Channel 9 "is furious that Australia has picked a second string one-day side to begin the five-match series against Sri Lanka," according to Malcolm Conn of NEWS LIMITED. Nine Sport Dir Steve Crawley said, "At Channel 9, I’m surrounded by experts. I’m not an expert. I’m a fan, and as a fan I’d not only have David Warner in the side, but make him captain, and as a fan I don’t know how you leave Mike Hussey out of anything this summer." Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland "played down the lack of big names in the squad." Sutherland said, "It’s only the first two games of the series. In the fullness of time we’ll see who plays in the one-day series. It’s only been picked for two games, so I don’t see what the big issue is about that" (NEWS LIMITED, 1/7).
LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE: In Sydney, Chris Barrett reported Nine is concerned the lack of top players "dilutes the appeal of the series against Sri Lanka." Crawley said, "There is no doubt we've got to bring in new players. I think that's a good thing. But I don't get leaving out Warner and Hussey. When my kids play in the yard, they're David Warner and Michael Hussey." The home summer one-day games "regularly reach an average five-city metro audience of 1.2 million but could potentially take a hit with selectors leaving out several star players." Nine "is also in a delicate position in its efforts to retain cricket's broadcasting rights." Rival networks Seven and Ten "are expected to make formal bids in the next fortnight, but Nine's last rights option will in all likelihood help it trump those offers and sign a new five-year deal this month." National selector John Inverarity said he believed the squad named was a ''particularly exciting side." Inverarity said, "How will we know about the best players of the future if opportunity is not invested in them?'' (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/7).
