Cricket- the sport not the insect

[hoerpi]

I won't miss Starc too much during the Australian summer. Harris will probably play 3-4 tests and Siddle all 5, Johnson, Hilfy and Bird will be a good enough backup to them. I thought Johnson played well last summer. Aus will have a good attack, the batting line up is still where the problems are.

 

[movingtarget]

Yeah Starc goes and just when I thought that Cummins was back in the picture he gets injured again - lucky we aren't depleted in the bowling stocks as compared to batting

Harris makes a big difference and if Johnson can get back on track with Siddle all is not lost. Batting .........where to start ? Haddin also had a great Ashes Series with the gloves and his batting was pretty good.

 

[movingtarget]

Michael Clarke out of the Indian ODI series with back problems again. Callum Ferguson named as his replacement

 

[hoerpi]

Michael Clarke out of the Indian ODI series with back problems again. Callum Ferguson named as his replacement

7 ODIs 500 days from the WC, probably one of the most uninteresting series ever. Only 6 days until NZ play the first test against Bangladesh, very important to gain batting confidence for the upcoming series against Windies at home.

 

[42x16ss]

Harris makes a big difference and if Johnson can get back on track with Siddle all is not lost. Batting .........where to start ? Haddin also had a great Ashes Series with the gloves and his batting was pretty good.

Hopefully Aus batting is starting to turn a corner. Watson looks like he's getting his mojo back and Steve Smith is looking like he'll finally start cashing in on his talent. If Hughes, Marsh or Khawaja can do the same and Warner starts showing some consistency then things should start to improve.

 

[greenedge]

Is Josh Hazelwood injured currently/ if so for how long?
Thx

 

[movingtarget]

Is Josh Hazelwood injured currently/ if so for how long?
Thx

As of last month he was fit and thinking he might get called up as most of the Aussie pace attack is currently. He had problems with his foot earlier in the year. Bird, Harris, Starc, Pattinson and Cummins are all injured as well as Clarke. Harris should be ok as it was a hamstring twinge, Starc might miss the first two tests, Clarke and Pattinson might miss the whole series. It seems that rumours of Clarke's early retirement due to ongoing back problems is becoming more and more believable as he continually breaks down after a series or during it. He denied it but how much longer can this go on ? There is nowhere to hide with chronic back problems whether it's batting or fielding. His bowling days seem to be over.

 

[hoerpi]

As of last month he was fit and thinking he might get called up as most of the Aussie pace attack is currently. He had problems with his foot earlier in the year. Bird, Harris, Starc, Pattinson and Cummins are all injured as well as Clarke. Harris should be ok as it was a hamstring twinge, Starc might miss the first two tests, Clarke and Pattinson might miss the whole series. It seems that rumours of Clarke's early retirement due to ongoing back problems is becoming more and more believable as he continually breaks down after a series or during it. He denied it but how much longer can this go on ? There is nowhere to hide with chronic back problems whether it's batting or fielding. His bowling days seem to be over.

Harris will be ok according to an interview the other day on sky. Bird will be fit as well. Depending on the start of the shield season I think Hilfy might get picked ahead of Hazlewood, a great bowler on his day.

 

[Alphabet]

Hilfenhaus should have played in England, when it is swinging, he is the best bowler in Australia. He can get some serious banana swing away from the right hander on a good day.

I would take Siddle, Harris, Bird, and Lyon; supplemented by Watson/Smith/Clarke/Warner. Johnson can play in Perth instead of Bird, and if Pattinson is fit and in good form, get him in instead of Lyon so there's a pace quintet (including Watson).

 

[movingtarget]

Hilfenhaus should have played in England, when it is swinging, he is the best bowler in Australia. He can get some serious banana swing away from the right hander on a good day.

I would take Siddle, Harris, Bird, and Lyon; supplemented by Watson/Smith/Clarke/Warner. Johnson can play in Perth instead of Bird, and if Pattinson is fit and in good form, get him in instead of Lyon so there's a pace quintet (including Watson).

Hilfenhaus seems to be out of favour otherwise he definitely would have gone to England. I remember the selectors did a similar thing with Andy Bichel years ago and just cut him from the squad and he was playing better than Hilfenhaus is. Callum Feguson will want to do well in India as Clarke's replacement. If he does he will be back on the radar for the test squad as the batting lineup is still far from settled. Khawaja, Hughes and a few others are currently on the borderline.

 

[darwin553]

When is Bailey going to get a trial in a test match? His one-day form has certainly put him in contention

 

[hoerpi]

When is Bailey going to get a trial in a test match? His one-day form has certainly put him in contention

It might be as soon as the Gabba test. It really is Bailey fighting for a middle order spot (with whom to be honest, Faulkner?), Hughes for an opener spot and four pacers for three spots, the rest of the team is pretty much a done deal if Clarke's back is ok.

On another note, what do you Australians think of the ongoing ODI series? To me it feels like ICC is killing ODIs with the two new balls, the fielding restrictions and allowance for small boundries. Mi****s go for six today, it's such a shame.

 

[42x16ss]

I for one can't stand it. One new ball? Sure, but two is excessive and don't get me started on the short boundaries All it does is encourage ridiculous "strokeplay" from 20/20 that filters into good batsman's test repertoires.

edit: Mis-hit doesn't get through the swear filter????

 

[42x16ss]

Also, how did Hughes go behind the stumps last week in that one dayer? Could he be a viable option for the future?

 

[darwin553]

I for one can't stand it. One new ball? Sure, but two is excessive and don't get me started on the short boundaries All it does is encourage ridiculous "strokeplay" from 20/20 that filters into good batsman's test repertoires.

edit: Mis-hit doesn't get through the swear filter????

Yeah I don't like short boundaries either (apart from when I'm playing and it's better for batting, throwing etc )

Rogers, Warner, Watson/Hughes, Clarke, Smith, Bailey/Khawaja/Watson (if Hughes plays) - that's how the batting line up for the first test is playing out atm.

 

[darwin553]

Also, how did Hughes go behind the stumps last week in that one dayer? Could he be a viable option for the future?

I think he kept when he was younger. He's done it before for Australia when called upon. I think he should just stick to focusing on his batting; he still needs to get a firm grasp of that. Plus it isn't like Australia is devoid of talented keeper batsmen like the new Queensland one who is a local for me Jimmy Pierson - remember that name

 

[42x16ss]

I think he kept when he was younger. He's done it before for Australia when called upon. I think he should just stick to focusing on his batting; he still needs to get a firm grasp of that. Plus it isn't like Australia is devoid of talented keeper batsmen like the new Queensland one who is a local for me Jimmy Pierson - remember that name

I heard of Pierson from a couple of mates who play first grade back in Brisbane. They reckon he's very tight with the bat, lots of potential.

 

[42x16ss]

What's everyone's opinions on the one day series between Aus and India? Massive totals being set and chased down, both sides are almost treating it as a hit and giggle session.

About the only positive is both sides are getting their eyes in out in the middle, so hopefully Watson and Bailey can carry over this form into the ashes.

 

[movingtarget]

What's everyone's opinions on the one day series between Aus and India? Massive totals being set and chased down, both sides are almost treating it as a hit and giggle session.

About the only positive is both sides are getting their eyes in out in the middle, so hopefully Watson and Bailey can carry over this form into the ashes.

Like Merv Hughes said " is it good preparation for a test series ?" England are playing a four day match in WA while we are playing 50 over games in India. Makes no sense. Maybe they are trying to save some of the bowlers ? While the ACB finally admitted after a review into cricket in Australia that the selectors erred badly in sacking Simon Katich from the test team. Something the fans have known for years ! If we lose this series as well, as most expect I wonder what the casualty list will be like.

The ACB has admitted that the GM of the ACB's job is safe. I wonder. Lehmann will also be under the pump as well as Clarke who has enough problems with a chronic back condition which will probably end up cutting short his career. It would also be our worst Ashes run in history for consecutive series losses. Hughes, Khawaja and a few others are probably playing for the their test careers. If they fail in the first two tests they will disappear and never been seen again.

 

[thrawn]

What's everyone's opinions on the one day series between Aus and India? Massive totals being set and chased down, both sides are almost treating it as a hit and giggle session.

About the only positive is both sides are getting their eyes in out in the middle, so hopefully Watson and Bailey can carry over this form into the ashes.

My thoughts? It's absolutely ridiculous that Australia are playing 7 ODI's in a second tour to India this year less than a month out from the Ashes. It's demonstrative of the stupidity of Cricket Australia, particularly considering they have played the whole ODD competition in Australia inside a month. They should have played at least 4 shield matches each, with all Australian players made available to push for selection.

 

[darwin553]

Like Merv Hughes said " is it good preparation for a test series ?" England are playing a four day match in WA while we are playing 50 over games in India. Makes no sense. Maybe they are trying to save some of the bowlers ?

But to be fair - four of the top 6 batsmen (Warner, Rogers, Clarke and Smith) are not in India playing the one-dayers but are playing 1st class cricket and 3 of our 4 bowlers (Siddle, Harris and Lyon) are not over in India but are playing 1st class cricket.

Other than that and with all due respect to Bailey's first class cricket skills but I think him being over in India and scoring runs in the shorter form of the game will help him out more than his chances of scoring the same runs for Tasmania.

In any case, I'm quite sure that the final hit-out for the Aussie players in the Shield game leading up to the first test will feature all the players in line for the first XI.

Also lol at England letting in 370 runs against a WA Chairman's XI.

 

[movingtarget]

But to be fair - four of the top 6 batsmen (Warner, Rogers, Clarke and Smith) are not in India playing the one-dayers but are playing 1st class cricket and 3 of our 4 bowlers (Siddle, Harris and Lyon) are not over in India but are playing 1st class cricket.

Other than that and with all due respect to Bailey's first class cricket skills but I think him being over in India and scoring runs in the shorter form of the game will help him out more than his chances of scoring the same runs for Tasmania.

In any case, I'm quite sure that the final hit-out for the Aussie players in the Shield game leading up to the first test will feature all the players in line for the first XI.

Also lol at England letting in 370 runs against a WA Chairman's XI.

I suppose in that regard it's not that bad as many of those players in India won't make the test team. Watson has been pretty consistent which is a good sign. Hopefully it translates to the tests. Mitchell Johnson has also shown signs of improvement but I doubt he will be called up unless injuries create problems.

 

[hoerpi]

I suppose in that regard it's not that bad as many of those players in India won't make the test team. Watson has been pretty consistent which is a good sign. Hopefully it translates to the tests. Mitchell Johnson has also shown signs of improvement but I doubt he will be called up unless injuries create problems.

Since Pattinson, Bird and Starc are out with injuries he may play at the gabba.

About the series in India: it's such a farce. Especially since players are complaining about the rules during the series. Personally I strongly dislike slog-fests, I want to see a battle between bat and ball.

 

[movingtarget]

Since Pattinson, Bird and Starc are out with injuries he may play at the gabba.

About the series in India: it's such a farce. Especially since players are complaining about the rules during the series. Personally I strongly dislike slog-fests, I want to see a battle between bat and ball.

Johnson has flown home early and will miss the final ODI. Sounds like he could be a chance after all for a recall for the test team. They want him ready for the state game next week which a four day game as prep for the upcoming tests.

 

[42x16ss]

Johnson has flown home early and will miss the final ODI. Sounds like he could be a chance after all for a recall for the test team. They want him ready for the state game next week which a four day game as prep for the upcoming tests.

The thing with Johnson is that he's a double edged sword. Put him on a lively deck with some movement and he's one of the best new ball bowlers in the world but give him a flat deck and he can go....and go....and go even if it's swinging. He just doesn't have the brains, control or variety of the very best quicks, only good pace, sharp bounce and agression.

IMHO he should only be playing Brisbane and Perth, because he'll get carted in Sydney and Melbourne and totally decimated in Adelaide.