Robert Craddock

But now, as I said, in a sense, what happens today is inconsequential because the players don't want it to proceed.

Well, you can't get away from the fact that Australia lost the series.

You can't get away from the fact that our second XI almost is not a patch on the first.

I mean, you know, this is a real snapshot into the future for Australia, these sort of tournaments.

A lot of cricket's played in Asia, and our backup troops at the moment are pretty average.

Let's just say that because that's the truth.

Connolly's good, though.

Like, he's a former Australian under-19 captain.

He very quickly played in all three forms of the game for Australia.

The selectors love him.

And this was a good innings, a real breakthrough innings, 149 of 134.

And there was this little half an hour of the game, Gerard, when he came together with Ollie Peake, Geelong's very own, and who made 27 of 32.

And when we were watching it, we sort of thought, I wonder this is the snapshot of the next 10 years with these two lads coming through.

We're measured in our praise of Ollie Peake because he's been branded a superstar and the kid's got something about him, but you do love to see them produce these beginnings before you get too carried away.

And a couple of weeks ago, we spotlighted, didn't we, the two Ollies from Geelong.

Who would you rather be?

Ollie, would you rather come through the Ollie Peake way and get tossed in really young and into the spotlight and away you go, or the Ollie Dempsey way from the Cats, a little bit more slow-fused?

Well, this was a step forward for Ollie Peake, and he looked good.

He looked like a kid on top of his game.

And Cooper Connolly particularly, outside off stump, he's very firm and strong, as a lot of West Australian players are.