VB Series Game 6: Australia vs Sri Lanka Thread

[lamby29]

Our team to play in Hobart should be

Hayden
Gilchrist
Ponting
Lehmann
Bevan/Martyn
Maher
Watson (as a specialist batsman)
Lee
Hauritz
Bichel
Noffke/Williams

As already mentioned, we had batting down to #11 last night, which IMO is too many batsmen and not enough specialist bowlers.

 

[Wicked Lester]

Originally posted by Frosties_Flank
Bring Back Steve Waugh.

HE would have been wiser at the toss, had better influence over his bowlers and field.

Also he would have done better than Martyn or Bevan.

Bevan should go back to grade cricket and learn how to catch.

This loss is dedicated to Trevor Horhns.

Wiser at the toss? Tony Grieg was waxing lyrical about the likely bowlers paradise it looked to be and even Jayasuria confirmed he'd have bowled first had he won the toss.

On Mark Waugh you may have a point though his one day form was not impressive prior to his ommission.

As far as Steve goes, oh what short memories we have. It was only 12 months ago we all argued that he was too slow (remember he was the one scoring 20 odd off 50 balls) didn't have the ability to accelerate and didn't bowl. It's only since he's been out of the side that some of this has been rediscovered.

I think we may be overreacting a little. It was a bad loss. We were missing our three best bowlers - every side in the world struggles under those conditions. It simply reinforces the lessons learned in the 5th test - that this side as great as it is relies very heavily on McGrath and Warne as did the Windies batsmen rely on the confidence derived from knowing they could go out and play their shots - even if they failed they would back their bowlers to do it for them.

 

[JUBJUB]

Originally posted by lamby29
Our team to play in Hobart should be

Hayden
Gilchrist
Ponting
Lehmann
Bevan/Martyn
Maher
Watson (as a specialist batsman)
Lee
Hauritz
Bichel
Noffke/Williams

If Maher is to play,he should open with Hayden.Put Gilchrist at 5,after Lehmann.

 

[Jaymin]

I can't believe some of the crap i'm reading. Have one bad game and everyones jumped off the ship....

Bevan not a matchwinner?!?! one of the most stupid comments i've ever heard..

Bagging both Martyn and Bevan and they both hit 40 in the match....

Batting wasn't a problem....bowling was the problem....or more to the point fielding....

If Hogg takes the catch Sri Lanka make 290 max....and then its a different game....

And whoever bagged Watson for what he said after he dismissed Jayasuriya...i'm pretty sure i would have said "About ****ing Time' as well if i had him dropped twice....

 

[shiva25]

Its amazing that so many people on this thread are having a go at our batsman who were not the reason we lost the game.
Even a side full of the best batsmen in the world would have strruggled to make that score last night.
Our bowlers are clearly the problem. Hogg is definately not up to it as well as Bichel although sometimes i think he is in the side due to the fact he can bat a bit.Watson is worth persevering with and will get better.Lee is very overated as he struggles to put good performances together consistantly and last night he bowled poorly.Symmonds is just shocking and doesnt deserve to be in that side so it is clearly obvious we need some class bowlers to step up to support Warne and Mcgrath particularly as there on the better side of 30.

 

[Smokin]

Really, the biggest problem was fielding (well, catching anyway) - if Jaya goes for 20 or less when he should have, they would not have made the score they did.

Batting - yes, the total was good in theory, but that is irrelevant really. The target was massive, so for a top level team who tries to win every game - we had to go for it from the start.

Chilchrist goes out - and they rest of the game we didnt even look like it. We simply werent going for our shots, and werent getting close to the 7 an over plus we needed. It was like we gave up before we even started.

After about 8-9 overs is was pretty clear we werent going to make it. The game was over then. To me, it felt like Australia didnt even give itself a chance. That is a problem. Your better off going for it, risking being bowled out but if a partnership or two can last, perhaps win, rather than going at 4.5-5 an over for much of the match Australia did, and end up 100 runs short, but last 50 overs.

The batting Mentallity was ordinary, and basically meant Australia could never win that game.

 

[GoEagles]

A few comments from the game:

Gilchrist - His keeping at times looked a bit ordinary. I think the side relies on him making quick runs far too much. Still, in a game where you had to score over 6 runs an over, he had to swing the bat early.

Hayden - Solid as always. A few throws in the outfield were a bit wild.

Ponting - Can't blame him for the toss, but I thought he put Martyn in to bowl far too late in the game. As always, when the chips are down, Ponting never scores the big runs.

Martyn - Shocking batting display. His feet were superglued to the SCG pitch. Seems to be down in confidence, form or both.

Bevan - I would have put Maher in before Bevan. Dropped a match I thought he would take. Seemed a little flat.

Symonds - Needed to make more than 4 runs to press his all-rounder position in the side. Still hasn't come to the party.

Lee - Didn't take the early wickets he's paid for. In fact he didn't take any wickets. Should have given back his paycheck for some of his deliveries.

Maher - Batted out of position, god knows why.

Watson - Very average bowler. Far too loose and expensive. He has youth on his side and will hopefully improve with experience.

Hogg - Dropped a 'dolly'. Had a terrible game, but so did everyone else in the side. I'd like to see Hauritz come in for a few of the games.

Bichel - Clearly showed that there is a big gap between McGrath, illespie and Bichel, Lee. Handy Andy was useful with the bat, but was average with the ball.

 

[El Cid]

Marto: This criticism of Martyn is a joke. He is not a slogger and should be higher in the one day order. In the few times he's opened, he carried his bat for two 100's i think (NZ and Zim) I say bat him 3 if Haydens out first and Ponting if Gilly goes.

We have 3 sloggers at the top of the order which is a huge risk, then when they're dismissed...Bevan and Marto are expected to get a 100 hitting sixes and fours when the 3 specialist sloggers failed....against Murali of all bowlers

Anyway, in the live tests...Marto's average was 66...not bad for a guy out of form.

Maher: I noticed someone put Maher ahead of Marto and Bevan. Nice innings yesterday...I think he was out 4 times in 10 balls.

Captaincy: I can't ***ing believe Gilchrist isn't the Captain. Obviously political. Ponting is drowning as Cap.

Symmo:"""at least Symonds had a swing""""Symonds is best 12th man in the world...that is all.

Bichel, Lee, Watson... Australia must be one of the slowest teams to realise 3 quicks in One dayers is one two many. Quicker bowlers are the easiest to hit for six.

 

[GoEagles]

Originally posted by El Cid
Marto: This criticism of Martyn is a joke. He is not a slogger and should be higher in the one day order. In the few times he's opened, he carried his bat for two 100's i think (NZ and Zim) I say bat him 3 if Haydens out first and Ponting if Gilly goes.

Agree that Martyn should open - he has never failed at the top. I saw him in the Zimbabwe game where he carried his bat through the innings - best individual one day batting I have seen live.

Problem is Hayden and Gilchrist are so good at the top its hard to knock either of them off. Maybe have Martyn at #3 and Ponting at #4?