Aussie Selection Issues

[Chin Music]

Originally Posted by Rey

Only because Warne had been trumpeting how the momentum was with Aus, and they were going to win. The selection or not of a spinner seems a sideshow after today.

To be fair it could have been different if England had batted first, but his point was that you should pick a team for all conditions. In a four man pace attack, Watson is only ever going to be an occasional bowler and looks to be very ordinary especially once you deal with his bowling apart from taking apart a sub-standard Pakistan side. The other right arm seamers are all rather samey and then you have Johnson match winner or loser.

[sillypoint]

Originally Posted by Chin Music

To be fair it could have been different if England had batted first, but his point was that you should pick a team for all conditions. In a four man pace attack, Watson is only ever going to be an occasional bowler and looks to be very ordinary especially once you deal with his bowling apart from taking apart a sub-standard Pakistan side. The other right arm seamers are all rather samey and then you have Johnson match winner or loser.

It's not a 4-man pace attack in particularly good form either. Hilfenhaus is 2/237 this series. Siddle had one good innings in Brisbane and is 1/257 after that. Bollinger 1/130. Johnson had an excellent match in Perth but a shocker in Brisbane. Harris is the only one who has been doing well.

If you compare that to the England pace attack, where the worst innings figures are 1/70 or so, and Anderson, Finn and Tremlett picked up at least 2 wickets each in almost every innings they bowled (discounting the 2nd innings in Brisbane, which was less than 30 overs).

[Fatslogger]

Not really got anything serious I can be bothered to say but just saw the thread title and had a good chortle. Can't really see a selectorial way out of this for them.

[Rey]

When creating the thread, I had half an eye on the future, with the Australian team likely to change drastically of the next few months and years; rather than just focusing on this series. I welcome a better suggestion for a title....

[ddb]

Originally Posted by Rey

When creating the thread, I had half an eye on the future, with the Australian team likely to change drastically of the next few months and years; rather than just focusing on this series. I welcome a better suggestion for a title....

How can Australia recover to knock the might Ind...oh wait South african's off number 1?

[Fatslogger]

Originally Posted by Rey

When creating the thread, I had half an eye on the future, with the Australian team likely to change drastically of the next few months and years; rather than just focusing on this series. I welcome a better suggestion for a title....

Oh, not complaining about the title, just enjoying the situation. In seriousness, the Aussie selectors are clearly in a cleft stick over the captaincy but have ballsed up the spin situation hideously (I don't think Hauritz is all that but he's clearly the best option they have, especially as he appears to be able to bat too). I see what they're trying to do with Smith but he's at best a part time spin option (which isn't what you look for in a leggie) and nowhere near top 6 standard with the bat. If they do want to gamble on him he should be batting at 7, below the excellent Haddin. I also can't see the logic in bringing Hughes back in when so badly out of form. Fine, earmark players for the future if you think they're good enough but he was dropped before because he looked to have been found out and his game has gone backwards since then.

Suspect this has all been said elsewhere, some of it by me but don't have the time for reading the whole board at the moment.

[Rey]

Any more news on whether Katich will be fit for Sydney?

A spinner will have to come in for the last game, so you'd think Beer would finally get his debut, unless Aus see sense and go back to Hauritz. Smith would then be a little obsolete - surely a new batsman has to come in, and save for one of Ponting or Clarke being dropped (or even banned, in the captain's case?) you'd think it would be here where the axe falls. Hughes fate depends on Katich's fitness.

Therefore team for Sydney would be:

Katich
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Beer

[sharky]

Khawaja is pretty much nailed on. Hauritz should be there but won't be, so I think you've got it pretty much bob on.

[cabinboy]

Would stick with Hughes and Smith and trying to square the series. Hauritz or Doherty to be the spinner, playing Beer is just suicide.

[sillypoint]

Originally Posted by cabinboy

Would stick with Hughes and Smith and trying to square the series. Hauritz or Doherty to be the spinner, playing Beer is just suicide.

I'm not quite sure whether Beer would be worse than someone with a 3 figure average.

[Fatslogger]

May be needing to find an alternative for Harris. Agree with Rey's team otherwise. Might the Hilf get reprieved now, despite his utterly diabolical series?

[sillypoint]

Originally Posted by Fatslogger

May be needing to find an alternative for Harris. Agree with Rey's team otherwise. Might the Hilf get reprieved now, despite his utterly diabolical series?

At this moment, Hilfenhaus is changing his series average with the help of a few tail end wickets from obscenity to mere utter disrespectability. Anyway, you'd expect a spinner to come in for Sydney.

[cabinboy]

Originally Posted by sillypoint

I'm not quite sure whether Beer would be worse than someone with a 3 figure average.

After two games against India, Shane Warne had a test average of 228.00.

[Fatslogger]

Originally Posted by cabinboy

After two games against India, Shane Warne had a test average of 228.00.

Doherty is no Warne, I can assure you. Most indifferent spinners who have a bad start to their test careers just aren't very good, you know?

[ddb]

England are no India either...

[Psyduck]

I think Beer will come in for Harris at the SCG. The enforced change could earn Hilfenshuas a reprieve. Rumour has it that Ponting may miss out so Khawaja will also make his debut. I suspect the Aussies will stick with Hughes and Smith for the time being, although I'm not convinced either man is ready yet.

Watson
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke (c)
Hussey
Haddin (wk)
Smith
Johnson
Siddle
Beer
Hilfenhaus

[Rey]

Hilfenhaus will be the luckiest man alive if he keeps his place for Sydney. He seems to get through by being invisible.

[cabinboy]

Originally Posted by Fatslogger

Doherty is no Warne, I can assure you. Most indifferent spinners who have a bad start to their test careers just aren't very good, you know?

No, and neither is Beer, and Warne was also written off as an indifferent spinner by everybody after his first two tests.

Doherty was by far the best spinner in Sheffield Shield last year so it's folly to close your mind after only two games. Hauritz isn't anything special either, no better than a county trundler with one asset, he can keep it tight.

[cabinboy]

Originally Posted by Psyduck

I think Beer will come in for Harris at the SCG. The enforced change could earn Hilfenshuas a reprieve. Rumour has it that Ponting may miss out so Khawaja will also make his debut. I suspect the Aussies will stick with Hughes and Smith for the time being, although I'm not convinced either man is ready yet.

Watson
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke (c)
Hussey
Haddin (wk)
Smith
Johnson
Siddle
Beer
Hilfenhaus

Can't see the batting changes, Australia will be desperate to square the series even though they have lost the ashes, and won't want to experiment in such a crucial match. A spinner will come in for Harris but that will probably be the only change unless Khawaha comes in for Smith. Ponting will definitely play unless injured.

[collingwood5]

Cant see Ponting missing, its surely got to be his farewell test, no way he can continue on

Although I would love Khawaja to come in and bat in the top order, dont think he is that good and this season he is living off a double century against the worst attack in Australia on the flattest pitch