From: u9148124@cs.uow.edu.au (Adam Erik Ragland)
Subject: Re: Australian Selection
Organization: Dept of Computer Science, Wollongong University, Australia
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 12:46:39 GMT

rakesh@ecr.mu.oz.au (Rakesh DESAI) writes:

>In article <1992Nov13.101731.1@cc.curtin.edu.au>, operator@cc.curtin.edu.au writes:
>> Hi There,
>>  
>> I was wondering what's happening with the selection for the Aussie team to meet
>> the WI's in the coming Tests.

>I guess after the match between Aus XI and Windies in Hobart, team will
>be announced as lot of young test contenders are given a chance to claim
>a position in the team.

>> Just for Aussie cricket sake, with the coming Ashes series not too far away,
>> shouln't the Australian selection for the Wi's series be focused with the 
>> appointment of a new captain,which of course means that the dropping of Border
>> is imminent.I am no critic of Border who has done a wonderful job for Australia
>> as batsman and captain,just that he is already way past his prime and also that
>> Australian cricket must look beyond Border,the time is just right.

>I do not agree.  Lot of critics of Allan Border says he is not performing
>or he is gone past his days.  I totally disagree.  My arguments are as
>follows.

>1) He is if not the best, one of the best captain Australia ever had.
>Look at his records.  Only series he lost in recent past is against
>Windies in West Indies when Richards, Marshall, Greenidge, Dujon, etc.
>were around.  This year under his captaincy Aust won in Sri Lanka when
>they were 300 odd runs in deficit in the first innings.  If that is not
>good captaincy, there is none other. With west indies bringing lot  of
>young players, Australia has chance to beat west indies this time and at
>such crucial time Allan Border is the best person to lead the side.

>2) His batting ability is doubted these days because he does not
>score so many centuries as he used to.  In past four years he just had one
>century.  But despite that he has managed an average above 50.  If he
>had been playing badly, he would have gone below 50 like Azharuddin.
>And he has always played well when it required.  e.g.  Last test against
>Sri Lanka a century and 70 odd.  Last year Sydney test against India he
>steered side to a draw.


 I reckon thats all fair and well hes been captaining fairly well, but look
at the quality of the opposition Australia has had in test matches over the
past few years. India have got to be in the worst cricket slump they've had
for a long time and as for Sri Lanka, well there getting better but they
have a way to go yet. They played really well in the the test first innings
of that test when they were 300 runs ahead but i think Australia won that 
game because Sri Lanka fell apart rather than by good captaincy on Borders
part. This year Australia have a real test, although the West Indians are
young and rather inexperienced they are still a class side and should now
have recovered from the losses of players like Dujon and Viv and Greenidge,
which is one of the reasons they didnt play so good last year.
  Also i think the two main contenders for the captaincy if there will be a
new captain are Healy and Taylor, forget the rest like Boon and Jones. Thats
one of the main reasons Healey and Taylor were the captains of the two rep
sides the windies played. Jones is a great batsman but way too erratic, hes
lacks a good head to make quick intelligent decisions. Boon well i just cant
imagine him captain and as for Marsh if i was a selector he'd never be in the
side again.

Adam.