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Andy Flower

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My problem with Blewett opening is that it makes the middle order look a bit weak. The best batsman in the side should bat at 3 or 4. Someone else needs to shoulder some responsibility.

Also not sure about Davies. Can look very good and I do like him but as with most of our batmen is so damn inconsistent. This really has to be his year or he'll be up for the chop next year.

Haven't seen or heard enough about Ferguson to make a judgement. Obviously has some talent and would prefer to see the younger blokes get a good go early instead of bringing them in for a couple of games late in the season when the pressure could be on for finals births.
 
My team would be

Johnson
Fitzgerald
Blewett
Flower
Higgs
Davies
Dietz
Davison
Clearly
Tait
Rofe


12th man - Miller.

I thought Miller was too much the same as our other bowlers whereas Johnsons mediums are generally a good wicket breaking type of delivery. Miller although he batted well in the first innings is not the future of our team.

Davies to be given a chacne at six though would be happy for either Cosgrove or Ferguson to get a chance there.

Ftizy is at least rasonably reliable to open and I agree that we need our two best batsmen at 3 and four.

Dietz to keep as he can bat and should do better not exposed to teh new ball. Manou just can never take his chancs and is too one dimensional as a batsman in my view.
 
My team would be pretty similar to Jars:

Johnson
Fitzgerald
Blewett
Flower
Higgs
Miller
Manou
Davison
Cleary
Tait
Rofe

I've debated the keeping position already.

Number six is a raffle: Miller can hang onto it whilst he's getting results with bat and ball. If he's not, I would love to see Davies finally realise his potential at the top level. Likewise it would be also good to see Cosgrove step up. Obviously the number six bat would be the first player to make way if Lehmann is fit and available.

The bowling is quite raw. I'm still not sure what's going to become of Tait and Cleary, but so far their figures are pretty impressive. Rofe is clearly the star. Davison is the best spin option we've got, and despite being much maligned, he actually didn't do too badly last season.
 

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Originally posted by Spogs
My problem with Blewett opening is that it makes the middle order look a bit weak. The best batsman in the side should bat at 3 or 4. Someone else needs to shoulder some responsibility.
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We have to make a new reliable batsman. Blewett can go back to number 3 when we have developed one of these batsman into a reliable one. Plus his chances of replacing Langer (out of form and no ready replacement) appear higher than replacing Ponting (in fantastic form with Love waiting for an opportunity) although his chances aren't great either way. We can't afford to be 2/20 in almost every game. Flower will have to hold up the middle order until someone new comes through.
 
Originally posted by Russian
Plus his chances of replacing Langer (out of form and no ready replacement) appear higher than replacing Ponting (in fantastic form with Love waiting for an opportunity) although his chances aren't great either way.
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That's what I could never understand.

When Blewett was dropped as an opener in the Test side, he went back to being a number three at Shield level.

Yet Australia's middle order has always been very strong and the openings (no pun intended) for a spot were always likely to be at the top of the order. This was before even Hayden had established himself.

It made no sense for a fringe Test opener to be batting at number three.

But Blewett obviously prefers first drop. And his Test career is long over. I can't see him going up the order now.
 
maybe i missed something, but why was this game played? my official fixture which i received not too long ago shows no games until november and this particular match scheduled for march?
 
Originally posted by red+black
maybe i missed something, but why was this game played? my official fixture which i received not too long ago shows no games until november and this particular match scheduled for march?
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Some financial opportunity for the WACA so they moved the early season WA v SA clash to the WACA for now and the late season one for the same dates but at Adelaide Oval
 
SA will be right up there this year, the coach has got them thinking properly.

Heres my lineup:

Johnson
Fitzgerald
Blewett
Flower
Higgs
Miller
Manou
Davidson
Cleary
Rofe
Tait

12th man Cosgrove

Id expect Cosgrove to replace Johnson or Fitgerald pretty soon, maybe for some games this year but also next year. He is better suited to open.

Ferguson has real talent and can bowl as well. Worth a spot in the middle order in the next couple of years but is off the mark atm.

They should have kept Adcock

Rofe is def our best bowler he is the Mcgrath of the team and will play for the aussie in the coming years. Tait is quick and takes wickets, and Cleary can def bat but also bowls well but is a bit hot and cold.

Rookies in grade level - James Harford, small well built tacker, very powerful square of the wicket, he will cut all day. Has a habit tho of getting bowled. I went to school with him, atm I think he is 17, def a batting prospect.

Trent Kelly, his form with the bat at Grade level has been excellent, scored a century and is only touted as a bowler. Is also a prospect for the coming years.

All in all, id expect SA to start ripping thru other teams batting lineups this year, but more so next year.

Batting is the problem, Flower is def not the solution to all our problems, sure he helps but really we need Boof back to really get things going. That would push out Miller id say. Too many times we have collapses and in quick sucession rather than building solid partnerships. Davies is ok but better suited to the one day game i reckon. Very good at 2nd XI level tho.
 

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Originally posted by DaveW
That's what I could never understand.

When Blewett was dropped as an opener in the Test side, he went back to being a number three at Shield level.

Yet Australia's middle order has always been very strong and the openings (no pun intended) for a spot were always likely to be at the top of the order. This was before even Hayden had established himself.

It made no sense for a fringe Test opener to be batting at number three.

But Blewett obviously prefers first drop. And his Test career is long over. I can't see him going up the order now.
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Langer never opened the innings prior to replacing Slats in 2001. Albeit it was a tour a replacements were scarce it shows it can be done.
 
Originally posted by Thunderstruck
They should have kept Adcock
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Now there's another wasted talent. Worth keeping, but like Davies really has to step up sooner or later.

Batting is the problem, Flower is def not the solution to all our problems, sure he helps but really we need Boof back to really get things going.
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We need solidarity in the batting and we've recruited a guy who averages over 50 in Test cricket. "Not the solution to our problems"?? What are you after, Don Bradman?
 
Originally posted by llosis
Langer never opened the innings prior to replacing Slats in 2001. Albeit it was a tour a replacements were scarce it shows it can be done.
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That's not the point. Just because Langer was promoted to opener when there were no other options at the end of a tour, doesn't mean the selectors will suddenly be turning state number threes into Test openers.

Blewett's best chance to regain his Test spot was as an opener. But it's a moot point now anyway, as that boat has sailed.
 
Johnson
Cosgrove
Blewett
Flower
Higgs
Miller
Manou
Davidson
Cleary
Rofe
Tait

I would move Fitzgerald on as he has only been an average performer for a while now. Time to blood some youth with Flower & Blewey around.

Johnson is under-rated IMO. Handy partnership breaker too.

Should persist with Manou for at least the 1st third of the season ahead of Deitz. Playing both is stupid.

If the batting becomes too brittle, should consider bringing in another batsman for Miller as have plenty of bowling options.
 
What I mean Dave, is that one guy is not going to solve our batting problems. Yep he has averaged 50 in test cricket which is fantastic but realistically, 11 doesnt go into one.
 
Originally posted by Thunderstruck
What I mean Dave, is that one guy is not going to solve our batting problems. Yep he has averaged 50 in test cricket which is fantastic but realistically, 11 doesnt go into one.
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Yeah we really should have recruited someone who could fill 3 or 4 batting spots. :rolleyes:
 

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