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Cricket Australia Contracts

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
I'm happy with most of the list. I'm not sure why Cameron White was given a contract when he's done very little for Australia. That being said, he did do well domestically.

Dave Hussey is lucky to receive one, IMO. He's been a failure at international level.

Leaving Phil Jaques out is exceptionally harsh.

I'm not sure about Shaun Tait. Even though he's been thereabouts with regards to ODI and T20 selection, he's struggled to get through a few games without injuring himself. Trying to play in the IPL despite just recovering from injury was fairly irresponsible, so that may've been a factor in his exclusion, rightly or wrongly.

I suppose that Brad Hodge is supposed to be the reserve batsman?
David Hussey is being roughed up on this forum i tell ya. Yea he hasn't really cashed in on his chances fully, but call him a failure??. Damn other nations would love to have him ATM. The man will come around, his ability isn't in question...
 

pasag

RTDAS
Yeah don't see much of a difference between Hopes and McDonald either. McDonald did a good job when asked and certainly didn't embarrass himself with the ball, but no thanks.
 

Noble One

International Vice-Captain
David Hussey is being roughed up on this forum i tell ya. Yea he hasn't really cashed in on his chances fully, but call him a failure??. Damn other nations would love to have him ATM. The man will come around, his ability isn't in question...
Hussey does have a bad reputation on this forum. You can understand the frustration though, been given almost an entire season's worth of ODI games to nail a middle order spot. His output has been poor, lack of runs, and a struggle to score runs quickly. Especially given the amount of opportunities he has been given to really turn a match in recent times.

I still think he can turn it around. Been watching him for years churn out runs for Victoria, and know he is a run scoring machine. Will have to step up over the next year if he is to salvage his international career. Age is catching up fast.
 

Howsie

International Captain
You obviously watched the SA series closely.
What is he because he isn't a bowler, I mean for gods sake Jesse Ryder bowls medium-pace at 130 and he isn't a all-rounder. McDonald is even slower then that, and add to the fact he isn't a batsmen what is his role in the team.
 

vic_orthdox

Global Moderator
What is he because he isn't a bowler, I mean for gods sake Jesse Ryder bowls medium-pace at 130 and he isn't a all-rounder. McDonald is even slower then that, and add to the fact he isn't a batsmen what is his role in the team.
Anil Kumble bowls 100km/h, that makes him not a bowler?
 

Howsie

International Captain
Anil Kumble bowls 100km/h, that makes him not a bowler?
Kumble takes wickets though, is Ponting ever going to throw the ball to McDonald and say here get us a wicket. I always thought the English were stupid for picking there medium-pacers who could bat abit. Playing McDonald shows that we don't want to win or loose the game.
 

vic_orthdox

Global Moderator
I'm not arguing that he's actually a better bowler than some of the other candidates. What he does provide is an ability to build pressure, bowl stump to stump on low slow pitches and be difficult to score off, athleticism in the field and is a popular team member. He might even score a few runs soon.

Those who can't see the value he provided to the team, and specifically the bowling unit, don't have an understanding of bowling in partnerships. He helped Australia control the momentum of the games played, something that had rarely happened since McGrath stopped playing.
 

chaminda_00

Hall of Fame Member
You have to question whether some people have actually watched Hussey at domestic level or just looked at his overall stats. Nothing he has shown at ODI level has been anything different then what he has shown at International. Just hasn't had the odd run of brillance where he scored a million runs in a month. Most of his career he has been inconsistent and underperformed.

I think Macca actually does add some value balance out a side, like Hopes recently in the ODI team. But he will always look out of play with brillant players around him. Handy player with Clark not in the side to play the holding role and no specialist spinner. Not everyone at international level bowls 140k and not all arounder/bowling all rounders are match turners with the bat. Players that contribute are probably what Australia need over the next couple seasons. If you search of dominate players all the time, they will go down the same path as West Indies. Sometimes you have to make the most of what you got and Macca is one of the better bowlers at domestic level and handy with the bat.
 

Noble One

International Vice-Captain
I'm not arguing that he's actually a better bowler than some of the other candidates. What he does provide is an ability to build pressure, bowl stump to stump on low slow pitches and be difficult to score off, athleticism in the field and is a popular team member. He might even score a few runs soon.

Those who can't see the value he provided to the team, and specifically the bowling unit, don't have an understanding of bowling in partnerships. He helped Australia control the momentum of the games played, something that had rarely happened since McGrath stopped playing.
Summed up the value of a cricket such as Andrew McDonald perfectly. When McDonald bowls a tight stump to stump line and concedes little, the pressure builds on the batsman. Johnson may be his bowling partner, bowls a delivery with some width, the under pressure batsman attempts an outlandish drive and is out caught behind. Johnson is credited with the wicket, but the pressure was built from McDonald.

Bowlers such as Hilfy and Bollinger, whilst a more potent wicket-taking threat. Are not guaranteed to provide a similar sort of pressure. Amazing that some can rubbish McDonald's bowling ability when for years he has been one of the most consistent performers in the Sheffield Shield. Both with wickets and economy rate.

Don't see how McDonalds pace should be held against him. Bowls high 120's, good enough for such cricketers as McGrath, Clark, Vaas and Pollock.
 

howardj

International Coach
Yeah, Macca can pack his bags for the tour.

I also back his batting to quickly improve as his confidence burgeons.

Ala Tugga Waugh early doors, when his bowling was propping him up.
 

Top_Cat

Request Your Custom Title Now!
I'm not arguing that he's actually a better bowler than some of the other candidates. What he does provide is an ability to build pressure, bowl stump to stump on low slow pitches and be difficult to score off, athleticism in the field and is a popular team member. He might even score a few runs soon.

Those who can't see the value he provided to the team, and specifically the bowling unit, don't have an understanding of bowling in partnerships. He helped Australia control the momentum of the games played, something that had rarely happened since McGrath stopped playing.
Spot-on. Is the mortar between the bricks of the bowling unit, very versatile cricketer.
 
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Son Of Coco

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
What is he because he isn't a bowler, I mean for gods sake Jesse Ryder bowls medium-pace at 130 and he isn't a all-rounder. McDonald is even slower then that, and add to the fact he isn't a batsmen what is his role in the team.
Last time I checked you weren't classified as an all-rounder based on how fast you bowl. His role in the team is to tie up an end by bowling accurately and build pressure whilst taking the occasional wicket. Something he did very well in SA in the tests.
 

Son Of Coco

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
He looked like an okay bowler. A bit dull to watch though, will he get any more exciting?
Yes, in the first test at Lords for instance he's considering changing his run up to accommodate a lit firecracker he'll have dangling from his backdoor.
 

DaRick

State Vice-Captain
David Hussey is being roughed up on this forum i tell ya. Yea he hasn't really cashed in on his chances fully, but call him a failure??. Damn other nations would love to have him ATM. The man will come around, his ability isn't in question...
Yes, he's been a failure at international level. On all but two occassions since the WI tour, he's actually been woeful...which is why I maintain that he's lucky to receive a contract. He's not really earnt it.

Another problem is his age. He is not in his mid-20's; he's in his 30's, so he has less time to come around.
 

inbox24

International Debutant
They should have picked him for tests when he was averaging near 100 in the domestic scene.
 

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