High Treason and the Obstruction of Justice: Blood Must Flow as the Disaffected Masses Rise Up
Both the actions and inactions of Ricky Ponting, Andrew Hilditch, Tim Nielsen and James Sutherland, among others, amount to nothing short of treason and until the political intransigence that is keeping all these incompetent pig-fuckers in positions of influence and power is bashed and beaten into a bloody pulp by the sheer power of outrage stewing in the masses then we will receive no answers and we will receive no scalps for what ranks as one of the greatest and most humiliating embarrassments of modern Australian sport.
No compromise. No mercy. No treaties. Only the total and utter destruction of those who cultivated and fostered the culture of foolishness, inequality and both political and personal patronage that hastened the decline of Australian cricket and led to Australia losing a second consecutive Ashes series in England will suffice.
The masses are, of course, demanding answers after such a brutal humiliation but those pulling the levers of the great and powerful Oz have gone into lockdown, defending each other and in the process protecting themselves. It is the politics of maintenance, a protection of the current power structure through the protection of those who could create the most damage.
Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland, whose ascent to power almost mirrors the decline of Australian cricket, this week defended everybody from skipper Ricky Ponting to head selector Andrew Hilditch. In doing so he was essentially saving his own ass from the fire. Had Ponting, Hilditch and Nielsen all been put in the noose and had the collective chair kicked out from under them, Sutherland knows his comfortable position as boss of one of Australia’s premier sports would have been more vulnerable and that any of the three, when released from the shackles of the Cricket Australia machine, could have delivered the fatalistic blow to the aspiring politician at such a young age. Sutherland’s refusal to chase scalps is nothing more than self-preservation and a continuation of the politics of patronage that has flourished on his watch.
All three are now even more indebted to Sutherland than they were before the horrifying Ashes defeat, a tragedy even Shakespeare would have struggled to visualise. Ricky Ponting will now play Sutherland’s prag in a more demeaning and pathetic way than Franklin Winthrop did to Vern Schillinger, pushing the company line and running Sutherland’s errands in lipstick and short-shorts. Nielsen’s position has been considered shaky at best since day one due to the non-necessary nature of his role and his clear lack of importance to Australian cricket so he is likely to have soaked panties whenever Sutherland calls for the return favour. Hilditch surely knows his failings as both a judge of talent and conditions and his inability to apply even the simplest of logic to selection meetings contributed significantly to Australia’s Ashes humiliation and in his own mind he has prepared himself to do Sutherland’s bidding at the selection table. Get prepared for more fast-tracking of the marketable, more promotion of the schoolboy mentality and more ignoring of the deserving. On all three Brad Hodge is unlikely to ever play for Australia again.
In the same statement Sutherland said administrators “aren’t under any illusions to where we are at” yet claimed Ricky Ponting had a “very, very good series” and that we can’t “in any way…hold the selectors accountable for us losing the Ashes”.
If the politicking wasn’t so obvious Sutherland would sound so delusional he would be a better than even money shot to be put on valium and taken “upstate” by a group of raw boned men in white jackets for a “rest”. Tammany Hall was never this transparent in its low-road benefaction.
Even Ricky Ponting, in all his ignorance, would not suggest he had a good series. He provided very little with the bat after his first-up century. He was run out at a critical stage attempting a quick single in the second innings at The Oval when Australia was batting to save the Ashes. His judgement as a captain was as bad as it has ever been with his decision to bowl Marcus North in pursuit of the Cardiff Test, his persistence with Mitchell Johnson and his defence-laden field settings are but three of his awful failings as a leader. He lobbied for a defensive spin option that cost Australia dearly in the end and worse he allowed the cardinal sin of pride to prevent him from calling on Shane Warne who almost certainly would have returned if simply asked. He allowed personal relationships to play a role in team selection and on-field contribution with Stuart Clark not called upon until it was all too late and once selected he was given only limited opportunities. He became the first man since the invention of the automobile, aspirin and radio to lead Australia to consecutive Ashes defeats in England. Even the most painful and earnest of optimists would struggle to suggest Ponting had a “very, very good series”. It is doubtful they could even make a case for Ponting to keep his job.
If Ponting had any sense of personal or nation pride he would accept his own failings as a leader and resign from the post of captain of the Australian cricket team rather than rattle out cheap rhetoric of wanting to be back in England in four years to atone. It is doubtful any Australian captain of any national team has ever so flagrantly placed personal goals ahead of the betterment of the national team.
Sutherland’s most grotesque statement was not suggesting Ponting had an outstanding series, however. Rather, it was his vocal defence of the national selectors and his suggestion that they could not be held accountable that should cause the Guy Fawkes in us all to rise up. Not only are the selectors nearly wholly responsible for the loss of the Ashes but their refusal to accept even a portion of the blame and the attitude of Cricket Australia to absolve them of same means that not a single lesson has been learnt from the latest monumental clusterfuck.
The selection panel under Andrew Hilditch did their utmost to lose the Ashes before the plane had even left Sydney and by the time the time Australia had reached The Oval the selection panel had crippled the Australian team worse than old time hotel bosses crippled card counters. On a superficial level the squad they selected was inane and built on arrogance and absurd cricketing theories. Not a single back-up batsman was selected yet two all-rounders were chosen, Andrew McDonald playing no role in the series. Brad Hodge was overlooked despite the form of Michael Hussey and the fact a rookie opener was among the few batsmen selected. Brett Lee was chosen despite the injury concerns that have surrounded him for over twelve months. He was not available for selection due to injury for the first four Test matches. The only spinner chosen was Nathan Hauritz, who was picked ahead of Bryce McGain and Jason Krejza because he can contain. The absence of a legitimate wicket-taking spin threat cost Australia dearly.
Andrew Hilditch’s sphere of influence did not end once the tour began, however, with his role in the on-going selection debacle constant and immense. Stuart Clark was looked over from the beginning of the tour which certainly hurt Australia at both Cardiff and Lords. Selectors stuck with Mitchell Johnson despite the fact he was horribly out-of-form and could barely hit the pitch. In the lead-up to the opening Test both Johnson and Peter Siddle were rested despite the fact they clearly needed a run. Michael Hussey was kept in the team despite a string of failures stretching back a year yet young opener Phil Hughes was dropped after three failures in two Test matches. He was replaced by Shane Watson, a player not regarded as an opener and one who has little upside in terms of hitting a big score. Hilditch publicly caused division in the team by singling out Stuart Clark in the lead-up to the final Test. No spinner was chosen on a dusty wicket at The Oval. No selectors were at the ground to watch Australia’s first tour match. Selector Merv Hughes spent more time on the drink with his tour groups than worrying about team balance or winning the Ashes. And it goes on and on like a turgid Jane Austen novel.
The problems with team selection are deep seated, however, with the most significant problem being the favouritism offered by the selection panel, skipper and coach to certain players, a continuation of the personal patronage that is rampant in Australian cricket at present. The perfect example is that of Michael Hussey. Prior to the last Test Mike Hussey hadn’t scored a century since Woodstock yet selectors stuck with him as he is a favourite of Ricky Ponting and the powers that be. It is the same reason the selectors have shown such loyalty to Shane Watson despite receiving very little in return aside from hospital bills and cheap media stories regarding his determination to pursue yet another comeback. Yet Brad Hodge, Phil Hughes, Stuart Clark and Jason Krejza never get any benefit of the doubt and a whole generation of cricketers are being raised to believe that politics will get you further than talent in Australian cricket. And that generation is entirely correct because unless you have the support of the inner-sanctum of Australian cricket then you don’t stand a chance. Brad Hodge would rank in the top four Australian batsmen, he averages 58 in Test cricket and he has been in amazing form yet he is constantly overlooked for mates of Ponting.
All these bastards need to be charged with treason and if they aren’t then we have little choice but to rely on mob law. A trial will be held and the executioner will be informed he is required to be on immediate stand-by as his head-severing services will likely be required. We will storm the Cricket Australia offices, find and arrest Sutherland and then burn the place to the ground. Sutherland will then be whisked straight off to the death chamber. No trial needed there. Hilditch will be severely stomped before he is forced to apologise to the waiting public. He will then be castrated and hanged. The other selectors will need to show just cause as to why they shouldn’t receive the same treatment. Ricky Ponting will beg for mercy but none will be shown. Total destruction of the power centre of Australian cricket is our only option if we are to save the game in this country.
There can be no more culture of patronage in Australian cricket. There can be no more arrogance. No more favouritism. No more stupidity. No more leadership vacuum. No more politics of maintenance. A generation of players and fans are being driven from cricket at present. It is a terribly depressing feeling when you can see an upside to losing the Ashes before they are even gone and as that last Test slipped by the way I felt a hollow ambivalence that once held the place of what would have been deep sorrow and abiding angst. It is symptomatic of the decline in popular standing of the game throughout the Ricky Ponting era that a fan who was once as engaged as I was could feel such an antipathy towards a team I once adored. And it has very little to do with Australia losing. I was as fanatical twenty years ago when we were but a solid team as I was ten years back when we were unstoppable. Rather it is because there is no sense of justice or fairness in the game in these parts. Inequality is rarely smiled upon and in these changing times the powers that be need to be flexible and transparent and not allow personal prejudices and political inertia to undermine the sport. At present, the game is being eaten alive by those empowered with protecting and promoting it. And that is why the only option is the removal of James Sutherland, Ricky Ponting, Tim Nielsen and Andrew Hilditch from their posts.