Sydney: World champion Australian team has become more of a "Dad's Army" than England ever was, former Test batsman Doug Walters said on Tuesday.
Walters, who played his last Test in 1981 against India at the age of 36, believes the selection of 30-something players is threatening Australia's dominance of world cricket. "I'm not happy with the way that cricket is heading in Australia because we're more Dad's Army than England ever was and I see it getting a lot worse," Walters said. "The problem that we have is the structure of state cricket. They're all under contract and they're getting 60 to 70 Grand (Australian Dollars) a year to play Sheffield Shield cricket. "Not many have a chance to go any further than Shield cricket and they're clogging up the system. "They're not going to retire and look for a real job and they keep the younger guys out. So as a result we now drop a 37-year-old bloke (Mark Waugh) and pick a 32-year- old bloke (Darren Lehmann)," he said. "I don't think there's a lot of future in that sort of thing. The next in line are all approaching 30 apart from (Michael) Clarke but I don't think there's a lot of alternatives." Clarke is among a group of batsmen pressing for a call-up to the national side, although the New South Welshman is the only youngster recognised as a serious contender.
Extras:
Mr Elegance: Timing ever perfect, even when quitting!
Mark's Ashes berth to head agenda of selection panel
Buchanan asks selectors to pick Mark Waugh for Ashes
Retired Waugh to continue to play first class games
Steve Waugh expects no compassion after twin's axing
Tags: cricket, sydney, world champion australian team, dad's army, england, former test batsman doug walters, india, selection, 30-something players, threatening dominance, problem, structure, under contract, dollars, sheffield shield, clogging up system, retire, mark waugh, darren lehmann, michael clarke, batsmen, pressing for call-up, national side.
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