Cricket

[craig]

8/103, dejavu? I agree mb, surely we learnt our lesson? Stark looks a very likely type.

as a left arm quick maybe he could take Johnston aside and show him how to bowl better line and length ;D

Only seen 4 overs of the game today not really interested but saw Starc rolling it over did look ok from the very lil bit i saw of him had the batsmen hopping a little.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

I hope Johnson, as the "senior pro" in the boling lineup, took note of how Starc bowled today. He may learn a thing or two.

Good to have a Mitch in the side who can bowl acurately for a change....

 

[Ian4]

The people who say we are going to get thrashed need to sober up.

The English are not that good. In fact, they themselves are pretty damned ordinary. Keep in mind this is the 4th ranked test team vs the 5th.

nope, we will lose.

 

[spook]

With both teams having brittle batting line-ups and lacking bowling penetration the $9.20 on Betfair for the 2-2 draw looks good value.

 

[Tigertool]

It's finally good to see a few young guys playing in the squad's now, but there needs to be more. I am sick of a new guy coming into the side and being 30 years old. A cull needs to happen soon Hussey, Haddin, Ponting for example, in favour of some younger guys. I like the look of Timmy Paine..

We will get smashed in the ashes by the way.

 

[mb64]

nope, we will lose.

At this stage l agree

 

[poppa x]

So last night we were chasing a lowly score and in no danger of losing.
Does anyone else agree we should have batted Ferguson at 4 to broaden his experience.
I could see zero gain in batting Hussey at 4 ahead of Ferguson and Smith.

 

[Streak]

Well I still reckon we will retain the Ashes.

 

[mb64]

Well I still reckon we will retain the Ashes.

Retain?we haven't got them.

 

[Streak]

Retain?we haven't got them.

Well spotted MB :clap

Obviously a typo. I meant to say regain.

 

[mb64]

Well spotted MB :clap

Obviously a typo. I meant to say regain.

Hope your right

 

[IanG]

So last night we were chasing a lowly score and in no danger of losing.
Does anyone else agree we should have batted Ferguson at 4 to broaden his experience.
I could see zero gain in batting Hussey at 4 ahead of Ferguson and Smith.

Exactly if its good enough for Clarke to monkey around the T20 order to satisfy himself he certainly could have done that.

 

[MB78]

So last night we were chasing a lowly score and in no danger of losing.
Does anyone else agree we should have batted Ferguson at 4 to broaden his experience.
I could see zero gain in batting Hussey at 4 ahead of Ferguson and Smith.

I agree with this. I still don't get the logic with playing Hussey. If Hodge is too old to be picked as they don't see him in the next world cup team then surely the same would have to apply for Hussey.

 

[Streak]

So last night we were chasing a lowly score and in no danger of losing.
Does anyone else agree we should have batted Ferguson at 4 to broaden his experience.
I could see zero gain in batting Hussey at 4 ahead of Ferguson and Smith.

But what if Ferguson had shown something. He might push Mr Circket out of the team. That would be disastrous for our Ashes campaign :hihi

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

Steve Waugh seems to think that with Greg Chappell now on the selection panel, he will push for youth. Good to see Chappell he has said that form will count more than reputations.

Lets just hope the other selectors, Hooker Hilditch in particular, can be brought in line with this thinking.

 

[mb64]

I agree with this. I still don't get the logic with playing Hussey. If Hodge is too old to be picked as they don't see him in the next world cup team then surely the same would have to apply for Hussey.

Agree

 

[IanG]

Merv Hughes was on SEN the other day and far from delivering a broadside at the panel he continued to support them. Based on that interview there is no doubt in my mind that they are delusional. Their thinking is entirely short term, focused entirely on best players right at this minute regardless of age, although this doesn't explain Hodge or others like Hughes, with no thinking about selections for the long term and actually putting in place players who will form a nucleus for the next 10 years.

When asked the question about the downturn in form all he could say was India are too good in India at the moment, unfortunately no-one thought to ask him about the test ranking of 5.

 

[mb64]

Merv Hughes was on SEN the other day and far from delivering a broadside at the panel he continued to support them. Based on that interview there is no doubt in my mind that they are delusional. Their thinking is entirely short term, focused entirely on best players right at this minute regardless of age, although this doesn't explain Hodge or others like Hughes, with no thinking about selections for the long term and actually putting in place players who will form a nucleus for the next 10 years.

When asked the question about the downturn in form all he could say was India are too good in India at the moment, unfortunately no-one thought to ask him about the test ranking of 5.

Spot on Ian

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

Merv Hughes was on SEN the other day and far from delivering a broadside at the panel he continued to support them. Based on that interview there is no doubt in my mind that they are delusional. Their thinking is entirely short term, focused entirely on best players right at this minute regardless of age, although this doesn't explain Hodge or others like Hughes, with no thinking about selections for the long term and actually putting in place players who will form a nucleus for the next 10 years.

When asked the question about the downturn in form all he could say was India are too good in India at the moment, unfortunately no-one thought to ask him about the test ranking of 5.

They are scared to make changes, and cling to the hope that Michael Hussey can replicate his 2007-2008 form, Marcus North can replicate the form he showed in South Africa as can Mitchell Johnson. And while we wait for these guys' performances to improve, we keep slipping further behind the rest of the world.

 

[Eric]

What a lot of people seem to not understand on here is that there are no draft picks to be gained from picking young talent and losing. Of course they will pick a proven performer over a young talent until such time as the young talent forces his way into the side. Martyn, Langer, Lehmann, Hayden, Gilchrist all had to bide their time until it got to the point where they simply could no longer be ignored before being regular fixtures in the national side. Didnt seem to do them too much harm. Hussey, Katich, North all had to score an absolute mountain of runs in first class cricket before finally getting their go.