Australia vs India - Second Test @ GABBA - Dec 17-21 - Day 2

[raptalia]

Certainly won't get shot down. Watson has to go. He hasn't scored well in ages.

It is the problem we have had for the last few years. I agree that Watson should go but who replaces him? No3 is a real issue atm. Maybe there is another late bloomer like Michael Hussey around the traps?

 

[BarneyBent]

It is the problem we have had for the last few years. I agree that Watson should go but who replaces him? No3 is a real issue atm. Maybe there is another late bloomer like Michael Hussey around the traps?

Chuck Smith in there?

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

It is the problem we have had for the last few years. I agree that Watson should go but who replaces him? No3 is a real issue atm. Maybe there is another late bloomer like Michael Hussey around the traps?

Agreed. A year or two ago, Ricky Ponting expressed genuine concern for passing of the art of Test batting and I must say I agree with him. Shaun Marsh's dismissal today is symptomatic of the mind set of the average batsmen these days torn between Test cricket and the truncated forms of the game.

In a T20 match, with an entirely different field, the ball was there to be scored from. In Test cricket, it was a ball that should be left alone. I think a lot of young batsmen are struggling with this as batting is basically doing what comes naturally to you in a split second. Test bowlers no longer need the McGrath like discipline to draw players into false strokes, they bowl as many different balls in order for a batsman to find 6 ways an over to get himself out ... and it works a lot of the time.

A lot of the stuff that dismisses batsmen in today's Test cricket would never have got batsmen out years ago. We applaud the fact that Test batsmen move the score along at 4 runs an over these days ... but is it REALLY good batting, or just good entertainment? I would hate to see the day when the reverse sweep becomes a legitimate way of scoring Test runs.

 

[TN25]

It is the problem we have had for the last few years. I agree that Watson should go but who replaces him? No3 is a real issue atm. Maybe there is another late bloomer like Michael Hussey around the traps?

Yeah really hard to find a good #3. I think Smith could be a good fit for first drop.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Yeah really hard to find a good #3. I think Smith could be a good fit for first drop.

Agree. He doesn't lunge onto the front foot so much against the moving ball, today he sat back and punched it through covers.

Quite frankly reckon he is the best candidate for 3.

 

[TN25]

Agree. He doesn't lunge onto the front foot so much against the moving ball, today he sat back and punched it through covers.

Quite frankly reckon he is the best candidate for 3.

With Smith at three, we still would need someone to play at second drop

 

[Caesar]

Smith is in excellent form at the moment and could probably bat anywhere and still score runs. When you're seeing the ball like he is right now, you're pretty much unstoppable.

He is not a natural top order batsman though. He still plays too far away from his body, and his natural strength is against spin and the old ball.

Four is about as high as I'd like to see him play, and I wouldn't mind seeing him drop back to five if we can develop some good upper order players.

 

[ROOTA#6]

Smith is in excellent form at the moment and could probably bat anywhere and still score runs. When you're seeing the ball like he is right now, you're pretty much unstoppable.

He is not a natural top order batsman though. He still plays too far away from his body, and his natural strength is against spin and the old ball.

Four is about as high as I'd like to see him play, and I wouldn't mind seeing him drop back to five if we can develop some good upper order players.

Spot on.... Couldn't have been said any better

 

[raptalia]

Smith is in excellent form at the moment and could probably bat anywhere and still score runs. When you're seeing the ball like he is right now, you're pretty much unstoppable.

He is not a natural top order batsman though. He still plays too far away from his body, and his natural strength is against spin and the old ball.

Four is about as high as I'd like to see him play, and I wouldn't mind seeing him drop back to five if we can develop some good upper order players.

I agree, I think Steve Smith is better suited in the middle order where he can use his unorthodox strokes against the spinners and the old ball. Smith, Clarke and hopefully Mitchell Marsh could fill the middle order which means we need to find a No 3 and another opener. Rogers has had some good performances but at 38 his time is limited.

 

[Millky95]

I agree, I think Steve Smith is better suited in the middle order where he can use his unorthodox strokes against the spinners and the old ball. Smith, Clarke and hopefully Mitchell Marsh could fill the middle order which means we need to find a No 3 and another opener. Rogers has had some good performances but at 38 his time is limited.

I agree. Got to remember, a number 3 should also open. Can't see Smith opening in a test match

 

[western royboy]

Agreed. A year or two ago, Ricky Ponting expressed genuine concern for passing of the art of Test batting and I must say I agree with him. Shaun Marsh's dismissal today is symptomatic of the mind set of the average batsmen these days torn between Test cricket and the truncated forms of the game.

In a T20 match, with an entirely different field, the ball was there to be scored from. In Test cricket, it was a ball that should be left alone. I think a lot of young batsmen are struggling with this as batting is basically doing what comes naturally to you in a split second. Test bowlers no longer need the McGrath like discipline to draw players into false strokes, they bowl as many different balls in order for a batsman to find 6 ways an over to get himself out ... and it works a lot of the time.

A lot of the stuff that dismisses batsmen in today's Test cricket would never have got batsmen out years ago. We applaud the fact that Test batsmen move the score along at 4 runs an over these days ... but is it REALLY good batting, or just good entertainment? I would hate to see the day when the reverse sweep becomes a legitimate way of scoring Test runs.

In junior cricket, players are given a mindset that the must score runs, the play a shot to every ball they face. It's that simple. Refreshingly Greg Chappell may finally be starting to get the message twenty years too late. It's one thing to play positively, another to play correctly and each ball on its merits.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Joe Burns would be one that deserves a chance

Who you'll no doubt bag the s**t out of the minute he's selected...........

 

[ROOTA#6]

How much damage has that performance done to Starc. I'm one of his biggest critics in terms of Test match cricket and have often said that he is not up to it but that type of performance could have a huge negative effect on his development

 

[Jascave]

What are Josh Hazlewood's chances of going to England for the Ashes tour next year after his 5 wickets on debut today? IMO, I think Hazlewood could cause some problems for the England batsmen. But which English venue would suit him best, if he is picked for the tour?

 

[western royboy]

What are Josh Hazlewood's chances of going to England for the Ashes tour next year after his 5 wickets on debut today? IMO, I think Hazlewood could cause some problems for the England batsmen. But which English venue would suit him best, if he is picked for the tour?

If he's fit he's on the tour - no question. He has pace and height and can move the ball, he's going.

 

[western royboy]

How much damage has that performance done to Starc. I'm one of his biggest critics in terms of Test match cricket and have often said that he is not up to it but that type of performance could have a huge negative effect on his development

Assess after the second dig, Starc is very much a rhythm Bowles.

 

[ROOTA#6]

What are Josh Hazlewood's chances of going to England for the Ashes tour next year after his 5 wickets on debut today? IMO, I think Hazlewood could cause some problems for the England batsmen. But which English venue would suit him best, if he is picked for the tour?

Stays fit then its tough not to take him

 

[MisterMarcus]

If he's fit he's on the tour - no question. He has pace and height and can move the ball, he's going.

Even if all of Johnson, Harris, Patto, and Bird are fit?

 

[The_Reaper]

What are Josh Hazlewood's chances of going to England for the Ashes tour next year after his 5 wickets on debut today? IMO, I think Hazlewood could cause some problems for the England batsmen. But which English venue would suit him best, if he is picked for the tour?

I'd suggest he's a monty to play all 5 tests if fit.

He'll love Lord's

 

[The_Reaper]

Even if all of Johnson, Harris, Patto, and Bird are fit?

They selected Hazlewood in his first test squad when he was 19.

The selectors love the bloke- and it's not hard to see why.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Wicketless in 9 of 25 innings, not good enough. World Class bowlers shouldnt be like that. Has also gone at 4 or more an over in 9 innings. A lot of his wickets have tended to be slog wickets by players either chasing quick runs, tail enders or players already set going for big runs.

 

[Bradesmaen]

They selected Hazlewood in his first test squad when he was 19.

The selectors love the bloke- and it's not hard to see why.

It's hard not to see why now. How he was ever picked at 19 was ridiculous. Same with Cummins. Might have worked in 1 test but thats the only sample we have. In Cummins' FC career though there is enough sample to say that he could be like Starc.

 

[Plugger35]

What are Josh Hazlewood's chances of going to England for the Ashes tour next year after his 5 wickets on debut today? IMO, I think Hazlewood could cause some problems for the England batsmen. But which English venue would suit him best, if he is picked for the tour?

I think they'd all suit him, he bowls a good length with a bit of swing and seam which is effective on most English pitches.

He's already booked his ticket with his performance in this test.

 

[western royboy]

Even if all of Johnson, Harris, Patto, and Bird are fit?

I posted a pecking order some time back which went;
Tier 1 M Johnson, R Harris
Tier 2 J Hazelwood, J Pattinson, P Siddle, P Cummins
Tier 3 B Hilfenhaus, D Bollinger, J Bird, J Behrendorff
Tier 4 the rest

I would be surprised if the went outside this subject to injury and performance. They like pace and height in that order, guys like Sayers are coming from a long way back.

 

[Power Raid]

Agreed. A year or two ago, Ricky Ponting expressed genuine concern for passing of the art of Test batting and I must say I agree with him. Shaun Marsh's dismissal today is symptomatic of the mind set of the average batsmen these days torn between Test cricket and the truncated forms of the game.

In a T20 match, with an entirely different field, the ball was there to be scored from. In Test cricket, it was a ball that should be left alone. I think a lot of young batsmen are struggling with this as batting is basically doing what comes naturally to you in a split second. Test bowlers no longer need the McGrath like discipline to draw players into false strokes, they bowl as many different balls in order for a batsman to find 6 ways an over to get himself out ... and it works a lot of the time.

A lot of the stuff that dismisses batsmen in today's Test cricket would never have got batsmen out years ago. We applaud the fact that Test batsmen move the score along at 4 runs an over these days ... but is it REALLY good batting, or just good entertainment? I would hate to see the day when the reverse sweep becomes a legitimate way of scoring Test runs.

"a batsman to find 6 ways an over to get himself out"

the problem in a nutshell


I don't mind a warner, gilchrist or viv richards going on the attack from the first ball but for most including Bradman it is about getting set