2. Australian cricket is in crisis.
Australian coach Mickey Arthur shocked the
cricket world on Monday when he announced
that four players – Shane Watson, Usman
Khawaja, James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson
– were ineligible for selection for the Third Test
team against India starting on Thursday.
3. Not doing their homework
The four players were dropped for not completing
a team assignment which was set for the every
member of the touring squad following their
loss in the Second Test.
All players were asked by coach Mickey Arthur to
map out a written plan for their individual
approach to training and preparation for the
next Test.
The presentation could be in any format. Even
Powerpoint.
4. Eight days between Tests
This is despite the fact that the Australian team
had eight days between the end of the Second
Test and the start of the Third Test with no
cricket scheduled.
No practice match, nothing.
(Or in Matthew Wade's case plenty of time to play
basketball and bust his ankle.)
5. Coach Mickey out of his depth
See the full Cricket Australia media release,
including video of Mickey Arthur's conference,
by clicking on
http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2013/3/11/four-players-stood-down
Does Mickey look to you like a man who has lost
control and is attempting a solution that is way
out of proportion to the real problem?
6. Gratuitous Powerpoint chart of the
Career statistics of the 4 dropped players
60
50
No.Tests
40
Batting Av.
30 Bowling Av.
20
10
0
Khawaja Johnson Pattinson Watson
7. How to improve for the Third Test?
(1) Organise a practice match for the team when
they have a week off between Tests. No
wasting time on self-analysis assignments.
(2) Accumulate as many runs as possible in the
first innings when you win the toss and bat first
(which includes not declaring at nine wickets
down on the first day)
(3) Play your best players in every game. No
rotation.
And.....
8. JUST DO IT
Pick the best
people to pick the
best people.