This coming Australian season Shane Watson will be playing for NSW instead of Queensland after he moved states to be closer to his girlfriend, Lee Furlong.
The incumbent Australian opening batsman would of course open at State level as well wouldn't he ? Of course he would. Well, actually, no he won't.
In a rare recent statement of sense from a senior Australian cricket official, Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert today said
‘‘No way. Shane has always been a very good batsman around No.4 and No.5. He has had very little playing experience as an opener. When we got him, it was very much as a guy who could bolster our batting at No.4 or No.5 and also give us some bowling. ‘Hughesy’ and Jaques are obviously two outstanding openers for us.’’
Interesting. So Shane is a better option to open the batting against international bowlers but when it comes to state trundlers, he has to go back down the order and let the real openers take over
If Hughes and Jaques are opening for NSW then that means Simon Katich, our senior Australian opening batsman will also not be walking out to face the new ball in Shield cricket
So we now have a situation where not only can our number one international spinner, Hauritz, not get a permanent spot in the NSW side, but both Australian openers aren't good enough to open at State level.
I must be dreaming. It is the worst dream I had since I dreamt I was facing Joel Garner in a Test match on a pitch 6 metres in length; scary, really, really scary. Has there ever been time in Test match history where both a country's openers can't hold their spots in domestic cricket ? I bet there hasn't. All of our selectors need to be sacked instantly.
All this talk of NSW openers got me thinking about Phil Jaques. The poor bloke, after waiting what seemed an age for a turn and averaging almost 50 after 11 tests, two rounds of back surgery saw him replaced in the pecking order by the former next big thing, the Twist and Shout merchant, Phillip Hughes. Then when Phillip was dropped, he was replaced by a bodybuilding bowler. To make matters worse, just when he was on the mend, his wife gave him the flick ! Not good at all.
I am sure his luck is on the mend. He deserves it. Hang on, what grade club is Watson going to play with now that he has moved to Sydney ? Oh I see, Sutherland have secured his services. Who else plays there ?
Oh no Phil, not again !
Determined to be first in line to open the batting at his grade club Sutherland, Phil Jaques camped outside the ground during the off season, often only with local school children for company
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