State versus country
Michael Horan says in the Herald Sun resting Australia’s players for Sunday’s domestic one-day final is another example of John Buchanan getting his own way .
Peter English
25-Feb-2013
Michael Horan says in the Herald Sun resting Australia’s players for Sunday’s domestic one-day final is another example of John Buchanan getting his own way.
In a move that smacks of damage control after the 3-0 whitewash in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series in New Zealand, the ban is the latest message to the cricket world that the coach and his selectors are in a state of panic.
First and foremost the players involved desperately want to play and to suggest a 50-overs-a-side match at domestic level is too great a risk to the physical and mental wellbeing of Hodge, Watson and company is, frankly, quite pathetic.
The Australian’s Peter Lalor also looks at the decision to prevent Brad Hodge, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson from playing at the MCG.
Brendan McArdle, writing in The Age, joins the calls for Shane Warne to come back for the World Cup.
Peter English is former Australasia editor of ESPNcricinfo