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Dubai: Remember Greg Matthews? The Aussie off-spinner was the hero of the historic tied Test in Chennai in the 1986-87 series.
Even at 48, he is playing grade cricket for New South Wales. But the veteran bowler is not happy with Cricket Australia.
He believes the governing body has not tried to nurture any talented youngsters to succeed Shane Warne or Stuart MacGill.
The spinner spoke to Gulf News about the current Australia side:
GULF NEWS: Do you think that CA have failed to prepare ahead of time to find replacements for Warne and MacGill?
Greg Matthews: Definitely. Everybody knew they would bid adieu to international cricket almost in the same period. And Cricket Australia's failure has been exposed by the technical deficiencies of some of the nation's best spin-bowling hopes.
Are you happy with the performances of Cameron White in the ongoing test series versus India?
See, technically he has some serious flaws. Nobody is successful doing what he has been doing now. But he has chosen it and feels he would be successful. I do not know what is in store for him.
But he got some wickets, notably that of Sachin Tendulka.
Yes, and I was happy for him. If someone had said to him he would have Sachin Tendulkar as his first wicket in Test matches and take 4-200 in his first two tests in India, I'm sure Cam would have taken it and run.
What do you think of Beau Casson not being considered for the Indian tour?
I am afraid the biggest loser will be Beau Casson. I don't know how he would have performed in India, but he took three wickets in his first Test in the West Indies, and he was not considered among the first three spinners to be in the team for the very next tour.
I fail to understand what kind of message this is to the spinner.
What about Nathan Hauritz?
I had the opportunity of working with him. The problem is, he has some technical deficiencies and the good thing is, he knows them.
But he is not working on them. I said something and he thought I was harsh to him. So, he does not talk to me now.
But he had played a test series in India and had Sachin and Laxman in his kitty. He needs to work hard.
Dan Cullen?
He does not have a great turn like Murli or Bhajji yet, he does not bowl from close to the stumps.
A finger spinner has to come closer to the wicket while delivering. To hit the top of the off-stump, it is needed.
But if you are bowling far from the stumps, you are picked off easily by the batsmen.
I do not know why, but he had changed his technique and lost the arrogance.
What about Bryce McGain, who was forced to return from India?
It was unfortunate for him. But I was not particularly happy with his performances in the Pura Cup final.
Unnecessarily, he had bowled round the stumps. There was just no reason for doing so. It was a perfect podium for him to attack the batsmen while he had chosen the other way of restraining.
He would have been a different bowler, bowling to his strengths.
What should Cricket Australia have done when they knew that Warne was to retire?
Once Shane got to 30 or 31, Cricket Australia should have had a really intense three years of going around and earmarking guys.
After spotting them, they should have nurtured those talents, prepare them for the acid test of international cricket.
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