Australia LOL

I'm so pleased that the Aussie cricket 'culture' (now there's an oxymoron!) is now under the spotlight. I've always hated the abusive, bullying on-field behaviour that they try to pass off as 'banter', and refer to as 'sledging'. The ball tampering, and the fact that it was openly admitted, is just a sign of how arrogant and out of touch this side has become. I'm delighted to see that the Aussie public has come down on them like a ton of bricks. It's not just the ball tampering (which is the final straw) but the increasing arrogance and hypocrisy shown by the team in recent years under their current coach. 

I have nothing unobvious to contribute on this one, but you'd need a heart of stone not to at least allow the ghost of a wry smile to play around the corners of your lips. It's the sanctimony, the bogus sense of victimhood, the lachrymose cleaving to the baggy green, and the utter gracelessness ... As Flashblade observed, it's heartening the way that hardly anyone in Australia is trying to excuse or downplay the choices made by the Leadership Group. It seems Australian fans have found their team just as difficult to love in recent times as the rest of the cricket world have.

The sheer ineptitude must be almost as humiliating as the getting caught. All those careers and reputations ruined, and the colossal financial cost that will be incurred by individual players and Australian cricket in general. All because they panicked. Darren Lehmann saw that Bancroft's initial pocket manoeuvre had been caught on camera, but it didn't occur to him that his own frantic reaction would also be picked up. His radio call to Handscomb on the boundary rather suggests he knew exactly what he was seeing. If Lehmann had just sat on his hands, with his fingers crossed, they'd probably have been OK. Even after Handscomb had dashed onto the pitch to tip Bancroft the wink, the situation would still have been retrievable if Bancroft had kept his cool. The umpires would have accepted that Bancroft had nothing more sinister in his pocket than a cloth for polishing his sunglasses, were it not for the pants-stuffing that then appeared on the big screen. I'm going to start feeling sorry for them if I'm not careful. You really wouldn't want to go on a bank job with these people.

That's been on my mind too but would JG do this at this stage of his career after just signing for Sussex and, perhaps, burn his bridges if he is not chosen? Better to leave it for next time around, three years or so up the road. Australia needs a highly respected, down to earth, no nonsense and solid individual. I don't feel Gillespie has quite attained that stature yet. Stature may be more important than success at this very difficult time for Australia.

I'm looking for the 'Dislike' button for this post, Wicked Cricket

At least Gillespie has been with "the boys" for two days. Adams never got to the locker-room.

Cricinfo reports that David Warner is the main villain. Hands up those who'd be surprised if this was true!

www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22929990/david-warner-cricket-australia-headed-pietersen-ecb-parting

This is a little more cheerful news.

It follows reports Western Australia coach Justin Langer has already been sounded out by Cricket Australia to step in as interim coach
for the Fourth Test in Johannesburg beginning Friday.

At least, Ponting and Langer rolls off the tongue better than Ponting and Gillespie. 

As to Warner, if someone had asked me what an Australian convict looks like, my finger would have immediately pointed to him.
Some say Warner is the most disliked international cricketer by other players around the world.