Test #5 - Changes

[Howard Littlejohn]

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.

Very competent keeper?????? Maybe at club level. He is utter crap for fist class or above. Its most obvious against spin, with the amount of balls he snatches at woith the fingers pointing sideways and the sheer quantity and quality of missed opportunities. But against pace he has issues as well, particularly moving to leg side with a right handed batsman. I can't see him becoming a barely competent keeper, much less "very competent".

Batting wise, he has promise but isn't there as a specialist batsman yet. Then again, nor are our specilist batsmen. He should just ditch the gloves and focus on his batting. Either that or, if he is determined to remain a keeper, concentrate on ListA stuff where shoddy glovework doesn't matter as much.

 

[qman]

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.

What I don't get is, how can Wade keep wicket for the aussie u/19's and first class cricket for a number of years? He must have had some good moment's along the way! I like him as a batsman, his keeping has mostly been way sub par.

 

[themidlandmaster]

I really can't see the logic behind shuffling Smith, Hughes and Khawaja around every 2-3 tests. Khawaja has suffered from being thrown in and out of the lineup every second series, while Hughes has never had the chance to nail down a consistent spot in the team.

People are willing to write these guys off before they've hit the 10 or 20 test mark, which is fine, but don't expect the replacements (whoever they are?) to do any better. As crazy as it sounds, I'd like to see us persist with the current group for at least the next 3 or so tests. Give them an extended run to prove they can do it.

Phil Hughes has played 26 tests and averages 32. Take out South Africa at the very start and he averages 27

 

[bungwahl]

Phil Hughes has played 26 tests and averages 32. Take out South Africa at the very start and he averages 27

Take out a few of the games he didn't score runs and he averages 40+.. hence you can't pick and choose. He still averages more than SR Waugh at the same career point.

 

[kempy]

Rogers
Warner
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Faulkner (In for Watson)
Siddle
Starc (Oval - reverse swing)
Lyon

Hughes deserves another go. Harris rested, Watson rested or dropped, Bird dropped (wrong ground). Smith to bowl a bit.

 

[frankrizzo]

If they are going to stick with hughes they need to stop panicking every time he has an awful looking dismissal as with the way he bats he's going to have them, they also need to stop trying to protect him.

Last stint they protected him from SA, then they protected him from the new ball and then were worried about how they could protect him from swann.

I must say i have never been a big fan of hughes but his innings in the first test was the best i have seen from him i felt that at least earned him the rest of the series, he had a shocker at lords(bat and reviews) but so did rogers and we have seen what sticking with rogers got us.

 

[Power Raid]

Out bird, ussie and Watson

In just have a raffle at the gate

 

[LukeParkerno1]

What I don't get is, how can Wade keep wicket for the aussie u/19's and first class cricket for a number of years? He must have had some good moment's along the way! I like him as a batsman, his keeping has mostly been way sub par.

Don't ask me how he kept for so long, sub-par is being extremely nice, he is from the Kamran Akmal school of keeping- in other words horrible at it!

 

[themidlandmaster]

Take out a few of the games he didn't score runs and he averages 40+.. hence you can't pick and choose. He still averages more than SR Waugh at the same career point.

But Waugh was getting better, Hughes is getting worse

 

[bungwahl]

But Waugh was getting better, Hughes is getting worse

Many would argue Hughes is a greatly improved batsman these days. It'd be nice to see the selectors have some faith in him and lock him in for the next 6 Tests. Let's face it - this series he scored 81* and was dismissed three times under reviews. On another day, or with another umpire, he could have escaped those dismissals and gone on to a big score.

He is one of the few batsman in the side who seems prepared to fight out an innings.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Many would argue Hughes is a greatly improved batsman these days. It'd be nice to see the selectors have some faith in him and lock him in for the next 6 Tests. Let's face it - this series he scored 81* and was dismissed three times under reviews. On another day, or with another umpire, he could have escaped those dismissals and gone on to a big score.

He is one of the few batsman in the side who seems prepared to fight out an innings.

BAHAHA...Swann would have got him out next ball in those innings anyway. He is very ordinary against spin. He is from the stupid school of batsmen facing spin where they stay in their crease the whole time! Use your feet and you have a chance!

 

[bungwahl]

BAHAHA...Swann would have got him out next ball in those innings anyway. He is very ordinary against spin. He is from the stupid school of batsmen facing spin where they stay in their crease the whole time! Use your feet and you have a chance!

Unfortunately those who struggle against spin generally find that randomly using their feet results in a stumping..

Too much is made of Hughes struggling against spin, particularly on this tour. Watch the start of the Indian tour again - he was terrible! Watch the last couple of games of the Indian tour - he had improved to 'fairly poor'. Then watch the first Ashes test at Trent Bridge where Hughes scored 81* and shielded Agar from Swann for the first 10 or so overs of being at the crease.

Second innings Hughes was unfortunate in being out LBW to Swann on review, and all of a sudden the media blows up that Hughes faced a zillion balls from Swann and only scored a handful of singles... wtf?? Do these people actually watch the game or just grab the stats when they wake up each morning?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Unfortunately those who struggle against spin generally find that randomly using their feet results in a stumping..

Too much is made of Hughes struggling against spin, particularly on this tour. Watch the start of the Indian tour again - he was terrible! Watch the last couple of games of the Indian tour - he had improved to 'fairly poor'. Then watch the first Ashes test at Trent Bridge where Hughes scored 81* and shielded Agar from Swann for the first 10 or so overs of being at the crease.

Second innings Hughes was unfortunate in being out LBW to Swann on review, and all of a sudden the media blows up that Hughes faced a zillion balls from Swann and only scored a handful of singles... wtf?? Do these people actually watch the game or just grab the stats when they wake up each morning?

Good players of spin accept that stumpings are part and parcel of the game. You need to use your feet. Hughes is a terrible player of spin bowling, most people can see that. He needs to use his feet, smother the spin, and hit through the line, actually isn't that hard. I hope Hughes was watching Pieterson's masterclass on how to play spin- might have learnt a thing or two.

How can you be unfortunate to be LBW...hit the ball and stop entering chook lotto. You hit the ball you can't be given, otherwise you run the risk of the DRS.

 

[CakeEater]

I for one would like to see Hughes come in for Watson.

Reason's being scored 81* batting 6 when the series was hot when we needed him
Is improving- He's not going to improve at Test Level if he doesnt play at Test Level.
Scored more centuries at Test Level then Watson in less tests.

 

[bungwahl]

How can you be unfortunate to be LBW...hit the ball and stop entering chook lotto. You hit the ball you can't be given, otherwise you run the risk of the DRS.

How many examples do you want? Test 4 - Bresnan shoulders arms to a ball hitting leg and is insanely given not out, then in the Aussie innings two batsmen are given out to similar deliveries when both have played a shot. I'd say that's pretty unfortunate!

I love the old "you can't be out LBW if you use your bat".. Over simplifying the game may be convenient for arguing your point, but it's really just a cop out.

 

[bungwahl]

I for one would like to see Hughes come in for Watson.

Reason's being scored 81* batting 6 when the series was hot when we needed him
Is improving- He's not going to improve at Test Level if he doesnt play at Test Level.
Scored more centuries at Test Level then Watson in less tests.

I'm a big fan purely because he shows some fight, but I worry about the selectors bringing him back for the next game.

Either lock him in for the next 6 Tests, or send him back to Shield cricket with the guarantee of not being called up again for the full Shield season.

 

[CakeEater]

I'm a big fan purely because he shows some fight, but I worry about the selectors bringing him back for the next game.

Either lock him in for the next 6 Tests, or send him back to Shield cricket with the guarantee of not being called up again for the full Shield season.

What is he going to learn playing Shield, he played really well last Shield series for SA still avg 44 in Shield.

They just need to pick him, Smith, Warner say Watto thanks for everything mate, but we are rebuilding round Clarke, Haddin, Rogers, Harris, Siddle Lyon.

Pick the 5 players who you think will dominate for Aus in 2015/16 season and play them.

I think Hughes will be there abouts as he values his wicket and doesnt throw it away like Khawaja.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

How many examples do you want? Test 4 - Bresnan shoulders arms to a ball hitting leg and is insanely given not out, then in the Aussie innings two batsmen are given out to similar deliveries when both have played a shot. I'd say that's pretty unfortunate!

I love the old "you can't be out LBW if you use your bat".. Over simplifying the game may be convenient for arguing your point, but it's really just a cop out.

Just because Bresnan wasn't given doesn't mean Hughes was unlucky. They were all out and fairly clearly too. He looked horrible against Swann, he needs to work on this for the next year or so. Get down the track, if you get stumped, so be it, but try this, you will be a lot more successful this way against spin. Cricket is a simple game, how many times against spinners is KP or Clarke hit on the pads? Rarely. Use your bat, score runs, get down the track. Then you are not running the gauntlet of terrible umpiring.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

What is he going to learn playing Shield, he played really well last Shield series for SA still avg 44 in Shield.

Is that really that good? 44 is just above an average season for mine. He should be averaging 75 not 45.

 

[Team DJ]

Hughes for Usman
Starc for what ever fast bowler needs a rest. Siddle or Harris

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I would rather trial the spin twins on a pitch that will suit spin.

Faulkner for Watson (inj.)
Agar for Harris (rest)

 

[CakeEater]

Is that really that good? 44 is just above an average season for mine. He should be averaging 75 not 45.

Thats what he avg currently over the course of his career

Avg 50.66 last season scored 912 in 19 innings

 

[bungwahl]

What is he going to learn playing Shield, he played really well last Shield series for SA still avg 44 in Shield.

They just need to pick him, Smith, Warner say Watto thanks for everything mate, but we are rebuilding round Clarke, Haddin, Rogers, Harris, Siddle Lyon.

Pick the 5 players who you think will dominate for Aus in 2015/16 season and play them.

I think Hughes will be there abouts as he values his wicket and doesnt throw it away like Khawaja.

The point is that they need to stop picking, dropping, picking, dropping, picking, dropping... Either pick him and give him an extended run, or let him go and play a full season of Shield cricket.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Thats what he avg currently over the course of his career

Avg 50.66 last season scored 912 in 19 innings

Stil a 50 average season is not great...go back 5 years and you had players averaging 65+ per season and not getting in. Average season, helped by playing on the Road at Adelaide!

 

[bungwahl]

Just because Bresnan wasn't given doesn't mean Hughes was unlucky. They were all out and fairly clearly too. He looked horrible against Swann, he needs to work on this for the next year or so. Get down the track, if you get stumped, so be it, but try this, you will be a lot more successful this way against spin. Cricket is a simple game, how many times against spinners is KP or Clarke hit on the pads? Rarely. Use your bat, score runs, get down the track. Then you are not running the gauntlet of terrible umpiring.

There is merit to what you're saying - he definitely needs to improve his footwork to spinners (as do about 80% of other batsmen). But I doubt many coaches would be giving him a licence to dance at every spinner and just accept the stumpings. It's a learning process, not a decision to dance.