Post by HDT05 on Jun 24, 2012 10:40:55 GMT 10
AUSTRALIA'S lack of emerging batting talent was made official yesterday as Cricket Australia revealed its contracted players for season 2012-13.
Only five batsmen were among the 17 handed deals - with only one aged under 30.
All-rounder Shane Watson and keepers Brad Haddin and Matthew Wade also made the grade, but of the five dedicated batsmen, Victorian David Hussey - although a fixture in shorter games - has not played a Test and is unlikely to break in at age 34.
With the five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association - completed yesterday - reducing the number of central contracts from 25 to 17, young batsmen previously earmarked for big things have found themselves on the outer.
Callum Ferguson, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Cameron White were all dumped from last year's list, while incumbent Test opener Ed Cowan was unlucky to have not made the cut.
But, by the MOU, there is scope to add another three contracted players - and Cowan will automatically join that list should he play three Test matches this season.
CA chief executive James Sutherland agreed the list highlighted a batting dilemma.
"My sense is that the jury's out to some extent on the batting side of things," Sutherland said.
"Obviously we will go into international cricket matches with a certain number of batsmen to do the job, but there is probably some uncertainty in the selectors' eyes about the exact make-up of the team."
Contracted players: Michael Clarke, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson, David Warner
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-australia-contracts-find-room-for-only-a-short-batting-order/story-e6frey50-1226405934724
On Australia, they had a one off ODI game last night against Ireland, it was washed out Ireland 3/36 off 10.4 overs at the time...Brett Lee was close to breaking the bowling record, he got 2/10 off 3 overs.
Only five batsmen were among the 17 handed deals - with only one aged under 30.
All-rounder Shane Watson and keepers Brad Haddin and Matthew Wade also made the grade, but of the five dedicated batsmen, Victorian David Hussey - although a fixture in shorter games - has not played a Test and is unlikely to break in at age 34.
With the five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association - completed yesterday - reducing the number of central contracts from 25 to 17, young batsmen previously earmarked for big things have found themselves on the outer.
Callum Ferguson, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Cameron White were all dumped from last year's list, while incumbent Test opener Ed Cowan was unlucky to have not made the cut.
But, by the MOU, there is scope to add another three contracted players - and Cowan will automatically join that list should he play three Test matches this season.
CA chief executive James Sutherland agreed the list highlighted a batting dilemma.
"My sense is that the jury's out to some extent on the batting side of things," Sutherland said.
"Obviously we will go into international cricket matches with a certain number of batsmen to do the job, but there is probably some uncertainty in the selectors' eyes about the exact make-up of the team."
Contracted players: Michael Clarke, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson, David Warner
www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-australia-contracts-find-room-for-only-a-short-batting-order/story-e6frey50-1226405934724
On Australia, they had a one off ODI game last night against Ireland, it was washed out Ireland 3/36 off 10.4 overs at the time...Brett Lee was close to breaking the bowling record, he got 2/10 off 3 overs.
