Changes for the 3rd Ashes Test

[LicoriceAllsorts]

We've got to back Lyon, he hardly comes across as a confident bloke, we can't drop him everytime he has an average game; let him develop and build.

Saying that, if the pitch is a rocket and we're confident that Smith/Warner can handle the spinning duties, then horses for courses might be justified - but don't drop him.

Exactly

 

[Julius Seizure]

No need for a change, stick with what is working. Harris out for another quick if he is too sore. Dropping Lyon would be stupid, we have 3 quicks plus watson. Lyon's spot should be secure until another spinner bangs the door down, atm he is easily our best.

 

[Zarrix]

no changes for us, barring injury. lyon's strength is his bouncy spin, will be handy at the waca

england: swann for finn.

forecast for the test :38, 39,37,40,41 degrees

 

[shotgun_blues]

Get Tait out of the jammies for a once off Test @ the WACA. That's a fair pace duo.

Can Mitch can go 157 km's in Perth? That's bloody quick. Only Lee, Thompson and Akhtar have gone quicker that I know of.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

And Lyon likes the bounce. And who knows if they struggle with the pacemen I can easily someone like KP try to dominate against Lyon and get himself out.

It is a fair point.

People expect Lyon to rattle through with wickets on historical turners like Adelaide.

However he seems to fair much better on bouncier tracks. I'd be interested to see his figures first innings against second. I wouldn't be surprised to see his first innings figures as superior.

I first saw Lyon bowl at the WACA in a T20 and his high action got a lot of bounce and troubled the batsmen. Personally with Watson barely having a bowl - we already have 4 quality quicks - i'd be picking Lyon.

 

[Zarrix]

Get Tait out of the jammies for a once off Test @ the WACA. That's a fair pace duo.

Nah, remember the last time that happened, was a spectacular failure. Tait needs to be as far away from the test side as possible.

 

[Admiral Byng]

No to 4 quicks at the WACA!

Boooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!


Last time we tried that we ran into trouble with the over rates and had to bowl part-time spinners. We need a spinner to make up the overs, so we might as well pick a specialist spinner in Lyon. If there's a decent sea-breeze blowing it will help him drift the ball away and then spin it back into the batsman. The WACA offers a bit to an off-spinner. Lyon plays for mine, and bowls lots of overs into the breeze to tie down one end while Johnson, Harris, Siddle rotate down-breeze in short spells.

 

[POKsPies252]

NCN would really be suited to the WACA deck with his style of bowling (his home ground) but I also think Faulkner's ability to intimidate batsman could be underrated. Both can provide late order runs but Faulkner is a lot more reliable. In the end I don't really mind if we bring in a 4th seamer or not, nor do I mind whether it be NCN or Faulkner.

 

[Caesar]

The WACA offers a bit to an off-spinner.

I was reading something on Cricinfo today that said offies traditionally struggle at the WACA, whereas left arm orthodox and leggies do a lot better. Swann has a pretty awful record there, IIRC.

 

[iluvparis]

Lyon MUST stay - Warner/Smith are serviceable as part time spinners but would be horribly exposed if they had to do the full time gig. And when was the last time playing 4 quicks ever actually worked for us.

 

[Kim Hagdorn]

No change please.

I can't believe we were reduced to giving Hastings a baggygreen for this game last year lol.

 

[Admiral Byng]

I was reading something on Cricinfo today that said offies traditionally struggle at the WACA, whereas left arm orthodox and leggies do a lot better. Swann has a pretty awful record there, IIRC.

Strange. I've grown up hearing about how much the Freo Doctor favours the offie.

 

[Black Diamond]

Philly Hughes comes in soon - get him in while he's in white hot form (again), instead of when he's scratching around badly.

He was in white hot form when we picked him last year.

 

[Underdog]

Lyon MUST stay - Warner/Smith are serviceable as part time spinners but would be horribly exposed if they had to do the full time gig. And when was the last time playing 4 quicks ever actually worked for us.

Agreed. Watson is a good enough 4th quick. For that matter, I think Faulkner needs to fill an all-rounder spot, not a bowler's.

 

[Caesar]

Strange. I've grown up hearing about how much the Freo Doctor favours the offie.

Looking through the leading Test wickettakers there, there's only a few spinners but they seem to mostly be left arm orthodox. Bedi, Vettori, Panesar.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/austr...ickets_career.html?class=1;id=213;type=ground

Warne is the only leggie and the only offie I can see is Bruce Yardley. That's odd given the number of quality offies who have played there over the years, especially from the subcontinent.

I have no idea why that would be the case, wonder if someone can shed some light.

 

[Ashton Agar]

No change. We are 2-nil up in an Ashes series with ALL the momentum. Same side and kill them.

I don't believe that NCN in ready for test cricket either yet.

He was in white hot form when we picked him last year.

And really he didn't do much wrong. He didn't bat in the same place twice in a row in England and then got discarded. He wasn't even that bad, who can forget that 81 with Agar?

 

[davis_756]

A lot of forgetful memories on here, our batting line up is still a collapsing mess when clarke gets rolled cheaply.

No changes at this stage but the pressure is still on

 

[Carbine Chaos]

I don't really want Hughes anywhere near the team. Have no faith in him.

 

[Black Diamond]

And really he didn't do much wrong. He didn't bat in the same place twice in a row in England and then got discarded. He wasn't even that bad, who can forget that 81 with Agar?

Even considering our lack of batting depth at the moment you have incredibly low standards if you think he wasn't that bad.

 

[Milenko]

Boooooooo Huuuuuughes.

 

[Caesar]

I don't really want Hughes anywhere near the team. Have no faith in him.

Phil Hughes last 2 yrs: 1 century, 5 50s, average 29.00
Shane Watson last 2 yrs: 1 century, 6 50s, average 29.00

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Phil Hughes last 2 yrs: 1 century, 5 50s, average 29.00
Shane Watson last 2 yrs: 1 century, 6 50s, average 29.00

As I've said, if somebody puts their hand up to replace Watson I'd be happy for it to happen, but Hughes doesn't do any better.

 

[LukasTheGreat]

Bring back Huss.

 

[Caesar]

Players with better test records than Watson have been pointed out to you in the past.

At any rate I don't understand how you can say you have no faith in Hughes but cheerlead for Watson when they have virtually identical records. At least Hughes is a young guy who is showing tangible improvement in his game - Watson's been steadily declining for years.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

As a straight comparison, Hughes is a young player who continues to improve. Watson has been steadily declining for years. If they are turning in virtually the same performances, I know which one I'd rather have.

Does he? He continues to fail at Test level in spite of the apparent changes in his technique. For every step forward he seems to take another one back in another innings.

And do you really want me to apologise for favouring one player over another? We all do it. I've freely admitted to being the head of the Watson cheersquad in the past and will continue to do so.

Hughes has a long way to go.