What do you do with Shane Watson?

[peternorth]

Yep pretty much nothing will change except if Starc can't get up then I'm guessing Cummings or Siddle (please not Siddle) will come into the side.
Sick of Watto getting free passes but he wont be dropped.

cummins wont play surely. hasnt done anything.

siddle is a good replacement as he can dry up runs and provide some pressure. i know he's not as marketable as cummins, but CA/selectors need to understand we are there to retain the ashes

 

[hong_kong_bond]

Yep pretty much nothing will change except if Starc can't get up then I'm guessing Cummings or Siddle (please not Siddle) will come into the side.
Sick of Watto getting free passes but he wont be dropped.

Cummins would be a massive, massive risk. He hasn't played first class cricket for 2 years (July 2013 vs. South Africa A), so it has been a long time since he was required to bowl more than 10 overs in a day, or even a spell of longer than the 4 or so he does in a one-day clash. Better to hold Cummins for the first class match between the 2nd and 3rd tests and see how he goes.

If Starc isn't right, the selectors have to pick Siddle by default. Apparently he is bowling well in the nets (but then again, Watson is always batting well in the nets...) and he has played at Lord's twice before, though not with great success. 4/140 in 2009 at over 4 an over, and 3/141 in 2013 at 3.2 an over.

In my view, if Siddle is in, then so is M.Marsh as we need another agressive bowling option without Starc. Clarke, by his captaincy actions, clearly demonstrated what he thought of Watto with the ball by barely bowling him in the 1st test.

Clarke isn't the massive advocate for Watson in the test side that many seem to think that he is, compared to say his very, very strong advocacy for retaining Haddin as wicketkeeper & elder statesman of the side.

I reckon it's either no change or 2 changes - with the key factor being the fitness of Starc. My gut feel is that Starc won't be 100% and the selectors won't take a risk on the incumbent bowling line-up if Starc isn't 100%. This will necessitate Starc & Watson out for Siddle & M.Marsh

 

[Hardhat11]

If Watson plays we are doomed

It's that simple .....and frankly we may as well hand over urn now and go home

What is the fear...what that marsh might fail

Oh please ...he deserves a go ....I don't fear Siddle playing like many do at least you know what your going to get with him ...Heart n sole and 100% effort.

 

[Pugsley]

If Watson plays we are doomed

It's that simple .....and frankly we may as well hand over urn now and go home

What is the fear...what that marsh might fail

Oh please ...he deserves a go ....I don't fear Siddle playing like many do at least you know what your going to get with him ...Heart n sole and 100% effort.

And free bananas.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

does anyone else have a feeling NO changes will be made?

Yep and we will lose.

I'm thinking of the positive, I got on England to win the series before the 1st test lol

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Yep and we will lose.

I'm thinking of the positive, I got on England to win the series before the 1st test lol

GTFO heretic

You bring shame to your nation. For shame!

Time for a walk of shame?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

GTFO heretic

You bring shame to your nation. For shame!

Time for a walk of shame?

It is called the 'if Shane Watson plays we will lose' bet. If it takes us losing a test or 2 before we ship him off to the nearest retirement village I am all for that.

 

[ChampRevesby]

cummins wont play surely. hasnt done anything.

siddle is a good replacement as he can dry up runs and provide some pressure. i know he's not as marketable as cummins, but CA/selectors need to understand we are there to retain the ashes

While I agree that he seems a bit underdone Boof said he is in England, fit and ready to go.

 

[peternorth]

GTFO heretic

You bring shame to your nation. For shame!

Time for a walk of shame?

http://coub.com/view/6vtgr

 

[LukeParkerno1]

While I agree that he seems a bit underdone Boof said he is in England, fit and ready to go.

Can't do any worse than the way Johnson bowled in the first test, however he is not ready, and it would be a punt.

 

[ChampRevesby]

 

[Art Vandelay_]

It is called the 'if Shane Watson plays we will lose' bet. If it takes us losing a test or 2 before we ship him off to the nearest retirement village I am all for that.

I'm just messing with you

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I'm just messing with you

As obvious as Watson getting to 30 before missing a straight ball haha...and then reviewing it!

 

[MisterMarcus]

As if any player is going to say "Yeah nah, I'm not ready, can't do the job, shouldn't have picked me..."

 

[the_interloper]

If Watson plays we are doomed

It's that simple .....and frankly we may as well hand over urn now and go home

What is the fear...what that marsh might fail

Oh please ...he deserves a go ....I don't fear Siddle playing like many do at least you know what your going to get with him ...Heart n sole and 100% effort.

Yep, agree with all of that. No one will blame the selectors if Marsh is no good, his selection is basically a no brainer right now. And people so quickly forget how valuable Siddle has been, he is in the touring party for a reason.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yep, agree with all of that. No one will blame the selectors if Marsh is no good, his selection is basically a no brainer right now. And people so quickly forget how valuable Siddle has been, he is in the touring party for a reason.

Marsh is in the best form out of all our bats in England and we play Watson...fair dinkum that is some logic there! For this tour ONLY I would consider Siddle.

 

[ChampRevesby]

As if any player is going to say "Yeah nah, I'm not ready, can't do the job, shouldn't have picked me..."

Yeah true but he's still a better option than Siddle IMHO.

 

[ROOTA#6]

Yeah true but he's still a better option than Siddle IMHO.

Don't see how you can say that given the likelihood of him getting through the match is very very low

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Yeah true but he's still a better option than Siddle IMHO.

Not at Lords.

 

[ChampRevesby]

Don't see how you can say that given the likelihood of him getting through the match is very very low

Why is he up for selection if he can't bowl out a game?
Siddle is old and slow. He has to be done soon enough.

 

[ROOTA#6]

Why is he up for selection if he can't bowl out a game?
Siddle is old and slow. He has to be done soon enough.

How would the selectors know if he can bowl out a game...the kids hasn't played any game of length in how long for christs sake

 

[ChampRevesby]

How would the selectors know if he can bowl out a game...the kids hasn't played any game of length in how long for christs sake

So the fitness staff (on behalf of the selectors) have got it completely wrong in getting him over there?

 

[ROOTA#6]

So the fitness staff (on behalf of the selectors) have got it completely wrong in getting him over there?

In my opinion yes

 

[Showbags]

The selectors have to either come out and back Watson, Haddin and Voges for the rest of the series or make the change now.

Watson and Haddin 100% shouldn't be there. But now that they are they have to be backed to the hilt now or removed now.

Having the Sword of Damocles hanging over your head is not good for a Cricketer's confidence. Watson is a guy that needs to be able to play his natural game. He needs to be told his position is safe and should play till the end of the series if he is to remain in the side.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

The selectors have to either come out and back Watson, Haddin and Voges for the rest of the series or make the change now.

Watson and Haddin 100% shouldn't be there. But now that they are they have to be backed to the hilt now or removed now.

Having the Sword of Damocles hanging over your head is not good for a Cricketer's confidence. Watson is a guy that needs to be able to play his natural game. He needs to be told his position is safe and should play till the end of the series if he is to remain in the side.

It's not good but they are professional sportsmen. They live with that. I think you'll find that the Poms have Watson's natural game thoroughly worked out. Where to bowl and what field to set to him.