Australia in Bangladesh

[aussie1st]

Johnson isn't in the crappy second string bowlers, hes young just inexperienced. He needs to find his feet. Our crappy second string bowlers is guys like Lewis who should never play for Australia again.

I agree Bracken deserves ago ahead of him but would an attack of Clark, Bracken and Dizzy look all that threatening? On these flat trackers I can't see the first two been effective and if we are resting Warne, then you put huge pressure on Cullen. With Johnson extra yard of pace and the fact hes left armed should mean he will be hard to get away if he gets it right.

 

[James219]

Yeah, that's a good point. With a three-pronged pace attack consisting of Clark, Bracken and Gillespie without the support of Warne, it looks very one-dimensional and it lacks the 'wicket' taking option. Obviously they have the ability to take wickets, but its monotonous, the pace will be similar on those pitches as Clark's nip off the wicket won't be as effective in the Bangladeshi conditions. It'll be difficult for Bracken to find swing and Gillespie's still finding his feet, but if Johnson comes in, the fresher option is there for Ponting to use when in need of a wicket or a threatening spell to attack from one end with his extra pace, deception and the fact that not many are aware of him.
Still, he probably won't play, although he might be a pretty good asset in these circumstances, the selectors would probably feel his performances, bar the Pura Final haul, don't warrant a baggy green, and Bracken deserves his opportunity....

 

[aussie1st]

Who knows what our selectors are thinking. They did bring him over here when there were guys like Dorey, Rofe and a few others that had a good season. If Lee or Clark aren't fit to play Johnson you would think is next in line given Bracken was only just picked to come over here.

They showed that by picking Clarke that guys that were here first will get a shot cause they could well have played Jaques and left Hussey at 5.

 

[sportzchick]

No chance of Clarke being dropped and Johnson should never set foot on a Test field, but if Lee and Warne are rested Cullen and Bracken would be my bets

Agree - johnson shouldnt be let onto a test arena again!!!! I still have FNI on what they see in him

Symonds will only come in if we play two spinners & two fast bowlers..
Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Clarke/Symonds
Gilchrist
Gillespie
Bracken
McGill
Cullen/Lee (lee before Dizzy in batting lineup if playing)

 

[angryangy]

Yeah, that's a good point. With a three-pronged pace attack consisting of Clark, Bracken and Gillespie without the support of Warne, it looks very one-dimensional and it lacks the 'wicket' taking option. Obviously they have the ability to take wickets, but its monotonous, the pace will be similar on those pitches as Clark's nip off the wicket won't be as effective in the Bangladeshi conditions. It'll be difficult for Bracken to find swing and Gillespie's still finding his feet, but if Johnson comes in, the fresher option is there for Ponting to use when in need of a wicket or a threatening spell to attack from one end with his extra pace, deception and the fact that not many are aware of him.
Still, he probably won't play, although he might be a pretty good asset in these circumstances, the selectors would probably feel his performances, bar the Pura Final haul, don't warrant a baggy green, and Bracken deserves his opportunity....

I think you overrate Johnson's value, compared with the other bowlers. His 10 wicket haul certainly isn't a sign of marked improvement, 3 tailenders in the first, followed by 6 wickets (including two more from the tail) from a side that spent the better part of 3 days bleeding to death on the Gabba turf.

I definitely don't believe that the left-right opening combination of Bracken and Gillespie would be one dimensional. Subcontinental conditions aren't bad for good practicioners of swing bowling either, Bracken himself found excellent form in the 2003 TVS Cup and was also effective in 2001 in India.

I reckon we have seen, judging by the first Test, that spin bowling will be the key strike weapon, anyway. 24 of the 37 wickets which fell at Dhaka were taken by the spin quartet of Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill, Mohammad Rafique and Enamul Haque Jr; if Chittagong is anything like Dhaka, then what is required of the pacemen is to bowl tight, build pressure and allow the spinners to attack.

 

[aussie1st]

Agree - johnson shouldnt be let onto a test arena again!!!! I still have FNI on what they see in him

Symonds will only come in if we play two spinners & two fast bowlers..
Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Clarke/Symonds
Gilchrist
Gillespie
Bracken
McGill
Cullen/Lee (lee before Dizzy in batting lineup if playing)

With our selectors that side will never happen.
The selectors will go with
Hussey
Hayden
Ponting
Martyn
Clarke
Gilchrist
Lee
Dizzy
Cullen/Symonds
Clark
MacGill

 

[James219]

I think you overrate Johnson's value, compared with the other bowlers. His 10 wicket haul certainly isn't a sign of marked improvement, 3 tailenders in the first, followed by 6 wickets (including two more from the tail) from a side that spent the better part of 3 days bleeding to death on the Gabba turf.

I definitely don't believe that the left-right opening combination of Bracken and Gillespie would be one dimensional. Subcontinental conditions aren't bad for good practicioners of swing bowling either, Bracken himself found excellent form in the 2003 TVS Cup and was also effective in 2001 in India.

I reckon we have seen, judging by the first Test, that spin bowling will be the key strike weapon, anyway. 24 of the 37 wickets which fell at Dhaka were taken by the spin quartet of Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill, Mohammad Rafique and Enamul Haque Jr; if Chittagong is anything like Dhaka, then what is required of the pacemen is to bowl tight, build pressure and allow the spinners to attack.

Ok, fair enough, my comment did overrate him a little, but many underrate him. He doesn't necessarily deserve to be in the side, but the fact that he's been strangely selected for certain tours seems to have accentuated people's views on him. He was thrown into these situations at the wrong time, and his inexperience, lack of development and knowledge at that level was obviously exposed. We can't seriously expect him to make a rapid improvement at that level when given those limited opportunities when there was no actual previous foundations set. He's a good prospect, not a 'once in a lifetime bowler' or whatever Lilee said, although he made those statements prior to the injury setbacks. He's shown great character to overcome those barriers and to approach the journey of proving his worth, most can't mentally attune themselves like that and we don't hear about them too often either as they fade. His haul in the Final may not reflect the circumstances, but he still had to perform that day and confirm it on paper.
Bracken definitely deserves the opportunity, but if that pace attack doesn't prove to be effective, (although it almost certainly will) there isn't really a different option to fall back on, in the sense that Johnson may add something with his deceptive pace. Yes, the previous test may show spin as being the key factor, but that doesn't constitute a dependance upon MacGill who can be inconsistent if lacking confidence, and Cullen who will simply be nervous...

 

[aussie1st]

It's not just Lillee who has rated Johnson. Bruce Reid also rates him. Hes one that has a good knowledge on left armers given he was one. It backs up other reviews I have read on what Johnson can do when he gets it right.

Of all the young players vying for the Ashes, Reid's own tip for the top is the strapping 24-year-old left-armer, Johnson, who stands 6'4" tall, and bears more than a passing resemblance to Reid himself, who took 113 wickets in a 27-Test career that was plagued by injury.

"He's tall and quick and moves the ball around, and he's got the potential to play a big role in the Ashes," said Reid. "I did well as a left-armer against England, as did Brendon Julian. It's something people haven't often seen before, and it could provide the variation Australia need."

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/244257.html

 

[James219]

Yeah, I'd heard about that before, which is a huge motivation for Johnson, but Lilee was the one who made that comment on being 'a once in a lifetime bowler'.
And Johnson's not quite as skinny as Reid

 

[genghis_khan]

johnson had better play....same with cullen

 

[IloveGilly]

It's not just Lillee who has rated Johnson. Bruce Reid also rates him. Hes one that has a good knowledge on left armers given he was one. It backs up other reviews I have read on what Johnson can do when he gets it right.



http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/244257.html

Johnson and Ashes!!! I was hoping they'd never mix!

 

[angryangy]

johnson had better play....same with cullen

Why? Because they were picked in the squad? Surely you understand how this works by now.

 

[Pak_cricketer]

Bangladesh just lost it in their second innings!! Why did they only play four bowlers? I think the Aussies realised this and they made the Bangla's stay in the field for a longer period of time.

 

[sportzchick]

It's not just Lillee who has rated Johnson. Bruce Reid also rates him. Hes one that has a good knowledge on left armers given he was one. It backs up other reviews I have read on what Johnson can do when he gets it right.

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/244257.html

whoever rates johnson is one ball short of a over - if you get my drift

just because they are former cricketers (very good ones I might add) doesnt mean they cant get one wrong on occasion...

this is one

 

[angryangy]

Johnson is a good bowler... potentially. The former players recognise the physical attributes, innate abilities and mental aspects which a great player uses to build himself upon. It doesn't mean that he will be a great bowler, but if he works hard, is treated with due concern and lives to his potential, he will be very useful.

According to Cricinfo, Chittagong won't be turning and Symonds is back in the side, with either Bracken or Johnson.