CA name the Australia A XI … they should just name the 1st test team now too!

October 29, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Cricket Australia has announced the following line up under the banner of “Australia A” to take on an English XI at Bellerive Oval between 6 and 9 November:

Moises Henriques (capt), Glenn Maxwell, Trent Copeland, Ben Cutting, Alex Doolan, Callum Ferguson, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Michael Klinger, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine

I have no real cavil with this team as selected. Indeed I like the batting line up that has been selected noting the failure to inclusion Aaron Finch for the first class fixture which I believe is the right move.

That said, it is the names that are missing from the Australia A team sheet that gives an eye to who will be in the first test match squad for the game at the Gabba.

It is understood that Cricket Australia will announce the line up for the 1st test at the Gabba on 12 November. Frankly though, why do they not just name the team now? The logic here is simple: there are 3 first class games between now and 21 November. One of those matches starts after 12 November so form in that match will not count for anything. Players currently in India with the Australian team will not return in time to play in the first Shield game which starts this Wednesday. And, finally and most compellingly, George Bailey has not been selected in the Australia A team. Nor has Fawad Ahmed.

All of this suggests to me that Cricket Australia already knows who it will select for the 1st test. This is because, absent such a decision already having been made I feel absolutely certain George Bailey would be in the Australia A line up. I am even more certain that Fawad Ahmed would be in the line up.

If Cricket Australia have already made up their minds: why continue with the charade of the Sheffield Shield rounds being a selection trial that they obviously are not? Why not just name the team for the first test now and be done with it?

The first test team will be as follows regardless of Sheffield Shield form:

Clarke (c), Warner, Rogers, Watson, Bailey, Smith, Haddin, Johnson, Harris, Siddle, Lyon, Ahmed (12th man)

Indeed: David Warner could score 4 ducks in four innings of the two Sheffield Shield games before the first test team is names and he will still be selected. That is how sure I am CA already know the team they will select. I hope I am wrong but the predictability of Cricket Australia at the moment tells me that, absent an injury, I am a short price favourite to resoundingly right.

Great win for Queensland: but will the selectors notice?

October 27, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

In case you missed it the Queensland Bulls defended their Ryobi Cup 50 over title today at the North Sydney Oval. This win represents the 5th trophy won by Queensland teams in domestic cricket in Australia from the last 6 available.

Unfortunately, and you don’t need to be Nostradamus to be able to declare this, Ryan Harris aside the excellent and sustained performances of those in the Queensland team are unlikely to be rewarded at the selection table by Cricket Australia.

One only needs to consider the story of Chris Hartley to know this statement to be true. Long regarded the best wicket keeper in the country and a consistent batsman he will never play for Australia it seems. He is behind players, it would seem, that are more marketable and have more flair with the bat with significantly less talent with the wicket keeping gloves.

There are other players who must, on form and consistency, also be in the frame for Australian selection from Queensland including but not limited to Chris Lynn who will not be seen in international colours because the selectors see others ahead of them regardless of form.

I am all for picking the best team available from the players and teams that are in the best form. The Queensland Bulls have been the form team of the last 3 years and yet do not seem to get a look in at the selection table OR, when they are selected, do not get a fair run in the team (P Forrest and B Cutting key examples).

Readers I will make a wager with you: Queensland will be on the top of the Sheffield Shield table by the time it is time to select the team for the first test and only Ryan Harris from Queensland will be selected in that team or any test team throughout the season. Does anyone want to take me on?

Shumpty’s Punt: Sunday Specials

October 27, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks, Shumpty's Punt Tags: , , , Leave a comment

It is the Indian Formula One Grand Prix tonight. I have a couple of wagers on the race as well as a multi that includes it and some of the early NFL games.

As always: good luck and good punting:

Indian Formula One:

First Retirement: Romain Grosjean ($15.00)

Fastest Lap: Sebastian Vettel ($2.25)

Will there be a safety car? Yes ($2.60)

Multi-bet:

Leg 1: In the Indian Formula One Grand Prix the number of classified drivers to be less than 18.5 drivers. ($2.35)

Leg 2: Total game score in the Sunderland v Newcastle EPL game to be great than 2.5 goals. ($1.73)

Leg 3: Detroit Lions to cover the line (-3.0 points) against the Denver Broncos in the NFL ($1.95)

Leg 4: Kansas City Chiefs to defeat the Cleveland Browns in the NFL ($1.30)

This multi will pay $10.31 for each dollar invested.

Have a great Sunday night!

Shumpty’s Punt: Cox Plate Day

October 26, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Mooney Valley has never been a happy hunting ground for me but am jumping into the form for this Cox Plate Day with renewed vigour off the back of the best weekend I have had on the punt in a while last weekend and Buffering’s win last night.

Here are my tips for today’s racing at “the Valley”:

Race 1: Good Prince (Number 1)
Race 2: Vatican (Number 1)
Race 3: Henwood (Number 5)
Race 4: Bel Thor (Number 11)
Race 5: Savvy Nature (Number 1)
Race 6: Thermal Current (Number 4)
Race 7: Mourinho (Number 6)
Race 8: Toydini (Number 8)
Race 9: Lake Sententia (Number 2)
Cox Plate (Race 10): Long John (Number 14)

Good luck and good punting all. As always: please gamble responsibly!

Cricket Australia: you have lost the plot!!!!

October 25, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

It was the AGM of Cricket Australia yesterday. The Chairman of Cricket Australia has defended its CEO James Sutherland and said the following:

“If we lost the series 5-0, James Sutherland will still be the CEO of Australian cricket, and James is contracted through to June 2015 after the World Cup, and there will not be any changes in that situation, regardless of the way we perform on the field this summer.”

So if we ever needed convincing that Cricket Australia has lost the plot it is all there in that quote. Forgive me but isn’t the performance of the chief of the game supposed to be measured first by the performance of the principal team under his charge on the field?

I concede that James Sutherland has done a wonderful job in improving the finances of Cricket Australia and in developing the product of the Big Bash League and his performance in those areas seems to be more important that the performance of the cricket team playing under the banner of Cricket Australia?

Those advocating for change at the top of Cricket Australia, like me, are going to be waiting for a while. I hope that the continued rotting of the metaphorical fish that is cricket in this country does not continue with the haste of the rotting at its head.

Shumpty’s Punt: Manikato Stakes Night

October 25, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

It is a massive night of racing tonight from Mooney Valley. Here are my tips for this Friday night at the races:

Race 1: Tanah Lot (Number 6)
Race 2: Dance for Cash (Number 5)
Race 3: Federica (Number 3) (Best Roughie) (each way)
Race 4: Holy Cow (Number 13)
Race 5: Rifleman (Number 8)
Race 6: Queenstown (Number 4) (Best Bet)
Race 7: Lord Durante (Number 2)
Race 8: Buffering (Number 2)

This is a great lead in meeting to the Cox Plate tomorrow. As always: please gamble responsibly!