kodos said:
Katich has to be dropped. Jacques should certainly come in to replace him. Expect Watson to be back in the VB series if he is fit.
I agree with Jaques coming in, but I feel I should make a stand on pronounciation, especially for those around the globe, it's "Jaques" not "Jacques", in other words "Jaykes" not "jaarks". Sorry, but most people will easily mistake something simple like that.
Ok, first up, congrats on the win to the kiwis and indeed, a good series brought, even without key players from both sides, a close game is a good game and I'd certainly rather watch NZ successfully chase 332 than sit around twidling my thumbs (get the hint, Channel Nine).
For Australia, I think what we saw isn't "life without McGrath" it's life without more than 1 strike bowler. Who the f**k is Mitchell Johnson is probably a phrase that will be uttered a considerable time into the future. I must admit, Clark is presenting economy, though I still doubt his total relevance. The key point is that Bracken came into the game as the leading edge, with inexperienced pace bowlers tailing and then, after that, we pulled out the big guns (yeah, sarcasm) Symonds and White. If we are gonna tow 3 inexperienced pacemen as our key attack, we need Dan Cullen in, pronto (not that we shouldn't play him simply because he is an awesome cricketer).
I mean, sure, that game was treated as a dead rubber and with an ounce of cunning, it was used to try some new things. It was a flawed plan, however. Cricket Australia must learn that replacing an aging bowling attack does not simply mean replacing it by rote. 4 quicks and two part timers won't cut the mustard if the four quicks aren't good enough. If Mitchell Johnson is getting a free run with little more than a great fast bowler's support and age on his side, certainly we should be rethinking our future bowling attack.
Cullen is going to be a great player, even one of Chile's senior players agrees! In the ODI days of Warnie, we didn't even give it a second thought. Now this isn't an attack on Hoggie. If you have seen a bit of Hogg, you know he is a true all-rounder, for he can bowl leg breaks, wrong'uns, top spinners, even flippers, a real champion of over-the-wrist spin and can play his shots with ease. I bring this to attention, because replacing him with either White, who can bat, but generally only bowls gentle wrong'uns and top spinners, or any fast bowler, is foolish and will undo the mechanics of a great team.
I say look at the guy whose meer appearance on the field says "wicket taker", whose name is stirring more and more supporters, the fellow who kinks the ball in mid air before letting it jerk mercilessly into his foe. If you're gonna blood a young gun, blood this guy.
Rofl at that!
