What's changed?
There are still six states. They still play against each other in a ten-game Shield season, followed by a five day final. They also all play each other in a one-day tournament. But what is this? An imposter? The "Big Bash League"? This does not sound conducive to developing patient batsmen. It must be a trap. Ian Chappell certainly seems to think so, putting his voice out on ESPN Cricinfo to lay the blame squarely at the feet of this abomination for the Australian side being "the worst batting side ever to set sail from Australian shores".
But that's not fair on the Big Bash. This generation of Australian batsmen are aged between 24 and 35, and have been playing first-class cricket for between five and fifteen years. The Big Bash, at the tender age of just two years, may not actually be the cause of Shane Watson getting out LBW after blazing a run-a-ball 20 when what was needed was for him to bat a day. It may not be responsible either for Steve Smith's interesting technique, or Phillip Hughes' interesting technique, which have scored 28 first-class tons between them. Perhaps their technical glitches have been exposed by world class bowling from Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Swann; after all, everyone loved Steve Smith when he got home from India. India do not have a Jimmy Anderson.
Perhaps the Big Bash League isn't the cause of deficiencies in batsmen who pre-date it by a decade.
What about the boom times over Christmas and New Year? Well, I have a suggestion for them as well. Recently I wrote an article about how I thought the Kiwis could go about revamping their domestic scene to prepare their players for Test cricket. Well, over the peak times in the cricket season, I propose something similar for the Australians to adopt.
I would be trying to get the best Australian players, in the best grounds, live on National TV.
Of course, some Test players won't be able to play. That's a given unfortunately, especially with the Australian love of informed player micro-management, but enough of them will, and alongside the finest talent coming up through the ranks, and those players standing out in the Shield. Also, if possible, it would be good to see each side being allowed one overseas Test cricketer in their ranks too.
Like last time, I'll have a look at who might have been present in such a series last year:
Bass Strait Region * George Bailey (Tasmania) Jackson Bird (Tasmania) Ed Cowan (Tasmania) Alex Doolan (Tasmania) James Faulkner (Tasmania) Ben Hilfenhaus (Tasmania) Tim Paine (Tasmania) Fawad Ahmed (Victoria) John Hastings (Victoria) David Hussey (Victoria) Clint McKay (Victoria) Glenn Maxwell (Victoria) Matthew Wade (Victoria) Cameron White (Victoria) With two excellent 'keepers in this squad, it is likely that they would play one game each as specialist batters and one game each as glovemen. Peter Siddle is left out of this list, although he would almost undoubtedly replace some crocked quickie anyhow. As an overseas pro, this side would probably look for an opening bat to partner Ed Cowan. Fawad Ahmed will also get to strut his stuff. | Eastern Region Trent Copeland (NSW) *Brad Haddin (NSW) Moises Henriques (NSW) Steve O'Keefe (NSW) Steven Smith (NSW) Mitchell Starc (NSW) David Warner (NSW) Joe Burns (Queensland) Ben Cutting (Queensland) Ryan Harris (Queensland) James Hopes (Queensland) Usman Khawaja (Queensland) Alister McDermott (Queensland) Luke Pomersbach (Queensland) From New South Wales, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson as the then-captain and vice-captain of the Test side, would both have been allowed safe passage through the series. The seamers would get rotated through the series, while Pomersbach and Warner would make the most agressive opening combo in the tournament. That is, if an opening bat wasn't drafted in to replace one of them from overseas. | Nullabor Region Daniel Christian (South Aus) Callum Ferguson (South Aus) Peter George (South Aus) Philllip Hughes (South Aus) * Michael Klinger (South Aus) Nathan Lyon (South Aus) Chadd Sayers (South Aus) Ashton Agar (West Aus) Nathan Coulter-Nile (West Aus) Liam Davis (West Aus) Mitchell Johnson (West Aus) Mitchell Marsh (West Aus) Shaun Marsh (West Aus) Adam Voges (West Aus) This side would be forced to recruit a wicket-keeper from overseas, but if they did that, I expect they would be strong enough to win this competition. Hopefully, Shaun Marsh could finally get his act together, although if he got past 20 that'd probably be enough to get him into the Test side on how much promise he has. Phil Hughes, as a slightly experienced Test player, would be the skipper. |
Now, I think that with matches played in and around the Test series, it would be able to give Aussie hopefuls the running jump they may need to get themselves into contention. And of course, it wouldn't have to be a 7-7-1 split, or even a 15 man squad, I'm just suggesting what I think might have happened.
That's how I think the onus would be put back onto first-class cricket for the Australian public, especially if these matches were televised live. Channel Ten, what was that about you wanting cricket to show?