Australian State Cricket

I'm 100% behind you there ozzie. They have a host of young players, most of who look like threatening for national selection sometime in the next 4/5 years. Spinners Dan Cullen & Cullum Bailey had fantastic seasons last year, Mark Cosgrove hit back after being told to lose weight, Tait we all know about, Paul rofe continues to bowl tight, and take wickets, only callum ferguson didn't feature last season mainly due to injures though.

Each of the afore mentioned players are all under 25 as well, so SA definetly will be a threat this year, especially when you add seasoned campaigners like Blewett & Lehman!!

 and it's not only South Australia if that makes you feel any better Sledg ??

Tasmania has unfurled 3/4 bright young prospects in the last 2 seasons. Travis Birt & George Bailey have been playing fantastic in the middle order, thus earning them selection in the Aust. A squad. Ben Hilfenhaus, a 22 y/o quick has earnt a spot at the Academy of excellence after a profitable year with the ball, and Tim Paine, a young keeper who opens the batting in their limited overs team.

Add to that Chris Hartley, yet another brilliant queensland keeper, he's only 5'8 or 5'9, but is closing fast on brad haddin, and he's only 23. Not only is his keeping fantastic, he's proved more than handy with the bat, while chris is no adam gilchrist, he sure knows how to handle the willow, and has saved queensland quite a few times in both forms of the game.

Do you want me to continue

Phil Jaques must be close to a full time test gig after his efforts in the Top End series and I am overjoyed to see Shane Watson get runs and wickets, the boy has real talent and if he can stay injury free can make a real impact on international cricket. 

I just hope Mitch Johnson & Shaun Tait can come on in the bowling beacuse we have heaps of batsman but the fast bowlers are a little thin.

Yes, we do have great wickets to play on but depends were you play your cricket.  I think it is more to do with the set up we have in place.  Australia never seem to rush players into international cricket like other countries do, more emphasis on experience and a proven record in first class cricket.  Which I think is a great idea.  You can still get 70-80 tests out of somebody who makes their debut at 26-27 rather than 20-21

Michael Clarke a great example, young with plenty of talent but doesn;t have the experience to now his game well enough to hold his spot.  Compared ti Mike Hussey who has honed his skill for years in first class cricket and just goesa from strength to strength in the top grade.

1st things 1st, there are 2 competitions, the Pura Cup, which is our four day competition, and the ING Cup (new sponsor this coming season i think, can't remember who though sorry), which is the limited overs competition.

In the Pura Cup, teams play each other twice over the course of the season, 1 home & 1 away match. At the end of the season, the 2 teams with the highest points play the final which is held at the higher ranked teams home ground.

In the ING Cup, teams play each other 4 times, 2 home & 2 away, and again, at the end of the seaon the two highest teams play the final at the highest ranked teams home venue.

The Queensland Bulls  home ground is the Gabba. Players that are currently in the National Test & ODI teams are Matthew Hayden (Test) Shane Watson (ODI & Pushing for Test Selection) James Hopes (ODI) Mitchell Johnson (ODI) Andrew Symonds (ODI)

The New South Wales Blues home ground is the SCG or Sydney Cricket Gound. Players that are currently in the National Test & ODI teams are Glenn McGrath (Test & ODI) Simon Katich (ODI) Michael Clarke (ODI and likely to come back into the test team for ashes) Stuart Clark (Test & ODI) Brett Lee (Test & ODI) Nathan Bracken (ODI) Phil Jaques (ODI & Test Frame)

Victorian Bushrangers: Home ground = MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). Current national players include Shane Warne (Test) Brad Hodge (Fighting for a spot in both sides) Mick "Pie Chucker" Lewis (God help if they do select him to play in ICC champions trophy!!!)

Tasmanian Tigers: Home Ground = Bellreive Oval. Current national players include Ricky Ponting (Test & ODI, 1st ever tasmanian to captain aust. just as a matter of interest) Travis Birt (Up & coming batsmen selected in the initial ICC Trophy 30 man squad)

South Australian Redbacks: Home Ground = Adelaide Oval. Current national players include Jason Gillespie (In Test Frame) Mark Cosgrove (ODI) Daniel Cullen (ODI) Shaun Tait (ODI & Test Frame)

West Austraila Warriors: Home Ground = WACA. Current National players include Adam Gilchrist (Test & ODI) Michael Hussey (Test & ODI) Justin Langer (Test) Damient Martyn (Test & ODI) Brad Hogg (ODI) Brett Dorey (ODI)

I'm sad to say the average attendence at our domestic league matches is relatively low, getting 8,000 at an ING cup match is a good crowd if that says anything, depending on whose playing and their positions on the ladder.

The Most Prominent teams in the competition atm are Queensland, Victoria & New South Wales. These three teams have dominated over the last few years in both competitons. However Western Australia is never to be ruled out in Limited Over matches. This doesn't mean that Tasmania or SA are poor by any means, both teams are improving with quite a few fantastic young prospects to come out of both states. I wouldn't rule SA out of anything this coming season!

Why are there only six teams ?? We have 6 states (The current 6 teams) & 2 territories (ACT/Canberra and Norther Territory) in australia. The ACT was once part of the Limited Over competition, but that soon fizzled out as they were not competitive. The northern territory doesn't have a team because they simply don't have the facilities.

Hope this helps you understand our domestic setup Flipper  feel free to ask more

Wow! excellent Clapo, what a post. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into that post, I'm sure theres a lot of folks on this site that have found this very informative.

Mick "Pie Chucker" Lewis, too funny my friend. I first saw Mick in that match against S/A, yeah that game say no more!! Since then i've seen him this season over here playing for Durham where he's not been too bad.

Would I be right in saying Darren Leaman played with Dizzy in Oz, over here in England they're never apart, good mates?

Thanks again for your time.

This years domestic season will play a huge role in determining the next pecking order for our Young Spinners.

The 4 who IMO have the Ability to take it to the International level are Cam White (Vic, Leg Spin), Daniel Cullen (SA, Off Spin), Cullen Bailey(SA, Leg Spin) & Daniel Doran (QLD, Leg Spin).

Last year IMO, Doran was the most impressive. In just 89 overs he picked up 15 wickets at 28. His most impressive delivery, and spell, coming in the Pura Cup final against Victoria. Doran bowled a ball reminiscent to the "Gatting Ball" as he pitched it outside leg, gave it a rip, and pegged back David Hussey's off stump. If Doran Continues to improve at the rate in which he did in 05/06 this season, He'll definetly come into International Contention.

Of the others, Cullen Bailey was probably the next most impressive, and whilst his stats don't read pretty (25 @ 48) he definetly has potential.

Dan Cullen has currently got the wood on them all, however IMO he's vulnerable. He has a solid stock ball, and some nice variations, however both need vast improvement before he is going to be a genuine threat on FC stage, let alone Test Level.

White is probably last in line ATM, his bowling has gone downhill since having the burden of Captaining the side AND being a vital middle order batsmen. If allowed to concentrate solely on his bowling, he defeintly has an internation career for mine!! Beleive it or not, he's still on 23!!