A Guide to Australian Whine (Part 2)

THE AUSTRALIAN

The demented Malcolm Conn demands urgent changes to the way Australian cricket is run and turns his sights on the Cricket Australia board, describing it as a "plodding, reactive, 19th century anachronism failing to keep pace in an ever-changing 21st century world," and insisting it should be replaced with a "proactive, forward-thinking independent commission not bound in parochial state-based chains."

Conn adds: "The CA board is ultimately responsible for this country's tumble from grace as a Test nation. It wallowed in the glory of Australia's decade of domination instead of reading the signs of what was coming.

In a churlish article Conn lavishes England's achievement with typically feint praise "It's one thing to be flogged by the once mighty West Indies after the upheaval of World Series Cricket and rebel tours of South Africa. It is quite another to be humiliated by a third-ranked nation which has one superstar, the South African-born Kevin Pietersen, when he gets his head right."

So, even in defeat the pathetic one-eyed sniping of Conn gets in the way of a valid (but disappointingly Sydney-centric) overview of Cricket Australia's failings. It would seem that judging by the quality of his writing it isn't only a change in the dressing room required.

A change in the press box might be handy too!

THE AGE

Under a 'Rotten To The Core' headline, Peter 'Robo' Roebuck (Former Englishman and now fair dinkum Aussie hack) writes that relegation down the order would be preferable to stripping Ponting of the captaincy.

"Ricky Ponting has his failings and his record is blotted by the loss of three Ashes series, but he has two World Cups and umpteen victories. His poor form is a concern, but that does not mean it is over for him.

"Plainly, though, the combination of captaining a struggling side and batting at first wicket down has taken a toll. He could be retained a while longer as captain and instructed to bat at number five. Many captains have slipped down the order or started there, including Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd. He has earned the respite."

Australia coach Tim Nielsen and the Australian selectors do not fare as well, with reference being made to Nielsen having been "outplayed by his counterpart" (Andy Flower) and the selectors accused of forgetting the fundamentals. "They could start by naming a proper opening pair. It is a specialist skill."


SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Former Australia medium pacer Stuart Clark, writing in the Herald, bemoans a lack of top-order batting partnerships and points out that England had more stability in their top order.

Clark also highlights two "glaring issues" on the bowling front; the lack of a "viable spinner" and a lack of variety in Australia's seam attack compared to England, who have a "varied and balanced attack capable of taking 20 wickets on all surfaces."

Surely he wasn't suggesting a recall for a certain dibby-dobby medium pacer who currently rotates his arm for NSW, was he?

NB: For those of you who visit this blog expecting articles on Australian Wine, I suggest you learn how to read before drinking any more of the disgusting stuff!