Australia vs ACA All Stars XI - Single T20 Game

[Mr.Cricket]

I think this is a good concept. We should have this game as our season opener every summer. But instead of old guys like Dighton and Marsh some young guns should get the chance to play against Aussies.

ps - Great to Symonds and Tait back playing in the big stage.

 

[karnog]

Yeah its a smart idea. Bit dissapointed Quiney didn't get a bat but you've got to admit the Aussies were outplayed. I don't understand why Dave didn't bowl more (one over 2 runs) but hey it was just for fun. Magoffin impressed. I thought he'd get tonked because of his pace- high 120s low 130s. Proved me wrong.

 

[smssia0112]

We certainly learnt a lot about absolutely nothing from that game.

 

[aussie1st]

I do wonder on Geeves everytime he bowls for Aus we see him getting smashed. In domestic hes usually economical and taking wickets.

Agree on Magoffin, I wonder how he will go in the longer form of the game at his pace still.

 

[sifter132]

Well the Aussie selectors value pace first, results next. That's why Tait, Johnson and Siddle have all shot up the fast bowling ranks ahead of more modestly paced bowlers like Nathan Bracken or Ashley Noffke for example. I remember once Brett Lee picked up a 5fer it was only a matter of time before he was in the Australian side.

And yeah this game really proved nothing. But I liked the look of Symonds. He hit the ball really hard, I was impressed. I can't help wondering though if Haddin was 'promoted' to protect Symonds from the early movement.

 

[smssia0112]

Well Bracken has done too little in test cricket really, he seems to be more of an ODI specialist, and the other factor with Tait, Siddle and Johnson is youth, they're all younger than Bracken and Noffke.

 

[aussie1st]

Well the Aussie selectors value pace first, results next.

Which certainly could cost us once again. Pace didn't work in the Ashes and it didn't work in India. They really need to get a swing bowler back into the attack. It's been way too long since we had a consistent swing bowler and we have a left and right armer that can do it for us.

 

[Inbox24]

Well Bracken has done too little in test cricket really, he seems to be more of an ODI specialist, and the other factor with Tait, Siddle and Johnson is youth, they're all younger than Bracken and Noffke.

Why do say that? In his last test Bracken got a 4 fer, and his high bowling average stems mainly from one game in 03/04 against the Indians where all our bowlers took a good thrashing from Tendulkar and Co and a couple of games earlier in his career. He's certainly got more consistency than Johnson and can actually swing the ball so would be quite a handful in conducive conditions, maybe in New Zealand and England. He definitely deserves another go at least, especially considering how willy nilly the selectors are giving spots to those who don't deserve.

 

[sifter132]

Why do say that? In his last test Bracken got a 4 fer, and his high bowling average stems mainly from one game in 03/04 against the Indians where all our bowlers took a good thrashing from Tendulkar and Co and a couple of games earlier in his career. He's certainly got more consistency than Johnson and can actually swing the ball so would be quite a handful in conducive conditions, maybe in New Zealand and England. He definitely deserves another go at least, especially considering how willy nilly the selectors are giving spots to those who don't deserve.

I saw him bowl live at the Gabba in 03/04 when Ganguly made a 100. I remember he had a couple of catches dropped early in the day, but after a while he seemed tame once the newness had gone from the ball. But since then he's adapted, by bowling cutters and other varieties to give him some wicket taking options once the ball stops swinging.

In the right setting he'd be useful. For example, I think he would have been great in India. Bowl swing to start, then he could switch to cutters in the middle once the pitch starts to grip, and then perhaps back to seam up if he can find reverse. It's a shame he's now seen as one of the OLD fast bowlers (making him more unlikely to be picked), because he's rounded out his game so that he can bowl on all types of pitches.

 

[sifter132]

Ohh and just a double post to add some ideas for the future all star games. I reckon make a arvo and night of it by running some extra competitions like they do in the NBA for example with the dunk competitions and 3 point competitions.

Why not have a 6 hitting comp against a bowling machine? Or a stump hitting comp. for bowling and fielding? Or a strongest arm comp to see who can get it in from the boundary the fastest? Bring the best domestic players at those disciplines and see who wins.

Just a few events to get people talking about cricket again, which should be the whole idea of a season opener/all star game.

 

[jb the badsign]

(^ i agree with your sig sifter- symonds should not be considered an all-rounder at all XD)

i don't know if bracken is the right option, but m johnson should be put on notice that his spot could be in jeopardy... he has been spraying the ball around for too long, but in doing so looks dangerous on a regular basis: the pace bowlers equivalent of a spinner throwing it around a little fuller/shorter... maybe he just needs a motivational kick up the butt to know when to tighten the screws a little =P