Hughes v Khawaja

[THRILLHO]

I’m a bit perplexed as to why everyone seemss to starting to question Usie’s spot in the team. He’s 24, he’s just finding his feet at international level, he is showing a lot of promise, just because he hasn’t kicked on with his starts he needs to go?? Persist with him, he's getting starts (usually the problem for most guys new to test cricket), and it’s just a matter of time before he goes on with it. At FC level one of his main strengths is converting starts into hundreds, I’m sure before too long the same thing will happen for Australia.

Don't really agree with this. His age is irrelevant, this isn't AFL where if you're not winning you're pointing out to everyone how young you are.

Test cricket is about fielding the best 11 cricketers in your country and right now, Hughes and Khawaja, for all the talk about potential and youth and ability, probably aren't in that list.

Am I advocating their immediate removal? Not necessarily. But I am pointing out this fallacy that their age counts for anything. Because it doesn't.

 

[Gazza_11]

I'd like to see him open. Get him into the thick of things without having to wait in the sheds for a wicket to fall. Is a bit lazy on that front foot but it's nothing that can't be fixed by a bit of form and an innings above 30.

 

[The 747]

This is pretty much what people are failing to understand.

If Bigfooty posters were selectors then we'd debut guys and drop them after two Tests if they don't make 50 or take 4fa.

Completely pointless.

We'd end up with a 5 year period of absolutely nothing except for handing out 1/2/3 Test caps to an absurdly large amount of players.

Players like Dan Christian, Jayde Herrick, Adam Voges, Xavier Doherty, Moses Henriques, Peter Forrest, would all be part of a massive revolving door through the Australian Test team, then thrown out after 1/2/3 matches.

Multiply that across 10 matches per year for 5 years.

It would be embarrassing!

We have essentially played a 4 year period to lose the Ashes twice, including getting flogged at home, being flogged at home by South Africa and now losing to New Zealand at home. We have gone from number 1 to 4th/5th in the world by sticking fat with the same players who have delivered batting collapse after collapse while we proceed to drop a bowler every time the batters make less than 150.

Our whole selection strategy has been completely pointless, we have unearthed what one average bowler in Peter Siddle in that time. The only reason we have found some promising players lately is forced change due to injury no other reason.

Losing to New Zealand WITHOUT THEIR BEST PLAYER at home isn't embarassing enough for you? Do you want us to lose to Bangladesh?

 

[Phone]

age counts for something. i mean if you've got an under-performing 24yo v an under-performing 37yo you may as well keep on the 24yo. but don't go over-board.

 

[madmug]

age counts for something. i mean if you've got an under-performing 24yo v an under-performing 37yo you may as well keep on the 24yo. but don't go over-board.

I think Punter needs to think about a graceful retirement before he is pushed. His choice I suppose. Hughes looked bloody awful through both tests. He was found out by the Poms. For christ sake, get rid of him. IF he can change his crab like technique & produce good sound knocks at state level, well then look at him then. Currently he is an embarrassment. Listening to Skull continually back him on radio was pathetic. Just because he has a blue cap is just not a good enough selection criteria Kerry!!!!!. Have to be pleased for Warner. He showed some real application. A good story.
The bowlers did ok given very favourable conditions. I thought Siddle had improved & Pattinson did very well. Starc is a work in progress. Cummins will be good if they dont ruin him first. Having a fast bowlers bull pen like in Baseball sounds like the go. Even give Hilfy another run or two

 

[JR78]

I think it's because he doesn't look as utterly crap as other young players like Smith and Hughes that the whole thing about his technique is constantly pointed out. But after 5 test matches even that chancer Smith had one more 50 than Ussie.

I like watching Usman Khawaja bat but he's hardly flawless, looks dodgy against spin and uncertain off the front foot. He could get better against both and he already does play with comparatively soft hands.

Big difference between finding your feet at 7 (Smith) early in your career - than number 3 when your opener exposes you to a new ball each innings.

Khawaja isn't scoring heavily, but then again Hussey and others have scored less runs this series. I'd rather lose to the 8th ranked test nation with a population of 4 million blooding youth, than watching Hussey, Ponting and Haddin struggle.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Big difference between finding your feet at 7 (Smith) early in your career - than number 3 when your opener exposes you to a new ball each innings.

Khawaja isn't scoring heavily, but then again Hussey and others have scored less runs this series. I'd rather lose to the 8th ranked test nation with a population of 4 million blooding youth, than watching Hussey, Ponting and Haddin struggle.

So would I.

But I was responding to the comments about how brilliant Ussie's technique is. It's not brilliant and it's not bringing him many runs. Yes, he has a hard time of it, so did Marsh for exactly the same reason, but his shot to get out today (and the openers did their job for once) was as culpable and as unnecessary as Clarke's or Haddin's.

 

[Phone]

As? No it was worse.

 

[Blue1980]

Anyone who actually watches cricket, rather than looking at raw stats could tell you Khawaja has a lot more of an immediate future at the highest level than Hughes.

That isn't to say Khawaja is the finished article, its just he doesn't have as much to work on to be a long term test player as Hughes does.

Hughes is cringeworthy most of the time, with the 1 in 10 innings when he is able to utilise his strength of off side shots.

Khawaja seems unsure of the tempo to bat at test level, he is caught between trying to be responsible, and getting bogged down, and trying to play his shots.

 

[JR78]

Khawaja is lovely to look at, and he's earned his chance, but there's no escaping the fact that he's underperformed so far. To the point where he should be dropped? Debatable, but he's certainly pushing his luck at present.

Bit harsh on Khawaja. He hasn't had the luxury of finding his test feet at #6 like most newcomers.

In Sth Africa and against NZ he's scored 145 runs @ 29 which included a run out.

Hussey has 83 runs @ 11. Love to hear reasons as to why you'd drop Khawaja before Hussey.

 

[THRILLHO]

I'd like to see him open. Get him into the thick of things without having to wait in the sheds for a wicket to fall. Is a bit lazy on that front foot but it's nothing that can't be fixed by a bit of form and an innings above 30.

He hasn't exactly been coming in at 1/150

 

[TheOldXav]

Khawaja reminds me of a skinnier version of Greg Ritchie. Highly touted as a junior & youngster but an average test match cricketer that traded on this potential.

 

[Slax]

Khawaja reminds me of a skinnier version of Greg Ritchie. Highly touted as a junior & youngster but an average test match cricketer that traded on this potential.

Still he has more potential left in him than Hussey, Ponting & Haddin combined. I'd tell him he's in for Melbourne & Sydney and review it after that.

 

[Chimera]

Im really not sure he's got the necessary tools to survive and flourish at test level.

His cover drive is virtually non-existant.

A large part of the reason is to do with his set up.

 

[Ill Chicken]

There should be enough statistical information out there to determine when a player should actually be scrapped and when one should be held on to. The current and previous selectors have probably warped it a bit though for recent times.

 

[JonoNash]

Khawaja has finally been dropped.

 

[Duffman95]

Im really not sure he's got the necessary tools to survive and flourish at test level.

His cover drive is virtually non-existant.

A large part of the reason is to do with his set up.

I have to agree with this, and I'm glad he has been dropped. I'm not sure why there is so much drooling over his technique in this thread - it can't just be me that's noticed the way he swings his bat up and down as the seamers bowl it. As a result he finds himself incredibly cramped for time and is unable to draw any power into his shots, which in turn builds the pressure on his innings even more so. Dare I say it, like Hughes he never looks far away from going out (albeit for incredibly different reasons)

All that said, of course there is a bright future for him in Aus cricket but for now he needs to get runs in Shield cricket again (oh wait..)

As for the merits of his exclusion while Hussey and Ponting both continue to get a game, that's another discussion altogether.

 

[XFactor1979]

Usman AND Hughes have both been dropped

Hilfy, Cowan and Marsh in

Usman is too submissive and gets bogged down too easily

and Hughes has been made a scapegoat for that loss to NZ

I thought Hilfy was done and dusted after being a virtual passenger in last summer's Ashes series

 

[Marshland]

and Hughes has been made a scapegoat for that loss to NZ

You're kidding right???