Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

GarlicJam wrote:Sometime Australia opener Marcus Harris, and "hot young prospect" Will Pucovski have broken the all-time record partnership in the Sheffield Shield on the weekend.

Not just a partnership of 486 - to break the Waugh Twins' 464* previous record set 30 years ago - but an opening partnership. The bloke on the radio was saying, around the time the partnership started, how South Aus have been unable to bowl any team out so far this season, but I am sure that he wasn't expecting this...

Wonder if Justin Langer sent him a nice text message again.

what's that in reference to, Sussex?

GarlicJam wrote:what's that in reference to, Sussex?

Judging this purely on my own interpretation (and not fact), I get the feeling Marcus Harris was Justin Langer's prodigy project at Western Australia back in 2012 when he first went there to coach. The two apparently go back a long way to when Harris was a little child playing at Langer's local club so knew each other for years. Harris never made the grade at Western Australia subject to large expectations, and decided to leave for a fresh start, and that seemed to put Langer's nose out of joint who seemed to take it personally. Langer ended up give Harris a parting shot when he found out about his departure, calling into question his performances quite brutally, and labelling Harris "mediocre". I guess some might say its a situation of a frustrated mentor trying to get some fire in his master pupil to prove him wrong, but the comments did seem to cut close to the bone.

Either way, Harris ended up having some monster year in Melbourne, got picked for the national team, and Langer was left having to explain away the selectors picking someone he had once disregarded as mediocre. Around the same time, the press got hold of the fact Langer had sent Harris a text message welcoming him to international cricket, but calling him a "little b*stard".

Langer then brushed it off saying he "loved him" and that he was like " a little brother".... so maybe the choice of words in the context is between two people who are extremely close and was meant with some warmth. But the whole history between them is more than a little bizarre. Its hard to know if Langer and him get on really well, or whether they have fallen out.

If Langer and him are still close, then innings like this might give Harris a path back to the side. If they have fallen out, I guess his career is over regardless of what he does.

Does Marcus Harris have a UK passport

Alviro Patterson wrote:Does Marcus Harris have a UK passport

I doubt it, as I would have expected him to have already come over to county cricket at some stage if he had.

ah yes, I remember these incidents now, Sussex.

At the time, I put that down to the gruff male bond/friendship that happens in a lot of places, and is quite prevalent in Australia. As you say, Harris grew up knowing Langer well, and being mentored by him. I'd like to think that Langer is a better person than to allow his ego to interfere this much with the national team, even if there is a rift between the two.

I see Harris as a bit of an "almost man". In another time, he would not have had much of a look-in in the national team, as Aus have generally not struggled to find solid openers.

Luke Wells signed 2 year contract with Lancs.

GarlicJam wrote:At the time, I put that down to the gruff male bond/friendship that happens in a lot of places, and is quite prevalent in Australia. As you say, Harris grew up knowing Langer well, and being mentored by him. I'd like to think that Langer is a better person than to allow his ego to interfere this much with the national team, even if there is a rift between the two

I have a feeling Langer is a difficult man to get on with, but he is such a personality enigma its impossible to understand him at times. He talks about beautiful films hes watched and his love of zen moments at sunrise doing tai chi, while at the same time looking like he is permanently one comment away from undertaking a mass killing rampage.

I cant imagine what its like to play for him. A man that talks about "mateship" being a quality he values, while seemingly impenetrable on a personal leel.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/55059732

do we know what these 5 breaches of discipline were?

CSA Interim Board and Members' Council endorse new domestic cricket structure

http://cricket.co.za/news/37124/CSA-Int ... -structure

Effectively adopting the County Championship structure.

The Professor wrote:CSA Interim Board and Members' Council endorse new domestic cricket structure

http://cricket.co.za/news/37124/CSA-Int ... -structure

Effectively adopting the County Championship structure.

without bothering with the hundredth nonsense

The Professor wrote:CSA Interim Board and Members' Council endorse new domestic cricket structure

http://cricket.co.za/news/37124/CSA-Int ... -structure

Effectively adopting the County Championship structure.

Something advocated by South African pundits 12 months ago, makes sense when South Africa has two first class systems.

Graham Onions appointed as Lancashire's bowling coach.

Alviro Patterson wrote:Something advocated by South African pundits 12 months ago, makes sense when South Africa has two first class systems.

What is the intended benefit? I would usually say diluting quality and resources is never a good idea, but SA is a pretty special case. I wonder if this is an attempt to get around racial quotas by making sure FC worthy players arent blocked under quota systems lower down, leading to FC worthy players bleeding out the system. At least this way those players spread to other teams... but then again if quotas exist still, you have to think at the lower end of these 15 teams the quality might get tragic

Alviro Patterson wrote:Something advocated by South African pundits 12 months ago, makes sense when South Africa has two first class systems.

What is the intended benefit? I would usually say diluting quality and resources is never a good idea, but SA is a pretty special case. I wonder if this is an attempt to get around racial quotas by making sure FC worthy players arent blocked under quota systems lower down, leading to FC worthy players bleeding out the system. At least this way those players spread to other teams... but then again if quotas exist still, you have to think at the lower end of these 15 teams the quality might get tragic

A prime example I guess would be someone like KP. Couldnt get a team in SA on racial quota selections with 6 teams, but in a 15 team setup he'd hit a 7th/8th team line up on merit and get his opportunity.