Johnson Unlucky - Hogg fires up at Pat Howard

Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee believes Mitchell Johnson was extremely unlucky to be axed from the Ashes squad.  Speaking during the IPL match Lee was asked about the omission of Johnson to which he said "Mitch should be dissapointed because I think Mitch has been in bowling form of his life"
Johnson has been the leading wicket taker for the Mumbai Indians in this year's IPL with 11 scalps from just 6 games. But more than the wickets it is the manner in which Johnson has dimissed batsmen that has impressed Lee. "It is in the T20 format but when Mitch is swinging the ball back in to the righhanders with pace he is as good as they get".

Despite missing out of the Ashes squad Lee still believes Johnson has plenty to offer for Australia. "Even if the selectors believe it is with the white ball, Johnson is terrific bowler he has pace and the way he has been swinging it clearly shows he still has it in him"

While Lee was backing Johnson in Kolkata, former Australian spinner, Brad Hogg has had a ping at Pat Howard following Shane Watson's swashbuckling century for the Rajasthan Royals.
Hogg is a teammate of Watson at the Rajasthan Royals said "Absolute brilliant innings by Watson, It has been a real tough couple of days for Watto, he was pretty upset at losing the vice captaincy for Australia that upset him a little bit and he has come out and proved a point"

Hogg then paused and said "and to Pat Howard there Shane Watson played his part for the team"
The comment came after the Indian tour "homework" saga which resulted in Shane Watson and three other players suspended for a test match. At the time, Pat Howard, the high perfromance manager at Cricket Australia said "I think he acts in the best interests of the team - sometimes."

It was only a passing comment but clearly shows Watson is still not on the same page as Pat Howard or other selectors.

ACADEMY AND YOUTH TOURS VITAL FOR AUSTRALIAN CRICKET

The dust has settled from Australia’s disastrous of India and the start of the football season along with the IPL has ensured the debacle has diminished from our minds.  If cricket Australia is to avoid such whitewashes in the sub-continent then they should look to seek the development program of former NSW first class player Rod Davison.

Rod Davison is currently the head of cricket at the John Paul College in Brisbane and has taken an initiative to bring the Brisbane’s private school top cricketers to play on the dusty, slow, and low wickets in India. While most of the kids are only 16 and only handful are playing first grade in Brisbane’s grade comp, Davison believes the tour is an ideal opportunity for youngsters to learn and adapt to Indian conditions from an early age.

Davison played 39 First class matches for NSW in the 90’s says “the academy tours are a great way to expose young cricketers to alien conditions such as the India from a very early age”. The tour is organised by the “Global Cricket School”, it is well known in English cricket circles, players such as current England captain, Alistair Cook, upcoming batsmen Joe Root, Jos Butler, Jonny Baristow have all participated in such tours to India in the last few years.

In fact a small portion of credit needs to be given to the academy for England’s triumph in India last year because they provided practice matches to some of the England batsmen over the last 3 years during the off season in England.

Davison believes it is such vision that Australia lacked before the India series. “I don’t think we prepared adequately. We were playing ODI cricket before such an important series. Cook, Root and Swann are some that gained valuable match practice against club teams and it resulted in England triumph in India. 

Davison believes it is vital junior teams and academies tour India frequently. “Just the role of India in world cricket with the IPL and TV rights, everyone wants to play against India so it’s important the youth teams tour India. In the past private schools have organised tour’s to England, South Africa but with modern day needs India is the place to organise the tours”.

During the 10 day tour, the team has received tips on how to play spin bowling from some of best coaches in Mumbai.  Not only have they played 3 practice matches but also had 3x 8 hour days of coaching in the nets.

The tour has also been a learning curve for Davison. “The first thing I have learnt is the difference in which we teach the players how to tackle spin bowling. If you observe the youngsters they play spin bowling on length. The young Indian boys negotiate the spin by meeting the ball slightly in front of the pad, it is in contrast to what we teach in Australia”.

Davison believes the Indian technique allows them to meet the ball earlier so giving the ball less time to deviate off the pitch. It also ensures if the ball grabs the inner or outside edge the chances are the ball will go in front of the wicket, away from the catching men around the bat.

“I watched a fair amount of the recent series and a lot of our players are still using the Australian technique. They are worried about driving the ball so it reduces their scoring opportunities, something that is ideal to overcome good spin bowling” believes Davison.

Apart from the cricketing side of things, the tour also allows the youngsters to learn about the Indian culture, conditions and lifestyle as whole. “Not all of them are going to play for Australia but the tour is eye opener as a person, it has taught the guys how to manage their hygiene and also taught them not to take anything for granted.”

Davison vision is a further illustration as to why past first class cricketers, especially in the competitive era of the 90’s need their opinions and inputs to be regarded by Cricket Australia to improve the standard of Australian cricket.