Warne rules out Ashes comeback

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Fast on the heels of Stuart Macgill's retirement is the news that apparently, Shane Warne isn't interested in an Ashes comeback. We all knew it was desperately improbable. Speculation of a Warne comeback is driven more by the hope of seeing Warnie back in Test cricket than any realistic expectation that it could actually happen.

Nevertheless, like a fool, I'll continue to daydream of watching Warnie once again befuddle English batsmen. This news doesn't come from the horse's mouth but James Sutherland who assures us he heard it from Warne. I won't be convinced by a rumor passed on from a friend of a friend's roommate's sister. Maybe Sutherland got it wrong, Chinese whisper's style. When Warne said a comeback is the furthest thing from his mind, perhaps he actually said a comeback is the foremost thing in his mind.

Anyhoo, there are a whole bunch of Tests between now and then. Cricket Australia should blood Beau Casson in the 3rd Test. If he turns out to be rubbish, Dan Cullen, Cullen Bailey or even old-timer Bryce Mcgain might get a crack in India. Talk about a baptism of fire. If they all suck and the nation cries out for Warne, well, I'm sure the guy has enough of a messiah complex to be persuaded. A guy can dream.

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Posted by JC on Wed 4 Jun

5 comments

BTW, just got the news that the West Indies drew the 2nd Test, batting out Day 5 losing only 5 wickets. Good result for them. Only comment (hence not worth a post of its own) - fairly gutless captaining by Ricky Ponting. He batted right until stumps Day 4, setting the Windies 372 to win on the last day. They were never gonna chase that many runs in a day - he should've declared at least an hour before stumps on Day 4. Very disappointing, Ricky! Tugga, you aint!

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Posted by JC on 2008-06-04 09:42:13

The Windy comms reckoned if he'd declared earlier then the light would've been too poor to have the quicks on - or possibly any play in the last hour or so. Empty ground, boring pitch was the general consensus, except for a cameo Kerry O'Keeffe appearence about 4:30 this morning. He told a regulation crap joke and went back to his tour party and the esky.
Best part of the whole 5 sleep-deprived nights I can tell you!

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Posted by virtualgaz on 2008-06-04 15:16:11

Last Da Man spoke, he spoke of starting a spin academy in India on Lines of MRF pace academy. Apparently the blond tweaker is impressed with the Young talent he played in IPL and wants to extend his stay in India. I am sure the English Gals are going to miss him ;)

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Posted by unsuidojo on 2008-06-05 01:14:58

Unavailabilty of a quality spinner will surely hurt Australia's overwhelming dominance in test match cricket but it might actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise when they tour India this October.

All foreign teams visiting India have the illusion that a spinner will get the best bargain in these slow tracks. But the fact is, even the greatest of spinners have averaged 40 runs in these 'spinner friendly' tracks. That's why Brad Hogg's 60+ runs average against India in Dec/Jan didn't surprise me at all. Imagine him bowling in these slower tracks where batsmen would easily pick boundaries with back foot technique. And do not forget, Indian batsmen always look for a spinner's spell to either settle in or score quick runs.

Most foreign teams that have done well in India have relied upon fast bowlers and medium pacers. Bowlers who could keep it tight without much experimentation and dry up the runs. The batsman inevitably would succumb under pressure. Remember, India would be under pressure to score quickly as they would try to win on home soil.

If I was an Australian, I would be happy that Australia doesn't have a good spinner at this time (though I would be desperate to have one against the Pommies and Proteas!). A spinner against India would effectively mean Australia were fighting with three bowlers instead of four. Any inexperienced spinner would go for around 100 runs per wicket and that would mean death. The best thing would be to play another paceman a la Stuey Clark. Infact I'm looking forward to see the role Shane Watson dons this October. The sun doesn't beat down heavily that time of the year here in India and so Ricky can afford to play four pacers with Pup and Roy bowling to give the pacers a break (if required).

Though I am excited to see Dan Cullen, Cullen Bailey et al bowl at Sachin or Ganguly, I must admit it would be a brave step if I actually see them doing it.

Cheers!

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Posted by zapper on 2008-06-05 01:47:47

Most sides planning on going into any Test series, let alone one on the subcontinent, without a specialist spinner in their lineup would face heavy criticism in the press. They might well also face a slaughtering on the pitch. However, if any side can get away with an all-seam attack, then it is Australia. Their bowlers have, historically, been good enough for only four of their number to be needed to take 20 wickets in a Test match, even without the two bowling legends that have dominated their attack in recent years. (The 2nd Test against the Windies doesn't count - they were effectively down to three bowlers with MacGill in career-ending form.) Lee and Clark are the most fearsome pace bowling duo in the world, and support from two other seamers and the occasional wicket from Symonds and Hodge might well be enough for victory in India.

However, it would leave Australia at a massive disadvantage for the Ashes; in a situation unthinkable until now, England would have a massive advantage in the spin department. (Panesar bowls best on English wickets, and when in top form he is the best finger-spinner in the world, besides Murali. Who is a freak.) If this had been the case in 2005, England would have won 4-1.

Take note of India's success in England last year - they used a combination of swing and spin.

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Posted by paperhouse on 2008-06-05 02:43:01

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