Should Mitchell Johnson bat at seven?

[Fender]

Why the hell do we need a spinner? Playing a spinner for the sake of playing one is a bad move. North/Clarke/Katich can all do enough as part time spinners if it's needed.

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
North
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Clark
Lee

12th: Hauritz, Watson, Hilfenhaus

Hussey's position must surely under threat. Has had some really bad series of late and his spot in the team must be reviewed.

 

[flash2]

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Hodge
Clarke
North
McDonald
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Clark

 

[Offsider]

This would be my team
Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
North
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Clark
Hilfenhaus

I think that Johnson should be left at 8 for the moment, but if he continues in this form then he could easily move up the order.

 

[red+black]

The problem with Johnson at 7 is it means haddin is at 6.

Haddin can drop to #8.

Why the hell do we need a spinner?

Agree, rather have no spinner than a 2nd rate one.

 

[dos0]

Haddin can drop to #8.

But why? It's not like Haddin is a complete mug with the bat - he's been more successful than Johnson domestically and internationally. A couple of big innings by Johnson doesn't make him better than Haddin.


As for the original idea of batting Johnson at seven, I'm against it at least for now. There's no point on playing him and relying on his batting as well as bowling, he's still reasonably young so let him focus on his bowling first - that's what he's in the team for. Better to have him coming in after an extra specialist bat or an all rounder, where we have more runs on the board and there's less pressure on him.

 

[didak04]

Leave him at 8.

Has a history of injuries and the "burnout" factor needs to be taken into account.

He needs to be a bowler first and foremost, any runs that he can make are a bonus.

 

[Belnakor]

Haddin isn't a complete mug, but recent results have Johnson batting alot better.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

I reckon we leave him where he is, let him focus on his bowling and if he can play the Pollock type allrounder role at number eight that's simply a bonus for us.

 

[Cousin Jed]

Let's defer to the man himself.

"You can call me an allrounder if you like," Johnson said. "I enjoy batting at eight, eight or nine for me, I'm happy."

 

[bigpapagman]

Haddin at 6 doesn't give me much confidence, if it was Gilly then no problems but Haddin concentration means he will struggle to make the 100s we need from the number 6.

doesn't matter. we'll get 'em from johnno at 7!

 

[Jimthegreat]

Johnson stays at 8. While he's there as a bowler he can swing freely without pressure. Might find it harder if he played as a genuine all-rounder where there's the pressure to make runs.

 

[XFactor1979]

the best bit about johnson is theres not a lot of science about johnson's batting out there

block the good ball, smash the bad ball

michael clarke was a little bit like that when he started out as a carefree young gun for the team, but he seems to overthink a bit with what hes trying to do out there these days. this a possible explanation as to why clarke gets dismissed nearing the close of a session/ day's play

 

[Hollow Knight]

Should be dropped from the team immediately so that our best scientists can focus 24 hours a day on cloning 4 more of him.

 

[OzBomber]

I think that if we go calling him an all rounder, it may put too much pressure on Notch. Someething which he probably doesn't need. At the moment when he goes out to bat, he doesn't have the pressure of having to make runs as a recognised all rounder and can go at whatever pace he likes.

But he's still a superb lower order batsman. I wonder if he can produce it in the ODI series. I heard Ponting jokingly say that he'll open in the T20. That would actually be a good idea I reckon. Although he doesn't have the best limited overs record.

 

[Spikey]

"Irfan Pathan"


Let Johnson be at 8. We don't him turning into Irfan....

 

[aussie1st]

I reckon Johnson needs to be promoted in our ODI side, could be worth a go as high as 4. We seem to have problems scoring against the spinners in ODIs and Johnson seems to love smashing them. It would mean we don't need an all rounder as well.

 

[Spikey]

I reckon Johnson needs to be promoted in our ODI side, could be worth a go as high as 4. We seem to have problems scoring against the spinners in ODIs and Johnson seems to love smashing them. It would mean we don't need an all rounder as well.

"Irfan Pathan"


Let him continue developing as a bowler instead of making him bat ion the top 4 in OD's...

 

[aussie1st]

How would he be hindered in developing as a bowler? I'm not asking him to put more work into his batting, all he has to do is do whatever hes done so far with his batting and start batting like he does in Test cricket in ODIs.

 

[archibald]

1.Katich
2.Hughes
3.Ponting
4.Clarke
5.Hussey
6.Haddin
7.Johnson
8.Lee
9.Siddle
10.Clark
11.Hilfenhaus
That should be the team for the ashes, put some responsibility on the batsman.

 

[didak04]

1.Katich
2.Hughes
3.Ponting
4.Clarke
5.Hussey
6.Haddin
7.Johnson
8.Lee
9.Siddle
10.Clark
11.Hilfenhaus
That should be the team for the ashes, put some responsibility on the batsman.

You want 5 front line quicks and only 5 specialist batsmen in the side?

Looks a bit unbalanced to me.

 

[Team Mo']

Capable enough to do it but would rather him at 8 just in case he is required to really knuckle down which isn't style. He needs the freedom to play his shots which he gets at number 8...

And he'll be buggered if a 100 is required each week.

 

[Thewlis Dish]

Seven at an absolute stretch. Not because he isn't capable, but because he bowls too many overs to have him batting high as well.

Opening him in the 20/20 format would certainly be something I'd try though.

 

[coke_zero]

I think that if we go calling him an all rounder, it may put too much pressure on Notch. Someething which he probably doesn't need. At the moment when he goes out to bat, he doesn't have the pressure of having to make runs as a recognised all rounder and can go at whatever pace he likes.

you have just repeated things that have been said above and on previous pages.

 

[themuddy#3]

1.Katich
2.Hughes
3.Ponting
4.Clarke
5.Hussey
6.Haddin
7.Johnson
8.Lee
9.Siddle
10.Clark
11.Hilfenhaus
That should be the team for the ashes, put some responsibility on the batsman.

I prefer

Johnson
Johnson
Johnson (c)
Johnson
Johnson
Johnson
Johnson(+)
Johnson
Johnson
Johnson
Johnson

twelfth man:Johnson

 

[Zarrix]

Batting Johnson at 7 will open a whole can of worms, as I have said previously.