All Pretty Vacant, Down by the Riverside

[captaincolly]

a great pity really, because I still foolishly harboured the unlikely hope that Colly might take our T20 head coach role until Bayleaf the gardener had parted company with England after a poor world cup and an embarrassing home ashes defeat

I wonder which genius will be masterminding our T20 campaign? Probably someone who isn't even a household name in his own household. Although Middlesex bringing in Vettori was fairly disastrous.

[Durhamfootman]

Shaun Tait

[Durhamfootman]

I wonder what sort of money would tempt Mike Hussey over?

Much more than we'd be willing to pay, presumably

[captaincolly]

Shaun Tait

He could do the specialist bowling coach job too!

I wonder what sort of money would tempt Mike Hussey over?

Much more than we'd be willing to pay, presumably

It looks as if we're not going to even try and sign a replacement for Colly so there might be cash to spare-probably not though!

[Durhamfootman]

Ben Raine is our Colly replacement, I reckon

[Durhamfootman]

and Bancroft is where his money went

[captaincolly]

Ben Raine is our Colly replacement, I reckon

Yes. I think he'll be more than useful but whether or not he'll make up for shortcomings in other areas remains to be seen!
I see Stuart Rayner's book - with the great title Five Trophies and a Funeral - is out next month and he's giving a talk at the Riverside on March 7th. Rushworth as his special guest.

[westoelad]

and Bancroft is where his money went

Latham's money paid for Bancroft with some left over I'd imagine. Wonder how much North is costing? We had our most successful T20 last season without a specialist coach so why the sudden need to have one?
I think the time was right for the parting of the ways with Colly; familiarity and complacency had set in imo.

[Durhamfootman]

not with any left over, surely?

Our Tom 'all season, all format' Latham was probably only around for half the season. He came in late and then left early. Unless Australia have a sudden opener crisis ahead of or during the ashes, then Bancroft ought to be here all season. It is clear that Suspect Smiffy and Dodgy Davey will be welcomed back into the ashes fold with open arms, so that covers most of the team's weak spots.

[Durhamfootman]

I saw something somewhere suggesting that Kerry Packer instructed the 2005 Aussie head coach to drop Damien Martyn from the team for the Oval test and draft in Mike Hussey..... something along the lines of "Martyn's f...ing useless... get that c**t Hussey in" To which the coach replied something like "you'll have to speak up... it's a long way away.... what?.... can't hear you" a conversation that only stopped when Packer dropped down dead.... presumably from apoplexy. the article said Hussey had been packed off on an overseas A tour, to get him out of the way. That was the year he played for us, surely? I remember being disappointed when he was drafted in to the ODI squad for the triangular tournament, depite thinking that he'd be back later..... but I'm not sure if he actually returned when the test series started.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If the Aussies had picked Clark and Hussey in 05, 05 wouldn't have happened.

[Durhamfootman]

I'd forgotten that he scored 250 in our opening match in early April against a Leics side with big Ottis in it

crikey...... these days we can't post 250 all out until about the end of August

[captaincolly]

I saw something somewhere suggesting that Kerry Packer instructed the 2005 Aussie head coach to drop Damien Martyn from the team for the Oval test and draft in Mike Hussey..... something along the lines of "Martyn's f...ing useless... get that c**t Hussey in" To which the coach replied something like "you'll have to speak up... it's a long way away.... what?.... can't hear you" a conversation that only stopped when Packer dropped down dead.... presumably from apoplexy. the article said Hussey had been packed off on an overseas A tour, to get him out of the way. That was the year he played for us, surely? I remember being disappointed when he was drafted in to the ODI squad for the triangular tournament, depite thinking that he'd be back later..... but I'm not sure if he actually returned when the test series started.

I can't remember if he came back either but it was definitely 2005. I think Colly was vice captain but when Hussey got the call up Benks took over the job.
One of the openers for the Aussies made a hundred in the last test so he ( forget the name ) will surely open with Warner in the Ashes so Bancroft is unlikely to get in as an opener. Think Khawaja is as erratic as ever so whether there'll be a vacancy at 3 or 4 ( depending on where Smith bats ) is the question.

[captaincolly]

I'd forgotten that he scored 250 in our opening match in early April against a Leics side with big Ottis in it

crikey...... these days we can't post 250 all out until about the end of August

Some of the batsmen don't get 250 runs in a season!

[captaincolly]

If the Aussies had picked Clark and Hussey in 05, 05 wouldn't have happened.

And if McGrath hadn't trodden on that ball and injured himself in warmups for the second test!