Doctor
Bench
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Australia have six tests this summer - two against Zimbabwe starting next month, and then 4 against India.
Big news is that the Sydney Cricket Ground, having achieved sell-outs for the first few days last summer, have secured not one but two test matches - one against Zimbabwe and the other in its usual spot - 2-6th of January (New Year's match).
The issue of Warne will be decided, dare I state the obvious, by two things: Warne's form, and MacGill's form.
The selector in me would keep MacGill there for as long as he is performing. While expensive, he does a good job and is a truly world-class bowler.
But the cricket fan, the historian in me wants to see Warne re-emerge, break the majic 500 wickets, then break the world record - push towards 550 test wickets or even, dare I suggest, 600.
While I like to see players rewarded for good work, Warne's record should give him a lot of the selector's attention - it would be a real shame to see a world-class bowler of Warne's calibre depart because he wasn't up to the grade.
Bear in mind that prior to his drugs sentence, Warne was in wonderful form. The flipper was coming out right, he was producing some excellent controlled aggression - people were talking world records. This all came on the back of an injury that had threatened his spot again.
What we now have is the same old dilemma - do you pick MacGill, the form leg-spinner in world cricket, or do you pick Warne - the greatest spin bowler ever?
I'm glad I'm not a selector, but all I will say is that there is a whole lot of bridges to pass under the water before the selectors will need to make a choice.
Big news is that the Sydney Cricket Ground, having achieved sell-outs for the first few days last summer, have secured not one but two test matches - one against Zimbabwe and the other in its usual spot - 2-6th of January (New Year's match).
The issue of Warne will be decided, dare I state the obvious, by two things: Warne's form, and MacGill's form.
The selector in me would keep MacGill there for as long as he is performing. While expensive, he does a good job and is a truly world-class bowler.
But the cricket fan, the historian in me wants to see Warne re-emerge, break the majic 500 wickets, then break the world record - push towards 550 test wickets or even, dare I suggest, 600.
While I like to see players rewarded for good work, Warne's record should give him a lot of the selector's attention - it would be a real shame to see a world-class bowler of Warne's calibre depart because he wasn't up to the grade.
Bear in mind that prior to his drugs sentence, Warne was in wonderful form. The flipper was coming out right, he was producing some excellent controlled aggression - people were talking world records. This all came on the back of an injury that had threatened his spot again.
What we now have is the same old dilemma - do you pick MacGill, the form leg-spinner in world cricket, or do you pick Warne - the greatest spin bowler ever?
I'm glad I'm not a selector, but all I will say is that there is a whole lot of bridges to pass under the water before the selectors will need to make a choice.
