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Australia’s Elimination At The Hands Of Aghanistan Is Just Desserts For Hypocrisy

Australia’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign has come to an end at the hands of Afghanistan, first by losing to them in Kingstown, before Afghanistan beat Bangladesh two days later to qualify for the semi finals outright without needing to rely on NRR. It is the first time Afghanistan have made the semi finals of a World Cup, continuing their astonishing rise through the ranks. India and South Africa remain the only full member nations that Afghanistan have not beaten, with maiden victories over Australia and New Zealand in this T20 World Cup.

It is particularly ironic that Australia’s elimination came thanks to Afghanistan. Australia have, in the last 3 years, cancelled a one off test, an ODI series and a T20i series. The reason cited in each instance is a lack of womens rights under Taliban governance. It would be ignorant to discount economic factors in the wake of the COVID pandemic as part of the reasoning as well, particularly in the instance of the test match Australia were scheduled to host. In that same period of time, Australia have faced Afghanistan three times at World Cups: T20 World Cup in Adelaide in 2022 (a game I attended), ODI World Cup in India in 2023 and now the T20 World Cup in the Americas. In fact, the teams have only met once outside of an ICC tournament, in 2012 as a warmup game for a series against Pakistan, when Afghanistan had only recently received ODI status.

I don’t disagree that human rights abuses are cause for concern, but if Cricket Australia wants to take a hardline stance and not face Afghanistan in bilateral series, then they should be forfeiting their World Cup matches against them as well. It wouldn’t be unprecedented either, with multiple games at the 2003 ODI World Cup being forfeited. So it’s only fitting that the team Australia has refused to play unless there’s a trophy at stake has knocked them out.

My personal opinion, like Usman Khawaja, is that Australia should be playing these bilateral series. One of the criteria for being a full member nation is to have pathways and national sides for womens cricket, but it should be up to the ICC to make the judgement to strip or suspend their status as a full member, which by the letter of the law they arguably should have by now. If Cricket Australia don’t want to do that, then they should also forfeit World Cup games, instead of getting to pick and choose the moral high ground when silverwear and prize money is up for grabs.

Notably in other sports, in 2024 Australia have faced Israel (ice hockey) and Palestine (soccer), nations/states (depending on your definition) that are both locked in a war where it is undeniable that both sides are committing war crimes.

I hope that Afghanistan go all the way to win the 2024 T20 World Cup from here. I think the conditions suit them best here more than anywhere else, and it would continue to show that the playing field in international cricket is finally starting to level out. It would cap off a great tournament on the field, where co-hosts USA beat Pakistan to make the Super 8s and Canada beat full member Ireland.

To Afghanistan, congratulations and good luck for the rest of the tournament. To Cricket Australia, you deserve nothing less. If your moral concerns are truly that serious, then it’s about time you stop your hypocrisy and start forfeiting your World Cup games, instead of having a foot in each camp and only playing when there’s a financial incentive to do so.

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Goals For 2024/25

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, and there’s been some big things happen in that time, but with the new 2024/25 season fast approaching it’s time to set some goals for the upcoming season.

The last 2 years have seen me transition from a spin bowler batting in the tail, to a top order keeper batsman. I’ve never fully recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in 2020, and in the last 2 years it has deteriorated significantly to the point where I can no longer bowl. Thankfully, my batting and keeping have improved to balance that out somewhat.

For 2024/25, I will be aiming for 200 runs and 10 dismissals, and at least one 50+ score. This is in line with what I’ve achieved in the past 2 seasons, although I’m anticipating playing most of my cricket this coming season in a higher grade than those two seasons. I feel that now I am consistently scoring runs now that this has to be the standard moving forward.

SeasonClubMatchesRunsAverageHigh Score
2023Brighton & Hove (UK)1221627.00102*
2023/24Victor Harbor1720111.9460
Batting stats from the past two seasons.

A lot will depend on the makeup of the squad and what grade I play in as to whether this is achievable. I’m expecting to play mostly A Grade, and if I do I am unlikely to bat in the top 3 like I have the past 2 seasons. There is also a far more accomplished keeper at the club although they haven’t been available often, if that changes then I might not keep at all. However if the club recruits well, then I could be playing C Grade most weeks and if so will almost certainly be taking the gloves and would expect to bat in the top order.

There’s still a lot of uncertainty about how my season will look, but one thing that is for certain, I need to keep scoring runs.

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Season 2020/21 Wrapup

TeamMatchesRunsWicketsBestCatches / Runouts
Victor Harbor C1 Grade44 @ 4––3 / 2
Victor Harbor C2 Grade8*28 @ 5.67 @ 18.142/134 / 1
Lenswood A Grade T201–0 @ –0/20 / 0
Lenswood B Grade44 @ 10 @ –0/194 / 0
Coomera Hope Island 4th Grade12 @ –0 @ –0/30 / 0
Total1838 @ 3.87 @ 252/1311 / 3
* MyCricket says 7, this is due to a game abandoned 30 overs in and recorded as abandoned, but the abandoned status is meant for games abandoned without a ball being bowled so it hasn’t been counted.
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Thoughts on the Australian Opener Quandary

Joe Burns’ career as a test opener looks over. The thing is, he’s always been a makeshift opener. Back early in his career, he plundered runs as a top/middle order batsman and was elevated to open due to a lack of options like Wade has now, and let’s be honest, until lately he’s done a rather fine job. He made his test debut as a number 6, and that’s where he’d do best in this team I feel. The problem for Burns it’s now harder for him to drop back down the order where he belongs as he’s now seen as an opener, even though he’s not the best opener in the Queensland side.

Queensland have 5 openers in their top 5. It’s almost like an Australian T20 side from a few years back. Street, Burns, Labuschagne, Khawaja and Renshaw all have spent significant time opening the batting. Labuschagne is Australia’s number 3, and Renshaw has really developed as a middle order batsman in limited overs and is starting to bring that to his first class game. Ideally, Queensland’s top order should look like:

  1. Street
  2. Khawaja
  3. Labuschagne
  4. Burns/Renshaw
  5. Renshaw/Burns

The problem from what I can see is Khawaja. In 7 innings as a test opener, he averages 96.8 with 2 centuries and 2 fifties. He’s almost the opposite of Burns, having started his first class career as an opener and then dropping down the order. The problem is, it seems Khawaja still thinks he’s the best number 3 in Australia. Even last season when Labuschagne was batting at 3 for Australia, Khawaja was still batting himself at 3 for Queensland. From what I can see, he plays best as an opener, and Burns plays best down the order, so it should be obvious for Khawaja to shuffle up in place of Burns. Khawaja is still good enough to play for Australia, but his best chance will be as an opener, especially now that opening spots are up for grabs.

Ideally, Warner and Pucovski would have opened in the first test, but with both injured it made things difficult for selectors. For this series, I probably would have brought Shaun Marsh back into the squad to open considering his Shield form, opening with Burns, with Head being the one to miss out if Green played. Marsh also averages close to 40 as a test opener, although his record against India is poor and like Khawaja he hasn’t been opening, batting at 3 for Western Australia. Marcus Harris and Sam Whiteman would also be in contention with their strong form in the Sheffield Shield. I’d prefer Whiteman of the two, although I’d also be hesitant to be throwing too many debutants around opening.

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Off To A New Club

In the past month or so, I have permanently moved to Victor Harbor in South Australia. Unfortunately that brings to end my playing days at Coomera Hope Island. It’s a great club and I’ve loved playing there these past two seasons. I even managed to take a wicket with my very first ball for the club, in a trial game again Helensvale. Hopefully I’ll get another game up there at some point in the future.

These are my stats playing for Coomera

GamesRunsBestWicketsBestCt/Ro
31104 @ 8.001836 @ 21.644/4213/2

This season I’ll be playing mainly for Victor Harbor. I’ve played just two games for Victor so far, with just one run and one wicket. I’ll also be playing a few rounds for Lenswood Ranges, as their season starts earlier than it does for Victor Harbor.

I’ll certainly be looking to beat my highest score of just 18 this season. All up I’m aiming to score 100 runs and take more than 20 wickets, both very attainable I believe.

Can’t wait for the new season to start.

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Season 2019-20 Wrapup

While I was hoping to reflect on every game this past season that unfortunately didn’t happen.

Prior to the season I was hoping to establish myself as a geniune all-rounder. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, as I really struggled in the times I was put up the order. Towards the end of the season I started to forge a role in a lower order support role, dropping anchor and turning over the strike regularly. However I really stepped up a level in terms of my bowling, turning into a regular first change bowler consistently creating chances and tying batsmen down. 20 wickets from 16 games is pretty good, beating last season’s 17 wickets from as many games. I also managed to bring up my 100th run for Coomera Hope Island in the final game.

Not sure which club I’ll be at next season, but I’ll be hoping to score at least 100 runs and take at least 20 wickets again.

TeamMatchesRunsWicketsBestCatches / Runouts
Coomera 5ths Blue710 @ 512 @ 14.174/422 / 0
Coomera 5ths White1–1 @ 161/160 / 0
Coomera 6ths734 @ 5.676 @ 26.172/324 / 1
Victor Harbor ODC1–1 @ 241/240 / 0
Total1644 @ 5.520 @ 18.354/426 / 1
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RJR Winter Cricket 2019

Having not been selected in any of the Coomera Hope Island winter cricket teams, I’d been enjoying a cricketless winter until I came across a call for players for a team that had lost a few players. I responded and just like that I was playing cricket again, this time for Cool Brothers in the RJR Winter Cricket Cup. I only played 3 games but it was good to get some games under my belt heading into summer. Great to play on turf again too.

Round 13: Springwood Suns v Cool Brothers

1 & 0/1 (0.2)

Round 14: Cool Brothers v Southside Rangers

13* & 1/13 (2)

Bowled my first maiden in grade cricket, and a wicket maiden to boot

Round 15: Blazers v Cool Brothers

11* & 0/18 (3)

While I would have like a few more wickets, I was pretty happy with how I was able to grind out some late runs. Coupled with my batting in the Cartwright T20 I’m certainly hoping to move up the order a bit this summer.

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Thoughts on Australia’s 2019 World Cup Squad

Australia’s World Cup squad was announced on Monday, and overall it’s not a bad squad. I wouldn’t have been willing to pick Warner on name alone after his suspension but he’s been scoring at will in the IPL and I believe he deserves his spot. Harsh on Handscomb who didn’t do much wrong in recent games, and I don’t see the need for a second spinner in England. Maxwell can fill that role if needed and has just taken a bag in county cricket.

My changes:

In: Handscomb, Head/Turner

Out: Lyon, Coulter-Nile

I personally don’t rate Lyon or Coulter-Nile one day cricket, or at least not at international level. I’d pick Lyon in tests and Coulter-Nile in T20 but that’s it. With just 8 players in the squad who’d be batting in the top 7, I’m replacing them with batsmen. Handscomb is in great form and can keep if anything happens to Carey form or injury wise. I’d also bring in either Travis Head or Ashton Turner, batsmen who can also bowl a bit. Head showed his credentials in the recent home test matches although he hasn’t played any ODIs recently, and we all know what Turner has done in the BBL and how he took down India.

I almost would have selected Bancroft after his blistering form in the BBL but couldn’t really justify his inclusion over the current incumbents after winning 8 straight ODIs and we’re already a little heavy on openers with Finch, Warner, Khawaja and Marsh. I’d have him as well as Lynn, Neser and Kane Richardson on standby.

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Cartwright T20 2019

A few weeks ago I came across a call for players for T20 tournament and jumped at the chance. Playing 3-4 quick T20s across just the one weekend was a great opportunity to get some more game time under my belt.

Game 1: Sons Of Pitches v Mater Hill

We came up against one of the strongest teams first up, and were sent in to bowl. Unfortunately it didn’t go too well for us. Mater Hill racked up 241, and my solitary over was punished for 20-odd. It’s pretty rare for me to bowl to left handers as it is, and the odds were never in my favour starting against a batsman already well past 50, especially still sore from footy the previous night.

I fared much better with the bat. Coming in at 6 with the score about 4/30, I made a fairly quick 17 with 3 boundaries before attempting a reverse sweep against the only ball that turned for the match and could only help it onto the stumps. We were eventually bowled out for just 77.

Game 2: Sons Of Pitches v Mater Hill 3

Up against another Mater Hill side, but this time a team closer to our standard. We batted first and after scoring the second most runs for us in the first game I was promoted to open. Unfortunately I could never really get going, making just 6 runs before skying a slog sweep to be caught behind. We only managed a couple of boundaries for the entire innings as we scraped our way to 72 but we managed to bat out the overs at least. I didn’t get a bowl as our seamers bowled fairly well but our total was chased down in the 18th over, 19 wides didn’t help our cause.

Game 3: Sons Of Pitches v Gunners

Back for day 2 and facing a team who also didn’t win a game on day 1, we were hoping to have a decent chance. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, as they raced along to almost 100 in the powerplay through some brutal hitting. I was brought in in the 9th over and plastered for 25 off it. I decided to change to bowling seam seeing as spin wasn’t working, and it paid off immediately. I took 1/13 from my 3 overs of seam, regularly beating the bat and hurrying the batsmen and didn’t concede a boundary, finishing with total figures of 1/38. Those figures looked even better as they managed to finish on 269.

Batting at 3 this time and I found myself at the crease midway through the powerplay. With plenty of time and no real chance of chasing down the target I was able to play my natural game, knocking the ball into gaps and running hard. I only managed a solitary four and a six off a free hit as I made my highest ever score in competitive cricket with 30 before getting caught on the boundary with just a couple of overs to go. We finished on a respectable 128 with two other batsmen passing 30, although that meant we still suffered a massive loss.

Although we lost every game, it was a really fun weekend. It was great being able to show my skill with the bat, scoring almost as many runs over the three games as I did the whole summer season, and took my first wicket bowling seam since 2008. I might explore returning to bowling seam regularly next season, but I’ll need to do a lot of work on my shoulder over winter to be able to pull it off. Hopefully my exploits with the bat will give me some opportunities higher up the order next season as well.

  • Down on one knee to slog sweep a boundary in game one
  • Swatting away a full toss in game three
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Thoughts on the Australian Test XI

I kinda prediected the lineup for Australia’s first test against Sri Lanka. Most of it was a given, but there were a few contentious calls that I’d like to comment on.

Cummins and Head Vice Captains

Head has played 6 tests, averaging 32.6, highest score of 72. He obviously has good leadership skills, as he was picked as South Australian captain with similarly underwhelming returns. But yet again the selectors have blundered by naming a vice captain who has hardly come close to cementing a spot in the team. If he fails this series, it’s pretty unlikely he’ll be heading to England.

Patterson’s Lat Callup

The right decision here. He should have been selected a few years ago when Nic Maddinson was plucked from obscurity for the test team. Has batted well this season in the shield and that pair of centuries against the pink ball makes him a no brainer selection.

Labuschagne’s Inclusion

Again, this is the right call, although I’d play him at 6 rather than 4. He’s a quality batsman, and he proved that last season in the shield, where he was second only to Renshaw in the leading run scorers. He’s arguably the best fielder in the XI, and bowls useful leg spin. The season before that, he was player of the tournament in the one day cup. People keep saying he’s not a good enough batsman to play for Australia, but his record says otherwise. He looked good in his solitary test against India and scored a fifty in the warmup game.

In the squad that they selected, he also is a logical choice. Playing at the gabba, it makes sense that he’s been selected over Pucovski with the home ground advantage. His form this season hasn’t been great and if they want a batting allrounder Maxwell is probably a better choice, and if they wanted a genuine batsman Wade is in irresistable form, but from the squad that was picked his selection was correct in my opinion, but he needs to make a big score very soon.

Richardson Over Siddle

I was critical of Richardson’s selection for the South Africa tour last year, but this year I was advocating his selection. Last year he was picked on potential after a couple of decent Big Bash games, hardly the best test XI selection criteria. But this season he’s been dominating at shield level and had a very good ODI series while Siddle struggled. Siddle had a very good county season and deserves to be close to Australian selection, and might even need to come in for Starc for the next test.

Pucovski’s Exclusion

Again I think this is the right call. He’s only played 2 shield games all season and has a known weakness against the short ball. Prior to Patterson’s callup I still wouldn’t have picked Pucovski (Renshaw open, Burns bat down the order). If Head, Harris or Labuschagne fail then I’d be happy to throw him in for the second test, but if we’re picking guys on potential, why don’t we just make Sangha test captain now?

My Ideal Test XI

If I had free reign for the next test, I’d bring in Wade and Maxwell for Head and Labuschange, and Siddle for Starc. Maxwell doesn’t have a weight of runs but is probably a better allrounder option than Labuschagne and has proven experience at international level, while Wade is in the form of his life. Starc looks out of sorts this summer and I’d bring Siddle in for him, though I’d almost be tempted to call up Jackson Bird.