The Cricket Club Show

The Cricket Club Monday Night Show

Ashes 2013 Squad

                                           ASHES 2013       

Well its certainly getting closer you can almost feel the excitement in the air everywhere you turn now people are talking #Ashes and what lies ahead. Both teams coming off poor tours with teams and line ups likely to change but we can talk about that some more when the time is right.

I want to talk about the Australian Squad which was announced yesterday by Chairman of selectors John Inverarity  and which through up some curve balls but which was nice in a way as I feel the losses and bad losses they were in India have made the men at the top sit bolt upright and realise they must start winning and playing more competitive cricket and it has to be this next tour. As if your not winning not only are players vulnerable to being axed but people in those nice jobs looking after Australian cricket will start to worry as if we have a poor Ashes campaign then changes need to be made and all aspects once again need to be looked at.

The two big stories to come out of this squad are the announcement of Brad Haddin as VC and the recall of 1 test player Chris Rogers who at the age of 35 is making a comeback.

Lets start with the Haddin announcement and one which I think is great for the Michael Clarke and the team and really offers great support to the whole group with just his leadership qualities and experience at all forms of cricket. Yes I know a tough call on Wade but you have to remember he took over because Haddin left the team for personal reasons and then never really got his spot back I feel his batting and keeping and leadership is the perfect combination for the VC role . He and Michael Clarke are close friends and will now join a strong partnership for the next two ashes campaigns something that is needed very quickly if we are to succeed on these tours. Tough times need tough decisions and I say well done to the selection panel in making this call age should be no barrier and in Australian cricket for far to long its been a major issue by them and the media as to me just plain and simple pick the best side for test XI.

To the return of Chris Rogers is another selection which I have to say well done to the panel again as he is 35 only played 1 test match but since then has piled on a mountain of runs in first class cricket here in Australia and in the UK. You have to commend him on that and something we on The Cricket Club show have been talking about over the India series is that we want players in the first class system to make runs and make plenty of them so you have to get picked and you give the selectors no choice.

That is exactly what Chris has done for WA and Victoria over the years and it has been surprising that he has not been picked in the past but the only reason I see for that is since the retirement of the great 4 some 6 years ago Australian cricket has been all about promoting the youth and having a succession plan. Australia A tours are for promoting youth for experience the Australian Test team is for our countries best XI players for the job no excuses. Age does not matter just the credit of performances that you are putting in and showing the country what you are made of as player. This is what Chris has worked on for years and even by his own admittance might of thought his days had gone playing for Australia but he has another chance now and like the great Mike Hussey I believe he will have some great years ahead of him playing for Australia as age shall have no barrier going forward so I say bat on until you drop.

In saying that I feel he will play the first test in England which is the right move and I feel that Shane Watson will be bowing and batting back to his best with the freedom now that he has.

So I thought I would put my first test team pick up for you sop please have a look and let me know your hopefully kind comments.

1ST TEST SIDE

Warner

Cowan

Rodgers

Clarke

Hughes

Watson

Haddin

Starc

Siddle

Pattinson

Lyon

This to me is the basic set up for the series but yes all depending on conditions and injuries leading into the series but its always good to have a chat about it and throw ideas around.

Thanks for reading look forward to hearing your thoughts....

Regards

Damien

The Cricket Club IPL Monday Night Show

http://youtu.be/Dtvvag9ZAMI

Cricket Charity Match

The Cricket Club

The Cricket Club which was started by +Stuart MacGill and after battling away to try and get this concept up and running it finally hit our computer screens not long ago with rave reviews. Joined up with +Google+ and running live hangouts with the public has created a whole new social media network for us to enjoy and talk about the game of cricket we love so much.

What this Cricket Club Hangout does is bring something different to the cricket world in the sense of a forum talking honestly and upfront about the game and the issues that come up. We differ from the main stream journalism which we all know and have been bought up on it is nice but at times very predictable , I for one want people to come on and be honest say what they feel , say there opinion  don't sit on the fence. The reason they are their is to give me there view so when it doesn't happen it frustrates me.

So when the great +Stuart MacGill rang me and mentioned +The Cricket Club show and the concept I jumped at it to be part of and what could be done with the concept going forward. With +Aakash Chopra also joining  the team now we have a great team together to bring you the latest in the world of cricket.

We are looking forward to working through the +Indian Premier League | IPL then off to the Champions Trophy with it all peaking for the Ashes battle in the UK and then back to Australia.

Thank you to all who have supported us so far and we look forward to entertaining you and giving you a some what different insight into all things cricket..

Damien

Welcome To My New Blog

Hello Everyone welcome to my blog thank you for dropping by and having a look much appreciated.

Please be patient with me while I get the hang of it  but I will posting all new material on here from Photos, Videos, Articles, Audio Blogs etc..

I look forward to sharing my views on cricket and giving you a glimpse into my world.

Thanks Damien

Self Portrait

Ashes Photo

Beautiful broadbeach Queensland

Hello and welcome to my new Blog please be patient with me as I get the hang of this and look forward to sharing a bit of my world with you.

I will be posting as much as I can and uploading new Photos , Audio Blogs , Batting Videos etc...

Thank you for coming along for a look its very much appreciated.

Cheers

Damien

My Ashes Thoughts

Ashes Newspaper article

Damien Martyn Back Foot Cover Drive