From: rasf@st-andrews.ac.uk (Russell Anthony Stewart Fiedler)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: Re: Worst Aussie side since 1970
Date: 30 Sep 92 15:16:21 GMT
Organization: St. Andrews University, Scotland.


Well, it looks the selectors have generated a bit of discussion but unlike
Lord Ted I'll face the rabble who dare question my judgement...
Anybody know if the Observer has organised a letter campaign to get me to
alter the team?

In article <kpw105-280992115701@theophys1.anu.edu.au> kpw105@phys.anu.edu.au (Ken Wessen) writes:
>In article <1992Sep26.152631.9579@st-andrews.ac.uk>, rasf@st-andrews.ac.uk
>(Russell Anthony Stewart Fiedler) wrote:
>
>> Graham Yallop (c)
>
> A fine batsman with a very good test record.  OK - an appalling series in
>England in '81, but many fine performances before and after.  Many
>excellent test centuries - has no place in this team whatsoever.
>He did however have the misfortune of being a not very good captain of a
>not very good Australian team.

I think that you're being far too kind to Yallop referring to him as a 'not
very good captain'. His handling of Hogg, the only potent weapon he had, was
absolutely disgraceful. His field placings were unbelievable and to top it off
he is a pretty ordinary bloke who commands very little respect from others.
Mates of mine in the Melbourne District scene often used terms such as 
'arsehole' in the same sentence as Yallop. Should never have gotten the job.
Now if only he had Brearly's ability with the bat rather than being world class
for most of his career...
>
>> Gary Cosier
>
>Do remember his 168 against Pakistan in 76-77?  It was a magnificent
>innings.  Although he never lived up to his potential, a couple of fine
>test centuries (incl. one on debut) surely should keep him out of this
>team.
>
Yep, I remember it well. IMO Cosier was purely a flat track specialist
who got away with a few things because of his power. If I remember correctly
he was on the verge of being dropped when he came up with the above dig.
Maybe it is a bit harsh to include him. Oh dear, I've just admitted fallability.
Wonder if Lord Ted will take a lead from this...
>> 
>> Jim Higgs 12th man
>>      Clearly the worst bat and fieldsman to have played Test cricket for 
>>      Australia in the last 20 years. Unfortunately he was a very good leggy
>>      so we can't get him into the side proper.
>
>He was a very very good leggy, and if someone of his calibre was around
>today, they would be in the team for sure.  At any rate his batting
>improved significantly at the end of his career, even making double figures
>on occasion!  :-)  Certainly New Zealanders will remember his partnership
>with Dougie Walters in 1981 when Dougie scored his last test hundred and
>Higgs was given not out when caught off a bouncer from a medium pacer!
>
I think that medium pacer was Richard Hadlee but I believe that I was drunk in
Bay 13 at the time.

>> 
>> Sorry not to have included some of the following. We just didn't find them
>> bad enough
>> 
>
>Peter Toohey performed magnificently in his debut series against India, and
>then again in the West Indies.  After this he faltered, but two magnificent
>test series, including 82 out of 157 on debut when batting at number 6, as
>well as 122 and 97 against the West Indies in the West Indies should
>disqualify him from consideration.

Well, that was a pretty ordinary Indian side that they were playing against.
Remember that they lost to an Australian 2nd XI. Their spinners had seen their
better days and only produced occasionally on that tour (eg Chandra in
Melbourne) and the medium pacers...well...
Can't take credit away from him for his efforts in the WIndies. Getting nailed
over there probably destroyed his confidence and career. 
I have to put him in the Great White Hope category which carries the chance
of getting wild card entry into sides like this.

>
>David Hookes, although disappointing, still has quite a decent test record.
>
Geez, how many times did they try this guy and how many times did he let them
down? Recalled more times than a JB Camira.
Had a fundamental flaw in his technique which he never attempted to rectify.
He could get away with it because he had a pretty good eye at Shield level
and on the flattest of decks but as soon as the ball did anything he was all at
see. Should have got the message after his first tour to England. To see him
try to play a decent spinner was painful at best.
The closest thing that Australia has had to Graham Hick in the past few years.
>
>What about Dirk Wellham?  Greg Campbell?
>
Two mighty good choices. My favourite moment of Dirk Wellham was when he 
accidently clobbered a woman in the head with his bat at the Junction oval a
few years back. It was on the resumption from tea and I had just enterered the
ground and was only a few metres away when he took a swipe at the fence/gate
and his bat deflected from it and clocked her. She was too bright to begin with
and thought that it was great when the photographers started to take pictures.
Any long time Vic fan knows exactly which woman I'm talking about.

Cheers,

Russ Fiedler aka !Ted_Dexter

>Ken
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