Tait or Nicholson for the Boxing Day Test?

[CatManDo]

We couldnt do any worse surely?

Gillespie is out, Wiliams is under a cloud. And personally, I would feel more confident about either of these two than Lee to take wickets.

[EagleBlue]

Would love to see Tait get a gig, a bit raw, has genuine pace that will worry India, however the sensible move would be Nicholson. He definetly looks to have improved big time this season. Dont rule out Kasper either.

[Russian]

Lee and Tait can't both play in a 3-man pace attack IMO.

These 3 are certainties to be picked
Lee
Bichel
Bracken

Assuming no further injuries, I'd have Tait in the 12. Nicholson would be next in line if Bichel or Bracken broke down IMO

and don't forget Noffke

[lamby29]

Tait has been super impressive in the 'A' match and I would love to see him make his debut at the G.

As much as I rate White, he hasn't troubled the Indian batsmen at all. MacGill will keep his spot.

My side for Boxing Day would be:

Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Katich
Waugh
Martyn
Gilchrist
Bichel
Lee
Tait
MacGill

[Russian]

Originally posted by lamby29
My side for Boxing Day would be:

Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Katich
Waugh
Martyn
Gilchrist
Bichel
Lee
Tait
MacGill Not bad but MacGill would bat before Tait. Don't like Katich at 4 - If Martyn's not batting at 4, he shouldn't be batting and Love should come in.

[Cooldude]

Well I like the idea of playing 5 bowlers in the MCG, so it's Lee Bichel Bracken and Nicolson plus Macgill the spinner, and drop Martyn and bat Gilchrist at 6 and Katich at 4.

[thewhippersnapper]

Nicholson got 4 wickets for Aus A and Tait got 3.

I thought Tait looked more dangerous though.

Tough decision but 1 of them should be in the team.

[apollo_creed]

Originally posted by BomberAUS
Nicholson got 4 wickets for Aus A and Tait got 3.

I thought Tait looked more dangerous though.

Tough decision but 1 of them should be in the team.

Not really tough if the selectors go with there normal policy.

'When in doubt go to the baggy blue.'

[Fall Out Boy]

Tait and Lee can't play in the same team, unless there is a Glenn McGrath at the other end.

Both play very aggressively, and both go for plenty (Tait went for about 4 an over today). We can't afford to play two loose bowlers when you only backup is Bichel.

Give me Nicholson right now please.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Originally posted by Russian
MacGill would bat before Tait.

Is Tait's batting really THAT bad?

[Russian]

Originally posted by Adelaide Hawk
Is Tait's batting really THAT bad? yep

[Unwritten_Law]

From the little I've seen of him, Tait is the pace bowling equivalent of MacGill. Wait for the loose one and BANG 4 runs.

[Mog]

Ashley Noffke above any of them. 4 for 28 off 20 overs yesterday and still batting at 81 n.o. If he hadn't ben injured he'd have been going up instead of Bracken...

[Adelaide Hawk]

Originally posted by Russian
yep

Tait has a 1st Class batting average of 20.00 so far this season, but if he should be batting behind MacGill, then 11 is too high for him.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Originally posted by Unwritten_Law
From the little I've seen of him, Tait is the pace bowling equivalent of MacGill. Wait for the loose one and BANG 4 runs.

How does that make them any different from any other bowler in the Universe?

[catattack]

Originally posted by Unwritten_Law
From the little I've seen of him, Tait is the pace bowling equivalent of MacGill. Wait for the loose one and BANG 4 runs.
That is like every bowler. You wait for a loose one and hit it for four...

[Unwritten_Law]

Originally posted by Adelaide Hawk
How does that make them any different from any other bowler in the Universe?

He bowls a lot of them i.e MacGill.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Originally posted by Unwritten_Law
He bowls a lot of them i.e MacGill.

Leg spin and express bowling are the two most difficult styles of bowling to control. These bowlers, unless they are freaks, tend to bowl more "hitable" balls, but they Tait is a super athlete bowl more unplayable ones as well.
I've seen some rocket scientists on this forum label Brett Lee a "hack" because every now and then he loses a bit of control, but it is impossible to be bowling at those speeds and have the ball land precisely where you want them to each time.
There is no greater fan than I of the great Jeff Thomson, an absolute thunderbolt who blasted batsmen out with awesome speed and power. However, he also bowled his fair amount of garbage that was belted for 4, but we tend to remember only those devastating deliveries that sent poor unsuspecting batsmen on their way.
Tait is a super athlete who will possibly get even quicker, and if given a chance at Test level will take his share of wickets, and maybe win a Test or two on his own, so we need to be tollerant of those times he strays from his target and gets hit for 4.

[Cooldude]

Originally posted by Adelaide Hawk
Leg spin and express bowling are the two most difficult styles of bowling to control. These bowlers, unless they are freaks, tend to bowl more "hitable" balls, but they Tait is a super athlete bowl more unplayable ones as well.
I've seen some rocket scientists on this forum label Brett Lee a "hack" because every now and then he loses a bit of control, but it is impossible to be bowling at those speeds and have the ball land precisely where you want them to each time.
There is no greater fan than I of the great Jeff Thomson, an absolute thunderbolt who blasted batsmen out with awesome speed and power. However, he also bowled his fair amount of garbage that was belted for 4, but we tend to remember only those devastating deliveries that sent poor unsuspecting batsmen on their way.
Tait is a super athlete who will possibly get even quicker, and if given a chance at Test level will take his share of wickets, and maybe win a Test or two on his own, so we need to be tollerant of those times he strays from his target and gets hit for 4.

Yes, Tait reminds me of Waqar Younis in his younger days, can get reverse swing with the older ball with very very quick pace. Watch out for those inswinging yorkers, gonna break a lot of toes in the future.

Talking about Thommo, when he first started he was absolutely lighting quick, but then he got like 0/100 off 19 and seriously can't bowl straight. But doesn't he love cracking batsmen's skulls.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Originally posted by Cooldude
Yes, Tait reminds me of Waqar Younis in his younger days, can get reverse swing with the older ball with very very quick pace. Watch out for those inswinging yorkers, gonna break a lot of toes in the future.

Talking about Thommo, when he first started he was absolutely lighting quick, but then he got like 0/100 off 19 and seriously can't bowl straight. But doesn't he love cracking batsmen's skulls.

Absolutely correct. Tait's inswinging yorker is his most potent delivery and it will reap him many wickets. When he gets it right it is almost unplayable.
As for Thommo, he did record 0/100 in his first test (v Pakistan, MCG, 1972-73), but it was revealed afterwards he was bowling with a broken foot.
His second test 2 years later (v England, Brisbane, 1974-75) was an entirely different matter.

[Cooldude]

Originally posted by Adelaide Hawk

As for Thommo, he did record 0/100 in his first test (v Pakistan, MCG, 1972-73), but it was revealed afterwards he was bowling with a broken foot.
His second test 2 years later (v England, Brisbane, 1974-75) was an entirely different matter.


Bowled with a broken foot?!?!?1 And some modern Englishmen miss matches coz of a scratch on the knee or a sore arm? Those bloody weak Poms

[Great_Unknown]

Originally posted by Unwritten_Law
From the little I've seen of him, Tait is the pace bowling equivalent of MacGill. Wait for the loose one and BANG 4 runs.

I'm more concerned with his action, rather than his pace. If he keeps bending his back to extremes a la Bruce Reid, he's going to have some serious problems. However, I wouldn't begrudge him a place in the test or `A' side, as his form has been impressive for such a recent debutant.

[wagstaff]

Originally posted by Adelaide Hawk
Is Tait's batting really THAT bad?

He's listed as coming in below Rofe (a real bunny from what I've seen) so he must be pretty bad.

[EagleBlue]

Originally posted by Cooldude
Bowled with a broken foot?!?!?1 And some modern Englishmen miss matches coz of a scratch on the knee or a sore arm? Those bloody weak Poms

Calling Graham Thorpe :D