Changes for 3rd Test, SCG

[Phone]

Bird has to have lifted himself ahead of Hazlewood.

Yeah Hazlewood was clearly ahead of Bird 4 weeks ago, and now Bird is clearly ahead of Hazlewood, and a couple of others like probably Hilf and Cummins

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Prefer to give Bird, Johnson and Starc another go. They'll be way more dangerous.

Dropping our lead spinner who will play an important role in India and the Ashes on the pitch most condusive to spin in Australia, when he needs faith shown in him and some wickets for confidence. What you suggest just defies all logic of selection IMO.

 

[Team DJ]

Johnson to bat 7 next test. With Starc in for Watson.

 

[Bradesmaen]

I've said this before - his first class bowling average is better than Australia's three first choice spinners (Lyon, Beer, Holland) - not saying he's a better bowler than them, but he is a decent bowler. Took 4/40 odd in the last first class game that he played.

He also averages over 40 with the bat in first class cricket.

Not to mention he's a excellent fielder to boot.
I do agree that his style of batting as a T20 player is a bit limited, but then again you can argue that it's the same for Warner.

He's probably not good enough to bat 6, however, his off spin as a third spinner in India could be handy. Samit Patel for England is a lower-order hard hitting batsman and a all round spinner, they're similar in that mould.

One hundred and a bunch of slog 50's. Say he comes in at 5/100. Do you think he can last long enough to bat with the tail? The answer is probably not.

Also, that 4/40 was 1 recognised batsmen and 3 bowlers. Hardly the best indication of his bowling.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

One hundred and a bunch of slog 50's. Say he comes in at 5/100. Do you think he can last long enough to bat with the tail? The answer is probably not.

Also, that 4/40 was 1 recognised batsmen and 3 bowlers. Hardly the best indication of his bowling.

So I suppose you'll criticise Warner's slog 50 in the first innings then?

 

[Bradesmaen]

Can it also be mentioned the only top 6 batsman Maxwell has dismissed this season in a FC game is Mark Cosgrove caught at long on trying to smack him out of the park. His bowling is very inconsistent and lands a lot of bad balls for an offie.

and Travis Head v SA, who was batting with the tail (Sayers and Putland) and was 8th out for SA.

 

[Bradesmaen]

So I suppose you'll criticise Warner's slog 50 in the first innings then?

I don't like them in the Test Arena either. But they are better as an opener than number 7.

 

[mClarke329]

Don't forget that Maxwell is in to replace Watson! Watson is a batsman that bowls as a change bowler apart from when Hilfenhaus got injured. If Maxwell can bowl even more than that (which he will considering India coming up) then that is a bonus!

 

[MG MG]

Don't forget that Maxwell is in to replace Watson! Watson is a batsman that bowls as a change bowler apart from when Hilfenhaus got injured. If Maxwell can bowl even more than that (which he will considering India coming up) then that is a bonus!

But Maxwell is a rank bowler. But I am all for his inclusion however

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Johnson isn't good enough to bat at 7.

 

[MG MG]

Don't forget that Maxwell is in to replace Watson! Watson is a batsman that bowls as a change bowler apart from when Hilfenhaus got injured. If Maxwell can bowl even more than that (which he will considering India coming up) then that is a bonus!

And I would probably rather go Lyon and Hauritz or Beer or Holland then Maxwell. Maxwell doesn't turn it much and I'm not sure that he would get the most out of the Indian wickets as the others. He would be more of a batsman and part-timer then a fully-fledged allrounder

 

[BarneyBent]

Maxwell would be a sensible inclusion. He has potential, it would clearly be as a one-off replacement for Watson, and it's a dead rubber, so all-in-all, no pressure. Give him a game and see how he goes. Plus, while his bowling is not exciting, it's a lot more solid than people would seem to believe. I'm against playing him as a lead spinner, as he doesn't have the tricks nor consistency, but he's better than part-time.

As for Lyon, there's no doubt he's in a rut, and he doesn't look the least bit dangerous, but **** me people have short memories. He HAS looked dangerous in the past. He HAS taken bags. He HAS shown variation in pace, flight, bounce and spin. He's not doing it now, but it's not like he's not capable of it. Give him a helpful pitch, a lot of overs, and a license to be whacked, and try to buy him a wicket or two and build some confidence. He has it in him.

 

[BluesMan]

Prefer to give Bird, Johnson and Starc another go. They'll be way more dangerous.

Dangerous for what? One test? There is no future espically the next year having to go to india and england, to not have a specialty spinnner. Sydney is one of the main grounds Lyon should be playing at. We'll most likely win at sydney regardless, so why not give Lyon the chance to take some good wickets?

 

[birza13]

maxwells coming in is a joke. henriques has had a great season with the bat so far but also averaging 17 with the ball. how can you say he has not done anything he has made runs, taken wickets miles better than any other all rounder.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

maxwells coming in is a joke. henriques has had a great season with the bat so far but also averaging 17 with the ball. how can you say he has not done anything he has made runs, taken wickets miles better than any other all rounder.

Clearly the selectors wanted a spinning all rounder as opposed to a seamer; logical for the SCG. Will be the type of player required for India as well, so the logic is twofold.

 

[BarneyBent]

Clearly the selectors wanted a spinning all rounder as opposed to a seamer; logical for the SCG. Will be the type of player required for India as well, so the logic is twofold.

Plus, Maxwell has much better career stats. Henriques put together about two months of fantastic cricket, which was great to see, but has returned lately to his career norm, which is solid, unspectacular first class cricketer.

 

[eth-dog]

One hundred and a bunch of slog 50's. Say he comes in at 5/100. Do you think he can last long enough to bat with the tail? The answer is probably not.

Also, that 4/40 was 1 recognised batsmen and 3 bowlers. Hardly the best indication of his bowling.

Have you ever had a positive thought in your entire life? He bats at 7 most games and is forced to bat with the tail his entire career at FC level, and has an average of 42 despite that fact. So yes, I reckon he could. 1 century, 8 fifties in 15 matches is pretty good, don't you think? Especially considering most of the time he's batted with the tail

He's a good second spinner, with a FC average of 33.8, SR of 67 and ER of 3.02 he goes alright.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Have you ever had a positive thought in your entire life? He bats at 7 most games and is forced to bat with the tail his entire career at FC level, and has an average of 42 despite that fact. So yes, I reckon he could. 1 century, 8 fifties in 15 matches is pretty good, don't you think? Especially considering most of the time he's batted with the tail

He's a good second spinner, with a FC average of 33.8, SR of 67 and ER of 3.02 he goes alright.

If he had made those not outs then sure, but he hasn't. Also, his last two FC games he has come in at 5. He's averaged 13 in that time. Two ducks and a 39. Stellar form.

 

[birza13]

Clearly the selectors wanted a spinning all rounder as opposed to a seamer; logical for the SCG. Will be the type of player required for India as well, so the logic is twofold.

i just dont really think he is good enough yet and i just love how henriques is a very balanced all rounder without be a bits and pieces player but a proper one. the type that should play tests, not just in their because. but i hope he does well second half shield season and plays one dayers at 7 in stead of christian

 

[Carbine Chaos]

i just dont really think he is good enough yet and i just love how henriques is a very balanced all rounder without be a bits and pieces player but a proper one. the type that should play tests, not just in their because. but i hope he does well second half shield season and plays one dayers at 7 in stead of christian

I think once he is fit again Mitch Marsh should be our first choice all rounder (sans Watson) for limited overs.

 

[desie]

So the spinner with clearly the best first class numbers in the country who averages 35 with the bat to boot still can't get a run?

Not to mention he provides a point of difference with Lyon by turning the ball away from the right hander with the match also being played on his home deck.

Good to see that NSW bias is alive and well

 

[Carbine Chaos]

So the spinner with clearly the best first class numbers in the country who averages 35 with the bat to boot still can't get a run?

Not to mention he provides a point of difference with Lyon by turning the ball away from the right hander with the match also being played on his home deck.

Good to see that NSW bias is alive and well

I think it's obvious there are reasons the selectors aren't picking him. What they are, only they know. People have suggested his action, lack of variety etc?

 

[Bradesmaen]

If he isn't getting a game because of lack of variety.. then it doesn't say much for Australian batting if he is constantly taking wickets.

 

[Phone]

Well he took about 8 wickets last season, half of them in one innings, so he's not really constantly taking wickets. (he is on track to at least double that this season I guess...) Basically, he doesn't get it above the eyes enough. Finger spinners in Australian conditions have enough against them with pitches not favouring them, and then SOK is taking away flight, loop, drift etc.

That said, he could be a horses for courses selection for India. But I'm not very keen to do that, what with 2 Ashes series about to start and all. (Similarly, if they want to see how Maxwell goes at test level just to provide an extra option during the Ashes, cool, if this is all based on India, it's silly)

 

[The_Reaper]

If he isn't getting a game because of lack of variety.. then it doesn't say much for Australian batting if he is constantly taking wickets.

Australian batting is shit