Cricket

[Joe Lynn Turnip]

And biggest underachievers

Mate I'm a Victorian who happens to support Australia first and State cricket is nought but a nursery to me, but that's just not true. Please study the history of the Australian game at Test & First Class level again, then talk to me. Make sure you include all the players NSW has contributed to other states over the years as well. Also note there's only something like around only 20 players difference in number of Blues & Vics that have represented Australia. BTW...not one of the current selectors is from NSW, and given their performances, maybe there should be.

I offered up players who I think have the most potential, that most of them at the the moment are from one state is coincidental. Sorry I don't rate blokes like McKay , Harris or George.(The first two are still better than Hilfenhaus & Johnson though) Pattison is injured. Paine is now injured. Ferguson's temperament and technique is simply not up to Test level IMO. Hodge is too old and like most of the current Victorian side, whose whole is greater than the sum of it's parts, is a domestic level bully with a flawed technique that was exposed last time he played Tests -double century on the WACA road against a then pop gun South African attack not withstanding. White is not Test Match standard.Bailey & Butterworth - yeah, nah. There's a young quick from QLD who's name escapes me-Boyce I think -who looks promising. Swan's another one. In fact there's a few quicks up there I like. Neither of the Marsh brothers can be discounted in future. Though the younger has a way to go and the older still needs to work on a few things if he wants to play test matches.

As for NSW, I could've also mentioned Starc , the injured Hazlewood and even Jaques. Hell I'd even chuck in Warner at 6/7 if he started working on his handy leggies again.


And anyone who thinks Smith & Bollinger are just "hype" is seriously kidding themselves. The former is as naturally talented as anyone in the last 20 years and needs to be blooded ASAP. The latter's injury just after the fall of the 8th wicket in the first test in India is the reason we lost that match, was head and shoulders above the rest..

 

[Jason King]

Gee White is a better bowler and batsmen for mine than North, same goes for Smith in place of North. Bit of youthfull exuberance couldnt hurt could it?

 

[23.21.159]

1 for 517 !!! What an absolute flippin' disgrace!

Perhaps it would have been better for Australian cricket long term if we had collapsed and lost, rather than paper over the cracks with a face-saving draw ...

Statistically at least, even in the dark days of the mid-1980, we have never plunged so far ...

1 for 517. Let's not forget that one wicket was a stumping of a bloke with 100 already off a part time spinner who is unlikely to play again (hopefully). In batting terms it would be the equivalent of getting rolled for about 25.

 

[Streak]

Any other NSW players you would like to bring in, maybe Lee, Clark, Surprised you mentioned Krejza ahead of Hauritz, O'Keefe or Greg Matthews. There are cricketers from other states than NSW.

Maybe, but I think he makes some good points regarding the players he mentions.

 

[Hayfever]

Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris named in 13 man squad for 2nd Test

 

[Streak]

Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris named in 13 man squad for 2nd Test

So they still haven't had the balls to cut anyone yet.

 

[Hayfever]

Batsmen are safe. Pressure in squarely on Johnson and , maybe, Hilfy.

 

[cooltiger]

Batsmen are safe. Pressure in squarely on Johnson and , maybe, Hilfy.

Don't think North is safe

 

[23.21.159]

Don't think North is safe

Are you kidding? Our second innings destroyer!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Lidsand]

CA wont have the balls to drop johnson. unfortunately gatorade will see to that

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

CA wont have the balls to drop johnson. unfortunately gatorade will see to that

I hope you are wrong. He is a liability at the moment . Don't know what happened to the Johnson who dominated south Africa 2 years ago

 

[mb64]

I hope you are wrong. He is a liability at the moment . Don't know what happened to the Johnson who dominated south Africa 2 years ago

Johnson is gawn,certainty to be dropped.

 

[Streak]

I hope you are wrong. He is a liability at the moment . Don't know what happened to the Johnson who dominated south Africa 2 years ago

He looks like becoming the Ian Baker-Finch of world cricket, a spot I used to reserve for Daryl Cullinan.

 

[mb64]

I Suspect Harris & Bollinger will both play instead of Johnson & Hilfy

 

[poppa x]

I'd make 2 changes.

Dougie for Johnson
and
Smith for North - I'd bat Haddin at 6 and Smith at 7.

I'd give Hilfy one more test as IMO he deserves respect after his efforts of the last 12 months.

2c

 

[Leysy Days]

There's been a bit of over-reaction around the country from perenially spoilt Aus cricket fans for navy.

Facts are we just dont have the bowling talent in the country run through sides when the pitch becomes as flat as the one at the Gabba (which is another point navy will raise later).

Thats not to say changes shouldnt be made though. We have a severe weak link in the chain & when you build pressure on batsman only for it to vanish as soon he comes on means Johnson has to go pronto.

Combine his lack of accuracy with the fact he has lost all ability to move the ball means he's a complete liability. Its also not going to change until some technical alterations are made to his bowling which will take time.

Hilfenhaus has bowled without luck, & has kept things tight, but does need some wickets very soon to ensure his position. Siddle ha an amazing 1st innings spell that keeps him entrenched & whilst Doherty will never run through teams he is the countries best bet to keep things tight whilst getting the odd wicket to enable the pacemen a spell. (Which they will need plenty of with a heap of bowling in 5 tests within 7 weeks).

Bollinger then Harris (who must have ??? on his fitness) would be the order of replacement for navy.

North too deserves to go. The problem is that just when they need to be in form Khawaja & Ferguson have been failing with just as much regularity of late. White too hasnt set the world on fire at a time when a spot could open up for him. Whilst he has some technical issues he would give the side an attacking element which is good for a No 6 as well as being an excellent slipper who as we've seen is also badly required.

Smith is another option but would need to play at 6 ahead of North as opposed to taking a bowlers spot as there is every chance his bowling would be hit out of the attack very early.

On the pitch, yes it green early. But it was still slow, it then denigrated to a lifeless track that offered nothing for the bowler. Yes Aus should have taken more wickets than they did. But 5 catches were spilled as well as a catch that wasnt given. To prove the pitch's worth - as good as Ponting is there is no way a batsman should be able to come in late on day 5 & play the shots he did to reel 50 off in 40 balls.

Remember when all pitches in Australia (bar sydney) used to be hard & fast that gave the bowler some support with the great carry they had. Now across the country they are flat, low, benign things. Hopefully Adelaide's curator can spice things up. Its a big issue across world cricket with England a mile ahead of everyone else in producing pitches that are excellent to watch good cricket on.

On the series from here, it is evenly poised between two similar teams in terms of talent. The talk of England taking momentum out of this test is rubbish for navy. There best bowler (Swan) was innocuous & Aus reeled off 580 runs for 11 wickets.

Navy gets the impression Ponting is very determined for this series & wont hand it up without a fight.

 

[Scoop]

Agree Navy.

After day 2 it may as well have been played on the Hume. Once the sting went out of the wicket everyone looked like world beaters on both sides. It was a shocking test wicket and one that I hope is not repeated at the Adelaide oval which is not the most bouncy pitch getting around. We are getting far too close to having boring pitches in Australia. Perth used to be a minefield, now it is a bowling green. Same with the MCG and Sydney is not the spinners wicket it used to be. Can think of one test were Allan Border turned it like Tim May to get 7/46 at the SCG, not now.

From a Aussie standpoint we need result wickets, not what was served up at the Gabba. Would rather see scores around 280-300 with batsmen having to grind out a tough 70 then see Cook belt around a boring 200.

Drop Johnson, Drop North. Play Dougie B and take a punt on someone untried for North.

Still line ball. And Swann looks like a cricketer who could lose confidence very qucikly if he is belted again in the second test. If we can push him into a supporting role, then the English attack doesn't look any better then ours.

Should be a gripping summer. Long live the Ashes and long live the ABC call team.

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

Agree with the comments on the pitch. Peter Roebuck wrote a good piece on it today.

Not good when you see the GABBA on day five almost empty except for the Barmy Army in what has been a highly anticipated series.

We need result wickets.

 

[mb64]

Agree Navy.

After day 2 it may as well have been played on the Hume. Once the sting went out of the wicket everyone looked like world beaters on both sides. It was a shocking test wicket and one that I hope is not repeated at the Adelaide oval which is not the most bouncy pitch getting around. We are getting far too close to having boring pitches in Australia. Perth used to be a minefield, now it is a bowling green. Same with the MCG and Sydney is not the spinners wicket it used to be. Can think of one test were Allan Border turned it like Tim May to get 7/46 at the SCG, not now.

From a Aussie standpoint we need result wickets, not what was served up at the Gabba. Would rather see scores around 280-300 with batsmen having to grind out a tough 70 then see Cook belt around a boring 200.

Drop Johnson, Drop North. Play Dougie B and take a punt on someone untried for North.

Still line ball. And Swann looks like a cricketer who could lose confidence very qucikly if he is belted again in the second test. If we can push him into a supporting role, then the English attack doesn't look any better then ours.

Should be a gripping summer. Long live the Ashes and long live the ABC call team.

l agree Scoop but the selectors continue to support North despite no runs.

 

[Leysy Days]

Still line ball. And Swann looks like a cricketer who could lose confidence very qucikly if he is belted again in the second test. If we can push him into a supporting role, then the English attack doesn't look any better then ours.

This is a good point. With only 4 bowlers they rely massively on Swann to bowl tightly at one end for long periods whilst picking up wickets. It means they can attack with shortish spells from the other end with the 3 pace bowlers. If through necessity these 3 are needed to bowl more overs than ideal in tough conditions the cutting edge of every bowler will greatly suffer.

It is clear from Aus's intent in the 1st test against Swann that they know this.

Make no mistake if Swann continues to go for runs England will end with a worse attack than ours as the summer rolls on.