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Cricket
- Thread starter mb64
- Start date
I reckon they named a squad because the board locked them into this date for naming a team and they want a bit of flexibility should anyone either fail or dominate in this week's games. Great to see Khawaja, Ferguson and Smith in there, slightly baffling as to why one-day specialist and first-class battler Doherty is in it. Poor bloody Phil Hughes, they have *smile* him over big time.
No issue with leaving Hughes out for Navy.
Has some serious flaws that need fixing before he should be re-introduced to International cricket.
It is pretty weird naming a 17 man squad for a home match. As spook says the selectors were obviously locked into this time frame by the board so they could have an announcement today for sponsors, publicity etc.
Has some serious flaws that need fixing before he should be re-introduced to International cricket.
It is pretty weird naming a 17 man squad for a home match. As spook says the selectors were obviously locked into this time frame by the board so they could have an announcement today for sponsors, publicity etc.
Yep, just spoke to my old man and he made the point it's more than they take on a tour of England these days. I reckon the likes of Slater shamed them into it. Now hopefully North and Hussey fail again this week and Khawaja and Smith make tons (not sold on Ferguson - averages 35 in first-class cricket). Haddin, Smith, Johnson, Hauritz is still a strong 6-9 and gives us some bowling flexibility, as well as easing Smith into Test cricket without too much pressure on his bowling or batting. I'm a big wrap for Smith - oodles of talent. Time to let the young blokes take it up to the Poms. As someone else said, the young talent is there, it just needs to be given a chance.
Time for the selectors to pick the best team for Australia and stop worrying about blokes' 'careers'. Hussey's a damn millionaire for *smile*'s sake, a 36-year-old millionaire whose last two years have been awful. Who are we, England? Credit expired Mr Cricket. North fails four times out of five. Always has. Khawaja at bare minimum must play. I'd drop both the 'senior pros' (read: passengers) and play Khawaja and Smith. Harris is probably ahead of Bollinger and Siddle in that order for third seamer, given there's little chance they'll leave Johnson out no matter how much he sprays them.
Take your point on Hughes Gravyboat.
Time for the selectors to pick the best team for Australia and stop worrying about blokes' 'careers'. Hussey's a damn millionaire for *smile*'s sake, a 36-year-old millionaire whose last two years have been awful. Who are we, England? Credit expired Mr Cricket. North fails four times out of five. Always has. Khawaja at bare minimum must play. I'd drop both the 'senior pros' (read: passengers) and play Khawaja and Smith. Harris is probably ahead of Bollinger and Siddle in that order for third seamer, given there's little chance they'll leave Johnson out no matter how much he sprays them.
Take your point on Hughes Gravyboat.
Share the desire for new batting blood (+ a bowling intimidator) but reckon the squad announced is sadly just window dressing.
Kwahaja & Ferguson named more as cover for Clarke’s injury rather than possible replacements for North/Hussey. Ryan Harris re-injured himself in the Shield match v Tasmania & won’t play the next Shield / Australia A match , giving Johnson a reprieve , regardless of form. Only likely bowling change , depending on next round of Shield games ,is Smith or Doherty for Hauritz , with Siddle or Bollinger 12th man.
The new chums if given a decent go , can rejuvenate the batting . Unearthing bowling stocks to consistently take 20 wickets a match is the greater concern.
Kwahaja & Ferguson named more as cover for Clarke’s injury rather than possible replacements for North/Hussey. Ryan Harris re-injured himself in the Shield match v Tasmania & won’t play the next Shield / Australia A match , giving Johnson a reprieve , regardless of form. Only likely bowling change , depending on next round of Shield games ,is Smith or Doherty for Hauritz , with Siddle or Bollinger 12th man.
The new chums if given a decent go , can rejuvenate the batting . Unearthing bowling stocks to consistently take 20 wickets a match is the greater concern.
I fear you're right marella, but if the young blokes score big runs this week Greg Chappell will be pushing for at least one of them to get a game. Bowling-wise our future stocks look good in the pace department, with the NSW trio of Starc, Cameron and Hazelwood, but we need to find a leggie.
Agree with spook , leg/wrist spinner(s) rather than offies, will help win a series so why not show faith in young Smith & play him anyway , as the main/sole spinner/ bowling allrounder . North, if he can consistently bat to his average, at least, can fill the finger spinning/batting allrounder role . Kwahaja batted well on a Gabba greentop a couple of weeks ago & merits selection regardless but even moreso if Hussey fails next Shield game.
tigertim said:
I can't speak for others but IMHO its the only way I can see change being forced. CA, the selectors, and the leading players have their heads so far in the sand as to the state of cricket in this country its not funny.
Streak said:
I can't see how its poor sportsmanship.
As for the squad of 17 it just shows they can't make a decision.
IanG said:
I agree, but at least naming such a large squad it gives them a chance to pick the in form players out of the selected group, it's a better outcome than selecting twelve or thirteen, no matter how the public percieve it.
I doubt they will make too many changes to the batting lineup yet, but expect one or two changes to the bowling attack.
Theres currently massive support for Smith, as much as I rate him and forsee a good career, i'm not convinced he's up to such a big series yet at this stage of his developement. We should stick with Hauritz out of the three spinners selected for the time being (makes me sick to say it as I still think Krezja is the best spinner in the country).
I reckon Harris is a dead set certainty. His knee has blown up a bit after the Tassie game but he said it's what he expected. He's not playing any warm up games to give it a rest. I don't think he needs to impress before the first test, he'll walk straight in and partner Hilfy and Johnson with Watto providing the change up and Hauritz the spin.
Johnson would know he will struggle to keep his spot if he gets off to a poor start to the ashes. Bollinger will be breathing down his neck once fit, I wouldn't risk being a bowler short mid test if Douggie isn't 100%, it's a good threat to have hanging over Mitchell's head. Expect him to be fired up at the gabba in suitable conditions. Hilfy and Harris will be very difficult to play on a pitch that will provide plenty of seam and carry. Johnson will need to keep it tight to keep the pressure on at the other end. In saying our quicks should bowl well at the gabba, also expect Broad to start the series with a bang. This guy will have a huge say in whether the poms keep the urn. We must negate his ability to take bunches of wickets in his spells.
This series is like a grand final for a few of the senior players, expect them to have the team in the mood for a fight with their backs against the wall. Whatever people think of the captain, one thing is for sure, he loves a scrap, he will lead from the front as he did in India.
IanG said:
We gloated when we were thrashing them. Now that we look like possibly getting beaten, we are looking for someone to blame. If you can't take the heat.....
IanG said:
Are you serious? " I want US to get beaten". You want your own team to get beaten so that it vindicates your opinion that CA and the selectors are "idiots"?
That's not poor sportsmanship? By all means have no faith in the selectors/CA and even the team itself but to WANT YOUR own team/country to get beaten is downright bizarre.
Again, do you want RFC to lose because you don't like the way they've selected the side?