Monday 1 June 2009

Tait's an Australian A man

If you were top tier material and were dropped from the national team only to find yourself on the A team, would you be pissed off? Could you even bear a grudge when the selectors somehow end up looking like the good guys in all this?

These are all questions Shaun Tait will be asking himself, after being selected for the Australia A squad to play Pakistan A in Brisbane these coming months.

That's not the biggest news, however, because Andrew Symonds has been left out of the squad. So has Brad Hodge, but it's Roy where the real worries lie. Cricket Australia are looking to punish him badly, so much so that he can't even make the A team. What the fuck is going on here? Are they being entirely serious, because that's just bullshit. Hilditch serves up some valid points on how they're going with a young squad:

"The selection recognises the performances of these young talented players in the domestic season last year whilst concentrating on those players we have identified as having the ability to play a significant role in the development of Australian cricket in the future."

But where does all this leave Symonds? What exactly do they expect to get out of him?

Cameron White's captaining the team for both the four-day and limited overs matches, while Ryan Broad, Michael Klinger and Blues man Burt Cockley (walking around with an awesome name like that and taking wickets for NSW, good man) are only in for the two four-day matches. Other limited overs specialists or thereabouts will be coming in for the other matches, being Dave Warner, Tait, and Moises Henriques, who's a bit of a nothing.

You'll be amused to know that Adam Voges is in the squad as vice-captain. I guess CA couldn't pretend he didn't exist any longer.

And now, I'm not sure whether I should laugh or be appalled at the fact that Shaun Tait has only been included in the squad "subject to fitness" especially after it's been declared he is. The selectors sure love fucking with his mind.

George Bailey, recently appointed Tassie captain after one of their greats stood down, also makes the cut. He's the designated ray of sunshine for the team.
Even better, Dougie's there, raring to go. Making the Ashes squad was always going to be a tough ask of both him and the selectors. Other big names include Shaun Marsh (subject to fitness, of course) and the Echidna. Awesome, you say? I agree. Jason Krejza is also hoping to spin his hair off for the A team.

The squad: Cameron White (capt) Adam Voges, George Bailey, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Broad, Burt Cockley, Callum Ferguson, Brett Geeves, Moises Henriques, Jon Holland, Michael Klinger, Jason Krejza, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Tim Paine, Shaun Tait, David Warner

Honk if you'd marry him.

7 comments:

Stani Army said...

Marry you or the guy in the photo?

Esra_Star said...

What has Henriques done Amy? Isn't he the kid we picked for a T20 or ODI game against the saffas and he said he was shocked cos he'd played shit all season?

I've never seen Burt Cockley, but what a fucking awesome name. He has to be your new best friend!

Amy said...

Stani, I'm not going to address that.

Esra, generally my best friends are 20 or under, like the young kids in cricket. But Burt Cockley is pretty fucking awesome. He's been doing some great stuff the past year or so for the Blues, stepping up as one of the younger bowlers.

Mahek said...

Does Cockley have the balls to make it to tests?

missjane said...

Voges looks quite red-headed in that shot.

I have seen better pictures of him... tough call re marriage, but of course he gets bonus points for being a Warrior. :)

and of course as well all know he putting his wedding ahead of his career. sometimes i think that's cute, and sometimes i think his fiance clearly didn't appreciate him. it's great that he offered, but she should've said no, don't be silly YOU PLAY FOR AUSTRALIA.

clearly no patriotism whatsoever.

Stani Army said...

You changed it.....init?

Amy said...

Mahek, very punny. If he makes it big, it'll be worse than Onions.

MJ, if I were his fiance at that time, I would have told him to fuck the marriage (okay, delay it) and play for Australia. It's not even just patriotism, but career opportunities. I get that weddings are planned in advance, but oh well, his call. It didn't do him too much good.

Stani, stop posting meaningless comments which I cannot understand.