What to expect this summer

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#51
Yeah, they stuck with Marsh even though he was horribly out of form because there was no Shield cricket to pick a replacement from (eg. Khawaja and Hughes were dropped and had to go straight into T20 cricket without having the chance to work out their issues in the Shield).
Well, Phil Hughes turned down a Big Bash contract at the last minute, so that he could "play heaps of first class cricket and earn his way back into the Australian test team."
Except, well, there wasn't any first class cricket at the time.
 

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Kyptastic

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#52
Well, Phil Hughes turned down a Big Bash contract at the last minute, so that he could "play heaps of first class cricket and earn his way back into the Australian test team."
Except, well, there wasn't any first class cricket at the time.
True, although he did spend the time working on his technique and also went over to play County cricket over the winter. Started the season in decent form and it should only be a matter of time before he's back in the test team.
 

swingdog

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#53
It's all about the batting; the bowling is fine.

We're going to get thumped by South Africa - anyone who saw who they totally outplayed England at home can't for a minute think we're going to get near them.

We'll limp off at the end of the summer taking a team to England we know will be deficient, and will lose the Ashes again.
 
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#54
It's all about the batting; the bowling is fine.

We're going to get thumped by South Africa - anyone who saw who they totally outplayed England at home can't for a minute think we're going to get near them.

We'll limp off at the end of the summer taking a team to England we know will be deficient, and will lose the Ashes again.
I know it's your opinion but too me that is fairly negative talk. I believe not that long ago we went to South Africa and drew the series with them, so why will we not get near them?

I'm looking forward to a very competitive & close series, with names like Ponting, Amla, Hussey, DeVilliers, Watson, Kallis, Siddle, Steyn, Pattinson & Morkel it will be a cracker. We really need a huge series from Watson to win, must start converting 50's into 100's & no better time than now.

I admit looking at South Africa's team on paper looks to be very impressive, but we have some pretty bloody good players ourselves. Amla is there rock in the batting looks to be in fine touch atm, if we can keep him quiet I would be confident of restricting their batting.

Dale Steyn is the main man when it comes to there bowling attack, no better sight in the world when conditions suit his swing to watch him go about it. Philander I know had a great year, but for some reason I just don't think he'll have as big an impact as he had against us last time, very dangerous with the new ball but would back our batsman to dominate him later in the innings. Morkel & Tahir could do anything.

Tipping Peter Siddle & Shane Watson to have big series. Can't wait.
 
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#56
The 10/11 Ashes wouldn't have been a bad time to start either. ;):rolleyes:
Ha yeah true that. It's just frustrating watching him throw away starts, he looks an absolute world beater when he's batting most of the time, it has to be purely mental as he has all the talent in the world.

Don't get me wrong he is still a very handy batsman but I just feel he could be so much more, his time is NOW to show us just how good he is against an attack of Steyn, Philander, Morkel, Kallis & Tahir it will be fascinating to watch him go about it.
 
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#58
We really need a huge series from Watson to win, must start converting 50's into 100's & no better time than now.
Pretty much this. Saw an article on cricinfo that pretty much highlighted how important he's been for us recently.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/587247.html

"Since he hit his stride as a top-class international allrounder in all formats since 2009, Watson's stats have been staggering, across Tests, ODIs and T20 internationals, with both bat and ball. In these four years, Watson the batsman has scored 6330 international runs across formats at an average of more than 41, and taken 162 wickets at 25.15. During this period, he is the only player to have scored 5000 or more runs and taken 150-plus wickets in international cricket. No other player has even managed 4000 runs and 100 wickets, while only three others have achieved the double of 3000-plus runs and 75-plus wickets."
 

swingdog

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#59
I know it's your opinion but too me that is fairly negative talk. I believe not that long ago we went to South Africa and drew the series with them, so why will we not get near them?
Simply, because while I think our bowling attack has improved, our batting has gone backwards and their attack of Steyn, Morkel and Philander is currently the best in the world. I can see their batting line-up building big scores; I'm simply not that confident that our batsmen have the same ability.

As for the thrashing of India, beware of false dawns. India's test team has been on the decline for a while now and is being rightly belted. I'm not sure it told us that much about where Australia was at.
 

swingdog

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#61
How has our batting gone backwards since we toured SA last year?
Actually, I'd forgotten about / erased from my memory the 47 so fair enough.

Maybe, to phrase it better, we don't seem to have progressed in line with other teams. We're still too reliant on veterans and there's little pressure from underneath to take their spots.

South Africa in England, against as good an attack if not better than we'll put out, piled on big runs. I don't see Australia doing that against a decent attack.
 

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#63
Simply, because while I think our bowling attack has improved, our batting has gone backwards and their attack of Steyn, Morkel and Philander is currently the best in the world. I can see their batting line-up building big scores; I'm simply not that confident that our batsmen have the same ability.

As for the thrashing of India, beware of false dawns. India's test team has been on the decline for a while now and is being rightly belted. I'm not sure it told us that much about where Australia was at.
Yeah fair enough mate. Last summer against India we lost our top 3 pretty cheaply on regular occasions but got away with it because Indias bowling attack couldn't sustain the pressure. If that happens against South Africa we won't get away with it as they'll be relentless.

This is where Ed Cowan comes into it, if he faces say 100 balls he will make the job of Ponting, Clarke & Hussey's a lot easier when they come in. I'm confident that our batsman have the ability, it's just whether they have the temperament to make the big scores.
 

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#65
Is that a serious prediction? o_O
:D Absolutely.

Hoping England's pretty poor record in NZ holds up. The KP saga will drag on, Cook will prove to be a poor captain, and whoever replaces Strauss at the top will struggle. Their form in Tests is pretty horrid was well, massive banana skin coming up. NZ will be coming off the back of lots of cricket as well.
 

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#66
:D Absolutely.

Hoping England's pretty poor record in NZ holds up. The KP saga will drag on, Cook will prove to be a poor captain, and whoever replaces Strauss at the top will struggle. Their form in Tests is pretty horrid was well, massive banana skin coming up. NZ will be coming off the back of lots of cricket as well.
England haven't lost a Test series in NZ since 1983/84. Don't expect that to change
 

DrVanNostrand

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#67
England haven't lost a Test series in NZ since 1983/84. Don't expect that to change
Haha, I knew I should have edited my post to say "relatively" poor record. Ie. not severe domination. Well played sir.

2-1 in 2008. 1-1 in 2002. 2-0 in 1997. Any team worth their salt would be winning these series 3-0. Remember, South Africa only won 1-0 in NZ this year over 3 Tests thanks to road-effected draws.
 
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