Changes for 2nd Test

[western royboy]

You do realise that weight transfer and balance issues early in innings is most batsmen. Ponting's balance early in is innings was terrible.

He'd often get LBW or caught in the cordon whilst transferring his weight too early and would often be walking at the ball.

As seems to be our want over the past 3 years - Clarke is coming in at 3/20 anyway with the new ball still fresh and swinging.

So he still has to face a swining/seaming ball regardless.

None of our batsmen can play the swinging ball which seems to be half the problem. Rogers genuinely looks the most adept in our present set-up and Hussey prior. It's probably no great surpise then that these guys have made runs in county cricket by the thousands.

The premise of Clark batting 3 or 4 is that he is our best batsmen and can hopefully stop the rot before it sets in.

Every batsman can struggle early with weight transfer, no argument - not all play over a straight front leg, which Clarke does. His prefernce is to bat lower at 5 for those reasons. Ponting's issue was falling across early, different issues, Clarke plays across the straight leg whether he's 3 or 300. If he was a No.3 he'd be batting there.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

He should bat where he makes runs... Number 5

Spot on. Im so sick of this 'man up and bat at 3' bulkshit. Man up?! Give me break.

Nobody ever told Hussey to 'man up' when he regularly batted at 6...

Its an excuse for a cheap shot, nothing else

He bats best at 5. Put him there.

 

[Kayaz]

Okay, him missing one test because his body will probably break down given his history is far better than him breaking down and missing for the majority of the return Ashes. If he breaks down in the third test when we didn't rest him you'll probably be the one who says that we should have rested him because of his history

What you are saying is that ridiculous.

 

[eth-dog]

What you are saying is that ridiculous.

Sorry for wanting to manage a very good albeit injury proned player through two Ashes series without him breaking down .

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Cowan's gotta go!
I'd play Wade as batsman.

nah way

 

[eth-dog]

nah way

Wade's a better bat than Khawaja

 

[BarneyBent]

Why does everybody seem to have Smith ahead of Hughes? I mean, I'm a Smith fan and everything, but he's much better against spin than Hughes is, while Hughes prefers pace on the ball. For me, Hughes at 4, Clarke and 5 and Smith at 6 makes much more sense than the opposite.

 

[BarryMorgan]

Huge error in not including the best young batsman in the country, in Joe Burns in the Ashes squad. If he were available I would bring him in to bat at 3.

I would then be dropping both Cowan and Smith, the latter despite his runs in the last test is technically an average bat and is not good enough to earn his spot as a specialist bat. I would also bring in both Bird and Harris for the Lords test match, Siddle is not much more then a straight up and down bowler of average pace who has little upside.

My side:
Watson
Rogers
Burns
Hughes
Clarke
Khawaja
Haddin
Agar
Pattison
Harris
Bird

That's a side that would roll England.

So you didn't watch the First Test then?

 

[HBF]

Spot on. Im so sick of this 'man up and bat at 3' bulkshit. Man up?! Give me break.

Nobody ever told Hussey to 'man up' when he regularly batted at 6...

Its an excuse for a cheap shot, nothing else

He bats best at 5. Put him there.

Spot on.
What I found interesting is that Boof opened with Watson, which is obviously where he plays his best yet he didn't bat Clarke at 5. Openers are fine, and Clarke needs to bat at 5. It's positions 3,4 and 6 which are really all over the shop.

 

[PUNTROADHAMMER]

You do realise that good batsmen can't automatically bat wherever they want. Cuz, y'know, batting at 5 and opening are pretty similar right? Clarke should open!1!!!1 And... umm... leadership!!
Why is this illogical?

I'm sorry, but this pretty much sums up how little sense the arguments for Clarke to bat at 3 make.

I respect your opinion but do not speak to me like I'm your little brother.
You dont think its a good idea, I don't share that view.

 

[bird_man]

Huge error in not including the best young batsman in the country, in Joe Burns in the Ashes squad. If he were available I would bring him in to bat at 3.

I would then be dropping both Cowan and Smith, the latter despite his runs in the last test is technically an average bat and is not good enough to earn his spot as a specialist bat. I would also bring in both Bird and Harris for the Lords test match, Siddle is not much more then a straight up and down bowler of average pace who has little upside.

My side:
Watson
Rogers
Burns
Hughes
Clarke
Khawaja
Haddin
Agar
Pattison
Harris
Bird

That's a side that would roll England.

People have been saying this about Siddle for a long time now, he continues to prove them all wrong. I have the feeling people will criticise him until he retires but when push comes to shove, he is our best bowler. And as for not having an upside, well I reckon being the 5th best bowler in the world is a pretty decent upside...

 

[DrEvil]

Someone in the top order who can actually hit some runs.............

Elevate a bowler to 3 then?

 

[eth-dog]

Elevate a bowler to 3 then?

We all know promoting Agar to 3 and going the spin twins is the way to go

 

[QPower]

If Cowan plays at Lords then I can only conclude the selectors have put a fiver on England with the local bookie.

 

[VirgilHilts]

If Cowan plays at Lords then I can only conclude the selectors have put a fiver on England with the local bookie.

At least the odds were better at Headingley in '81.

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Wade's a better bat than Khawaja

He does bat 7 you know

 

[wotdoiput]

Team Id go with

1 Watson
2 Rogers
3 Hughes
4 Khawaja
5 Clarke
6 Smith
7 Haddin
8 Agar
9 Pattinson
10 Siddle
11 Bird

Funny Id be more confident with Voges or George Bailey slotting into the team instead of Khawaja. If I had any faith in the batsman I wouldnt mind seeing Faulkner slot in for Cowan

 

[eth-dog]

He does bat 7 you know

So? Just because he bats further down the order doesn't mean he isn't a better bat.

 

[Mateyman]

So? Just because he bats further down the order doesn't mean he isn't a better bat.

No, on BF batting position >>>>>runs

 

[eth-dog]

No, on BF patting position >>>>>runs

But I thought we all agreed that all our tail enders>>>>>>>>>Cowan?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

So? Just because he bats further down the order doesn't mean he isn't a better bat.

Be thankful Wade is near the squad as on form he shouldn't be.

Honestly we could do worse than bring Simon Katich back (just scored a double hundred) to stop gap the number 3 position. At worst he wouldn't get out to Joe Root!

 

[The_Reaper]

At least the odds were better at Headingley in '81.

And Marsh is one of the two selectors.

Boof wouldn't mind a bet either

 

[Big Bryza]

That seems like the logical team, i have been a cowan supporter but last test he looked like a condemned man when batting.

Bird should have been taking the new ball last test and he certainly should be in for starc at lords.

Still not sold on watto opening, the way he approached that short session on day 1 was ridiculous all this talk about him getting a free pass because it's his natural game is crap, a test opener needs to be able to adapt to conditions and the teams needs and watson wildly swinging at Anderson in those conditions was not what the team needed.

I know exactly what you're saying in regards to Watto but I just don't see him as the adaptable opening batsman. His go at all times is to go after the bowling. He could hit a run a ball 90 and change the game or he could get out for SFA playing this way as well. Is it what we need at the moment? Probably not, but it's the best we've got so we just have to run with it and hope he can fire over the next 4 tests.

Bird just has to play this test, I'd love to see Harris get a go as well but can't see more than one change. Patto didn't bowl that well but still took 5 wickets and shows more consistency that Starc so he stays in ahead of him. Siddle showed his experience and can hopefully continue on and have a big series.

Hopefully we're in for a Michael Clarke special and he makes a brilliant century and someone, just anyone in the top order can stick around with him and get some runs.

 

[Big Bryza]

What is people's reasoning in picking Bird over Harris? I understand and agree with Bird being selected over Starc as he brings accuracy and stability into our bowling attack, but why would you have Bird over Harris when Harris is much more proven at test level and is just as accurate as Bird but with a bit more pace and aggression?

Harris is our best bowler and i would've loved to see him play the 1st test. I'd be more than happy to see him get the nod over Starc but I just think if there will be a change they will go for Bird over Harris. If they're not going to pick Harris they must have doubts on his fitness.

 

[BILC]