Is Cricket 'DEAD' Thread

[Henry Jr]

Thats why I had Smith at 7.

Warnie vs Hugh the highlight of the day!

 

[grizzlym]

Watson at 6 confers solidity.

Smith at 6 confirms stupidity

 

[Henry Jr]

Ponting's message to the bowlers before going out on the field "Right lads, you need to keep it tight but get me 10 wickets. Dont let the team down....".

 

[Messenger]

Ponting's message to the bowlers before going out on the field "Right lads, you need to keep it tight but get me 10 wickets. Dont let the team down....".

Which is the interesting thing, isn't it. Since the 1/500 debacle in Brisbane the focus has been on the bowlers despite some mediocre batting.

 

[Henry Jr]

Which is the interesting thing, isn't it. Since the 1/500 debacle in Brisbane the focus has been on the bowlers despite some mediocre batting.

Yep. And whats the bet when we lose this game, that none of the top order gets changed...

 

[grizzlym]

Our bowlers' line looks wrong to me. Lucky we've got 4 of them to probe away... What do people think of Hilfy? I know he builds pressure and all that stuff but he honestly doesn't look that dangerous to me. I mean, you wouldn't be fearing him as a top order batsman me thinks.

This match will get extremely ugly very quickly.

 

[go hawks!!!]

Yep. And whats the bet when we lose this game, that none of the top order gets changed...

We lose this game and the ashes are lost, plain and simple. Too little too late!

 

[Arkadia]

The bowling attack doesn't look threatening, they don't strike fear into the opposition batting line-up.

Unless we can bowl them out for under 200 runs, the ashes are gone.

 

[Messenger]

What do people think of Hilfy?

He's Terry Alderman v2.0; primary tool is swing and he is probably a bit quicker than Alderman over the journey. Alderman has the better average (27 v 30 for Hilfy) but Alderman took nearly half of all his test wickets on two tours of England (81 and 89) in a 41 test career.

When they talk about "bowling in partnerships" Hilfy is the guy they should have in mind. Tying down an end while a more attacking bowler probes.

My question on him would be is he effective enough when the ball is 30+ overs old?

 

[grizzlym]

Messy, Hilfy averages close to 35 in Test matches overall, and 44 when bowling in Australia. To me, he's a workhorse, but he really lacks penetration, or a trick, or just something to make things happen.

What's with Ponting and his field placings earlier? 10 wickets all caught behind the wicket, so he sits a trap on the hook...

 

[Messenger]

Messy, Hilfy averages close to 35 in Test matches overall, and 44 when bowling in Australia. To me, he's a workhorse, but he really lacks penetration, or a trick, or just something to make things happen.

What's with Ponting and his field placings earlier? 10 wickets all caught behind the wicket, so he sits a trap on the hook...

Oops, 30 is his first class average.

He has limitations, no question, but he is one of the few players in this country who swings the ball. If he can make line and length a virtue, he has a place in this team.

Today's bowling makes me wonder whether Stuart Clark's papers were stamped a little early.

 

[grizzlym]

They were indeed stamped. He had the temerity to make suggestions about preparation on the last Ashes tour - ruffled a few figures did Stuart.

 

[Messenger]

Well on what I would describe as the most embarrassing performance by an Australian cricket team in a generation, the salt was rubbed into the wound over dinner.

My dear wife, a flower of England and throughly pleased with herself was serving dinner. She turned to me, all 4'8" of her and 25 weeks pregnant with her big blue eyes and said.

"We're bent you over and now there is a very sharp stick about to be jammed up your date".

A single tear trickled down my cheek. I knew it to be true.

 

[grizzlym]

Our team collectively grasped the ballet bar, closed their eyes and bit down on the baggy green as England tore us apart. The only humiliation left is to see the photos in tomorrow's papers.

 

[Lord Mud of Glenferrie]

But where and when does the rebuild start.

Batting

Maddinson NSW 18 years old

Lynn QLD 20 years old

???????????

I am not suggesting that Maddinson or Lynn be selected in a test side. Just trying to illustrate our desperate situation.

I really cannot remember when Australia has been so deficient in batting resources.


Bowling

Any suggestions?

 

[grizzlym]

Have a look at the batting line ups in Herald Sun's poll for 'Our worst Test side'. We'd kill for these batting line-ups.

I think you've highlighted the two most talented young batsmen in the country. But, yes, they're a long way off test matches.

I think Khawaja needs to be picked for the next test. Hughes and Smith being picked before him is a joke. He is a genuine talent with a very good technique - I'd play him at 3 and move Ricky to 5 or 6.

 

[Lord Mud of Glenferrie]

I would play Khawaja at #5 with Hussey at 4 and Watson at 6.
Ponting can have his swansong at 3 and you and I could open.

 

[grizzlym]

I think Watson should be played at 6 too. But that's in an ideal world - as you rightly pointed out, there is hardly anyone waiting in the wings.

Ponting could conceivably play on a bit longer playing down the order. He's cooked as a three.

Here's the Herald Sun link too: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/t...worst-test-sides/story-fn67w6pa-1225955841235

 

[Lord Mud of Glenferrie]

Zero at #3. I never thought that it would get much worse than that.

I really can not pick a batting line up.

There does not seem to be anybody in the 23, 24, 25 age group worthy of selection.

 

[grizzlym]

I've seen Ferguson play a bit and he's a very organised batsman. Times it well and all that, but he's not a three in my book.

If Katich's played his last test, we're in a lot of trouble at the top of the order. I guess Shaun Marsh jumps to mind, but there are questions over him too.

 

[Lord Mud of Glenferrie]

There are questions over all of our batsmen.

I am not a fan of Haddin as a keeper yet he is probably as good a batsman as anyone outside the current team.

So,maybe Haddin can bat at 6 and bring in that TAS? keeper who is better behind the stumps and is also a handy batsman. Watson could then remain as an opener.

Thinking laterally I would give Ponting a chance to get some form as an opener until somebody (anybody)came along.

 

[grizzlym]

A part of me thinks that the selectors might have burned Hughes and set him back years. I don't believe he should have been dropped when he was; nor do I believe he should have been picked in this series. He looks like a shadow of the batsman he once was. What I'm trying to say is that Hughes could have been that opener we needed. But now, I fear, we might never know. Wouldn't we just love a Chris Rogers or the like who could just slot in for a year or so?

What you think of the Smith kid, LM?

 

[mrcurly]

How has the Klingon been going this season? he was a run machine last year and in serious contention for an opening position.

It was only 18 months ago we had a queue of players for an opening slot, now we are really scratching. Jaques/Hughes/Rogers/Klinger/Katich/Watson/Warner in the 20/20s, whats going on? we are supposed to have the best cricket development facilities in the world, why are all these players going backwards?

I cant believe how many irreplaceable crocks we have:
Watson is the allrounder who rarely bowls.
Katich the best opener AND spinner we can muster - except he is probably shot now - can't bowl or bat.
Tate an explosive bowler who is too frail to play tests.
Clarke the heir apparent - except he struggles to perform at international standard, was a handy spinner in his early days, hardly bowls now - appears to have bingled his back.

The only Batsmen deserving of their positions are Haddin, Hussey, and probably Watson. Bring on Cameron White for the next test and drop Ponting or Clarke.

Of the bowlers Harris looks to have some potential, the rest are doing their best to tie up an end. Johnson has the physique, fitness and ability to be a world beater - provided we play all fixtures in either Perth or South Africa.

 

[grizzlym]

How has the Klingon been going this season? he was a run machine last year and in serious contention for an opening position.

It was only 18 months ago we had a queue of players for an opening slot, now we are really scratching. Jaques/Hughes/Rogers/Klinger/Katich/Watson/Warner in the 20/20s, whats going on? we are supposed to have the best cricket development facilities in the world, why are all these players going backwards?

I cant believe how many irreplaceable crocks we have:
Watson is the allrounder who rarely bowls.
Katich the best opener AND spinner we can muster - except he is probably shot now - can't bowl or bat.
Tate an explosive bowler who is too frail to play tests.
Clarke the heir apparent - except he struggles to perform at international standard, was a handy spinner in his early days, hardly bowls now - appears to have bingled his back.

The only Batsmen deserving of their positions are Haddin, Hussey, and probably Watson. Bring on Cameron White for the next test and drop Ponting or Clarke.

Of the bowlers Harris looks to have some potential, the rest are doing their best to tie up an end. Johnson has the physique, fitness and ability to be a world beater - provided we play all fixtures in either Perth or South Africa.

That pretty much sums it up. The opening positions are a real worry - I don't know who you bring in.

I don't think Cam White will get a cap though.

 

[Messenger]

How has the Klingon been going this season? he was a run machine last year and in serious contention for an opening position.

It was only 18 months ago we had a queue of players for an opening slot, now we are really scratching. Jaques/Hughes/Rogers/Klinger/Katich/Watson/Warner in the 20/20s, whats going on? we are supposed to have the best cricket development facilities in the world, why are all these players going backwards?

Rogers would seem to have had his papers stamped, Jaques (???), Klinger had a purple patch after years of being mediocre and Warner plays most of his cricket in 20/20.

There is a massive technical issue with Hughes. His height predisposes him to the short ball to the ribs, but he brings his bat down from 45 degrees to his body, which is fine batting in Chandigarh or Multan, but no good on pitches that bounce.

So when the plan is swing it into his middle stump, and that plan is effective, the kid has a problem at Test level.

I cant believe how many irreplaceable crocks we have:
Watson is the allrounder who rarely bowls.
Katich the best opener AND spinner we can muster - except he is probably shot now - can't bowl or bat.
Tate an explosive bowler who is too frail to play tests.
Clarke the heir apparent - except he struggles to perform at international standard, was a handy spinner in his early days, hardly bowls now - appears to have bingled his back.

Fifth bowlers rarely bowl more than 10-12 in a day and Watson has been fair in that role.

Katich has actually refused to bowl in internationals after his back injury.

Tait should not have been allowed to hold a CA contract (I dont think he holds one now) and dictate his desire to play T20 only.

Of the bowlers Harris looks to have some potential, the rest are doing their best to tie up an end. Johnson has the physique, fitness and ability to be a world beater - provided we play all fixtures in either Perth or South Africa.

Very true about Mitch. I'm more optimistic about Hilfy and Siddle, but neither is a strike bowler at this level. That is what we lack.