I haven't posted on this thread yet to see if this sentiment is widespread, but I think we're fucked for a little while.

You guys are nowhere near as fucked as my glorious black caps are

Jason Krejza or Nathan Hauritz :-k
They're both pretty hopeless

You guys are nowhere near as fucked as my glorious black caps are

ed cowan \:d/ :d :cool:

i think the question now is steve smith or nathan hauritz

While the selectors are still in place, yeah probably. There's still a lot of talent in Australian Cricket. At worst, they'll fal just off the pace with Ind/Eng/Saf. But I reckon we're entering a stage where no series between the top 5 can be decided on paper beforehand. Every team is a chance, it'll be fantastic to watch.

NZ TEST SQUAD TO PLAY INDIA
Brent Arnel (Northern Districts), Hamish Bennett (Canterbury), Martin Guptill (Auckland), Gareth Hopkins (Auckland), Chris Martin (Auckland), Brendon McCullum (Otago), Tim McIntosh (Auckland), Andy McKay (Wellington), Jeetan Patel (Wellington), Jesse Ryder (Wellington), Tim Southee (Northern Districts), Ross Taylor (Central Districts), Daniel Vettori (captain, Northern Districts), BJ Watling (Northern Districts), Kane Williamson (Northern Districts)

TEST SCHEDULE
Nov 4-8: First test, Ahmedabad

Nov 12-16: Second test, Hyderabad

Nov 20-24: Third test, Nagpurby

just found out a school mate of mine who i also played cricket with got selected for australia in the upcoming games, he made hes debut in the last aussie/india OD game recently but it will be good to see he on aussie soil,

Cricket: CD sign England international
12:22 PM Thursday Oct 28, 2010

Central Districts have secured the services of English one-day international Mike Yardy as they look to defend their Twenty20 domestic cricket title.

Former English international Ian Blackwell has also been signed, Central Districts chief executive Hugh Henderson said today.

Ross Taylor's participation for Central is likely to be limited through his involvement with the Black Caps, and injury has ruled out Graham Napier.

As Jacob Oram's return from knee surgery is likely to rule him out for the early stages, Central Districts have recruited two all-rounders to bolster their ranks.

"We learnt a lot through our participation in the Champions League in September,and this experience definitely shaped our thinking around who we would contract," Henderson said.

"Both players bring a wealth of experience, particularly in the shorter format of the game."

Yardy, 29, has been a regular member of the England one-day and Twenty20 sides over the past 12 months while 32-year-old Blackwell is a hard-hitting batsman and slow left arm bowler.

Central Districts coach Alan Hunt welcomed the additions.

"We saw first-hand in the Champions League the value of two spinners working in tandem through the middle of an innings.

"In securing two players that can fulfil that role, as well as being powerful top order batsman, I think that we have an ideal balance to our side."

Both Yardy and Blackwell will be with Central for the duration of the Twenty20 schedule, with the first game being against Northern Districts on December 2.

- NZPA

Australian cricket's $160m revolution

Exclusive by Phil Rothfield, Sports Editor-at-large From: The Daily Telegraph October 28, 2010

CRICKET Australia is facing its most crucial 48 hours in recent history to combat plans of Indian investors trying to seize a share of our Twenty20 game in the biggest shake-up since Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Australia's most powerful cricket states, NSW and Victoria, have already sold shares to giant Indian corporations for around $60 million in return for profits from an IPL-type eight-team tournament to start in Australia in January 2012.

CA board members will meet in Melbourne over the next two days to decide whether to accept private equity from Indian and other overseas investors as part of the ownership structure for each franchise, which could be worth $80 million each in a few seasons, four times their initial value of $20 million each.

Chief executive James Sutherland has described the setting up of the tournament as "the most significant development since World Series Cricket" and is fully aware state bodies have threatened to establish a breakaway competition if the overseas investors are turned away.

"It's a moment as big, if not bigger, than the Kerry Packer moment when his role resulted in ODI cricket taking off and basically funding the development of Australian and world cricket for 25 or so years," CA spokesman Peter Young said last night.

The Daily Telegraph understands NSW Cricket has set up a separate business entity, known as Blues Inc, to run the state's Twenty20 franchises.

It is understood the Indian investors want a 49 per cent share of the company and have all but signed off on a figure of $30 million.

"The Twenty20 franchises in Australia could eventually be worth $80 million each," said one cricket insider. "It's a staggering amount of money considering an NRL club like the Brisbane Broncos is valued at around $30 million. That's why the Indian corporations are so keen to get involved as an investment.

"One-day cricket is dying, the only Tests people care about are the Ashes and India, and everyone knows Twenty20 is the future of the game."

The Australian tournament will involve eight teams, two each from NSW and Victoria, and one from each of the other states. It will feature all of Australia's current stars and retired champions like Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Overseas stars from India, England, the West Indies and South Africa will also be offered mega-contracts to play in a tournament that will replace the traditional one-day cricket over January and February.

NSW cricket chief executive Dave Gilbert would not return text messages or phone calls last night to discuss selling 49 per cent to Indian interests.

The Daily Telegraph understands NSW and Victorian administrators have been secretly negotiating with the Indian companies, through a prominent middle man, for 12 months.

"The states have taken it upon themselves because they believe Cricket Australia has been too slow to embrace the game," one source said.

"All cricket's research shows the major proportion of people who watch the game are males over 45.

"They can't connect with women and kids. The states - and their investors - obviously feel they can through Twenty 20 cricket, but they are not prepared to just sit back and wait while Cricket Australia has done very little about it."

Sutherland said getting the big decisions right to set up the Big Bash League (BBL) will be one of the most important moments in Australian cricket history.

"If we get BBL right, it will have a significant role to play in cricket continuing to be a major Australian sport," Sutherland said.

Cricket Australia's AGM today will include a detailed presentation on the Big Bash League.

Around 50 senior officials from Australian cricket will be at the AGM, including all 14 directors (who represent the six state cricket associations who set up CA), the State Cricket Association chief executives, Sutherland and his senior management team.

Following the AGM, the future of Twenty 20 will be the major item up for discussion at a board meeting.

A NSW official, who asked not to be identified, said CA is under massive pressure to accept private investors.

"The door to private investment was opened four years ago via the IPL and this has seen an influx of funds into the Board of Control for Cricket in India's [BCCI] coffers whilst other countries simply provide their players and support this revenue growth in the process," the official said.

"While India has thrived, Cricket Australia's revenues have taken a hit given the GFC, the strength of the Australian dollar, with less tourists coming, and declining gates.

"Cricket needs an injection of capital that will allow it to compete for the younger audience and women the game desperately needs."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/australian-crickets-160m-revolution/story-e6frey50-1225944408919

who was that? starc?

Merv Hughes's reign as a national selector is over after he was dumped by the Cricket Australia board at a meeting in Melbourne today.

Hughes was left out of a new four-man selection panel, which now comprises chairman Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Jamie Cox and Greg Chappell.

“After feedback from NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch during today's meeting, the Board unanimously decided that David Boon, Jamie Cox and Greg Chappell were the best people to join him on the four-member NSP,” Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said.

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“Andrew was clear in his assessment that Merv had been a good selector and a strong contributor around the selection table, but that Cox, Boon and Chappell were the better options to continue on the NSP.

“Unfortunately this means that Merv is no longer a member of the NSP. Merv has provided valuable input and expertise to the NSP during the past five years and Cricket Australia thanks him for his contribution during this time.”

who was that? starc?

Cricket Australia facing legal action over image projected on to Big Ben
October 29, 2010 - 4:32PM
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-australia-facing-legal-action-over-image-projected-on-to-big-ben-20101029-1772v.html



Cricket Australia is facing legal action after projecting an image of captain Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke on to Big Ben.

The image, which carried the message "Don't forget to pack the urn", a reference to the forthcoming Ashes series, was shone on to the London landmark at midnight (UK time) on Wednesday.

But the stunt appears to have backfired, The Guardian reports, with Australian cricket's governing body facing a court case and a possible £2500 ($4000) fine.
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Westminster Council's deputy leader, Robert Davis, told The Guardian: "The Palace of Westminster is part of a Unesco world heritage site, and it's both inappropriate and insulting for this important location and its buildings to effectively be abused in this manner. It's also a criminal offence.

"If an organisation wishes to display advertising on it, or any other building in Westminster for that matter, they should apply through the normal channels like any right-minded person with respect for the law.

"Although we've not prosecuted previously [because] such stunts are usually over quickly, we do feel now that enough is enough and we're considering legal action.

"We also fear that without taking a firm stance this style of guerilla advertising will only increase, particularly in the run-up to [the London Olympics in] 2012."

The Guardian reports that Cricket Australia will be liable for a £2500 fine for breaking laws governing advertising consents if the council takes action and wins the case.

Ponting said the stunt was meant to put the England team on notice before they fly out to Australia.

"Winning the urn back from our age-old rival is the most prized achievement for Australians and we just wanted to send them a reminder not to leave the urn behind," Ponting said.

"Our message is clear - we're prepared and we're ready, so bring on the Ashes."

Clarke said the Ashes series would be an opportunity for the Australian team to show what they are made of.

"The Ashes is the ultimate cricket battle between our nations and this year will be no exception," Clarke said.

"The team will have to dig deep and deliver.

"We have some new faces in the squad this series who didn't play in England last time. So they're fresh and excited to be part of their first Ashes tour."

The Ashes series begins in Brisbane on November 25.

smh.com.au and AAP

"Although we've not prosecuted previously [because] such stunts are usually over quickly, we do feel now that enough is enough and we're considering legal action."

Cricket knocked for six

David Sygall, Jim O'rourke
October 31, 2010

PLUMMETING TV ratings, stagnant attendance figures and a fall in revenue are threatening to oust cricket from its place in the national sporting psyche, a confidential document has revealed.

Australian cricket authorities also fear the impact on the future of the summer game of aggressive marketing campaigns by the AFL and rugby league.

A Cricket Australia discussion paper, prepared for 180 Australian cricket stakeholders before a five-day conference in August, reveals:

- TV audiences have tumbled 24 per cent during the past decade.

- Cricket Australia is in financial deficit for the first time.

- There is a significant drop-off in players once they reach age 13.

- Female fans are turning away from the game.

Cricket Australia confirmed on Friday that the national Twenty20 competition will expand from six to eight teams from the 2011-12 season and that teams can seek private financial backing. It will be renamed the Big Bash League.

The assessment of Australian cricket came as the English team touched down in Australia yesterday for the Ashes series. The summer of cricket kicks off today with Australia playing a Twenty20 game against Sri Lanka in Perth.

The confidential document, obtained by The Sunday Age, shows that as AFL crowds have soared and NRL attendances have doubled since 1980, cricket crowds have been stagnant - at an average of just under 1 million a year at Tests, international one-dayers and Twenty20 matches.

Figures show that Channel Nine's viewing audience has fallen by 24 per cent in the past 10 years, caused largely, the document reveals, by AFL's tightening ''stranglehold on TV'' through its access to two free-to-air networks and a much larger advertising budget.

Not only have Test cricket ratings declined since a 10-year peak in 2006-07 (for the Ashes series), TV audiences for one-day international matches are at a 10-year low. The ratings for Twenty20 cricket have dropped to their lowest level since its introduction six years ago.

The document challenged conference attendees to ask themselves if cricket was ''a mature sport or a growth sport?''.

They were told cricket must expand beyond its traditional audiences to counter declines in TV viewers and that while there was strong growth in participation by five to 12-year-olds, particularly among females, it was countered by a big drop-off in the 13 to 18 age group.

''We continue to struggle in some areas,'' the document said, ''especially females and young people.''

Australian media buyer Harold Mitchell, who addressed the conference, said cricket needed to embrace new social network technologies such as Twitter to recapture young fans.

Yesterday Cricket Australia public affairs manager Peter Young said information revealed at the conference had acted as a ''wake-up call'' for people in Australian cricket.

He said CA would be reviewing its strategic plan, called ''From Backyard to Baggy Green'', corporate governance and its financial model.

''There was a particular concern that we need to do better at engaging females, the women and girls,'' he said. ''We are restructuring our junior playing program for children aged seven to 10 to increase the number of young players.''

Mr Young said TV ratings for the decade had gone down for all free-to-air sport due the new digital TV networks.

''The audience has been fragmented,'' he said. ''We have also been concerned that the attendances haven't been going up, they've been fairly static. But we've already had monster sales for the Ashes series and Channel Nine is forecasting ratings significantly north of where they were last summer.''

He said Cricket Australia was confident the Big Bash League would revive the fortunes of Australian cricket.

Mr Young confirmed CA had projected an operating deficit in the next three years of its four-year financial cycle but an annual operating profit of $60 million by the end of the cycle.

Belinda Clarke, former captain of the Australian women's cricket team and manager of the CA Centre of Excellence in Brisbane, said participation of women in cricket, whether as players, administrators or spectators, could only benefit because Cricket Australia was tackling problems head-on.

''There have been positive discussions about what we need to do to engage females more effectively and to move things along faster,'' she said
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-knocked-for-six-20101030-1789w.html