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Originally Posted by Rachael  A slight distortion of the picture: I accept that Aussie selectors have occasionally been brutal in encouraging competition for places (not least in dropping Clarke when it seemed reasonable to let him become the first Aussie ever to become a senior player without suffering that fate)... but the focus on developing players did lead to Australia having a superb academy before everyone else... and you cannot overlook the obscene levels of loyalty to players whose face fitted - aside from anything else, after bursting onto the scene and making a sensation eary impact, |
Precisely Rachel. Australia lost their way in England 2005 by looking back instead of looking at the here and now - with disastrous results. That was then though. Right now there is none of the "we should drop so-and-so for the other guy" situation - the only exception being Stuart McGill. The current XI on form, is the best side we can select. Once again in the recent S.L series, the Aussie selectors were reminded of the perils of selecting on reputation as opposed to form in light of McGills performance.
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Originally Posted by Rachael Lee had 5 years of at best ordinary (occasionally abject) performances (especially away from home) and yet remained the golden boy. |
Now on that point, i must agree. While that was in the past, i have no doubt that that situation will continue. Micheal Clarke is another "golden boy" who seems to be given a hell of a lot of slack. So too, the other "golden boy", Shane Watson.