The selectors

[STFU Donnie]

So we went into the test with a pace attack and one spinner, while the hosts went spin mad. And lo and behold, despite batting first, we are crumbling (7/154 a minute ago) on a deteriorating track, while they belted our attack.

I reckon just about everyone expected the test to pan out in this fashion. Everyone that is except the Australian selectors. Has a country been so poorly served by its selection panel as Australia has over the last three years or so?

 

[Bradesmaen]

So we went into the test with a pace attack and one spinner, while the hosts went spin mad. And lo and behold, despite batting first, we are crumbling (7/154 a minute ago) on a deteriorating track, while they belted our attack.

I reckon just about everyone expected the test to pan out in this fashion. Everyone that is except the Australian selectors. Has a country been so poorly served by its selection panel as Australia has over the last three years or so?

There is nothing wrong with going a pace attack. South Africa did the same and they drew the test series in India taking the majority of the wickets with pace. You play to your strengths, so unless you have two world class spin bowlers, you stick to what you know.

 

[STFU Donnie]

There is nothing wrong with going a pace attack. South Africa did the same and they drew the test series in India taking the majority of the wickets with pace. You play to your strengths, so unless you have two world class spin bowlers, you stick to what you know.

We don't have a Dale Steyn in our attack. And England's strength is definitely pace, but they went spin heavy and won their first series in India for 27 years. You pick the best side available for the conditions you will face!

 

[Bradesmaen]

We don't have a Dale Steyn in our attack. And England's strength is definitely pace, but they went spin heavy and won their first series in India for 27 years. You pick the best side available for the conditions you will face!

We have James Pattinson in our attack. He isn't as good as Steyn yet, but he's still good. England's strength is all round ability. They have Panesar and Swann, two excellent world class spin bowlers. They also have two good pace bowlers. That is why they went that way. They didn't have a good enough third paceman to take wickets so they put in the second spinner who was already known as a quality spinner.

You always play your bowlers to your strengths and your batsmen to the conditions.

 

[The Passenger]

i just don't see us being any more competitive with xavier in the bowling line-up then without him.

we'll see though. one of him, or possbily both, of bird and doherty will play the next test.

 

[La Vache]

Simply put, we are touring India with three very ordinary spinners and only one batsman who could claim to be anything more than adequate at playing them.

Australian cricket currently has no international standard spinners going around and hasn't for a while. The selectors hands are tied.

 

[The_Reaper]

Only change would be the overates.

 

[Marshland]

The domestic system has completely veered away from spin bowling, and it gets exposed in results like these. Whoever decided since 2009 to flatten out the SCG deserves the sack.

 

[STFU Donnie]

We have James Pattinson in our attack. He isn't as good as Steyn yet, but he's still good. England's strength is all round ability. They have Panesar and Swann, two excellent world class spin bowlers. They also have two good pace bowlers. That is why they went that way. They didn't have a good enough third paceman to take wickets so they put in the second spinner who was already known as a quality spinner.

You always play your bowlers to your strengths and your batsmen to the conditions.

Pattinson is good, and he'd be even better if he didn't break down so regularly. But we went in with Henriques who is a bits and pieces bowler. I would have given Doherty a try in the conditions; they were always going to be spin friendly.

 

[STFU Donnie]

187/9. All 19 wickets taken by spinners.

 

[gbatman]

The new selection panel has been leaps and bounds better than the one lead by Hilditch. Selections for this match however was a disaster.

 

[The_Reaper]

Pattinson is good, and he'd be even better if he didn't break down so regularly. But we went in with Henriques who is a bits and pieces bowler. I would have given Doherty a try in the conditions; they were always going to be spin friendly.

Doherty should come with a label, limited use only.
Not worthy of selection in the longer version of the game.

It would have been Starc to miss out and not Henriques anyway.

 

[Bradesmaen]

187/9. All 19 wickets taken by spinners.

Look at the pacemen India picked. One guy is on test debut, the other has an average of 40. 40!! Almost as good as Mike Hussey.

 

[STFU Donnie]

Look at the pacemen India picked. One guy is on test debut, the other has an average of 40. 40!! Almost as good as Mike Hussey.

Thank you for making my point!

 

[Bradesmaen]

Thank you for making my point!

That is to say.. with injuries, they are the best pacemen they have available...

 

[Cleavy]

The domestic system has completely veered away from spin bowling, and it gets exposed in results like these. Whoever decided since 2009 to flatten out the SCG deserves the sack.

not to mention that NSW are only playing 2 of their 5 Shield home games there this season.

 

[The_Reaper]

not to mention that NSW are only playing 2 of their 5 Shield home games there this season.

I don't expect the MCG to host shield games much longer and the Gabba and Adelaide oval will probably be phased out.

 

[The Passenger]

not to mention that NSW are only playing 2 of their 5 Shield home games there this season.

adelaide is probably the best pitch for spin bowling in australia now anyway.

 

[King Elvis]

The new selection panel has been leaps and bounds better than the one lead by Hilditch. Selections for this match however was a disaster.

At best, they've been marginally better - but they've been a disaster.

This result was so bloody obvious; I don't know how they could've looked at the pitch, then looked at the side they had pencilled in and thought it was a great idea.

They're useless.

 

[King Elvis]

Get AB, Hohns and Steve Waugh back in the fold.

Modern day selectors are too gutless and conscious of dropping an incumbent.

 

[BarneyBent]

Really shouldn't have gone with Starc for this match. As talented as he is, he relies a lot on bounce and swing, and can be erratic. Doherty, as much as I don't rate him, should have been played, with Henriques a sufficient third seamer.

 

[Cleavy]

I don't expect the MCG to host shield games much longer and the Gabba and Adelaide oval will probably be phased out.

it will be a sad day for Australian First Class Cricket if/when that occurs.

 

[western royboy]

We have James Pattinson in our attack. He isn't as good as Steyn yet, but he's still good. England's strength is all round ability. They have Panesar and Swann, two excellent world class spin bowlers. They also have two good pace bowlers. That is why they went that way. They didn't have a good enough third paceman to take wickets so they put in the second spinner who was already known as a quality spinner.

You always play your bowlers to your strengths and your batsmen to the conditions.

Hearing what you say, but when in Rome.....

Playing only one spinner just had disaster written all over it and we are there.

 

[STFU Donnie]

At best, they've been marginally better - but they've been a disaster.

This result was so bloody obvious; I don't know how they could've looked at the pitch, then looked at the side they had pencilled in and thought it was a great idea.

They're useless.

While they are an improvement on Hilditch et al, they are still very poor. I can't get over the fact that they changed the entire pace attack before a deciding test match at the WACA, of all places.

 

[King Elvis]

I obviously had concerns prior to that, but yea, that was basically it for me - proved they're a lost cause.