Around the Wicket - The Rant (#2)

Why do the English feel the need to keep bringing foreigners into their county system? Don’t they realise the damage it’s doing to cricket in their country? Why won’t they just pick youngsters? There are no foreigners in Australian first class cricket – and at last check – I think cricket in this country was going alright…

I see that Warney’s criticising Andrew Symonds now? Please – now I’ve heard everything. Former Australian players – pull your heads in. Especially if you’ve actually been a bit of a lair yourself in your cricketing days… Walters, Warne – I’m talking to you. Does a cricketer’s memory fade when he leaves the game?

Bomb blasts get Pakistan tours cancelled. Indian tours go ahead despite bomb blasts. Gee – that’s a surprise. That’s a little bit of classic Bremner sarcasm for those of you who can’t pick it up in written form.

Bryce McGain – Victorian Hero.

Shaun Tait bowled 8 wides in the Australia A vs New Zealand A bro match in India. Do I need to start The Count again…? I hope so. Incidentally, 5 Aussie batsmen got ducks in the match. Shame on: Dave Hussey, Adam Voges, Ashley Noffke, Xavier Doherty, and Doug Bollinger. 2 bucks gents.

I think I should start a Hall of Shame here at Around the Wicket. Maybe I will when the season gets underway. Post a comment with your candidates as the season goes on… should be some fun in it all. We can’t be defamatory though. (But if you say “allegedly” you will most likely get away with it.)

Murray Goodwin is still playing county cricket!? Incredible. Speaking of Zimbabweans, apparently Graeme Hick retired from first class cricket. 41,112 first class runs, including 136 centuries. I will always remember him for being a serial underperformer at test level – like his mate Mark Ramprakash.

Good for Shiv Chanderpaul on being Wisden Cricketer of the Year. A good honest cricketer who is holding together the shambles that is West Indies cricket. He absolutely deserved the honour. I fear for the Windies when he decides to hang up the boots though. They might not ever recover.

ICC Test team of the year: Graeme Smith (capt), Virender Sehwag, Mahela Jayawardene, Shiv Chanderpaul, Kevin Pietersen, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, Brett Lee, Ryan Sidebottom, Dale Steyn, Mutthiah Muralitharan, Stuart Clark (12th man)