Cricket

[evo]

Navy seems more in denial than the Aussie selectors.

Agreed.

 

[jb03]

Any answer jb?

You may like to look at stats to assess. Other use their eyes and observe.

This.

Talk to Warne about what he thinks of Ponting as captain. One of the great cricketing minds is Warne.

I always liked Ponting the player, but I struggle to think how people can say time is not up? What are people hanging onto? When I talk about his captaincy being a failure, you judge a captaincy by the legacy he leaves. Right now, he leaves us in dire straights. I think it is laughable and very niave for people to think the Aussie cricket captain has little say in the team that goes out. Ponting has a massive say.

You want one example of a guy who wasn't a Ponting mate who knocked down the door but was harshly treated Scoop? Brad Hodge.

Very good post bobby.

 

[Tigerbob]

lol @ Australia's bowling 'attack'.

England are 5 for 1002 in the last two innings.

What's more depressing is our batting is worse.

Yep but let's keep things as they are...... wow.

 

[MB78]

Don't think White's batting form is good enough.

He made 100 for Australia A recently against the Poms. Has showed a lot more than North. Current middle order not working time to make some changes.

 

[TigerForce]

We need a Barmy Army to rev us up.

Fielding today was as mediocre as I've ever seen it.

 

[evo]

England are 5 for 1002 in the last two innings.

Seems to me like Engerland have another 2 or 300 in them this innings, as well!

 

[Tigerbob]

Seems to me like Engerland have another 2 or 300 in them this innings, as well!

At least.

We struggled to make 248. You can only laugh otherwise you'd cry.

By the way this is England we are talking about, not some great side from any era. It's bloody England, not even the best team in the world now.

Good luck to us.

 

[Leysy Days]

In regards to Phil Hughes there mate, bit of a short sighted view.

He needs to be played and developed playing for the country.

He has some technical issues to work through which going by his record he is still having issues with.

International cricket is not the place for it Bob.

There are better young players INO. They also bat where the team needs boosting.

 

[Leysy Days]

You may like to look at stats to assess. Other use their eyes and observe.

Its win/loss record. Perhaps the AFL should do away with the ladder if that doesnt mean anything.

 

[jb03]

Its win/loss record. Perhaps the AFL should do away with the ladder if that doesnt mean anything.

LOL at an AFL analogy.

You enjoy the wins against New Zealand, West Indies and a tanking Pakistan. I'll worry about the losses in the Ashes and an inability to win in India - arguably the only two things that matter.

 

[Scoop]

So what should have the Skipper done to stop this onslaught over the past two tests?

What hasn't he done? The bowling attack is a pop gun attack.

Brad Hodge, the standard response. Not sure how that helps the bowling attack and stops all the problems.

Average side will get average results. What young bowlers should be called up? Besides the 245 in this test for me, the fielding and the bowling are the concerns.

And don't get me wrong, I think we are in all sorts but I don't think the skipper is the scapegoat some are making out.

 

[Tigerbob]

He has some technical issues to work through which going by his record he is still having issues with.

International cricket is not the place for it Bob.

There are better young players INO. They also bat where the team needs boosting.

I disagree on a couple of fronts.

One, if we are going to rebuild correctly, getting him experience at the top level is vital. He can work those little issues out with the more experience he gets.

Also, as per the discussion last night or the night before on here, i think we need to restructure the whole batting line up and think Watson is better served being an all rounder who gives us more strength in the middle order. He makes a difference in bowling a few overs here and there, having him open after two days out in the heat and bowling a few overs too is nonsense in my opinion.

Hughes is highly rated by me, think he needs a chance.

 

[jb03]

So what should have the Skipper done to stop this onslaught over the past two tests?

What hasn't he done? The bowling attack is a pop gun attack.

Brad Hodge, the standard response. Not sure how that helps the bowling attack and stops all the problems.

Average side will get average results. What young bowlers should be called up? Besides the 245 in this test for me, the fielding and the bowling are the concerns.

And don't get me wrong, I think we are in all sorts but I don't think the skipper is the scapegoat some are making out.

It is not the last two tests Scoop. Ponting has been a poor captain for a long time and you could argue that he was solely responsible for losing the ashes in 2005.

 

[jb03]

I disagree on a couple of fronts.

One, if we are going to rebuild correctly, getting him experience at the top level is vital. He can work those little issues out with the more experience he gets.

Also, as per the discussion last night or the night before on here, i think we need to restructure the whole batting line up and think Watson is better served being an all rounder who gives us more strength in the middle order. He makes a difference in bowling a few overs here and there, having him open after two days out in the heat and bowling a few overs too is nonsense in my opinion.

Hughes is highly rated by me, think he needs a chance.

So with Watson, the argument seems to be that personally for him it is best that he opens, but for the betterment of the team as a whole, he should drop down the order.

 

[Leysy Days]

LOL at an AFL analogy.

You enjoy the wins against New Zealand, West Indies and a tanking Pakistan. I'll worry about the losses in the Ashes and an inability to win in India - arguably the only two things that matter.

Interesting. Steve Waugh could never win a series in India. Australia's only win came under Ponting & Gilchrists leadership. (Ponting was injured for part of that series).

& World Cups dont count?

 

[Leysy Days]

I disagree on a couple of fronts.

One, if we are going to rebuild correctly, getting him experience at the top level is vital. He can work those little issues out with the more experience he gets.

Also, as per the discussion last night or the night before on here, i think we need to restructure the whole batting line up and think Watson is better served being an all rounder who gives us more strength in the middle order. He makes a difference in bowling a few overs here and there, having him open after two days out in the heat and bowling a few overs too is nonsense in my opinion.

Hughes is highly rated by me, think he needs a chance.

Its not a little issue with him. Its big.

Bringing a young player in when he is not performing runs a very big risk of denting his career long term.

 

[Tigerbob]

So what should have the Skipper done to stop this onslaught over the past two tests?

What hasn't he done? The bowling attack is a pop gun attack.

Brad Hodge, the standard response. Not sure how that helps the bowling attack and stops all the problems.

Average side will get average results. What young bowlers should be called up? Besides the 245 in this test for me, the fielding and the bowling are the concerns.

And don't get me wrong, I think we are in all sorts but I don't think the skipper is the scapegoat some are making out.

As Jb has said it's not just about there two tests.

Also what reason would he be justified in keeping his place in the side? We have no one else?

*smile*.

Time to grow some balls and make the hard call which shouldn't be that hard.

There is no logical reason to keep things as they are.

 

[Leysy Days]

So with Watson, the argument seems to be that personally for him it is best that he opens, but for the betterment of the team as a whole, he should drop down the order.

Thats on the assumption he keeps his form in the middle order. He didnt perform there previously.

 

[Tigerbob]

Its not a little issue with him. Its big.

Bringing a young player in when he is not performing runs a very big risk of denting his career long term.

LOL

How big are there issues? Not very in my opinion. The kid has done very well when given the chance playing for his country. Whats the point keeping him at the lower levels against the lower standard bowling? Some people just perform at the next level, Hughes has the temperament. Plenty of players have made it far at International level with a minor technical blip in their batting.

Anyway, it's no point arguing the case. The selectors and the captain will make sure nothing changes too much. They lack the kohunas.

 

[Leysy Days]

Hughes current technique is not built for short bowling.

That is a big problem will only increase at test level.