Cricket- the sport not the insect

[Ferminal]

NZ for 2 tests and India for 4 tests. Boring.

 

[craig1985]

I have a (bad) feeling Dave Warner will be making his Test debut if Watson and Marsh are not fit for the Brisbane Test next week v New Zealand (obviously if Watson is out, Marsh will open), which would be epic fail. Yes he's had a good start to his FC, but I think he needs more time to actually prove himself as an opener at FC level, other then just give him a Test cap 'coz warn3r can hitz teh sixz lolz'.

TBH Australia should just swallow their pride and pick somebody like Chris Rogers for a Test if need be.

 

[ramjambunath]

I have a (bad) feeling Dave Warner will be making his Test debut if Watson and Marsh are not fit for the Brisbane Test next week v New Zealand (obviously if Watson is out, Marsh will open), which would be epic fail. Yes he's had a good start to his FC, but I think he needs more time to actually prove himself as an opener at FC level, other then just give him a Test cap 'coz warn3r can hitz teh sixz lolz'.

TBH Australia should just swallow their pride and pick somebody like Chris Rogers for a Test if need be.

Firstly, wow text language is annoying. It took me a proper minute to figure out warner can hit sixes.

I think Watson may play as just a batsman, he didn't seem overly uncomfortable when he fielded. If it's a major emergency, then why not Mitch Marsh. A good bowler and Tom Moody rates him as a batting all rounder. Just a thought.

WI playing well and are 0/80 at lunch.

Edit: Mickey Arthur is Australia's new coach. It was already well rumoured and he was also asked about it in the last televised (in India) WA match (I think versus Vic).
http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/541523.html

It's Varun Aaron, not Varun Arun.

 

[Ferminal]

Warner is no worse a craftsman than Hughes. Although using that term is flattering to both

There aren't really any openers setting the domestic scene on fire at the moment. Liam Davis tops the averages and he has been a borderline first class player for years now. Therefore I don't think it's unreasonable to pick Warner as an opener. Anyone can open (Hussey, Khawaja, even Ponting) but I think it makes more sense to look for someone who may be able to hold down that spot for years to come. Watson should not be opening due, it's too much for him - if he's out injured then it's the perfect chance to try someone new for that role.

If they wanted to replace Watson with someone who can also bowl, I'd suggest they go with Christian. I don't think M. Marsh should play a test until he can show enough with the bat to hold down at least 7. He's broken numerous club batting records so there's no doubt that the talent is there, but it needs to be developed at state level. Not to mention the injury problems. Faulkner from Tasmania is another interesting one - takes wickets and bats 6/7.

 

[ramjambunath]

Thing is, Australia have been a bit conservative in selection (and sometimes stupid). They took a punt on Cummins and he delivered brilliantly. Marsh has shown a lot of potential and I think he can do the same. Anyway, I still think Watson will play as a batsman and Khawaja at 3.

I don't rate Faulkner as test quality. He's a good first class player but I can't really see him playing Test cricket successfully. Another all rounder from Tasmania, Luke Butterworth. He seemed pretty talented but was pigeon holed as a 'big hitter' and hasn't been able to blossom.

Ed Cowan and wes Robinson are good players who bat high up the order, if the selectors go down that route (and I don't think they will) they can pick these two.

 

[craig1985]

I don't think there is anything wrong in giving Mitch Marsh a go in T20 and ODI's, but not for a few more years should he be given a Test cap.

 

[craig1985]

Solid start by the WI so far with the WI 0/88.

 

[craig1985]

Beau Casson retires from cricket:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/541543.html

 

[ramjambunath]

Really unfortunate career Casson had. Hope he can recover from his condition and have better luck in future endeavours.

 

[Ferminal]

I don't rate Faulkner as test quality. He's a good first class player but I can't really see him playing Test cricket successfully. o.

Agreed, but you cannot argue his performances so far this season. Sometimes you just have to reward those first class players who are average, yet prolific.

 

[ramjambunath]

True, but I really don't see him adding anything to this team. There are better bowlers and definitely many better batsmen as well. Unless the selection panel is adamant about going with 5 bowlers for their team, I don't see a need for him to be in the team. Also, this bowling unit did very well against SA (even with four bowlers) and they will be playing against a much weaker side in NZ. I think that the four in the team are good enough to take NZ's wickets, even Johnson.

 

[Ferminal]

Well you could pick 6 bowlers and it still wouldn't be enough in Australian conditions against India. There has long been a tradition (at least since the arrival of Watson years ago) to find someone they can call an "all-rounder", just like the rule which says you have to pick a spinner. I do not agree with either, just looking from the POV of a selector.

 

[ramjambunath]

It may well be tough but if the pitches and conditions are similar to the Ashes last year then India's batting could struggle against the swing, Australia's may fail just as well.

If Harris comes back then there's a massive dilemma for Australia, do the selectors go for Johnson (for his batting) or Siddle (who in my opinion is a better bowler). Cummins will play in the short term, I believe.

As for the spinner, a spinner has to play. The Australian attack isn't nearly good enough to take 20 wickets with seam only.

 

[Ferminal]

Clarke/Katich are bowlers equal to Doherty, Lyon, Hauritz, Beer etc

Picking a spinner isn't going to help you get 20 wickets when most of them are defensive bowlers (except Lyon to an extent).

 

[ramjambunath]

They're definitely as good as, if not better than, Doherty and close to the other three as well (though I think Lyon's got some potential) but Clarke has chronic back problems and that's why he's not bowling as much as what I'd like to see him bowl. As for Katich, we know that he's not coming back into the team in the near future.

Has Cameron Boyce been playing FC recently? It seems weird for Australian FC cricket not to have a regular leggie.

 

[craig1985]

The enigma that is Kirk Edwards continues on. He and Bravo look pretty comfortable out there, I mean Kohli is bowling FFS.

 

[ramjambunath]

Am I the only one who dislikes Kohli with a fervour? I like most of the individuals in the Indian team but Kohli, Yuvraj and Gambhir get on my nerves.

 

[craig1985]

I'm amazed that Yuvraj has played so many Tests for India personally.

 

[ramjambunath]

All the hype, the t**t even appeared on a talk show and was talking smack about England (this was before the England tour but post world cup) and then fell silent. When England took a pasting in India (in their worst format), he came back and started talking smack again. Please do all the talk, no problem, but get in the team and become a McGrath before you do so. I seriously would love a Brian Lara cover drive to hit him straight in the nethers.

On a more sane note, if India's attack is as average as this then Australia may have a very good summer.

 

[craig1985]

Stocks must be pretty low in India if Varun Aaron is playing Tests, his FC record isn't that special, but isn't really a Pat Cummings type prodigy so it was worth the punt on him.

 

[ramjambunath]

With all the hype, you'd have thought that he's a 90mph bowler. Umesh Yadav is ahead of him for me. Aaron can bowl at 85mph, there are only two or three Indian bowlers around in FC who can do that.

Why so few fast-ish bowlers? Many of the coaches here are thick and give the great suggestion to a young fast bowler to control himself to bowl line and length. When Wasim started, he was all over the place but Imran never told him to slow down. With time and lot of bowling Wasim developed control without losing pace.

 

[El Imbatido]

India i see in a similar position as Aus are now/1-2years ago. The old guard hanging in.....some still knocking out the runs (Dravid, Tendulkar etc) but from the little that i have seen of them over the last year or two, to me (and this could be completely wrong as i dont have foxtel/austar/paytv so i dont see that much cricket) it seems their bowling is not what it once used to be (Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan etc - a few guys i remember from the last 5-10yrs).

Am i anywhere near the mark or am i just way off base?

 

[ramjambunath]

Pretty much on the mark, the batting will seriously suffer after the retirements of Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar. They surely should be preparing themselves for an Australia like exodus and with the knowledge of what can happen should be preparing the next generation for proper test cricket. That doesn't seem to be happening and ODIs are definitely not the breeding ground for test match players.

As for the bowling, Nehra is a permanent crock, Pathan has lost all pace, Harbhajan doesn't have anywhere near the same guile as prior to 2020, Kumble was never going to be replaced and Zaheer's the only good bowler remaining. Although I'd like to add that Ojha and Ashwin seem a good twosome.

 

[El Imbatido]

Just thought of a funny thing that happened when India were out here in Aus for their 07/08 Tour. I believe it was the same time as the blow up between Harbhajan and some of the Aus players.

At the next test, (must have been the new years test at the SCG) the camera zoomed in on one of the crowds homemade sign (obviously an Aus fan's sign).....and i still remember what it said to this day even though as soon as the camera man realised what it said they cut away to another shot. It said:

We love Ricky,
They love Anal

Obviously playing on the fact that Anil Kumble's name sounds slightly like the sexual act. I thought it was fricken hilarious at the time....so unexpected and very ingenious in a way.

Still makes me laugh to this day (even though it probably shouldn't)

 

[Ferminal]

Kumble is the biggest loss. I realise it is a few years ago now, but he always seemed to get a handy bag of wickets when it mattered, with little fuss.