Last Word

Sun Herald

Sunday January 4, 2009

David Sygall

Punter fires back after year of hell

HAPPY New Year, Ricky Ponting. In the 12 months since the infamous Sydney Test against India, the Aussie captain copped plenty of stick. The team's behaviour, his field placings, control of over rates, use of bowlers - he was even accused recently of putting his own fortunes ahead of the team's. Series losses to India and South Africa, and now the added pain of yesterday's golden duck, haven't helped. It's been a while since a captain has endured such polarising discussion. Ponting has spent 13 sweet years in a great team and isn't used to losing. He's not too keen on hearing unconstructive criticism either - and it seems he's tired of the jibes from some Channel Nine commentators. In the current issue of Inside Cricket magazine, Ponting returns fire: "Since I have been in charge I have invited all of the commentary team at different times to come down to the rooms ... because a lot of the guys in the commentary box these days probably have not been in a cricket dressing room for 30, 40, 50 years; and things have changed. Captain-wise, I probably speak with Tugga [Steve Waugh] as much as anybody. The other guys you don't ever see around. They are never around the team and they wouldn't have a clue what some of the blokes in the team are really like, but they are out there every day making judgments on them."

Bozza's still the life of the party

FORMER Socceroo and English Premier League star Mark Bosnich is a hit at Sydney FC. While the weight of the football world descends upon the players' shoulders, Bosnich keeps the atmosphere at training positive. He trains at full tilt, screaming, yelling, advising and encouraging. He talks to onlookers and teammates and from time to time unleashes an infectious and eccentric laugh for the whole ground to hear. For a guy who's been through so much, it's great to see Bozza seemingly at peace with the world - and still loving his football.

Ready for revolution?

AFL coaching guru Kevin Sheedy admired league legend Jack Gibson for going to the United States, acquiring new ideas and bringing them back to apply to league. Sheedy took Gibson's example, pushing AFL in the US. Sheedy is a busy man, despite ending his 27-year career coaching Essendon, but we wonder if he'd be interested in a new post that's come up - coach of the American Revolution, the US AFL team. One qualification: the successful applicant should know the job is voluntary and he must be prepared to pay to travel with the team.

Over the rainbow

CRICKET identity Ross Barrat returned from South Africa last week marvelling at the potential in the Rainbow Nation. Barrat attended a national junior carnival and said the future looked bright for South African cricket. "There were kids of all different backgrounds playing - and the talent was unbelievable," said Barrat, who is friends with many players around the world through his cricket consultancy business. "The facilities they have there now are much better - even in some of the black townships I went to the facilities have greatly improved. It was really great to see."

One for the trophy case

AUSTRALIA and the West Indies play for the Frank Worrell Trophy, against Sri Lanka it's for the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, England it's for the Ashes, New Zealand for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Any suggestions for a prize for us to try to win from the South Africans? The Warne-Cullinan Shield, perhaps?

Baseball v cricket

CRICKET is sometimes compared to baseball but former Test quick and Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson identifies an interesting difference. Lawson, in his column for theroar.com.au, recently wrote: "When asked about the demands of the cricket players, I often use the example of professional American baseball players who have a 162-game schedule between mid-April and September (not including the play-offs, which may bring the total to 180). Yes, they are paid well, but they rarely see their families and they can play two games in one day, catch a 2am flight and play the next afternoon. Now that's a packed schedule."

Bias, what bias?

YOU have to wonder what the late David Hookes would have thought. The proud former Victorian coach infamously stated, at the prime of Australian cricket dominance in 2003, that "when they give out the baggy blue cap in NSW, they give you a baggy green in a brown paper bag as well to save making two presentations". The selection panel is now Andrew Hilditch, Merv Hughes, David Boon and Jamie Cox - a South Australian, Victorian and two Tasmanians, respectively. We're sure it's just a coincidence, but the Victoria-Tasmania connection appears a lot stronger, with Vics Cameron White, Peter Siddle, Bryce McGain, Andrew McDonald and Tasmanians Jason Krejza and Ben Hilfenhaus all getting somewhat unexpected call-ups lately. In the meantime, the Blues' Beau Casson was inexplicably punted, Doug Bollinger had to wait until the series was lost, in-form prodigy Phillip Hughes missed out and paceman Nathan Bracken remains snubbed.

Bob's your uncle

WHEN announcing Simon Katich as the Steve Waugh medallist last year, Steve Waugh introduced him as "a man about to start the second part of his international career". Waugh nailed it. But the secret of Katich's success has been his two-year personal link with Bob Simpson, who ironed out Katich's technical problems. It's remarkable to think that the kind of advice Katich received is available at Sydney grade side Parramatta, where Simpson is a consultant coach.

Costly divorce

AS IN any great love affair, one partner is destitute without the other. And, hence, the trouble with Matthew Hayden. Prior to the retirement of his long-term partner, Justin Langer, Hayden's average was a proud 53. Since the divorce, Hayden's average has been a heartbroken 36.82. Where for art thou, JL?

Sanity first

THE future of the Indian Premier League may be in question due to fears over player safety. But whether or not the players head over, Neil Maxwell won't be re-signing again as chief executive of Kings XI Punjab. Maxwell last year became the only Australian to hold a high-ranking position in Indian cricket. But after several exhausting months getting the team set up, Maxwell decided keeping his sanity was too important to return.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT

BRETT LEE had a case for being confused as to why people were questioning his place in the team before he got injured. Just a few months ago the reigning Allan Border medallist reached 300 one-day wickets after 171 games, the fewest by any player to reach that milestone. His average of 22.95 was the 14th-lowest ever and the third-lowest among players to have taken 300 or more wickets. Lee has also battled turmoil in his private life, a debilitating virus while in India recently and a huge workload on the field since the retirement of Glenn McGrath. He'll be back.

Calendar capers

SINCE 1991, the January Test match in Sydney has started on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th. But since 1998, it has always started on the 2nd. Until yesterday, that is. The change threw off a handful of people, who turned up on Friday. They weren't alone. The scoreboard showed "Australia v South Africa. January 2, 2009". Yesterday, however, was a big day for the ground, with the $82 million, 12,500-seat Victor Trumper Stand making its Test debut. The next big facelift - the rebuilding of the Bradman, Noble and Messenger stands - should be completed by 2015. If it's not the best ground in the world now, it will be then.

Fresh thinking

SEVEN Hills/Toongabbie RSL Cricket Club, the junior club of Test debutant Doug Bollinger, held a poll asking who should have been the spinner for the Adelaide Test. Nathan Hauritz polled well, as did the great Warney. But a majority 23 per cent of voters felt the A grade captain, a bloke nicknamed Fresh, should have got the nod. The way the selectors are going, Fresh should keep his phone nearby.

Huss in a fuss over Roy

MIKE HUSSEY was a little edgy at the crease yesterday, and it wasn't just because of his barren run. Hussey makes a habit of sitting beside Andrew Symonds before he bats because the Queenslander's laidback attitude helps him to relax. But with Symonds gone Hussey had to rely on his own devices to chill out.

Pigeon plays it safe

AFTER all he's seen and done, nothing much should faze Glenn McGrath. But at a book signing at Bondi Junction, actor Les Hill, of Underbelly fame, caught the great former bowler slightly off guard. Ex-bouncer Hill, who played gangster Jason Moran in the crime series, received a carefully crafted signature and best wishes from McGrath.

© 2009 Sun Herald

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