Is Cricket 'DEAD' Thread

[moginie]

I know Smith had a couple of slices of luck today but I liked what I saw. He's probably not a no 6 atm - more no 7.

I would have liked him to have a few overs before stumps, but it would have meant putting him on at the end that Harris was bowling when the last wicket fell. Still, I don't think it would have done much harm.

Clarke can't get a run in the next test. You have to go back almost 120 years to find a player who has survived such a poor run of form - & Giffen survived because he was either the opening or first change bowler.

 

[moginie]

Well after my last post I found out that if Ponting's injury is worse than expected Clarke will captain the team.

Form obviously doesn't count for anything.

 

[Pino]

I know Smith had a couple of slices of luck today but I liked what I saw. He's probably not a no 6 atm - more no 7.

Smith should be given an extended run to build confidence. I am with you that he should bat at 7 after Haddin.

I would have liked him to have a few overs before stumps, but it would have meant putting him on at the end that Harris was bowling when the last wicket fell. Still, I don't think it would have done much harm.

There was no need. Harris was steaming in with a lot of noise and testing the batsmen.

 

[Henry Jr]

Great win by the Aussies

Right, lets see people's teams for the Boxing Day Test...

 

[grizzlym]

Tim Lane made a (rare) good point the other day. Even when we had the peerless Gilchrist, we never played him at 6. You might get away with 5 specialist batsmen on the odd occasion, but it will catch you out more often than not.

I reckon Smith is a talent, but not entirely sure where he fits in at the moment. His bowling is nowhere near test level; his batting promising but he doesn't command a spot in the top 6. So where do you play him? Or perhaps he'll blossom like a certain S Waugh did if given the time?

 

[Messenger]

Tim Lane made a (rare) good point the other day. Even when we had the peerless Gilchrist, we never played him at 6. You might get away with 5 specialist batsmen on the odd occasion, but it will catch you out more often than not.

I reckon Smith is a talent, but not entirely sure where he fits in at the moment. His bowling is nowhere near test level; his batting promising but he doesn't command a spot in the top 6. So where do you play him? Or perhaps he'll blossom like a certain S Waugh did if given the time?

Smith has the instincts of a #7 or 8, I think he is a long term project worth persevering with; my main concern is that if his bowling is seen at marginal at this level he is unlikely to be used (especially by Ponting) and that skillset withers on the vine a la Cameron White. He is young enough for the bowling to improve and it needs to be nurtured both with coaching and time in the middle. And lets be honest, the bowling is supposedly the point of difference. The worst that can happen is you find out he is no good.

If there is an Englishman we should be pertrified of now it's Swann; he could be diabolical on the fourth day in Melbourne on those shitty drop in pitches.

We'll need a spinner for Melbourne and Sydney; a nation turns it's lonely eyes to Nathan Hauritz.

I reckon Ponting will play but if he doesn't you pick Khawaja.

 

[grizzlym]

Interesting selection dilemma ahead: do you keep smith as the spinner drop one of the pacemen and bring in a specialist batsman at 6? Or is one of the pacemen dropped for someone like Haritz? I can't see us playing 4 pacemen and Watson in Melbourne and Sydney.

 

[mchawk]

I use to go to the cricket a fair bit. Horny Warnie retired and my interest dropped off. The cheating by the Pakis and others probably has dropped my interest off more. Always watch the ashes though. Boxing day will watch the game. Being an MCC member before my young apprentice (Master 6yo) I use to catch up with mates for drinks at the game. Now I watch it at home, I'll start going again when the little bloke is a bit older

 

[macdaddio]

Only change that can really be made is Ponting out and maybe White or Hussey in, if we lost and the series was over then i,d drop Clarke too..

 

[moginie]

They've named an unchanged squad for Boxing Day.

 

[grizzlym]

I don't think Andrew Hilditch appreciated the text message from a certain fringe Australian player that Hauritz be named as cover for Ponting in case he doesn't come up. Bat at 3, spin the ball (or not) a bit.

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

I don't think Andrew Hilditch appreciated the text message from a certain fringe Australian player that Hauritz be named as cover for Ponting in case he doesn't come up. Bat at 3, spin the ball (or not) a bit.

Perhaps, no longer Australian fringe player. State cricketer might be an apt description now.

 

[Messenger]

This win does hide some fragility in the batting order. It was a sporting pitch, but by no means a monster and we only passed 300 once against an attack that barely used it's spinner and had one of the quicks (Finn) have a very poor match.

 

[Henry Jr]

This win does hide some fragility in the batting order. It was a sporting pitch, but by no means a monster and we only passed 300 once against an attack that barely used it's spinner and had one of the quicks (Finn) have a very poor match.

I agree Mess.

Punter averaging 16 and Clarke averaging 20.

Siddle will get dropped after only bowling 15 overs over two innings.

If you don't move the ball in the air or off the pitch, your just cannon fodder.

The worst thing for Australian cricket going forward was winning that Test.

 

[grizzlym]

So we saddle up again. Surely we can't play 4 pacemen tomorrow...

 

[Henry Jr]

So we saddle up again. Surely we can't play 4 pacemen tomorrow...

You sound like Anthony Hudson there Grizz

 

[grizzlym]

And we go in with 4 pacemen plus Watson.

 

[Henry Jr]

The tide is turning. 2 dropped chances already.

 

[Messenger]

And we go in with 4 pacemen plus Watson.

Which really means you need to bowl first. Smith had a lot of bowling to do later in this game.

Watson is at sixes and sevens; dropped twice in seven balls.

 

[Messenger]

Should I be concerned there is a simple plan for bowling to Hughes that looks effective, even at less than express pace?

And Watson...... blah. Back to 6.

 

[Henry Jr]

Should I be concerned there is a simple plan for bowling to Hughes that looks effective, even at less than express pace?

And Watson...... blah. Back to 6.

Whos going to open then Mess?

 

[grizzlym]

Ponting and/or Clarke really need to score some runs here. I know I sound like a broken record, but the balance of this side is so out-of-whack for mine.

 

[Messenger]

Whos going to open then Mess?

You cant tell me we have no one else capable of opening?

 

[Henry Jr]

With the Eng attack with no Finn or Broad, great chance for the Aussie bats to cash in.

 

[Henry Jr]

You cant tell me we have no one else capable of opening?

We have better middle order options than openers at the moment. Bring in Special K (avg 70 odd) and drop Siddle.

People think that moving Watson down the order will improve his bowling. He has a dodgy back and is basically limited to 10 overs per day regardless of where he bats.