View Full Version : Matthew Elliott back in Test Team
Fall Out Boy
29 Jun 2004, 16:45
Well done Herb.
All the hard work and perserverence has finally paid off. Earned this selection.
Welcome back champ.
Bombers_Forever
29 Jun 2004, 17:01
Is he in for Ponting?
Good decision selectors. Deserved his chance after a great Pura and ING season. I hope he plays well, even though Ponting will get his place back in the next test.
Fall Out Boy
29 Jun 2004, 17:08
Yep, Pontings replacement.
5 years ago Matty was considered to be on the scrap heap, and even he believed it. Been a fair comeback.
I'm just happy that his performances have been acknowledged by selectors, my faith is somewhat restored.
corporal
29 Jun 2004, 17:13
Although I'm glad about this, surely Hodge would have been a better choice being a number 3 batsman plus a mountain of runs behind him and more importantly a younger age
Either way I'm looking forward to watching Herb in the middle again
Watch them not even play him.
mansize rooster
29 Jun 2004, 18:57
yer i would have hade hodge in but elliot has been awesome and has already hade good test experience,thats what prob got him over.
Hopefully we see Elliott put in a Martin Love type effort from last year and at least get some big runs before he gets dropped again. Either way, its good to see he hasn't been forgotten.
mansize rooster
29 Jun 2004, 19:18
do you think that if he makes plenty and martyn has a crap couple of tests that he could be going to india...all could not be gone for elliot.
i dont think martyn is certain pick for india.
what do you think? will langer jump back in his old spot @ no. 3 and elliot open, or will elliot simply replace ponting @ 3...? i believe elliot has batted down the order in 1 day cricket, so it's not totally foreign to him... then again, it's only 1 spot down...
Originally posted by w00dy
what do you think? will langer jump back in his old spot @ no. 3 and elliot open, or will elliot simply replace ponting @ 3...? i believe elliot has batted down the order in 1 day cricket, so it's not totally foreign to him... then again, it's only 1 spot down...
Fair question, but I doubt whether they would be interested in splitting up the Langer/Hayden partnership. Surely it wouldn't do any harm to tinker with the lineup though, just for one or two tests.
Good to see a stellar domestic season performance rewarded with a Test spot.
Does that make six out of the top seven lefties in the batting order now?
Originally posted by w00dy
what do you think? will langer jump back in his old spot @ no. 3 and elliot open, or will elliot simply replace ponting @ 3...? i believe elliot has batted down the order in 1 day cricket, so it's not totally foreign to him... then again, it's only 1 spot down... I seem to recall when Elliott batting at three when he came back into the Test side following the injury that resulted from collision with Mark Waugh.
Hayden, his replacement during the injured period, had just scored his first Test century. So they took all of Taylor, Hayden and Elliott to South Africa.
I would put Elliott at the top and bump Langer down to three. But I suspect they'll keep the Hayden/Langer partnership together as Catman suggested.
Not before time either, well done Matty.
ViperV10
30 Jun 2004, 08:39
Interesting to see him back...at 32 you wouldn't think he has a heap left in him (particularly considering he is still suffering from the Mark Waugh collision) but good on him for getting in. He certainly has the numbers on the board at state level and deserves the chance, however I can't stop thinking that it is fruitless putting someone in who is at such an age.
It may be unfair to him to say it, but I don't know if Elliot should be there when there are other, younger players, who would be around for much longer if they got a chance.
However, having said all that, if he gets 150 and Martyn gets a pair and is subsequently dropped then I will be happy.
Johnson#26
30 Jun 2004, 09:19
Good news! Elliott deserves his oppotunity at the big time again considering his great Pura Cup.
Will he open and break up the Langer/Hayden partnership or bat in the middle order?
bluechampion
30 Jun 2004, 10:27
According to the Sun it's as much about the fact he was in the country and in-form as anything else. Apparently Love is also in the country, but not match-ready.
It's a one-off, but I hope he makes a heap of runs and reminds people what Steve Waugh robbed us of.
He'll only get one match, but he well and truly deserves his chance. You can't tell a guy who's been making ton after ton for years that he won't be considered for a test berth simply because he's getting on a bit. You've got to get the balance right, and in my opinion Elliott was the best choice.
Wicked Lester
30 Jun 2004, 10:51
I was having a chat to a friend yesterday on this issue.
I put my two bits in - basically that I was surpirsed and felt that it would have been the ideal time to give Michael Clarke a test. I hadn't considered that he may well be in England at present.
My friend however had a different reasoning on the Elliott selection. His view was that the selectors were taking the opportunity to remind a certain Brown Nosed Gnome that there was another opening option of test class. That's not to say the little fella is in immediate danger of losing his spot, but his bouts of inconsistency at times may well have caused concern and a subtle 'reminder' was opportune.
vicpride99
30 Jun 2004, 12:13
I think they have picked Elliott just for the fact he was in Australia at the time but you have to wonder what Langer would be thinking. He has been very lucky to keep his spot as he always seems to make runs at the right time. Sri Lanka where i was certain he would be dropped till the 100 he made in the dead rubber. Geez is it just me or is everyone hoping Langer gets a few ducks this series and allows the better player to play test cricket.
Originally posted by Wicked Lester
I put my two bits in - basically that I was surpirsed and felt that it would have been the ideal time to give Michael Clarke a test. I hadn't considered that he may well be in England at present.
Michael Clarke is yet to prove himself at first class level yet. A look at his form in the UK this off season is testament to the amount of work he still has to do if he is to make it in the test arena.
I personally don't subscribe to all the hype, Brad Hodge is a better bet IMO.
Cooldude
30 Jun 2004, 16:58
Originally posted by likka
Michael Clarke is yet to prove himself at first class level yet. A look at his form in the UK this off season is testament to the amount of work he still has to do if he is to make it in the test arena.
I personally don't subscribe to all the hype, Brad Hodge is a better bet IMO.
There's always hype with blonde pretty boys coming out of NSW, the media will always beat them up, just look at Brett Lee, does SFA in tests, yet the media kept ejaculating all over him.
Clarke is a good One Day batsman at present, but his abysmal county form (If you can't score runs in county cricket you have huge problems) shows that he is nowhere near ready, but NSW media will always have a whinge about it...
The Beckham-sque hype around Clarke is unhealthy
Originally posted by vicpride99
I think they have picked Elliott just for the fact he was in Australia at the time but you have to wonder what Langer would be thinking. He has been very lucky to keep his spot as he always seems to make runs at the right time. Sri Lanka where i was certain he would be dropped till the 100 he made in the dead rubber. Geez is it just me or is everyone hoping Langer gets a few ducks this series and allows the better player to play test cricket.
If a younger Elliot had the maturity and ticker of Langer he would have been a regular in the Aussie team for the past 10 years, god knows he has natural talent t burn. Gnomey has made the most of modest natural abilities to forge a test career where others wouldn't have succeeded.
Full credit to Matty though, he has come back and worked hard at his game for the past couple of years and totally deserves his CA contract and test side callup.
TheSheik
30 Jun 2004, 17:51
I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when I read the title of this thread. Then it was announced on Channel 10 news.
Weird happening but a great opportunity for Elliott to redeem himself.
The Spornstar
1 Jul 2004, 09:11
Well done Herb. I must say I was surprised but I'm very happy - still hasn't stopped the media saying that Clarke would've been the natural choice. Agree that Clarke has done nothing at First Class level to get a spot in the team.
Bombers_Forever
1 Jul 2004, 13:28
1 run and dismissed. A bad return but the commentators picked up on all the batting practice he was going through waiting to get out there. He looked nervous.
dan warna
1 Jul 2004, 14:29
poor chap, lets hope he tears through in the second innings.
Originally posted by dan warna
poor chap, lets hope he tears through in the second innings.
Yeah, I feel a bit sorry for him too after he waited so long for a second chance.
Second innnigs could be a big chance for a run or two I reckon.
Bomberfan00
1 Jul 2004, 15:15
Although matty elliot throughly deserved his chance back in the test team, i feel that Brad Hodge should have got the nod ahead of him. Hodge and Elliot scored basically the same amount of runs last season, but Hodge is most accustomed to the role at #3. Also, Elliots form has dropped off in the county comp, where as Hodge has been piling on the runs still. Also Elliot has already has a chance at test level and i feel Hodge deserved more of a go. Thats just my opinion anyway, what do yous think?
dannyboy
1 Jul 2004, 16:38
Originally posted by vicpride99
Geez is it just me or is everyone hoping Langer gets a few ducks this series and allows the better player to play test cricket.
can't agree with you there, although definately pleased to see Elliot get another go.
JL's credentials outweigh Elliots by quite a margin...I know who I'd rather have batting when it comes to the crunch.
Originally posted by vicpride99
I think they have picked Elliott just for the fact he was in Australia at the time but you have to wonder what Langer would be thinking.
I shouldn't think he'd be feeling too threatened by anyone at this stage.
He has been very lucky to keep his spot as he always seems to make runs at the right time. Sri Lanka where i was certain he would be dropped till the 100 he made in the dead rubber.
He was never going to be dropped in Sri Lanka, not after scoring two centuries in the preceding India series.
Geez is it just me or is everyone hoping Langer gets a few ducks this series and allows the better player to play test cricket.
It's just you.
And which better player would that be, then?
Coach Required
2 Jul 2004, 15:04
Elliot in the test team
what a waste of a position.
We would have been better off playing one short.
Back to the pura cup for you loser.
red+black
2 Jul 2004, 17:45
an average of < 1 this test does not augur well for another return to test cricket. they say be careful what you wish for. he got it. but it just might have confirmed the end of career.
oh well, vics need ya.
It is not so much that Elliott failed in both innings for me, but the way he failed.
He is an opening batsman, used to the swinging ball and letting balls go.
He was twice remarkably loose outside the off-stump, after neither time giving himself any time whatsoever to get his eye in or get settled.
Originally posted by red+black
an average of < 1 this test does not augur well for another return to test cricket. they say be careful what you wish for. he got it. but it just might have confirmed the end of career.
Who's the next gun Vic batsman in?
Dog Town
3 Jul 2004, 08:34
Not for a second do I want Langer replaced from the test side.Anyone who doubts the quality of this guy as an opening batsman either hasnt played the game or has rocks in there head.I am a passionate victorian and I wouldnt like Elliot opening ahead of Langer purely because I think Langers his equal as a batsman but brings a bit extra as a competitior which is absolutely vital in cricket.I am not Elliotts biggest fan but I think he has deserved his chance and will take time to re establish himself at the top level much the same way as Hayden,Langer and almost every player who has come back for a second stint did.How predictable was it to see the obvious bitterness towards a victorian player in this and other threads after his two low scores in darwin?He will get another chance....
Originally posted by Dry Rot
Who's the next gun Vic batsman in?
Hodge! :D
Originally posted by Dog Town
How predictable was it to see the obvious bitterness towards a victorian player in this and other threads after his two low scores in darwin?
No less predictable than Brett Lee threads etc
mansize rooster
3 Jul 2004, 17:04
Originally posted by sherb
It is not so much that Elliott failed in both innings for me, but the way he failed.
He is an opening batsman, used to the swinging ball and letting balls go.
He was twice remarkably loose outside the off-stump, after neither time giving himself any time whatsoever to get his eye in or get settled.
..blame it on a rush of blood to the head
yer it was a little silly,i can excuse the 1st one but the 2nd was at an important stage and it just wasnt needed.
he is better than that.
Dog Town
3 Jul 2004, 17:13
Originally posted by Dry Rot
No less predictable than Brett Lee threads etc Never heard anyone criticise Lee when it wasnt warranted.Elliott earnt his recall and I cant see how anyone can begrudge him for that.Lee was heavily criticised but he also bowled tripe for 24 months and probably deserved his criticism.If Elliott fails for his next 3 or 4 games then its warranted.
Originally posted by Dog Town
If Elliott fails for his next 3 or 4 games then its warranted.
Elliott won't have another 3 or 4 games.