Post by Rabbitoh Rob on Feb 12, 2006 11:01:03 GMT 10
Jaques playing park cricket
By Robert Craddock and David Riccio
February 12, 2006
CRICKET fans were dumbfounded when Australia's most dynamic opening batsman played at Caringbah Oval in front of a handful of people yesterday while the national team was facing an embarrassing series loss to Sri Lanka at the SCG today.
With Sri Lanka holding a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three one-day finals series, opener Phil Jaques was playing park cricket for Sutherland against Northern Districts.
This is the same batsman who has scored four ING Cup one-day centuries for NSW this summer and a sensational 94 off 112 balls in his limited-overs debut for Australia.
"You'll have to ask the selectors," Jaques said when asked why he wasn't in the Australia squad for today's crunch match at the SCG.
"Obviously I would like to be out there, but that's the way it goes in cricket, I guess. I've come back to grade today to try to enjoy the day out."
While Jaques - who scored 29 not out from 20 balls before stumps yesterday - was reluctant to buy into the question every cricket fan wants answered, former Test selector John Benaud insisted the dashing NSW opener should be in the national team.
"I couldn't believe he was dropped after he made 94 in his last innings," Benaud said.
"My experience with picking sides in the one-day game is that if they are in form you leave them there.
"I think this team is far too comfortable with themselves, with selections, and too sensitive to criticism as we saw with the Phil Tufnell thing the other day. Jaques is in great form and my theory with players in form is you pick them. It's dangerous leaving them as players to be watched because you run the risk of them losing form, then you can't pick them."
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Former Test fast bowlers Geoff Lawson and Rodney Hogg were also adamant that Jaques should be facing up against Sri Lanka today.
"I think it's a disgrace Jaques isn't in the side," Hogg said. "He's ready for the caper.
"He was by far our best batsman that night against South Africa. There just has to be a spot for him. Simon Katich strikes me as more of a Test player."
Lawson blasted the Australian selectors, saying they are "ignoring class acts in their prime".
"No one says Brad Hodge being a better choice when Ponting was rested, but there was the incredible sight of Phil Jaques putting his clobber in the car boot at the SCG a couple of days after his debut while Brad Hodge strolled in to bat at No4," he said.
"The last time a left hander had such overwhelming statistics for a national call-up was when Michael Bevan made five tons in a row in 1989-90."
Australia coach John Buchanan anticipates heads will roll if Sri Lanka upset Australia and win the series, but the selectors should wear much of the blame if that scenario eventuates.
Australia last lost a home finals series in 1993, to the West Indies, while skipper Steve Waugh was made the scapegoat for his team's failure to make the finals in 2001-02.
"I don't know about overhauls but there would be some fall-out if Australia lost the series 2-0, no doubt," Buchanan said.
Buchanan added that he didn't believe there was any complacency within the team but he questioned some of the decision making under pressure in the first final. He expects that to improve today.
Victorian seamer Mick Lewis looms as an immediate remedy to shore up an attack which faltered without Glenn McGrath and the usual strike power of Brett Lee, who finished with 0-48 in the first final.
By Robert Craddock and David Riccio
February 12, 2006
CRICKET fans were dumbfounded when Australia's most dynamic opening batsman played at Caringbah Oval in front of a handful of people yesterday while the national team was facing an embarrassing series loss to Sri Lanka at the SCG today.
With Sri Lanka holding a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three one-day finals series, opener Phil Jaques was playing park cricket for Sutherland against Northern Districts.
This is the same batsman who has scored four ING Cup one-day centuries for NSW this summer and a sensational 94 off 112 balls in his limited-overs debut for Australia.
"You'll have to ask the selectors," Jaques said when asked why he wasn't in the Australia squad for today's crunch match at the SCG.
"Obviously I would like to be out there, but that's the way it goes in cricket, I guess. I've come back to grade today to try to enjoy the day out."
While Jaques - who scored 29 not out from 20 balls before stumps yesterday - was reluctant to buy into the question every cricket fan wants answered, former Test selector John Benaud insisted the dashing NSW opener should be in the national team.
"I couldn't believe he was dropped after he made 94 in his last innings," Benaud said.
"My experience with picking sides in the one-day game is that if they are in form you leave them there.
"I think this team is far too comfortable with themselves, with selections, and too sensitive to criticism as we saw with the Phil Tufnell thing the other day. Jaques is in great form and my theory with players in form is you pick them. It's dangerous leaving them as players to be watched because you run the risk of them losing form, then you can't pick them."
Advertisement:
Former Test fast bowlers Geoff Lawson and Rodney Hogg were also adamant that Jaques should be facing up against Sri Lanka today.
"I think it's a disgrace Jaques isn't in the side," Hogg said. "He's ready for the caper.
"He was by far our best batsman that night against South Africa. There just has to be a spot for him. Simon Katich strikes me as more of a Test player."
Lawson blasted the Australian selectors, saying they are "ignoring class acts in their prime".
"No one says Brad Hodge being a better choice when Ponting was rested, but there was the incredible sight of Phil Jaques putting his clobber in the car boot at the SCG a couple of days after his debut while Brad Hodge strolled in to bat at No4," he said.
"The last time a left hander had such overwhelming statistics for a national call-up was when Michael Bevan made five tons in a row in 1989-90."
Australia coach John Buchanan anticipates heads will roll if Sri Lanka upset Australia and win the series, but the selectors should wear much of the blame if that scenario eventuates.
Australia last lost a home finals series in 1993, to the West Indies, while skipper Steve Waugh was made the scapegoat for his team's failure to make the finals in 2001-02.
"I don't know about overhauls but there would be some fall-out if Australia lost the series 2-0, no doubt," Buchanan said.
Buchanan added that he didn't believe there was any complacency within the team but he questioned some of the decision making under pressure in the first final. He expects that to improve today.
Victorian seamer Mick Lewis looms as an immediate remedy to shore up an attack which faltered without Glenn McGrath and the usual strike power of Brett Lee, who finished with 0-48 in the first final.
