Six and in: the players whose Sheffield Shield form could earn them the number 6 spot for Australia

With this morning heralding the beginning of the Sheffield Shield for another year and the first Ashes test against England clearly in sight; it seems apt to consider the players for whom this Shield competition could be the most important of their career. I am of course referring to those players who are in the frame to earn a baggy green at some point in the Ashes series which begins on 21 November at the Gabba. With England’s recent comprehensive series victory on home soil, changes to the Australian side are inevitable, with the number 6 position in the batting line up the subject of unmatched media attention. Without further ado, I present the candidates whose Shield form could earn them selection…

Matthew Wade

The Victorian captain’s stunning form with the bat in the recent Ryobi Cup competition has many calling for him to be installed as a specialist batsman in the contentious number 6 position in the order, of course foregoing the gloves to Brad Haddin. The shortish 170cm left hand batsman and possessor of a test average of a shave under 35 is certainly well and truly in the mix for the first test, assuming his shield performance is satisfactory.

David Warner

Is there a more destructive force at the top of a batting order than Dave Warner? A man who just about single-handedly led the NSW Blues to the Ryobi Cup final on the back of consecutive hundreds, including an extraordinary 197 against Victoria in the semi-final. Warner lost his test spot a matter of months ago due to behavioural issues and until recently was written off in the hunt for reclaiming his baggy green. However, his stunning recent form has prompted a call for his reinstatement to an Aussie side which could use a game changer, which he certainly represents. If Warner can continue his impressive form in the Sheffield Shield he could find himself atop the order at the Gabba.

Usman Khawaja (QLD) 

Another player who has been a shining light for his side in the limited overs competition, Khawaja has already tasted test cricket, however his batting average stands at a less than encouraging 25. He will feature in the recently announced Australia A side who will face England at Bellerive Oval on November 6. This is somewhat of an audition for the ex-NSW batsman who will be looking to earn a spot in the first test and not relinquish it. The selectors will certainly have their eye on him.

Michael Klinger (SA)

Has there been a more consistent performer in Australian one day domestic cricket in the past decade than Michael Klinger? A mainstay in the Australia A side, it is a wonder that Klinger has never managed to crack into the test side. However, a good run of substantial innings in this year’s Shield competition could finally see him notch the baggy green which he has so dearly craved. Usually an opener, there is no doubt that Klinger would happily take up number 6 in the order if he were tasked with it.

George Bailey (TAS)

The standout performer and captain of Australia’s recent One Day International series in India, Bailey represents an option who has exceled in the shorter formats of the game but has largely been ineffective in the 4 and 5 day forms. The 31 year old averages 38 in first class cricket has firmed as favourite for the number six spot after convincing selectors of his aptitude with the bat despite a largely unimpressive Shield past. As things stand, Bailey will line up for Australia in the first test at the Gabba, and could even find himself captain should Michael Clarke’s back injury force him out of the match. Only time will tell if Bailey can cut it at the highest level, he is certainly not getting any younger and this could represent his final chance to break into the test team.

That’s the Rosey Wrap on the contenders for Australia’s number six position in the batting order,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten 

Suarez and Sturridge teach the Baggies a lesson: 5 things learnt from Liverpool vs. West Brom.

1. Sir Alex Ferguson is wrong
   
   The release of Sir Alex’s autobiography was sure to cause a stir, and that it did. With the former Manchester United gaffer claiming amongst other things that Liverpool’s favourite son Steven Gerrard is not, and has never been, a “top, top player.” These words have surely sparked about half the reported pub brawls in the Liverpool area for the past decade or so. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers took to the media this week to defend his skipper, stating that he felt Ferguson’s comments were “harsh” and that Gerrard’s “performance level at 33 years of age shows he's a top, top player. He's a great talent - a wonderful player - and I don't think anyone could argue against that." However, Gerrard himself did not comment, he rather opted to let his football do the talking, and that it certainly did at Anfield on Saturday. Gerrard took up a more advanced position than he has been in recent matches and his class shone through, he marshalled the midfield expertly, hit his trademark long balls with pinpoint accuracy, fed Sturridge and Suarez with remarkable vision and led his side with poise. Gerrard certainly proved Sir Alex wrong, and he will continue to do so if form is any indicator.
   
   
2. Luis Suarez is one of the world's best strikers
   
   The way in which the Uruguayan took his opportunities was a thing of beauty. If the way he nutmegged a West Brom centre back and stroked the ball calmly past Boaz Myhill wasn’t stunning enough then his second certainly was. Suarez played the ball out wide to left wing back Aly Cissokho who simply chipped the ball into the past of the flying number 7 whose header from the edge of the box was simply perfect to beat Myhill and sail into the top left corner of the net. Headers don’t get much better than that. His hat trick goal came off the back of a beautifully weighted Steven Gerrard free kick from the edge of the box which Suarez helped on its way into the top right hand corner of Myhill’s net. This hat trick showcased every part of Suarez’s game which makes him one of the top strikers in world football. The movement, the clinical finishing, the tricks, the defensive work, the link-up play, every facet of Suarez’s game is focused upon putting the ball into the net, and this is what makes him one of the world’s top 5 strikers. Sure, there are many strikers who can score goals, but as Brendan Rodgers alluded to in his post-match press conference, most are not as ‘complete’ of a player as Suarez. His hat trick was exceptional, and a Suarez firing on all cylinders will be a worrying prospect for Arsene Wenger and his rampant Arsenal side who welcome the Uruguayan and his Liverpool teammates to the Emirates next Sunday. 
   
   
3. West Brom's midfield simply isn't good enough
   
   Yes, Liverpool’s midfield performed well in this match, but they were allowed too much time, space and possession by West Brom’s Claudio Yacob and Youssouf Mulumbu whose work in defensive midfield was far from satisfactory. Time and time again the ball found its way to Suarez or Sturridge dropping deep towards halfway and they were granted room to run at the defence, and players of their quality and form are not going to be kept at bay for 90 minutes if they are allowed to run at defences. However, Steve Clarke’s tactical approach to this match is partly to blame, although Yacob and Mulumbu were shocking. Clarke failed to realize the necessity to minimize space through the centre of the park and Liverpool continued to exploit this, as the score line reflects. The Baggies significantly strengthened their line-up in the previous transfer window with the arrivals of Nicholas Anelka, Steven Sessegnon and Morgan Amalfitano, but what they will really need in January is a box to box midfielder who will marshal the centre of the park and allow West Brom to accumulate some possession and control periods of a match.
   
   
4. Manchester United are well behind Liverpool this season
   
   This West Brom side defeated David Moyes’ Manchester United at Old Trafford just two matches ago, but today they were handed a heavy defeat by the Reds. This showcases the gulf between the Merseysiders and the Red Devils. In addition to this, as West Brom were convincingly bested by Liverpool, at Old Trafford United scrapped to a 3-2 victory over lowly Stoke City after being down 2-1 at half time. Moyes must be weary of the form and quality of both Liverpool, and current league leaders Arsenal, who have both showed that they have come a long way from last season and could possibly be real title contenders come the business end of this season. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Liverpool have the best strike duo in the league
   
   Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie? Sergio Agüero and Alvaro Negredo? Olivier Giroud and…? Step aside, as Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez’s four goal display at Anfield showed exactly how dangerous they are and that there is no better strike combination on offer in the Premier League this season. In fact, on a world landscape, there aren’t many better. The understanding between the two has flourished since Sturridge’s arrival from Chelsea last January, in which time Sturridge has netted 21 times in 27 appearances in the red of Liverpool. This season, between them they have had the net bulging 14 times in as Sturridge and Suarez sit cement themselves as numbers one and two respectively in the race for the premier league golden boot. Even more remarkably, Suarez has scored 36 goals in his past 46 games for Liverpool, including 6 in 4 games this season. If these two keep firing, there is no telling the heights Liverpool could reach this season, they hold the key to champions league football.
   
   
   That’s the Rosey Wrap on Liverpool vs West Brom,
   
   
   Thanks for reading,
   
   
   By Jake Rosengarten

Picking a Sydney Swans lineup for 2014 which includes Buddy Franklin.... an unenviable task

With the emergence today of the news that Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin will most likely don the red and white next season in a hugely expensive and headline grabbing deal, I have decided to attempt to pick my Swans lineup for the 2014 season. This turned out to be a very difficult task which underlined the vast depth possessed by the bloods, who should be the team to beat next season bar another horrific injury-laden year like the one just past, in which the Swans injuries list went on for just about as long as Franklin’s rumoured nine year contract…

Before frothing over the prospect of picking a forward line which including the likes of key forwards Franklin and Kurt Tippett and not to mention Adam Goodes, Sam Reid, Ben Mcglynn and others, I decided to pick the backline. The back thee were perhaps the easiest positions to fill, and I opted for the pacey Rhyce Shaw alongside veteran Heath Grundy and the returning Alex Johnson whose last season was finished before it had even started with an ACL injury. Of course, as with almost every other position, I had to overlook some overwhelmingly good players such as Nick Smith and 2013’s breakout star Dane Rampe, an absolute abundance of talent is at the disposal of John Longmire next season and there will of course be players who miss out.

I decided to stick with the halfback line which gelled so well this season, with the flank positions belonging to Nick Malceski and Jarred Mcveigh, who came into his own playing in that position this season. Centre half back will of course be occupied by Ted Richards, an absolute fan favourite who is undoubtedly one of the best backmen in the league. There has of course been a great deal of media coverage suggesting that  Heath Shaw of the Collingwood Magpies would join his brother at the Swans but only time will tell if that deal materializes, and even if it did, he would have to fight hard for a place in the starting lineup to dislodge some of the Swans’ stars.

The swans are blessed with what is simply one of the most, if not the most, star-studded midfields in the AFL, featuring the likes of Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy, Daniel Hannebery and the upcoming Tom Mitchell just to name a few. Across the centre I have opted for blinding pace on the wings, with speedsters Gary Rohan and Lewis Jetta getting the nod, whilst the centre position goes to Daniel Hannebery whose quality 2013 season saw him finish in the top 5 of the Brownlow Medal just last week. Ruckman was perhaps the easiest position to fill on this list, with the increasingly impressive rugby player turned AFL superstar Canadian Mike Pyke obviously getting the nod with Shane Mumford said to be on his way to Collingwood or Greater Western Sydney if the media is to be believed. On the ball will be co-captain Kieren Jack as well as ball magnet Josh Kennedy who were both key in the Swans premiership victory of two seasons ago as well as their attempted title defence.

The Sydney forward line will be eye watering next season, with a number of superstars including big money signing Kurt Tippett and impending million dollar man Buddy Franklin set to feature in the Swans list, many people are questioning how on Earth Sydney are possibly within the salary cap as the cost of living allowance given to both Sydney clubs by the AFL comes under increased volumes of scrutiny. On the half forward line I have gone with youngster Luke Parker and dual brownlow medallist Adam Goodes on the flanks, and they are joined by the man of the moment 196cm, 100Kg centre half forward Lance Franklin. In the forward pockets I have gone for Ben McGlynn, and the ever-present Ryan O’Keefe, with last season’s controversial acquisition Kurt Tippett at full forward.

With all of the starting positions now decided I have the agonizing decision of picking a bench, substitute and a few emergencies from a group of players which includes players like Dane Rampe, Nick Smith, Lewis Roberts-Thompson, Tom Mitchell, Brandon Jack, Harry Cunningham, Craig Bird, Andrejs Everitt, Jed Lamb and Sam Reid. This is a horrendously difficult task, but I have attempted to approach it by picking a variety of players who can cover all across the ground in case of injuries, basically, who determining has the most to offer?  I decided to hand the substitute best to Tom Mitchell, a player of overwhelming potential who, if given the game time, can become one of the best midfielders in the competition. An absolute ball magnet, must be given time. I decided to opt for Sam Reid and Lewis Roberts-Thompson based on their ability to play both back and forward, leaving the final interchange spot to be decided between the likes of Dane Rampe, Nick Smith and Craig Bird. I opted for Craig Bird based on the fact that Reid and Roberts-Thompsons already have forward and back covered and a midfielder is needed to balance out the bench. Honestly, it pains me greatly to leave out the likes of Rampe and Smith who have done very well filling in injury gaps lately but there just isn’t enough room in the side. So that leaves Rampe, Smith, Cunningham, Everitt, B. Jack and Jed Lamb as emergencies and injury backups in a Swans side which is chockablock with talent, speed, size and which will be very difficult to beat in 2014.

All I can say is that I do not envy  John Longmire who will have to face these selection dilemmas weekly, although it is without doubt the best problem any coach can face!

That’s the Rosey Wrap on the Swans lineup for 2014,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten