Apart from the absurdity of the subject matter, has anyone else stopped to consider the immacuate timing of the hubbub which is the "Bring Warnie Back" campaign? The former great - well I guess if you are a great you are never former - flies out to England to promote his new chat show ... oh, that's what it is. So far, it seemed to be an exercise in mutual ego stroking judging by the interview with The Head With Millions.
"Oh Wanrie you were the best."
"Don't know about that James. You could hold you own." ... and so on and so on, the flattery went on unabatted. It was the sort of television you watch with an obligatory bucket on your lap.
Just before Warne leaves, the publicity machine goes into overdrive from all of The Head With Millions publication and then we have a website and a fund raising campaign to bring Warne back ... when suddenly, he arrives at Heathrow to promote his show and is swamped by reporters.
Yes, right.
As to the subject ... the bloke could probably pull it off but only, apparently, if he is captain. Again, we could do not worse but it will hardly take Australia forward in the rebuilding process we need to undergo. We've been in transition before. Its a natural part of the process. It's just that this time, it comes after such a long period of dominance that was half about Australia being strong and half about the rest of the world being weak. Playing for Australia isn't a negotiatable contract. You either play or you don't. Four years ago, Wanre chose to stop playing for his country and chase Indian $millions in his waning years and good luck to him in that endeavour.
Before someone quotes Bob Simpson to me, despite being the Chairman of Selector's father in law, he was too old last comeback so he's definitely too old to come back again. Diferent senario. We still have good cricketers and there is no internal division which has rent us in two.
There are others, much closer still to the game who would give better service ... Brad Hodge and Brett Lee being two of them. Despite that, I wouldn't invite them either.
There are 66 players running around trying to play their best cricket in every round of the Sheffielf Shield. It's to there we should look and see past this inglorious period of transition to a new golden age. The very best of our legends of cricket - the Bradman's, the Millers, the Lillees, the Chappells, the Borders - emerged at times when Australia was rebuilding. If we lose faith in this process, we will be a long time at five, six or seven in the world rankings.
Its time for the old guard to move into the commentary box and the new to learn their lessons in the only classroom which will prove or disprove their worth.
England are too good for us. Its not the end of the world!
Agreed. In my view the selectors need to ask two questions of any of the incumbents. Firstly is there anybody playing shield who is better or as good at their craft at present and secondly is their head in a bad space and they need a spell, then pick the team accordingly.
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