RAM IT HOME, JAMES

Stakeholders Sutherland forgot (no doubt it slipped his mind) to mention Channel Nine has a say in the preparation of Australian pitches (and when he says "too many" he really means "any") but I agree with him 100% about the nature of our pitches compared with the wanton pitch doctoring in England and India:

James Sutherland said Australia will not seek pitch advantages against England this summer

''We have played nine Test matches away this year. We have not seen a blade of grass or a drop of moisture on any of those pitches.''

''We have to learn to play in those conditions. The teams we have played against have quite blatantly tried to exploit the perceived weakness we have batting against spin and perhaps not having front-line spin bowlers, and perhaps they've done well because we haven't won too many Test matches of those nine.''

''In terms of Test cricket we don't give them any direction because we have got great confidence in what they're doing.''

''And we're not looking for an advantage with our pitches. We want fans to see a good contest between bat and ball and we know each pitch has its own characteristics and we want that to continue.''

Comments

[Tony Tea]

Apropos.

Suuuuure they will: "Australia considers all-pace attack for first Test."

[Tony Tea]

Just wondering.

Is Stakey known for criticising other countries? There has been plenty of speculation that he has reached his use-by date. Is this a parting shot?

[gillysgone]

Make them all as bouncy as buggery. At least we can take 20 wickets that way. Winning, ont he other hand, still remains problematic.

[Cameron]

Rather tepid if it's a parting shot. In any case I'm sure when Sutherland leaves he will is a full apology to Andrew Symonds.

[Cameron]

'...he will issue a full apology...'

[Tony Tea]

Maybe less parting shot and more end-of-tenure carelessness.