Test #5 - Changes

[big_e]

So to summarise...

Out: Baby, Bathwater
In: NFI!

 

[bird_man]

Why are people happy with Smith and Khawaja averaging 25 with no test centuries to their name, but laugh when people bring up Wade who has two test centuries and a much higher test batting averaging.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

Why are people happy with Smith and Khawaja averaging 25 with no test centuries to their name, but laugh when people bring up Wade who has two test centuries and a much higher test batting averaging.

Smith in my opinion has played quite well in this series and he is the type of player who will always look to improve so i do think that Smith will be a good batter for us. Also Smith is our second best player of spin and he is really needed to nullify Swann. I do think that a big knock in aroudn the corner for Smith.

Khawaja has all the right attributes to be a great batsmen for us but he does not have the mentality right. He is the one that people are disappointed/frustrated with as he should be averaging at least over 40 but he just cant get runs.

Maybe the both of them will have a great summer here.

 

[Phone]

Khawaja has all the right attributes to be a great batsmen for us but he does not have the mentality right. He is the one that people are disappointed/frustrated with as he should be averaging at least over 40 but he just cant get runs.

I mean, the issue with Khawaja is that the only test level attribute he really has is smashing terrible deliveries

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

I mean, the issue with Khawaja is that the only test level attribute he really has is smashing terrible deliveries

I still think that it is mentality issue for him, he bats so negatively in test matches and almost has a reluctance to score and assert himself on the game/bowlers and as a result he only puts away the truly crap balls and not the ones that are just a bit crap.

He is such a frustrating player to watch as we all know that he should be doing better, I suppose he is like S.Marsh then.

 

[The_Reaper]

But even at first class level he basically only smashes terrible deliveries.

 

[Mr_Moogle]

He might not be any worse but nothing suggests he would be any better. Where was he on the run scorers last season- not near the top that is for sure.

Which is exactly why he should have been in the test side years ago when he was at his best. We missed the boat.

Our current batting order is a stark reminder of what happens when you prioritize athleticism and marketability over runs. Cosgrove is a perfect example of this. His batting form in English county cricket in particular was pretty bloody decent for a while there. I think at one stage he was averaging close to 60 playing for Glamorgan. Averaging close to 60 in conditions most of our top order can't make runs in and he doesn't even get a look in. If you don't think that's ****ed up you shouldn't be watching cricket.

 

[CumminsTomicFan]

If only Khawaja played every ball in his innings like he plays the first.

Bloody shit gets your hopes up when he comes in, then what follows is utter garbage.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Why are people happy with Smith and Khawaja averaging 25 with no test centuries to their name, but laugh when people bring up Wade who has two test centuries and a much higher test batting averaging.

How about the fact he is a keeper/batsman and not a pure batsman. He is a very ordinary player and a hundred on a flat pitch doesn't change this point.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

If you don't think that's ****** up you shouldn't be watching cricket.

I am yet to see his heart is in it. It isn't very hard as a professional athlete to keep your weight down and stop eating meat pies. Yes he can bat (whether that is test quality is another issue though), but he needs to apply himself and get fit. This is an opportunity if he wants it, however I doubt he wants it.

 

[AM]

Any side with Wade is a poor side. He isn't a good batsman, and he isn't even a competent keeper and that is being kind with his keeping. I would rather pick Cowan than pick Wade at number 3 where he has never batted before.

Been on the peptides have we?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Been on the peptides have we?

No, but I am realistic, at least Cowan has batted 3. Go and point me to the matches Wade has batted at number 3 in a 4 day match for anyone. Plus he has scored nothing this entire tour!

 

[AM]

No, but I am realistic, at least Cowan has batted 3. Go and point me to the matches Wade has batted at number 3 in a 4 day match for anyone. Plus he has scored nothing this entire tour!

Wasn't picking you up on batting Wade at first drop. I wouldn't bat him there either. It was the "He isn't a good batsman, and he isn't even a competent keeper" crap.

He's a very competent keeper and more than capable batter. Not suggesting he doesn't need to improve in both areas but he's only 25. Better than Haddin and Marsh (remember iron gloves) at the same age. He's the future.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Wasn't picking you up on batting Wade at first drop. I wouldn't bat him there either. It was the "He isn't a good batsman, and he isn't even a competent keeper" crap.

He's a very competent keeper and more than capable batter. Not suggesting he doesn't need to improve in both areas but he's only 25. Better than Haddin and Marsh (remember iron gloves) at the same age. He's the future.

Competent keeper...LOL! That is the funniest thing I have read...ask Nathan Lyon what he thinks of that...of how about Du Plessis who is ever thankful that Wade was keeping. He has awful technique behind the stumps, that is actually being nice. He could make it as a pure batsman but he isn't there yet. He needs to drop the gloves and play 12 months for Victoria as a batsman. He is not the future behind the stumps- Triffitt, Neville, etc should be the ones.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

We have a tour match against England A first don't we?

See who goes well in that

The English guys

 

[AM]

Competent keeper...LOL! That is the funniest thing I have read...ask Nathan Lyon what he thinks of that...of how about Du Plessis who is ever thankful that Wade was keeping. He has awful technique behind the stumps, that is actually being nice. He could make it as a pure batsman but he isn't there yet. He needs to drop the gloves and play 12 months for Victoria as a batsman. He is not the future behind the stumps- Triffitt, Neville, etc should be the ones.

Frankly you a clueless buddy. Bit like the administration at your club.

 

[The_Reaper]

Wasn't picking you up on batting Wade at first drop. I wouldn't bat him there either. It was the "He isn't a good batsman, and he isn't even a competent keeper" crap.

He's a very competent keeper and more than capable batter. Not suggesting he doesn't need to improve in both areas but he's only 25. Better than Haddin and Marsh (remember iron gloves) at the same age. He's the future.

He's not. He was shocking last summer. We'd get far more value out of a Hartley or Ludeman type.

Has talent with the bat though.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

He's not. He was shocking last summer. We'd get far more value out of a Hartley or Ludeman type.

Has talent with the bat though.

Exactly, well said. Needs a season or two as a specialist bat to see whether he can make it on that alone! Is a dead set awful keeper though. Lyon would have 10+ wickets more if Hartley was keeping.

 

[Kram]

Wade is very ordinary behind the stumps, agree that he should look at becoming a pure batsman.

 

[blaze036]

Get rid of the spud khawaja until he puts 2 great domestic seasons together, tell Wade to forget about keeping and become a batsmen only

 

[CumminsTomicFan]

I would still take Haddin over Wade on batting alone.

He's put in some really good innings in the past, why do you guys want to destroy some of the last few good things in our team I don't understand...

 

[Outshined]

He's not. He was shocking last summer. We'd get far more value out of a Hartley or Ludeman type.

Has talent with the bat though.

Hah yeah you could potentially classify him as a semi-competent batsman, but a competent keeper he is not. Since that's his primary role, he shouldn't be in the side.

I'd also tell him to give up the gloves and focus on batting. His figures don't stack up too badly, although his average may be slightly propped up by a fair few not outs.

 

[Tulip]

People really suggesting Haddin out?

Fair go!

I didn't like him before, but he's done fine this series with the gloves and been okay with the bat.

I do prefer Wade though, and I'm sure Haddin will hang them up soon enough.

 

[Zgope1]

I'd love Hughes to come back in, but the thing is he shouldn't have been dropped in the first place. The kid has character. He had a good test with the bat and a bad test with the bat and then bang, dropped. His first innings in the series should have at least gotten him through to the 3rd test. If we want to build a test team on players earning their spots he's the best example. He knocked the door down and deserved to be backed in.

His first 2 tests in India were pathetic after a pretty good return series in sri lanka at #3- where he should be. Sri Lanka bowled a fair bit of spin in that series and Hughes managed well enough. The 3rd test in India he showed us all his application by hitting a beautiful, absolutely beautiful 69 before being absolutely robbed by a howler. It sickened me how bad this umpiring call was. This innings was at #3 and it was just about chanceless on a wicket that aided spin. #3 was a good position for him here because he came in, flogged the pacemen and then had confidence against the spinners. I'm still annoyed at how he was given out.

The next test in India he hit about 45? In the first knock. It was another good innings at #3 and he again, strategically flogged the quicks so he could hit the spinners with confidence. Once again he was completely robbed and given out to another howler.

Then he consolidated this work by playing a great unbeaten knock in test #1 in England despite having his batting position arbitrarily(IMO) changed. I thought we were onto something with him at 3. Then he plays a stinky test, never got in and people are willing to get rid of him because of this huge weakness he has against spin. The people that have taken his spot at #3 in Khawaja and Cowan are no better against spin than Hughes.

Did Phil Hughes deserve to get his shot more than any batsman short of maybe Rogers? Yes

Did he show something at #3? Yes

Did Khawaja deserve a spot more than him? No

Have the selectors f***ed themselves by not backing in one of our best and most deserving batting talents? IMO, yes.

This stupidity has been there to see through the dropping of Lyon as well. The lack of ticker in our selectors for dropping our most deserving spinner after a 9 or 10 wicket match and a solid record for a 24-5 year old off spinner has not surprised me. It's typical of our system that we'd drop a deserving player for someone with 3? fc games to his name.

 

[courtjester]

Nah, same u/19's as Wade

Warner, Rogers, Wade, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Faulkner, Agar, Starc, Lyon, Bird

Rest Siddle and Harris, might as well try the spin twins as well

I was going to comment about how we need to strengthen our batting, so why are you dropping a batsman, but then I realised dropping Watson for Faulkner will strengthen our batting!