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Cricket
- Thread starter mb64
- Start date
Siddle should basically have sewn up a permanent spot as a bowler in this test. The only bowler to bowl a consistent line and length comparable to the English bowlers. Hilfenhaus was quite consistent as well but was not remotely as dangerous as Siddle. Harris, well the point is moot, he occasionally looked dangerous but could not bowl consistently. Johnson, similar to Harris except even less consistent. Smith actually looked good late on day 1 and early on day 2 but later on day 2 didn't bowl well.
mld said:
He might be a handy bat too in the future but at the moment he isn't close either way.
IanG said:
The problem is our team of eleven has seven players barely good enough to bat at 8.
The problem is our team, full stop.
If i was a selector for the last test this would be the team -
Hughes, Wade, Khawaja, Ponting, Hussey, Watson, Smith, Haddin, Siddle, Johnson, Pattison
Its a dead test so who cares about the result, Lets stick a fire cracker up Clarke's ass to let him know his performances haven't been up to scratch. Lets also give the newbies some confidence by saying "Here's your chance to show us what you've got, get out there and play your normal game". It will also give the side alot more batting depth, experience and stability through the middle order.
What i see our moron selectors doing is nothing and we will win the 5th test because the Poms will be on the pyss until 5 mintues before the game, the series will be level at 2 all and they will be saying there isnt much between the teams when the reality is different.
If i was a selector for the last test this would be the team -
Hughes, Wade, Khawaja, Ponting, Hussey, Watson, Smith, Haddin, Siddle, Johnson, Pattison
Its a dead test so who cares about the result, Lets stick a fire cracker up Clarke's ass to let him know his performances haven't been up to scratch. Lets also give the newbies some confidence by saying "Here's your chance to show us what you've got, get out there and play your normal game". It will also give the side alot more batting depth, experience and stability through the middle order.
What i see our moron selectors doing is nothing and we will win the 5th test because the Poms will be on the pyss until 5 mintues before the game, the series will be level at 2 all and they will be saying there isnt much between the teams when the reality is different.
I would now tell Ponting to retire and make it his last test. He then can go out with the world cup.
I would drop Clarke for this test and not pick him in the World Cup. I would be telling him to focus on his 1st class cricket, and get him playing in the UK (even better captaining a county team).
So my team next test will Hughes, Watson, Ponting, Khawaja, Hussey, White, Hadden, Smith, Johnston, Siddle and Clint McKay.
I would drop Clarke for this test and not pick him in the World Cup. I would be telling him to focus on his 1st class cricket, and get him playing in the UK (even better captaining a county team).
So my team next test will Hughes, Watson, Ponting, Khawaja, Hussey, White, Hadden, Smith, Johnston, Siddle and Clint McKay.
ARCHYBOY said:
Clarke might actually have a chance at being a part of the future.
Better option would be to drop Ponting to put a fire cracker up the team.
Stuff Clarke,he's been a major disappointment.Ponting deserves to stay ahead of the pup.Tigers of Old said:Clarke might actually have a chance at being a part of the future.
Better option would be to drop Ponting to put a fire cracker up the team.
MB78 said:
I'm doubt we will ever see 3 Vics in one Test team !! :duh Pretty sure The Australian selectors have a rule for that :hihi
mb64 said:
Stuff Clarke indeed but Ponting is at the end of his career.
Time to move him on.
Clarke may also be dropped but has an opportunity to work his way back.
Interesting to see whats happens from here.
Aus outplayed in the 4th test. Toss was no doubt important. No doubt at all that England would have collapsed for the 4th time this series if they had to bat first. History in this series says that is a given. The match is a different ball-game from there.
But unfortunately our frail batting lineup also couldnt get through that period. & then also again couldnt make inroads when the pitch is flat. the latter has been a common theme unfortunately.
Where from here. Lots of people on here & in media have opinions but not many have answers.
What will Ponting do is an interesting conundrum. A very determined & proud man. Those two things have possibly hurt him as his pride as well as his teams need was too great to drop down to a far easier slot in the order like his only contemporary greats Tendulkar, Lara, Kallis et al have in there latter years.
Is his current dip in form due to pressure, technical lapses that are hurting his backlift or simply age. Navy would defy anyone to know. Hussey was written off as an age issue by all & sundry but since changing his mindset & simplyfying his game has turned his game around. Is it that with Ponting - none of us know.
It wouldnt suprise navy if he announces his retirement before or after the Sydney test as he has been under more pressure than any sportsman around Australia for many a year. If there was a suitable candidate to hand over to it would be a fait accompli. But there simply isnt. That much is absolute fact.
Unfortunately the cupboard is very bare, Clarke who has been groomed as the succesor for a long period is batting worse than Ponting at a time when he should be in hs prime & taking charge of games. His strength as a person & thus leader has also been shown up of late. From whinging aloud to young teammates about the Perth pitch, to being a nervous wreck when his teammates are batting through to his lack of confidence about getting out of his batting slump. He also has a million less credits than the greatest run scorer the country has known.
No question Ponting is a stronger better man to lead his charges than Clarke through what will be an extremely tough period.
The only other options are Hussey (who at 35 was one failed shield innings 6 weeks ago from being forced into retirement after a long stannding run of bad form) or Watson who whilst being prodigiously talented shows no grasp of being able to concentrate for long periods nor being able to get out of his shell to know when to knuckle down for his team. All rounders are also historically poor captains.
As Warne said is todays HUN, unless peoples desire has wained no decisions should be made in the heat of battle. With the next test not until August there is plenty of time to gather a long term plan to start the long haul back to the top of the cricket chain.
Not to mention the world cup in 2 months.
PS Sorry for the long rant.
Aus outplayed in the 4th test. Toss was no doubt important. No doubt at all that England would have collapsed for the 4th time this series if they had to bat first. History in this series says that is a given. The match is a different ball-game from there.
But unfortunately our frail batting lineup also couldnt get through that period. & then also again couldnt make inroads when the pitch is flat. the latter has been a common theme unfortunately.
Where from here. Lots of people on here & in media have opinions but not many have answers.
What will Ponting do is an interesting conundrum. A very determined & proud man. Those two things have possibly hurt him as his pride as well as his teams need was too great to drop down to a far easier slot in the order like his only contemporary greats Tendulkar, Lara, Kallis et al have in there latter years.
Is his current dip in form due to pressure, technical lapses that are hurting his backlift or simply age. Navy would defy anyone to know. Hussey was written off as an age issue by all & sundry but since changing his mindset & simplyfying his game has turned his game around. Is it that with Ponting - none of us know.
It wouldnt suprise navy if he announces his retirement before or after the Sydney test as he has been under more pressure than any sportsman around Australia for many a year. If there was a suitable candidate to hand over to it would be a fait accompli. But there simply isnt. That much is absolute fact.
Unfortunately the cupboard is very bare, Clarke who has been groomed as the succesor for a long period is batting worse than Ponting at a time when he should be in hs prime & taking charge of games. His strength as a person & thus leader has also been shown up of late. From whinging aloud to young teammates about the Perth pitch, to being a nervous wreck when his teammates are batting through to his lack of confidence about getting out of his batting slump. He also has a million less credits than the greatest run scorer the country has known.
No question Ponting is a stronger better man to lead his charges than Clarke through what will be an extremely tough period.
The only other options are Hussey (who at 35 was one failed shield innings 6 weeks ago from being forced into retirement after a long stannding run of bad form) or Watson who whilst being prodigiously talented shows no grasp of being able to concentrate for long periods nor being able to get out of his shell to know when to knuckle down for his team. All rounders are also historically poor captains.
As Warne said is todays HUN, unless peoples desire has wained no decisions should be made in the heat of battle. With the next test not until August there is plenty of time to gather a long term plan to start the long haul back to the top of the cricket chain.
Not to mention the world cup in 2 months.
PS Sorry for the long rant.