For me, it's England in the cricket but Australia in the football, basically I'm going for the team with less wankers, eg. Mitchell Johnson and John Terry. And also with a soft spot for Ireland in everything due to the Irish part of me.

England's Australian fast bowling coach David Saker has been handed a three-year contract extension as a reward for his success with the team down under.

Saker, 44, succeeded Ottis Gibson in the lead-up to England's triumph in the World Twenty20 in 2010.

After England retained the Ashes in Melbourne on 29 December, coach Andy Flower made special mention of Saker.

The former Victoria fast bowler's knowledge of Australian conditions has played a big part in England's success.

"The depth of bowling talent currently throughout the England ranks is something that excites me and I'm really looking forward to building on the progress we've made," said Saker.

"There is still a lot of improvement ahead for the England squad, including the bowling unit, and I look forward to the challenge of continuing to test the bowlers as they seek to improve and better themselves."

There was speculation that Australia might seek to persuade Saker to return home and join their set-up, in the way that compatriot Troy Cooley was enticed back home after helping England regain the Ashes in 2005.

England team managing director Hugh Morris said: "We are delighted David has agreed to continue in the role for at least another three years as he's a vital part of the England management team and his experience and expertise are greatly valued."

Flower praised Saker's role in retaining the Ashes after the innings victory in Melbourne.

"The Kookaburra ball was much talked about before the game started and there were a lot things said about our bowlers not being able to use it as well as they do the Duke," said Flower, referring to the English ball.
   
"But I think you've seen some very skilful bowling from our guys and they've worked very hard at it.

"David has been instrumental in their development and [his predecessor] Ottis Gibson before that.

"I haven't seen many men come into a group where they didn't know anyone and integrate as well as David has - and that's testament to his character."

Saker helped Victoria win two Sheffield Shield titles and four domestic Twenty20 crowns in five years.

He was head coach of the Delhi Daredevils during the 2009 Champions League following an assistant coach's role with the franchise in the first two seasons of the Indian Premier League.

Apart from Saker, Graham Gooch has been assisting the batsmen, Mushtaq Ahmed has been working with the spinners and Richard Halsall has focused on the fielding.

[size=7]Clarke quits Twenty20, Cameron White new captain[/size]

Michael Clarke's reign as Test captain might just be starting but his time as Twenty20 leader has ended. Clarke announced after the Ashes loss at the SCG that he would stand down from the role and will not play Twenty20, instead preferring to concentrate on regaining form in the five- and one-day arenas.

Cameron White has been named as Australia's captain for the two Twenty20 games against England next week, with Tim Paine confirmed as his deputy. The squad also includes Brett Lee, who will represent Australia for the first time since October 2009, as well as the uncapped Aaron Finch and James Pattinson.

Clarke struggled to keep pace with the demands of the shortest game because his technically correct batting was more suited to the longer formats. In 32 T20 internationals he had a strike-rate of 103, or slightly better than a run a ball, well below the output expected of a top-order player.

He captained the side in 18 matches and won 12 times, with the highlight being taking Australia to the final of the World Twenty20 in the West Indies in May. England beat Australia on that occasion too.

Clarke replaced Ponting as Test captain for the final game of this Ashes series, but will have to wait until August to learn if he will be the full-time leader. However, he will captain Australia in the upcoming one-day series against England, as Ponting continues to recover from his finger injury.

The two Twenty20s will be played next Wednesday and Friday, followed by seven ODIs beginning at the MCG on January 16. The chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said White was ready for the leadership of Australia's Twenty20 side and the selectors were keen to play Paine more often to help him prepare for when he eventually takes over from Haddin permanently.

"Cameron White has been named as captain of the Twenty20 team and Tim Paine vice-captain," Hilditch said. "We are confident that they will provide outstanding leadership for what is a very exciting Twenty20 team. The national selection panel is taking the opportunity to look at some of our exciting young talent in this form of the game. Aaron Finch has been in outstanding form for Victoria and the NSP looks forward to watching him play at the highest level in this form of the game.

"James Pattinson is one of a crop of young fast bowlers with great potential and he impressed with his stint with the Australian side in India. We're sure he's ready for the challenge of international cricket. The squad also sees the return of Brett Lee and Shaun Tait. Both at their best are explosive bowlers and should add greatly to the team."

Australia squad David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White (capt), David Hussey, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith, Tim Paine (wk), Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, James Pattinson, Shaun Tait.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/495742.html

Did you go and 'reclaim your English ancestry' then Doc?

Australian cricket under review after hiding

January 7, 2011 - 5:59PM

Australian cricket will subject itself to a thorough review of the management and planning that led to a 3-1 humiliation in the Ashes series, though none of the principle cast members are prepared to accept blame for the result.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, coach Tim Nielsen and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch all spoke in the aftermath of a third innings defeat for the series, and all insisted they had done the best job they could.

Sutherland spoke bluntly about the fact that CA could not expect to keep doing the same things and reap a better result in the next Ashes series in 2013, but there seems little likelihood of sweeping change.

Australian batsmen Steve Smith (left) and Peter Siddle run from the field as rain delays play on the final day of the fifth Ashes cricket Test. Photo: AFP

..Hilditch has expressed the desire to keep selecting teams beyond the conclusion of his contract after the limited overs World Cup, Nielsen is contracted for another three years, and Sutherland appears to have no intention of moving.

Pace bowling coach Troy Cooley is departing at the end of the World Cup to move into a more spinal role as head of CA's centre of excellence in Brisbane, and will have a considerable say in the choice of his successor.

England bowling coach David Saker withdrew from the running on Friday by announcing he had signed a new three-year deal with the ECB.

"Right now we're clearly not on top and we need to find a way to get back on top as quickly as we can," Sutherland said on Friday.

"Believe it or not we do review where we're up to every year irrespective of whether we have a good year or a bad year.

"This has been a bad series and it's a reason for us to have a very good look at where we're up to, what we do, how we can get better, how we can get back on top.

"I'm firmly of the view that you can't expect to get back on top by doing the same things and just simply plugging away.

"You have to look at where you're up to, how things are delivered and your approach and that will certainly be part of a review that will happen in the coming weeks.

"It's not something that will happen overnight, it needs to be fully endorsed by the board, but in due course we will find ourselves in the midst of a review."

Whatever may be concluded from the review, Sutherland insisted its terms of reference would reach wider than simply the events to befall the players chosen by Hilditch and coached by Nielsen and Cooley.

"The structure and nature of the review will be something the CA board of directors needs to make a decision about," he said.

"I have some views in my own mind as to how that might be structured, how that may be put together, but that's something that ultimately needs to be approved by the CA board.

"I would struggle to see how you can just do a review of the Australian cricket team, it's about how Australian cricket is delivering the best possible cricket teams."

AAP

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/australian-cricket-under-review-after-hiding-20110107-19inw.html

In a way this is just like the WC Bid for the FFA.

And of course, no-one is going to stand up and admit they fucked up.

Fucking softcocks, all of them. CA and FFA.

Dean Jones declares it's time for Steve Waugh to coach Australia

Michael Horan From: Herald Sun January 07, 2011

AUSTRALIAN cricket should find the money to lure Steve Waugh as its next coach, former Test batsman Dean Jones says.
Jones said Australia needed to draw on its former greats to restore it as a cricket power and said this summer's Ashes humiliation should bring down the curtain on a system that had provided the wrong coaches.

Jones, a 52-Test veteran, said Cricket Australia needed to pay the necessary money to attact former greats into coaching roles, instead of seeing them lost to better offers overseas or in the media.

"It's time for Steve Waugh to coach the team and to get Cricket Australia to start employing blokes who have played a bit of international cricket," Jones said.

"Some of the young kids coming through state cricket, we kiss them on the backside and cajole them along, and that's fine, but ultimately some truths have to be said."

"(Truths) about guys getting out in the last over of the day, all this silly stuff like flashing outside the off stump. If they (the coaches) have never played for Australia, they (the players) get away with it.

"But the players respect you if you've been there, done that. All the great AFL coaches have been there done that."

Jones' comments were a clear shot at Australian coach Tim Nielsen, who played 101 first-class games for South Australia as a wicketkeeper-batsman but never reached international level.

"All the coaches around Australia have never played for Australia," Jones said, adding that the system now demanded that former players needed to do a course and get a certificate in order to coach.

"You have to get tertiary education to be a coach now, but you can't get that qualification if you're too busy being the best (players) in the world."

On the the 3-1 series loss - with all three defeats by an innings plus runs margins - Jones said Australia was simply outclassed, as he predicted it would be immediately after the series was leveled at 1-1 after the third Test in Perth.

"Occasionally you've got to look at it and say, 'you're not good enough, lads'. And I think there's a fair bit more rubbish to go through. I don't think we've hit rock bottom yet," Jones said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/the-ashes/steve-waugh-the-man-for-the-australian-coaching-job-dean-jones-says/story-fn67w6pa-1225983735727

Baggy greens give Nine the blues too, with drop in ratings

James Chessell From: The Australian January 08, 2011

CRICKET fans weren't the only ones depressed over the Australian team's characterless Ashes performance.
The Nine Network's ratings also sank as armchair fans switched off.

The Ashes has traditionally provided the most popular Test matches for Australian viewers and even this series drew larger audiences than last summer's lacklustre games against Pakistan and the West Indies.

However, analysis by Essence Media & Fusion Strategy shows the capital-city audiences were down more than 25 per cent on the previous home series against England in 2006-07, when Australia completed a 5-0 whitewash.

This time only the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, played after Australia's unexpected victory in Perth, offered Nine viewers something to cheer about.

The first morning may have been a disaster for Australia's batsmen but it averaged more than 1.2 million viewers - the best ratings in more than a decade. But overall numbers were still down 23 per cent compared with 2006-07.

"Australians like to watch us win, but they also like a contest," said Essence managing director Steve Allen. "Cricket remains in reasonably good shape but there needs to be some quality play on the field to get people watching in big numbers."

Ashes sponsor Vodafone may also be questioning its involvement. Vodafone, which is battling a consumer backlash over problems with its mobile network, fronted one of its ads with Doug Bollinger, a pace bowler who is so out of form he struggled to get a game for Australia. Its decision to use the Ashes to sell new deals has annoyed existing customers.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/baggy-greens-give-nine-the-blues-too-with-drop-in-ratings/story-e6frg6nf-1225983882846

Former Test captain Kim Hughes fears batsman Michael Clarke is finished in the baggy green

By Richard Earle
The Daily Telegraph January 11, 2011 8:30AM

Former Test captain Kim Hughes fears stand-in Australia captain Michael Clarke is finished in the baggy green.

"Unless he changes his footwork he will struggle to score in Test cricket and therefore struggle to hold his spot in the side," Hughes said of vice-captain Clarke, who averaged a miserable 21 this summer against England.

"He is batting in a pivotal position at No. 4 and his technique has fallen apart completely. Michael needs to go back and work on it. I am glad he is out of the Twenty20 game."

Hughes was amazed no one - coaches, selectors or administrators - took responsibility for a crushing 3-1 series loss to England.

"They are sounding more like politicians than ever," said 70-Test batsman Hughes, who exited the Test ranks in 1984.

"Let's be realistic, England are not a great side. They are a good side with a nice mix. If the attitude is 'we have done a good job as selectors', I would hate to see them do a bad job.


"We would be getting beaten by Zimbabwe. There was inconsistency in selections, Doug Bollinger wasn't allowed to play before the first Test then came back and was clearly underdone.

"Blind Freddy could have told you that Phil Hughes doesn't have a technique for Test cricket."

Hughes believes Ricky Ponting remains "the best option" as Test skipper in the absence of an obvious successor.

Hughes nominated former cricketer and hockey coach Ric Charlesworth as the man to head an independent review into Australia cricket.

"Ric is arguably the best coach in the world," Hughes said.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the-ashes/former-test-captain-kim-hughes-fears-batsman-michael-clarke-is-finished-in-the-baggy-green/story-e6frf3gl-1225985380771

[size=6]Lee, Tait and David Hussey in ODI squad[/size]

Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and David Hussey have all been given the chane to impress the selectors in Australia's only ODI before the World Cup squad is named. A 14-man group has been picked for the first match in the seven-game series against England, at the MCG on Sunday, and there was also a spot for Nathan Hauritz.

Squad Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Michael Clarke (capt), Cameron White, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle, Shaun Tait, Doug Bollinger.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/current/story/496255.html

I refuse to quit my post: Andrew Hilditch

Malcolm Conn From: The Australian January 12, 2011

CHAIRMAN of selectors Andrew Hilditch is unrepentant about his refusal to take any responsibility following Australia's dreadful Ashes series.
Hilditch has played down a public feud with Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Hilditch infuriated Australia's grieving cricket community when he praised the selectors despite the dreadful 3-1 rout, which included three innings losses in a series for the first time.

"I think we've done a very good job as a selection panel, but the reality is we were totally outplayed," Hilditch said after Australia lost the fifth and final Test by an innings and 83 runs last Friday.

"You can't get away from that fact. They were better than we were, we put a side on the paddock we expected to compete really well."

Hilditch claimed his comments were not the problem, but the way the broader population read them.

"Look, obviously everybody, to the extent that someone thinks we're not disappointed with the result, I'm disappointed those comments were taken that way," Hilditch said in Adelaide yesterday after announcing the one-day squad for next Sunday's match in Melbourne against England.

"The reality is nobody could be more disappointed than the national selection panel.

"We picked what we thought was a squad capable of winning the Ashes and it wasn't capable of winning the Ashes."

Hilditch continued to insist he wants to remain as chairman of selectors beyond the end of his existing contract after the World Cup in April.

This is despite refusing to do the job full-time because he wants to concentrate on his law firm.

"I've still got the same passion for everything I can give to Australian cricket," Hilditch said.

"So it'll be for someone else to tell me when I'm not required."

Hilditch attempted to defuse Haddin's public annoyance at being left out of the national Twenty20 squad. Back-up keeper Tim Paine was named vice-captain of the team.

This week Haddin, 33, described the decision as "odd" and "confusing".

One of the few players to make any runs of note during the Ashes campaign, Haddin claimed he did not know why he had been dropped for Paine, 26.

This was after Hilditch had rated Haddin Australia's best wicketkeeper in all three formats.

"Being dropped from the team when the chairman of selectors says you're the best player for the position was odd; it was very odd," Haddin said. "I had a long time out of the game with my (injured) elbow. You want every chance you get to play for Australia.

"I think we're confused enough as it is, and we have a one-day series and World Cup to get our heads around. But I won't lie, it was very odd being told you're left out when (also told) you're the best player for the position."

Hilditch played a straight bat to Haddin's comments.

" I've spoken to Brad before he was omitted from the Twenty20 side and I gave him the reasons," Hilditch said.

Hilditch described selecting T20 and one-day sides as totally different.

He also praised Paine's leadership ability.

"Tim Paine, we were really keen to have a look at him in Twenty20 cricket," said Hilditch. "One, he's in very good form, two we want to give him some leadership roles. To get a leadership role for us is very important as it was in the Prime Minister's game.

"Brad's still our premier keeper-batter, and I've told him that."

Additional reporting: Andrew Faulkner

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/i-refuse-to-quit-my-post-andrew-hilditch/story-e6frg7rx-1225985882788

So good to see Binga back in an Australian kit.

Pity he's bowled like arse.