What demon's plague Usman?

Belnakor

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#26
Matt Hayden used to say that at the top level its 90% mental. I think Usman is mentally weak and that is a problem at test level.
 

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PykeDream

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#27
Not sure how you can say Warner is a lock for the next 2 years at Test Level?

Check out what happened to Phil Hughes....

As for the suggestion Jacques was dropped due to poor fielding, what complete rubbish. Jacques scored a ton in his final test and then booked a risky back operation because he scould no longer even lie down in bed in any comfort. History will tell you he never really recovered properly and earnt his spot back - which is a great shame as I firmly believe he'd still be opening for Aus had his injury not intervened.
I was attempting to be conservative to demonstrate that there are almost certainly two batting spots available before the Ashes. Of course a form slump from a player like Warner will cause yet another position to open up.
 

Wallaby

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#28
I really hope we stick with Warner for a lo-o-o-ng time - give him a really good run, even through the inevitable form slump.

Fact is in only 6 tests he has played 2 historic Test innings. The first when he carried his bat through the fouth innings in a big run-chase (240 is a very tough target anytime, and it would have been the highest innings score in the match). In that test, there were only 2 other scores over 50 (Ponting, Clarke and Hussey - our 3 best batsmen - scored 51 between then in 6 innings). Amazing innings.

The second in Perth - 180 - 100 in a session - only 2 other scores over 50 in the match. Did he get lucky? Maybe. But that ability to take over a test match and put your side in such a dominant position in such a short time is a great talent.

Some players play their entire test career without a single innings of such stature - Warner has 2 in his first 6 tests.
 

adamj1300au

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#29
I really hope we stick with Warner for a lo-o-o-ng time - give him a really good run, even through the inevitable form slump.

what sets warner from the rest, hughes and Khawaja is has backed up the raps that he has on him and proven him self. the other two where found out. hughes did nothing apart from his second test and khawaja can't play off his front foot.

plus warner is one of the new marketing boys for CA that brings people to games so the chance of being dropped is very slip
 
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#30
I think the downfall of the NSW wonderkids must have something to do with Cricket NSW. So many touted cricketers in the NSW team, yet the team is doing so poorly. What happening in the inner sanctum of coaches? Seems like NSW have let their ego get the better of them...

Or that this pro-NSW ethos that has dominated the selection of the Australian cricket team for so long (which I think played a major part in the capitulation of the national side the last few years) has ended with Inverarity and co. chosing players based on form, not on state of origin.

Hughes only got so many chances because Clarke likes him. And guess what Clarke is from NSW....

As for Smith, Kwajha etc. getting picked in the first place over the likes of David Hussey, Quiney, Davis, Ferguson and even Brad Hodge in a time when the team needed stability from performing players...its a joke.
 

Thommo 42

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#31
What are you on about?

The only person who can feel aggrieved at the selection of Kawajha and Smith ahead of them on that list is D.Hussey. Hodge had retired before either of them played test cricket.

Smith and Kawajha scored more hundreds in their opening few shield seasons than Quiney or Davis did in their first decade of senior cricket.

Usman has more runs, at a higher average than Quiney has in more matches. Given Quiney's recent purple patch, at the time of Usmans selection the difference would have been even greater.
 

adamj1300au

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#33
I think the downfall of the NSW wonderkids must have something to do with Cricket NSW. So many touted cricketers in the NSW team, yet the team is doing so poorly. What happening in the inner sanctum of coaches? Seems like NSW have let their ego get the better of them...

Or that this pro-NSW ethos that has dominated the selection of the Australian cricket team for so long (which I think played a major part in the capitulation of the national side the last few years) has ended with Inverarity and co. chosing players based on form, not on state of origin.

thats a good observation of australian cricket. mark rigway commentating on the abc summed up the current NSW team, as nothing but shambles, a bunch of individuals trying to play for higher honors.
 

Carbine Chaos

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#34
Smith and Kawajha scored more hundreds in their opening few shield seasons than Quiney or Davis did in their first decade of senior cricket.
Since when has Davis been in FC cricket for a decade? :confused:

In fact, he made his debut in 2007; just one year before Usman and Smith in 2008.

Has made 4 hundreds in 28 games to Smith's 5 in 31, so they are comparable.

Usman has 9 in 46 games; I really hope he comes good on his potential.
 

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Drummond

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#38
He's in rubbish form and at the end of the day it's up to him to turn that around, think he needs a break and recharge at this point followed by a hopefully productive season at Derbyshire.

I think he was pretty poorly handled in his time in the Australian team really, never allowed to settle in a role, and I suspect this is playing on him at present. Put in as Punter's replacement at three, next tour match comes down to him vs Marsh and he knocks a century which gets him a spot in the Aust side, at number six (with a view of a long term apprentichsip down there I guess). Doesnt make runs first test (not alone there), Punter goes home for birth of child. Marsh gets the spot at three and Ussie left at 6, Marsh makes ton and Ussie is on 15* or so when Australia declares, gets dropped next test.

Then its Marsh's back stuffing up, Khawaja back in the side at three, makes 65 in the second innings, top score in a record chase on that ground. First test in Brisbane he bats really well first innings, showing good temprement, hitting whats there but leaving what he doesnt have to play, before getting run out just after tea for 38. Down in Hobart he fails in a match where only Warner and Siddle made runs, yet still scored more than Punter or Huss in the second innings disaster, then dropped once more, amongst whispers of poor fielding (same excuse for Jaques getting dropped).

Pisses me off a bit because he just wasnt allowed to settle in the side at all, he just needed to break through for that big score which who knows, maybe Brisbane was that match. What it also said was the complete lack of acountability for some of the shit dished up by the senior guys across that SA/NZ series, where they preferred to sacrafice the young players to protect the older brigade.

And yeah, Punter and Huss went and cashed in against India, but whose to say what Khawaja would've done if he's not given that chance of an extended run. He couldnt have been worse than Marsh anyway.

Big fan of Khawaja and really hope he can turn it around and grab a spot.
Excellent post, agree with it all! :thumbsu:

Usman is still young and has all the tools to succeed, I'm sure he'll bounce back. He's just in terrible form and his head is a mess, needs time to re-energize.
 
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