire touring side drop its bundle? No. The remaining bowlers took it upon themselves to do the job and they did and beat the WI for the first time in many years.
I'm sorry but blaming injuries is coming across as excuses for poor performance from a team which probably didn't have the gumption or confidence to do well anyway, but guess what? Now they have something to blame.............
Trawling through the annals of cricket history, I discovered an amazing fact which may come as a surprise to some English players and supporters alike; PLAYERS HAVE BEEN INJURED BEFORE.
:O
Let's face it; the players probably didn't believe they could win and with subsequent injuries, that initial problem in attitude is masked by the injury excuse. If you don't believe you can win, then you simply won't. There is the heart of the problem in my opinion, NOT the injuries.
Plus, the lack of foresight in selection of this English team is unbelievable. Are we to believe that they picked a fast bowler who has
suddenly developed shin splits? Rubbish. Shin splits takes time to develop and if the English physios had been doing their job, it would have been picked up and Harmison probably wouldn't have come, been forced to play and aggravated the injury. He needs REST. Take it from someone who's had shin splits.
Picking Jones was probably a good idea as has potential. Picking him in at least another year would probably have been better. Throwing him to the wolves as the great hope for England was putting too much pressure on such a young guy so soon.
Hoggard...........another guy who probably had potential but has been reduced to a little above medium-pace by the County grind. He just isn't up to Test standard anymore. Either bowls too short or on the pads.
Picking John Crawley, a guy with an exceptionally poor record against Australia wasn't the most inspired selection and I don't care how remarkable it is that Alec Stewart is supposedly able to still play Test cricket at 39 years of age; he isn't up to Test standard anymore and keeping him in the side is keeping a more agile performer out.
Picking Gough injured was REALLY stupid. Now that he's predictably gone home injured, it gives the Aussies a confidence boost because the English selectors appeared desperate in picking an obviously injured player. Picking Silverwood or Tudor right from the start would have been a less apparently desperate move or at least someone who's not injured!
In short; don't blame the injuries. The attitude of players and administrators alike is the problem here. Blaming the injuries AGAIN just masks the real problem.
[Edited on 12/11/2002 by Top_Cat]