Is Cricket 'DEAD' Thread

[grizzlym]

Chances of winning would be remote me thinks. You certainly wouldn't want to give the Aussies much of a sniff either. Who knows, bat another session and completely destroy our bowlers for the summer would be tempting too.

what's with Mitch? His pace is freakin' terrible.

 

[market]

Chances of winning would be remote me thinks. You certainly wouldn't want to give the Aussies much of a sniff either. Who knows, bat another session and completely destroy our bowlers for the summer would be tempting too.
what's with Mitch? His pace is freakin' terrible.

Pretty sure we're at that point already Grizz. Can we give Mitch back to Qld? Not sure there is a spot with the Warriors....

 

[Willie_Rioli]

1/505! what the hell is going on?!

 

[melbournemartin]

Probably the worst Australian test bowling performance I've ever seen and I've watched a lot of cricket in my 21 years. Having said that, I can't think of too many changes to it. Bollinger has to come in for Johnson. Siddle of course is safe and I reckon Hilf should be kept. Doherty looks pretty uninspiring but will be given another test.

I desperately want Callum Ferguson to make some runs so he can replace North. I'd also be happy with Kawajawajawajawaja (similar to the pacman noise) but would perfer Ferguson.

 

[grizzlym]

Agreed. The most insipid bowling performance I've seen, backed up by horrible, horrible fielding. And the field-placements...

Doherty is not a test spinner.

Mitch is all over the place - control is crap, pace is down, no mongrel, no movement.

Hilf, unless he has quite favourable conditions, is lacking too. In my opinion.

Our batting line-up isn't balanced either.

A shambles.

 

[Willie_Rioli]

1/5! what the hell is going on!?

 

[melbournemartin]

Agreed. The most insipid bowling performance I've seen, backed up by horrible, horrible fielding. And the field-placements...

Doherty is not a test spinner.

Mitch is all over the place - control is crap, pace is down, no mongrel, no movement.

Hilf, unless he has quite favourable conditions, is lacking too. In my opinion.

Our batting line-up isn't balanced either.

A shambles.

I wouldn't have said it's unbalance. I think it actually has quite a nice balance. Some key components are just out of form though. Watson and Katich make a nice opening combination, similar to Hayden (Watson) and Langer (Katich), albeit less successful. While he's down on form, North is the type of batsman you want at #6. He's slow and steady but does have some extra gears up his sleeve. Haddin slots in beautifully in what is now the typical aggressive keeper/batsman slot at #7. Johnson at #8 extends the batting lineup nicely but again, is out of form.

My lineup for the next test:

Katich
Watson
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke (pending fitness)
Ferguson/Usman K
Haddin
Doherty
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

Taking out Johnson does extend the tail but he wasn't really doing much with the bat anyway.

 

[grizzlym]

In making that observation, I don't have any proposed solutions, but here are my thoughts:

while our openers have averaged 50, or whatever it is, I'm not convinced the combo is the best for the side. I can't see them hitting big partnerships, like the English did, but that's just my impression.

Personally I'd prefer Watson playing at 6.

North's technique worries me. It's feast or famine and that puts extra pressure on the lower order (and need for a number 8 who can score runs).

As for Johnson, lower order runs are a bonus, if he can't earn his keep as a bowler, well...

 

[Messenger]

Cricket isn't dead, it's just gone to a special farm.......

 

[Henry Jr]

HAHAHHA - how similar footy is to cricket.

Have a bad game and changes galore!

Lets be honest, after lunch on day two, this pitch was a road. Look at the runs scored compared to the wickets taken after that time.

However, Hot Pies Johnson must go for my man Doug the Rug.

I think that will be the only change from the selectors.

 

[The BIG X]

and with Ponting being suspended ???????????????

 

[grizzlym]

Has the angry little man been given some time off? (Ricky not Hank.)

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

Lets be honest, after lunch on day two, this pitch was a road. Look at the runs scored compared to the wickets taken after that time.

The Hume Hwy is an apt description. You can't read too much into the bowling. I think it's an absolute disgrace turning out a Gabba pitch like that. Slow on the first couple of days evening out to a batsman's paradise.

 

[The BIG X]

Has the angry little man been given some time off? (Ricky not Hank.)

Not to my knowledge - but I would give him a rest for the next 2 tests

 

[grizzlym]

The Hume Hwy is an apt description. You can't read too much into the bowling. I think it's an absolute disgrace turning out a Gabba pitch like that. Slow on the first couple of days evening out to a batsman's paradise.

I dunno, Langers. Anderson looked dangerous to me.

Mitch is totally off his game. Pace has dropped dramatically too.

Not convinced about Hilf at test level on Australian pitches. With the limited tricks he has, he's not quick enough for my reckoning.

Doherty is tidy but I didn't see much there that would threaten any respectable first class or test batsman.

Watson, when he gets the reverse stuff happening, is a dangerous prospect.

It was a road, but for my money it also highlighted the deficiencies of our bowlers. And, might I add, some pretty woeful fielding.

 

[grizzlym]

Nielson, boys, anyone a fan?

 

[Henry Jr]

Not to my knowledge - but I would give him a rest for the next 2 tests

And what about Ricky?

 

[Henry Jr]

Nielson, boys, anyone a fan?

We could send an Essendon style coaching crew in their Grizz and would make much of a difference I'm afraid.

Nearly comes back to the old argument, could the Australia 2nd eleven beat the 1st?

 

[grizzlym]

I work with a guy, who played for Victoria years ago, and is still plugged into some pretty good sources. He's extremely critical about Nielsen and his influence on the test side.

I'm not ascribing our current woes at Dave's feet, just interested in people's thoughts. I see Buchanan's biggest influence as being on the mindset and belief of the players.

 

[macdaddio]

Did any one notice during yesterdays game after the tea break, Ricky Ponting and his men were laughing and jumping all over each other like they were on top of the Poms, but in fact at that time of the day the Poms were up by 80 runs and only 1 wicket down..
I think this Ausie Team think that they are better than they actualy are..

 

[moginie]

I work with a guy, who played for Victoria years ago, and is still plugged into some pretty good sources. He's extremely critical about Nielsen and his influence on the test side.

I'm not ascribing our current woes at Dave's feet, just interested in people's thoughts. I see Buchanan's biggest influence as being on the mindset and belief of the players.

He's not the only one. TN has played the corporate training game ever since he left SA as a mildly competent keeper. From my sources (mostly grade players) he certainly has left a fair bit of kaka in others nests.

Oddly enough, I see him & his stringy wife at my local Coles occasionally. The barriers go up when he's out in public.

 

[grizzlym]

He's not the only one. TN has played the corporate training game ever since he left SA as a mildly competent keeper. From my sources (mostly grade players) he certainly has left a fair bit of kaka in others nests.

Oddly enough, I see him & his stringy wife at my local Coles occasionally. The barriers go up when he's out in public.

Some interesting stories going around about Stuart Clark's fall from grace too.

 

[Henry Jr]

Some interesting stories going around about Stuart Clark's fall from grace too.

Hasn't done a Dean Jones with the Coaches daughter has he?

 

[Henry Jr]

I see Doug the Rug and Harris have been drafted into the squad.

I'd replace Hilf for Harris (just picked up a 6 wickets against the Vics to go with his 9 wickets in his previous game) and Dougie was pulled from the NSW game after taking 3 for 32.

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

I dunno, Langers. Anderson looked dangerous to me.

Mitch is totally off his game. Pace has dropped dramatically too.

Not convinced about Hilf at test level on Australian pitches. With the limited tricks he has, he's not quick enough for my reckoning.

Doherty is tidy but I didn't see much there that would threaten any respectable first class or test batsman.

Watson, when he gets the reverse stuff happening, is a dangerous prospect.

It was a road, but for my money it also highlighted the deficiencies of our bowlers. And, might I add, some pretty woeful fielding.

I'm not suggesting our bowling attack is much chop, but apart from Anderson for the most part and Siddle and Finn during their bursts, the pitch made everyone look pedestrian.

I wouldn't be too critical of Hilf at this stage. I don't think there is anything wrong with not having a huge bag of tricks if you swing the new ball away from the right handers, straighten the odd one off the seam and can bowl a good line and length when it's not swinging. His pace in my mind is deceptive. He looks slow because of his not so fluent run up, but is actually pretty strong through the crease. Very similar bowler to Harris. My question would be who is the more consistent bowler when the ball isn't swinging.

As for Doherty. To say he was tidy on that pitch is all you can ask from any spinner. Swann was pretty much the same and he's regarded as one of the better ones going around at the moment. His true test will be how he bowls on a pitch with some faster bounce or a proper wearing pitch. If he can attack and be dangerous, then he will have proven himself to be a better option than Hauritz. (I'm really interested to see how Holland develops... he reminds me a lot of Vettori and could be our best long term prospect, but still a long way to go). I also don't think we should focus on Doherty's career stats... his current season stats are the ones to take note of... he's the best performed spinner in the country this season and was picked on merit which I applaud.