Ian Harvey VS Shane Watson

[vicpride99]

Watson will be returning from a back injury after the new year where then he will be able to bowl. Will he force his way back in at the expence of Ian Harvey or will the Harvey remain in the side.

Key Factors Watson- Has had a history of back problems having injuries at the age of 14,16,18 and now at 21. Bowling was solid in his 23 matches for Australia. Batting was ok making a couple of scores.

Key Factors Harvey- Adds a ton of variation to the bowling attack in one day cricket. Has a range of slower balls and off cutters that Watson hasn't developed yet. Bowling has been surperb during the World cup and India. Batting well is in tatters, seems to make about 20 and go out. Can score very quick though. is 31.

Averages Watson- Only really had the one year of cricket where he averaged 35 with the ball and 36 with the bat. Not bad for a 21 year old.

Harvey Averages- Looking at his career average you would say that he is not that good but looking at the recent bowling figures you would say he was a world class bowler.

Balls Runs Wickets Average Wkt/Match Run/Over
749 560 28 20.00 1.56 4.49

This is since the world cup and he has played a total of 18 matches so who is the better option.

 

[Lidge]

Despite the Freak's large number of detractors on here - I'd say that Harvey is pretty much the incumbent all rounder in the Aussie ODI side.

It should be noted that he is a bowling all rounder and usually 1st choice to bowl at the death of an innings. Recent performances would have him safe for another year you would think as long as he takes wickets and contributes with the bat.

With the emergence of Michael Clarke as a batting all rounder - Symonds now is most vulnerable of the all rounders.

Watson would be in the mix - but I think he will need to get runs on the board at state level and earn his place back all over again (due to the extended time out of the national side).

Still cannot fathom how Hogg get's a game. He's not a batsman, he's not a bowler. Probably a good bloke.....but WTF?

Ditto with Hauritz who has best 1st class bowling figures of 4/119. But he's not an all rounder - so I'll stop myself from going on about him being over rated and unworthy of national honours.

 

[Unwritten_Law]

Play neither.

Hayden
Gilchrist
Ponting
Martyn
Bevan
Clarke
Lehmann/Katich
----------
Warne
Gillespie
McGrath
4th bowler

Watson to take Martyn's or Bevan's place when the time comes. I'd even prefer them to play White ahead of Harvey, Harvey will not take Australian cricket anywhere.

 

[Lidge]

Don't be surprised that Gillespie & McGrath are only played in test matches from now on. Both have injury worries, McGrath is nearing the end of his career and this will extend their playing careers.

I see absolutely NO value in playing your best Test fast bowlers in ODIs - except for World Cups.

 

[wang]

Clarke
Lehmann/Katich

Australia would get away with this on on the sub-continent where the pitches are slow, but in Australia it wouldnt be the best option. Clarke and Katich have hardly bowled at all at domestic level in one day cricket in Australia, why would you do it at international level. Of the 2 spots metioned in the side, one should go to Andrew Symonds as he is the best bowler of the lot and he is versatile. He can bowl mediums on the green pitches and spin on the slow ones.

As for the Harvey vs Watson debate, I would stick with Harvey at this stage. In the long run Watson will be a better cricketer but he has to earn his place in the side with both bat and ball and domestic level. I cant see Watson playing for Australia this summer.

 

[lamby29]

Watson easily.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Originally posted by Unwritten_Law
Harvey will not take Australian cricket anywhere.

Yet you select Boof? Go figure.

 

[llosis]

Harvey is in the side as the bowling allrounder, which with Batting allrounders in Symonds, Lehmann / Clarke seems to work well. Coming out of India Harvey seems to have his nose in front of Hogg for the Bowling allrounder spot but they may be say more about the opposition than anything.

As it is the stats that vp99 posted are telling. With the ball Harvey has done well and I think he will continue to get a run on the basis of his bowling. As the all rounder a couple more decent knocks - when the opportunity arises (which isn't all that often but when it is his input is needed) - would help his cause.

Watson won't challenge Harvey in the immediate term. Coming back from a back injury I think Watson will need to work his way back into some sort of form before he is considered. His batting has been improving but if we are talking about the bowling allrounder spot then his form would need to be to a standard that he could be relied upon to bowl 10 overs each match. With absolutely no form on the board - there's no chance of that occurring.

Give him some time and Wato will make that spot his own.

 

[Minkus_Swan]

Selectors won't pick Watson - particularly since he will only start bowling just before the one-day series. He would get picked if his performances with the bat this season were unbelivable (Katich), but with the risk of further injury and the fact is that he doesn't deserve a place in the squad.

Harvey did well in India and should retain his spot.

I feel that selectors might give Katich, Wright and maybe even Hussey or Nicholson a game this series. Particularly if there is anymore injuries.

 

[pazza]

Harvey is safe until perhaps after the tour of India next year. Now to work on that hair...

 

[Unwritten_Law]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky
Yet you select Boof? Go figure.

Time to inject a bit of youth. Harvey is the most expendable - he goes first, Lehmann/Bevan to follow shortly after.

 

[pazza]

Not smart.

Lehmann is beyond past it as is Bevan yet Harvey, who is nearly 5 years younger than both them, goes first?

 

[vicpride99]

I don't get this Youth Crap. Imo it doesen't matter if your 30 or 20 as long as you are the best option for the team. It is not the job of Australia to produce cricketers it is the job of the state sides. So people are saying that we play for example players like Hussey instead of Bevan so we have a bit of youth. You can't do it. Look at England how far have they got using that method.

 

[pazza]

England went the Dad's army option e.g Alec Stewart at 41!!!

 

[Darky]

Originally posted by Lidge


Ditto with Hauritz who has best 1st class bowling figures of 4/119. But he's not an all rounder - so I'll stop myself from going on about him being over rated and unworthy of national honours.

In defence of Hauritz, Queensland has a fantastic Shield attack. Hauritz oftens misses out on a bowl completely. Other times he'll get a run to relieve the quicks, when there aren't that many wickets left to claim.

At a guess, I'd say Queensland have bowled sides out for under 120 (or under 40-50 overs) more often than any other side in the last 10 years or so. Three bowlers often get the job done.

 

[Darky]

Originally posted by pazza
Not smart.

Lehmann is beyond past it as is Bevan yet Harvey, who is nearly 5 years younger than both them, goes first?

Harvey - DOB : 10.4.72
Lehmann - DOB : 5.2.70
Bevan - DOB : 8.5.70

 

[pazza]

Okay I'll admit my error there, but, to say that Harvey is expendable because of his age, ahead of the older Lehmann and Bevan doesn't make sense.

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by pazza
Not smart.

Lehmann is beyond past it as is Bevan yet Harvey, who is nearly 5 years younger than both them, goes first?

Harvey is by far the biggest hack in that group.

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by pazza
Okay I'll admit my error there, but, to say that Harvey is expendable because of his age, ahead of the older Lehmann and Bevan doesn't make sense.

doesnt matter that they are older or not. Harvey, as someone correctly pointed out, would be the first to go if making room for youth was the objective.

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by Darky

Lehmann - DOB : 5.2.70

that man has had a very hard life.

 

[mjm28]

Originally posted by pazza
Not smart.

Lehmann is beyond past it as is Bevan yet Harvey, who is nearly 5 years younger than both them, goes first?

Bevan past it?? Bevo will be in that team until the next world cup, and after he guides them to victory, it will be then that he retires. And that's the bottom line................

 

[stmookeyj]

Originally posted by pazza
Okay I'll admit my error there, but, to say that Harvey is expendable because of his age, ahead of the older Lehmann and Bevan doesn't make sense.

There's a litle C word called CONSISTENCY, you might have heard of it sometime.

They are all match winners, but it seems Boof will go 1st of those 3.

 

[-WWJD-]

What about Cam White for the future, is he good enough to make it as an all rounder? Haven't seen a lot of him, but his First Class stats look alright.

 

[stmookeyj]

Originally posted by acg_204*
What about Cam White for the future, is he good enough to make it as an all rounder? Haven't seen a lot of him, but his First Class stats look alright.

If he was in the side, he would be in as a spinner. In reality, he, nor CLarke, nor Katich are all-rounders.

 

[ViperV10]

At the moment I would say Harvey would be the better bet...To me Watson doesn't seem to be as much at home batting in the one dayers as he is in the longer form of the game...and his bowling at the moment is a bit erratic. That will fix up in time hopefully.