Sport Today

Again the Aussies are in search of a Vice Captain. And there are those
that suggest that it is time to change the captain too (a thread in
RSC on Ponting being the most mediocre captain in recent times comes
to mind).

There are those that point out with equal fervor that Ponting is the
best batsman that the Aussies have produced in recent years and the
best player should lead. They observe not without the merit of reason
that, after all Viv Richards inherited the team from Clive Lloyd. It
could be argued that Holding was a better Cricketing brain and that
there were others in the team of less incendiary temperament. But Viv
got it because he was the best player in the side. Yet others argue
that Shane Warne was Australia's greatest match winner along with
McGrath and neither got the captaincy. In fact Waugh beat Warne to it
and made sure that Warne would not get the VC slot.

So who should lead Australia and who should be his deputy? To my mind
the test should be two-fold:

1.      Which two combine best? Without ego hassles, without wanting to
outdo the other who would play Miles Davis & John Coltrane to each
other and lead the Aussies?
2.      Have they ever combined to pull Australia out of the doldrums? When
the Aussies were looking down the barrel, did they (perhaps a batsman
and a bowler) pull them out of trouble lead them to a win? Think of
Botham and Willis beating Australia after the Poms were made to follow
on. Do they have a Botham and Willis in the side?

To these two tests, I would another: are the two loved and respected
by all Aussies? By the team, spectators and the Australian Cricketing
establishment? Replacing Gilly will be really hard. After all, Warne a
superman on his day, did not get to be captain or VC because he was
not loved by the team.

After watching this series closely, I believe that Aussies have two
such marvelous contenders. Initially, I would have had Symonds as
Ponting's deputy. Ponting is a fine batsman and Symonds is explosive
on his day and is much loved by his team. But I think Aussies have an
even finer pair.

And the winners are?

Steve Bucknor for captain and Mark Benson as his deputy.

-SB

It is a small matter that neither is technically Australian. Just
technically mind you. I am sure that nationality will not be a hurdle.
After all, the Australian government is not an ungrateful one. These
two men can be given their citizenship for years of distinguished
service to Australia.

Appoint a captain and that is all. We don't need a deputy - what a ***.

Who are these Aussies who are suggesting changing the captain?

fish

- snip the most heavily disguised troll in some time -

To treat the question seriously for a moment.  Australia picks the
best XI cricketers first and then makes one of them captain and one
vice-captain - obviously they give the titles to two guys who are
guaranteed selections on playing merit, but the fact remains that if
Ponting turned in a horrendous form slump this year he would be
dropped on batting criteria, not retained just because he is the
captain.

But for the moment, let's not get silly.  Ponting is not going to be
dropped inside the next 12 months, so he will be the captain.   Let's
examine the credentials of the other probable members of the team to
see who might become the vice-captain.

Phil Jaques - a Test noob, no leadership experience
Matt Hayden - automatic selection but probably starting his last lap,
universally admired
Mike Hussey - is not called Mr Cricket because he jumps through the
long grass, is he?
Michael Clarke - annointed VC of the 50-over team, which is CA showing
its hand (or at least bidding its suit)
Andrew Symonds - the most likely in the top 6 to be dropped first if
form fails, which kinda rules him out
Brad Haddin - the likely replacement, lots of experience but none of
it in Tests
Brad Hogg - knows his cricket, but career certainty beyond the West
Indies tour is nil
Brett Lee - the reinvented uberbowler, surely knows his stuff, but the
last fast bowling VC of Australia was Thommo in 1978 on tour to the
West Indies ... hang on
Mitchell Johnson - nil experience
Stuart Clark - minimal experience, certainly not ahead of Lee in the
queue
Stuart MacGill - assuming fitness and form and selection, is still
1000/1 due to disciplinary record
Shaun Tait - and why am I even listing him?

There is also the extreme left-field option, of ditching GB Hogg and
bringing in Cameron White and making him the VC.  Problem is, well,
his bowling reeks.

So, as far as I see, the vice-captaincy options in order of
probability are -

1. Pup, because the spadework has been done for it all summer
2. Mr Cricket, because he damn well deserves it
3. Haydos, as a valedictory honour
4. Bing, if the three above all fall under the same tram in Melbourne
this week

All analysis aside, does anyone doubt it will be the boy from Western
Suburbs?  I can hear Alvey screaming even at this distance ...

--

JPD

<snip>

MA Taylor, anyone?

<snip>

Andrew

You've got ***ing good hearing then because there's no screaming in the
Sidecast mansion. BB's ascension is only slightly less certain than
Punter's was, and for exactly the same reason. A complete abscence of
options. So it's A Good Result then for someone originally selected with
zero good PC seasons to their credit.

Otoh, if Punter plays on for another 3 seasons then there's still time for
Clang Knows-Who to become a threat to the Annointed One. Odds about 100/1.

alvey

According to Gideon Haigh's book the VC of the 1978 tour was Craig
Sergent.

Good post otherwise. I would have Hussey or Lee as VC. Lee has matured
into an outstanding Test Cricketer.

Clarke needs to stand up when the top four fail and not ride off their
backs.

I think you were generous to say Hogg might have a bit to play for the
Pakistan and Windies tours.

MacGill and a young spinner will tour.

Don't write off Bollinger replacing Tait as the reserve pace bowling
option.

It's the West Indies tour I'm referring to, not the home series
against India, and one of Jack Pollard's books confirms my memory.
"There was some indecision about the vice-captaincy of the Australian
team after Simpson had agreed to lead the side.  Craig Serjeant and
Graham Yallop were both named for the job before it went to Thomson, a
reward for his long service to the game."

--

JPD