Changes for Perth

[Special88]

Beer in is a joke... since when is 16 at like 38 in 5 matches impressive? compared to what we have maybe but that is a ridiculous selection... Whats wrong with Hauritz? His test record is much much better than Beer's short first class record.

Hopefully he doesn't play though. Hopefully they go with 4 quicks and Smith at 7.

 

[Slax]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - for $100 can someone please explain to me how the f**k the selectors can say that Phil Hughes is the best opener in Shield cricket. the figures below say he's not

Scores vs SA @ SCG
1st innings 4 from 10 balls
2nd innings 0 from 9

vs WA at WACA
1st innings 48 from 52
2nd innings 10 from 15

vs England XI @ Hobart
1st innings 2 from 13
2nd innings 81 from 183

vs Vic
1st innings 12 from 26
2nd innings 39 from 95

vs Qld
1st innings 5 from 4

Season 201 from 407 @ 22.33

 

[amer]

Really? Where's Pomersbach then.

Yeah okay, temperament too. But you know what I mean - players with the right stuff in them. Form is temporary.

 

[Footy Smarts]

This is strange. Why pick Smith as a batsman? If you think he's your best spinner play him as that but there's got to be 10 better batting options. At least Khawaja, Ferguson and D Hussey have some runs on the board this season.

Beer comes out of nowhere but at least it's not back to Hauritz. At least we might have a spinner that'll attack.

I just can't believe that we're bringing in 2 "batsmen" that are averaging less than 30 in first class cricket this season. Match that with Ponting out of form and the rest not looking overly great and our batting lineup is incredibly short. If we could only get 260 on a road with a specialist batsman at 6 how are we supposed to make runs with an out of form opener and a bowling alrounder at 6? Absolute joke.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

8 wicket Haul that included 5 tail enders.

Also included scalps like Ferguson and one of the most in form domestic batsmen in Aiden Blizzard. He bowled well.

 

[Doctor Moffet]

Phillip Hughes? Terrible selection.

 

[SebastianVettel]

8 wicket Haul that included 5 tail enders.

Should we strip all the wickets off Warne and McGrath that were batsman that the BF community deemed not capable, then? Smith is an excellent selection. An exciting young batsman with attacking intent. Exactly what's required - and his bowling is a bonus. He might get hit around a bit, but he will get you wickets.

 

[JMc#5]

Hughes >>>> Marsh


Bloody hell. Hughes will play a lot of cricket for Australia so you better get used to him at the top of the order...

Hughes is not a terrible selection. Who else could have got the gig? Marsh is not an option because he doesn't open. Hussey's not an option because he doesn't open. He's also towards the end of his career now, not the time to be promoting him to opener.


Beer seems a weird one. I would have liked O'Keefe but i guess not playing for NSw has killed him... the selectors have shown a desire for left arm othodox spinners, one i think that's a tad unnecessary....



Overall i'm happy with the side!!! Hopefully Hifenhaus gets in ahead of Siddle...

 

[Bradesmaen]

Also included scalps like Ferguson and one of the most in form domestic batsmen in Aiden Blizzard. He bowled well.

Blizzards up and down like a yoyo, he's like North.

 

[The Convert]

**** me this is an ordinary team. We throw in 2 young blokes to bowl spin, 10 overs each a day. We recycle crappy bowlers who last week were so useless they bowled in the nets rather than in a game. Another young bloke who got dropped when he was good and picked when totally out of form is going to open.

Ponting Clarke and Hussey better get 100 each or we are stuffed. I think the Poms got about 913 from memory in about 1928 in Melbourne. Fair chance they will beat it this time

 

[i_hate_scams]

Beer bats at number 10 for the state, dont know much about him, but surely O'keefe is a better option? at least the tail wont be as long.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

This is strange. Why pick Smith as a batsman? If you think he's your best spinner play him as that but there's got to be 10 better batting options. At least Khawaja, Ferguson and D Hussey have some runs on the board this season.

Beer comes out of nowhere but at least it's not back to Hauritz. At least we might have a spinner that'll attack.

I just can't believe that we're bringing in 2 "batsmen" that are averaging less than 30 in first class cricket this season. Match that with Ponting out of form and the rest not looking overly great and our batting lineup is incredibly short. If we could only get 260 on a road with a specialist batsman at 6 how are we supposed to make runs with an out of form opener and a bowling alrounder at 6? Absolute joke.

Smith scored 4 centuries at an average of 77 last season and scored 70 odd in his last test match. If anyone, I repeat anyone tells me he is a bowling all rounder, I'll shoot someone. He is a batsman who can bowl some leg spin. Khawaja has scored no runs in the last month, are you seriously suggesting picking him?

 

[Bradesmaen]

Should we strip all the wickets off Warne and McGrath that were batsman that the BF community deemed not capable, then? Smith is an excellent selection. An exciting young batsman with attacking intent. Exactly what's required.

I never said he wasn't. People are trying to justify him as a pure Spin bowler, when he himself knows that he's a batsman first and part time spin bowler second. His spinning is putrid at times, no better than Clarke. Hell, Christian was taking him to town most of today.

 

[krusden]

Fine, then tell me another option..and Sean Marsh does not count, he is a no4 batsman.

yes, marsh does count.

I'd open with hussey and name marsh further down the order as a number 4.

i wouldn't have phil hughes in the side against the english.

 

[JimDocker]

It's good that the selectors didn't panic !!

Hauritz performed well for a while at test level and shows he belongs there. He has a form slump, is sent back to Shield cricket to find form. Bowls well and takes wickets, scores a century in the next game and is overlooked for another spinner that has not proved himself at first class level for any length of time.

At his best, Johnson is still Australia's best bowler but he should not be resting at the moment. He should be playing for WA and getting some rythm back.

I have watched with envy over the years, Australia doing so much right while England blundered their way through season after season with seemingly no long term plan. Now Australia is imploding with ridiculous knee jerk reactions to problems and strange decisions like resting a bowler 2 matches in a row when he is struggling for form.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Blizzards up and down like a yoyo, he's like North.

I agree, but the ball to get Aiden out would have got anyone out.

 

[peternorth]

isnt smith one of clarke's best mates as well?

 

[SebastianVettel]

Beer bats at number 10 for the state, dont know much about him, but surely O'keefe is a better option? at least the tail wont be as long.

O'Keefe is the better bowler too. I just don't understand how he can perform at state level with a bowling average of 24, be picked and perform against England in the A game, and then be totally ignored in favour of someone who has a bowling average of 40 odd.

I know he hasn't been getting much of a run with NSW, but other than Warne, he's probably the best we've got. And if they weren't going to revert to Hauritz, it should've certainly been SOK.

 

[Bodicifer]

Beer in is a joke... since when is 16 at like 38 in 5 matches impressive? compared to what we have maybe but that is a ridiculous selection... Whats wrong with Hauritz? His test record is much much better than Beer's short first class record.

Hopefully he doesn't play though. Hopefully they go with 4 quicks and Smith at 7.

Since you making 100 in the backyard was considered impressive

Do you know a fellow called Shane Warne??? Was a reasonable spinner and didn't have the best first class record of the time prior to making his test debut.

 

[JimDocker]

Never heard of Michael Neser, but he has 4 for 29 against WA at the moment and has test hope Shaun Marsh out.

Expect Neser to play in the 4th test.

 

[Damon_3388]

As for Marsh, he just got out for 20. Which is better than Hughes, but geez, it'd almost be better to move Clarke or Ponting to open and bring in D Hussey or someone (Not saying we should, but we are struggling). We have an issue or 2 with openers currently.

Marsh still averaging 75.60 for the season, over Hughes' 13.56. When Hughes' main issue was confidence and belief in himself (due to people planting seeds of doubt in his mind over his technique), then you'd want him to be making runs and believing in himself before you bring him back in the team. On form, he's barely good enough to be opening for NSW at the moment, so his confidence is probably at an all-time low.

If people are so caught up in whether Marsh is an opener or not, let Hussey open, and have Marsh bat at #4. Just not Hughes. He's terribly out of form.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

yes, marsh does count.

I'd open with hussey and name marsh further down the order as a number 4.

i wouldn't have phil hughes in the side against the english.

So you weaken another position..lets not forget Hussey has barely opened for 4 years! He is the only one in form, lets not stuff him around. Marsh is seen as a no4, and I agree. But at the moment we have Clarke/Hussey in those positions. As I said I would have Marsh at 6 though instead of Smith.

 

[Bugz]

Am I an old-fogey in thinking that Hughes shouldn't be in Mundine's (or was the other guy's?) entourage during a first class fixture? Forget boxing and the celebrity circuit- just focus on cricket....

 

[legend166]

Michael Beer?

Far out, Cricket Australia. Let's compare his stats from this season so far to the other spinners:

Hauritz - 14 wickets at 26.
Doherty - 11 wickets at 27
Beer - 11 wickets at 39
Smith - 10 wickets at 31
O'Keefe - 7 wickets at 16 (plus his 4/88 against England)

I mean, they've literally gone with the worst possible option. And it's not as if he's some young gun with potential. He's 26. If you're going to pick someone around that age, at least go with SOK who has the record to back it up.

On the quest to get Kevin Pietersen out with a left arm orthodox bowler, they'll go through everyone but the GUY WHO ACTUALLY GOT HIM OUT CHEAPLY THIS TOUR HOLY CRAP CRICKET AUSTRALIA.

 

[Drummond]

Putting all our eggs in the Smith basket?

Are we?

Because to me, our batting is very, very shallow for Perth:

1. Hughes (out of form)
2. Watson
3. Ponting (out of form)
4. Clarke (coming off 80, but sill not great form)
5. Hussey
6. Smith
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Harris
10. Siddle
11. Beer

I would've played Khawaja at 6, not Smith, and I would've had Smith at 8. Strengthens the batting and bowling, but our selectors are mental. Tell me, is this not a better team?

1. Hughes
2. Watson
3. Khawaja
4. Ponting
5. Clarke
6. Hussey
7. Haddin
8. Smith
9. Harris
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Copeland

And how the heck is Siddle's 0/120 off 30 overs, economy rate of 4.03 the freaking pick of our bowlers???!!