Cricket

[Leysy Days]

Yes Greg Chappell was a fine attacking batsman wasnt he Lukeanddad. As was Boon in his early years.

& there has definately been some questionable selections over the year(s) as you allude. But the decisions in the leadup to the first test are near impossible to fault though INO.

On your examples Siddle wa sstruggling for wickets at the time but only left the team because of injury didnt he. Just hasnt really had the form to get back in as yet. Especially as his replacement Bollinger has performed very well.

Not sure anyone can argue against horrible Hauritz being dropped. Has clearly lost he confidence of his captain, which is no suprise seeing the amount of runs he has leaked of late.

& Besides every cricketer knows fast bowlers dont have brains.

 

[mb64]

Greg Chappell?

Good point,l forgot about him as he's just come on the panel.

 

[lukeanddad]

I know your tongue is somewhere near your cheek. However, for Fleming to not be used more by the selectors/Cricket Australia is odd - unless he is not interested.

By the way, Hauritz has been ordinary. Very ordinary. But, I'd argue no worse than North. However, if you are rubbish as a batsman you look silly for five minutes and then wander off - as a bowler, the spotlight is on you for 6 hours.

 

[Leysy Days]

Good commentator is Fleming. Like his banter with Mark Waugh & Blewitt on Fox. Would have a good grasp of the state sides as well through his work there.

Navy would have had North out of the side a while before now no question. Definately a lack of foresight as now the challengers have failed in the leadups whilst North inevitably scores a century in his last test.

That decision to stick with North doesnt make the Hauritz decision incorrect though.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

I forgot the most obvious one! Hilditch said it in todays paper, "Hussey averages 50 for Australia". Yep he sure does except its come down from 75!

Steve Waugh also averages 50 for Australia. Perhaps they should pick him too.

Good old hooker Hilditch.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

Good commentator is Fleming. Like his banter with Mark Waugh & Blewitt on Fox. Would have a good grasp of the state sides as well through his work there.

Navy would have had North out of the side a while before now no question. Definately a lack of foresight as now the challengers have failed in the leadups whilst North inevitably scores a century in his last test.

That decision to stick with North doesnt make the Hauritz decision incorrect though.

IMO the Fox commentators in Blewett, Waugh, Fleming, Julian and AB are much better as a group that the old buggers on Channel 9.

 

[lukeanddad]

Navy would have had North out of the side a while before now no question. Definately a lack of foresight as now the challengers have failed in the leadups whilst North inevitably scores a century in his last test.

That decision to stick with North doesnt make the Hauritz decision incorrect though.

Can't bellieve I'm sticking up for Horrie, but 9 tests for 38 wickets in Oz is good for a spinner. I also think he did ok in the last Ashes series...
I would have thought that XD (average in the high 40s) should be a bit surprised to be there. Seems as though the skipper had some say in this.

 

[Streak]

I forgot the most obvious one! Hilditch said it in todays paper, "Hussey averages 50 for Australia". Yep he sure does except its come down from 75!

So very roughly speaking, he has avergaed somewhere around 25 since those lofty days?

Given the number of not outs with good socres he got early in his career, I'd actually say it must be a fair bit lower than 25.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

So very roughly speaking, he has avergaed somewhere around 25 since those lofty days?

Given the number of not outs with good socres he got early in his career, I'd actually say it must be a fair bit lower than 25.

He has made just 2 centuries in his past 50 odd test innings. Nowhere near good enough for a specialist batsman.

 

[Leysy Days]

IMO the Fox commentators in Blewett, Waugh, Fleming, Julian and AB are much better as a group that the old buggers on Channel 9.

Yeah it is Phil. Really enjoy their stuff. Got miles on the contrived over the top 9 comms dont they.

Can't bellieve I'm sticking up for Horrie, but 9 tests for 38 wickets in Oz is good for a spinner. I also think he did ok in the last Ashes series...
I would have thought that XD (average in the high 40s) should be a bit surprised to be there. Seems as though the skipper had some say in this.

Doherty is much improved since his early days L&D. Averages 26 since his re-introduction to the shield team late last year. Is also easily the countries top limited overs tweaker.

Like Hauritz he wont run through teams & be a star, but can at least keep things tight when his captain needs it. Which Hauritz has been unable to do in recent times.

Doherty is also an exceptional fieldsman, which Hauritz is not.

 

[tigertim]

Can't bellieve I'm sticking up for Horrie, but 9 tests for 38 wickets in Oz is good for a spinner. I also think he did ok in the last Ashes series...
I would have thought that XD (average in the high 40s) should be a bit surprised to be there. Seems as though the skipper had some say in this.

Very true. Lucky boy is X. Seems he's pretty much been picked based on a 1 day game! I think he's taken 11 wickets this summer in 6 1st class games. Less than 2 a game...less than 1 an innings! Yes, better than Hauritz but then again Hauritz has barely bowled! Doherty still averages 48 with the ball too. We used to laugh at the Poms for this type of selection.

Hate to say it but Doherty will be just another in what's becoming a revolving door for Aussie spinners since Warnes departure. McGill, White, Cullen, Casson, Krezja, McGain, Cullen, Hogg, Hauritz ...anyone I forgot?

 

[Michael]

I must say, I am really looking forward to Thursday

Will the Aussies fail, will the Poms dominate

I for one dont rate the Poms that highly, but with a bit of momentum and confidence they could be good. They are certainly making all the right noises and have dramatically improved their preparation.

Whereas, we could not have planned a worse lead up to an Ashes series, we are a shambles. Cricket Australia are not managing the situation at well. The media hype around so many questionable players cannot foster a healthy attitude. Mind you it could be a scam....look like a mess, play like crap in the lead up..build up the odds and then clean up on the punt.

Look for a dropped catch 3rd ball of the 2nd over

 

[mb64]

Can't bellieve I'm sticking up for Horrie, but 9 tests for 38 wickets in Oz is good for a spinner. I also think he did ok in the last Ashes series...
I would have thought that XD (average in the high 40s) should be a bit surprised to be there. Seems as though the skipper had some say in this.

l would thought Ponting would have wanted Horror,l suspect Doherty is in the side because he's a left hander & they think he'll do a better job against poms.Time will tell.

 

[Leysy Days]

Very true. Lucky boy is X. Seems he's pretty much been picked based on a 1 day game! I think he's taken 11 wickets this summer in 6 1st class games. Less than 2 a game...less than 1 an innings! Yes, better than Hauritz but then again Hauritz has barely bowled! Doherty still averages 48 with the ball too. We used to laugh at the Poms for this type of selection.

Hate to say it but Doherty will be just another in what's becoming a revolving door for Aussie spinners since Warnes departure. McGill, White, Cullen, Casson, Krezja, McGain, Cullen, Hogg, Hauritz ...anyone I forgot?

Doherty has the most wickets of any slow bowler in the shield this season with 11 wickets at 27.

This goes with his 12 international & domestic one day wickets for the summer at an average of 14.

Hard to argue with the selectors picking the spinner on form Navy would have thought.

Posters sticking up for Hauritz on here is quite baffling.

 

[lukeanddad]

Perhaps only baffling because they/we have a different view to Navy?

 

[mb64]

Perhaps only baffling because they/we have a different view to Navy?

lts hard to mount a case for Horror,he's been pretty average.

 

[tigertim]

Doherty has the most wickets of any slow bowler in the shield this season with 11 wickets at 27.

This goes with his 12 international & domestic one day wickets for the summer at an average of 14.

Hard to argue with the selectors picking the spinner on form Navy would have thought.

Posters sticking up for Hauritz on here is quite baffling.

I'm certainly not sticking up for Hauritz. I'd rather go with 4 quicks than have a 2nd rate spinner in the team, whoever that might be.

What we are talking about is another poor selection from a befuddled selection panel. So if this summers domestic form is the criteria for selection then why wasnt McDonald chosen in the squad ( before injury), why isnt Khawaja playing, David Hussey, Cosgrove in the batting line up. Copeland, Swan, Cameron, Butterworth and Pattinson in the bowling line up?

 

[Leysy Days]

I'm certainly not sticking up for Hauritz. I'd rather go with 4 quicks than have a 2nd rate spinner in the team, whoever that might be.

What we are talking about is another poor selection from a befuddled selection panel. So if this summers domestic form is the criteria for selection then why wasnt McDonald chosen in the squad ( before injury), why isnt Khawaja playing, David Hussey, Cosgrove in the batting line up. Copeland, Swan, Cameron, Butterworth and Pattinson in the bowling line up?

We will already play 4 quicks if you include the overs that Watson will no doubt bowl.

McDonald, yes unlucky. Khawaja couldnt get runs in either innings against the 2nd string English attack so its hard to justify picking him to step up a week later. Hussey is too old & Cossie has a wee fitness issue to work through before getting higher honours.

Not sure of the relevance of all of the bowlers you mention. Greg Chappell is rightly a stickler for a well balanced team, a spinner will play. Doherty is suited to all the english right handers & will prove far harder to get away than horrible Hauritz.

Thats unless those bowlers they are deemed by you to be ahead of Hilfy, Johnson, Dougie & Siddle who all bar Johnson (who was man of the match against Vic) have performed well for Aus in the past 12 months they have nothing to do with the topic at hand.

 

[spook]

Don't think we're in a position to select Patto either, given his status as an English Test cricketer. His little brother might get a run in the coming years though. Genuine all-rounder I'm told.

 

[poppa x]

I'm confused.
The current lot are hopeless and the next lot aren't good enough.
Is this where we are ATM?

In the long term, surely Smith would be a better bet than Doherty. Plus he can bat a bit.
What's wrong with blooding him and giving him time to mature?