View Full Version : Who will Open in Sydney ?
happy_eagle
26 Dec 2008, 13:18
Presuming Hayden calls it a day, Who do we think will open with Katich in Sydney
The main options
Rogers- Has got the runs on the board this season, and looks in great nick
Hughes- Having an outstanding debut season, but is it to early ?
Marsh- I dont think he is an opener personally, but his technique is lovely to watch
M.Hussey- Could be the change of position he needs to regain form. Would also allow another middle order batsman in
Cotchin 9
26 Dec 2008, 13:42
Hayden.
Chops_a_must
26 Dec 2008, 14:14
Hayden will, but it will likely be a "farewell".
Can't see Rogers getting the call up, as his ACB contract was torn up, yes?
DeadlyAkkuret
26 Dec 2008, 14:22
Being the captain, Ponting will open with Katich.
Dixie Flatline
26 Dec 2008, 15:01
In reality - Hayden.
On the basis of the OP's presumption - Rogers.
stmookeyj
26 Dec 2008, 15:22
Shane Watson
The_Trav
26 Dec 2008, 15:31
Rogers. Second in the Shield run scoring (Klinger first) and has the experience behind him to perform if given another chance
Now that Hussey is starting to struggle for runs as well the selectors hand may be forced. Carrying one out of form batsman is not desirable but achievable carrying two is not.
Now there is potentially a second one the selectors hand will be forced. I voted Hughes though it could be Rogers.
With a live series and an out of form batsman I think their hand has got to be played now.
RedWhiteBlack
26 Dec 2008, 16:38
Hayden will get the obligatory "farewell test", as much as his form does not warrant it.
Smokey_22
26 Dec 2008, 16:43
Presuming Hayden calls it a day, Who do we think will open with Katich in Sydney
The main options
Rogers- Has got the runs on the board this season, and looks in great nick
Hughes- Having an outstanding debut season, but is it to early ?
Marsh- I dont think he is an opener personally, but his technique is lovely to watch
M.Hussey- Could be the change of position he needs to regain form. Would also allow another middle order batsman in
Rubbish.
Last season was his debut year. For the record he averaged 62 for the season including a hundred in the final.
Hes ready.
bombersno1
26 Dec 2008, 16:58
Shane Watson
As much as I don't like it I agree, Watson will be the one they pick
courtjester
26 Dec 2008, 18:45
IF Hayden retires I'd like to see Hussey open with Katich, and Hodge to get the 2-3 years he deserves in the test team.
If big Hayden goes (which will be a sad day) i'd love to see Hodge get a good run in the team in South Africa and in the Ashes. He must be the best batsman in the country outside the test team. I wouldn't like to see Watson open in tests, but his time will come at number 6 in the next 2 years.
Katich
Hussey
Ponting
Clark
Hodge
Symonds/Watson
abs_of_STEELE
26 Dec 2008, 18:49
Hayden or Rogers.
Blue Dimension
26 Dec 2008, 19:04
Haydos.
happy_eagle
26 Dec 2008, 19:04
D.Hussey or North are ahead of Hodge
weldun posters of this thread, you cannot read :')
courtjester
26 Dec 2008, 19:11
D.Hussey or North are ahead of Hodge
You're probably right....at least about Hussey.
I love watching Hodge bat. All class. Age is a factor now for him.
Probably the guy to have played the least number of tests and made a double century!
trueblue_91
26 Dec 2008, 19:12
If we are assuming Hayden is dropped, than Hughes. But Hayden will play.
Blue Dimension
26 Dec 2008, 19:15
You're probably right....at least about Hussey.
I love watching Hodge bat. All class. Age is a factor now for him.
Probably the guy to have played the least number of tests and made a double century!
Hodge is having a lacklustre season with the bat. Won't be selected.
D.Hussey not in the greatest form either.
If they're going to choose someone, it's going to be an opener. But i still reckon Haydos will see the series out.
aaronm46
26 Dec 2008, 20:12
i voted dave warner
bombersno1
26 Dec 2008, 20:24
i voted dave warner
You realise the guy has not played 4 day cricket don't you:eek:
spookism
26 Dec 2008, 22:23
Haydos will finish off the summer definitely, but if for some reason not - then Shaun Marsh for ****s and giggles....
The Governor
27 Dec 2008, 07:01
Matthew Hayden is out of form and everyone is writing him off.
If the selectors are willing to retire him after this test match, I think the selectors should look at using SHane Watson as an opening batsman. HE has a good defensive and offensive batting technique and he is a good player of the horizontal bat shots.
I think the selectors have dug themselves a grave by not forcing the Waugh twins to retire when they had to retire at the right time for the long term future of Australian cricket. Steve Waugh has created a dangerous precedent because the selectors have the say in whether to retire a great or allow him to continue with his test career.
Steve Waugh should have retired after the 2002-2003 Ashes series. He was allowed to continue his career.
Mark Waugh should have retired after the South African test series in 2002.
And, ever since Steve Waugh was captain of Australia, only Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson have made their test debuts below the age of 26. This is an alarming statistic.
Austrlian cricket has been known of playing picking players in their early 20s since the late Sir Donald Bradman (Harvey, Benaud, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Warne, Ponting, McGrath, Slater, Boon, Lillee, THomson and Border).
What is happening with Australian cricket?
Should the selectors take the view of losing 2 test series whilst in the transition period whilst blooding in young players like Phil Hughes, Peter Siddle and Moses Henriques?
I think they should adopt this policy. The Australian coaching support staff is more advanced than in 1986. Tim Nielsen has a full time fast bowling and fielding coach at his disposal, and he can call in Greg Chappell, Terry Jenner, Kerry O'Keefe or any former test player to help out the test players.
Have a look at South Africa. They took a gamble on Steyn, Graeme Smith, Morkel, Duminy and De Villers. South Africa experienced some loses over the past 4 years and they are on the way up.
Form can change quickly over the period of 12 months.
People have forgotten about that.
THE GOVERNOR
roylandroos
27 Dec 2008, 17:38
Shane Watson
i agree
Matthew Hayden is out of form and everyone is writing him off.
If the selectors are willing to retire him after this test match, I think the selectors should look at using SHane Watson as an opening batsman. HE has a good defensive and offensive batting technique and he is a good player of the horizontal bat shots.
Shane Watson is technically good, but his stint has a state opener hasn't been illustrious. Phil Hughes and Chris Rogers (despite my issues with him) would be worthier candidates.
I think the selectors have dug themselves a grave by not forcing the Waugh twins to retire when they had to retire at the right time for the long term future of Australian cricket. Steve Waugh has created a dangerous precedent because the selectors have the say in whether to retire a great or allow him to continue with his test career.
The selectors can't force somebody to retire, as such. They can encourage them to, however. I would consider doing this with Matthew Hayden.
And, ever since Steve Waugh was captain of Australia, only Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson have made their test debuts below the age of 26. This is an alarming statistic.
I'm not so sure. It is perfectly fine to pick young players when they warrant selection (as Phil Hughes may), but if an experienced player is having a consistent run of form, then they should be rewarded with selection. In the end, I believe that performance is more important than age or potential.
Should the selectors take the view of losing 2 test series whilst in the transition period whilst blooding in young players like Phil Hughes, Peter Siddle and Moses Henriques?
Not unless it's warranted (as it may be in the cases of the first two).
Have a look at South Africa. They took a gamble on Steyn, Graeme Smith, Morkel, Duminy and De Villers. South Africa experienced some loses over the past 4 years and they are on the way up.
True, but from the period of late 2003 - early 2006 they were struggling (falling as low as #5 or #6). Do we really want to go through the same phase unless we have to?
Form can change quickly over the period of 12 months.
Which is why I believe in debuting in-form players while their form warrants it.
As for the original question, I feel that Rogers (or maybe Hughes) should open, but Hayden probably will.
Jordan93
27 Dec 2008, 18:51
They will open the bowling with MJ and Sids
and with the bat Kat and Haydos to give him a big send off
Calls to have Watson opening the batting are absolutely terrible.
Taking a middle order batsman, thrusting him into the openers position, ahead of actual FC opening batsmen that are scoring heavily (ie Rodgers, Hughes) will never happen. Not to mention he has yet to score anything substantial in his test appearances thus far.
unstable punt
28 Dec 2008, 00:18
Hayden.
yep Hayden and it will be his last Test.
Schmidt2003
28 Dec 2008, 06:05
M.Hussey won't open the batting for Australia. I remember an interview not to long ago and he said that he didn't want to open the batting. He said that he is really enjoying the middle order role, despite opening his whole first class career. Adding to this is that two of the best performing batsmen in the Sheffield Shield are openers, Hughes and Rogers there is no way that they would move Hussey to opening.
I think that Hayden will open the batting and barring a century in the second innings of the Melbourne test he will announce before the Sydney test match that it will be his last.
P.Hughes will be selected as the opening Batsmen for the tour to S.Africa and the Ashes.