Australian ODI tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland, June-July 2010

[drainpipe32]

Wow. I was gonna mention White in my last post and didn't. Gun. Fantastic knock, just continue's to contradict his critics.

 

[sifter132]

Hopes' bowling has looked a lot better than Smith's so far though and we need the decent extra bowling option with Watson's bowling going for runs. Clarke in ODIs continues to be a rather large worry, perhaps we could have Smith slot in at five to replace Clarke, shift White up to four and keep Hopes. Hopefully Bracken proves himself in the Australian domestic season so we can play him, not have to worry about a second spinner and have his variations wreak havoc on the subcontinental pitches.

Yeah I agree with most of that. Except for Clarke, the guy's been averaging around 40 in the last year still. He's just the current trendy guy to bag. No one bags Shaun Marsh for example and he's been pretty dodgy of late. The guy who I hope is close to coming back: Callum Ferguson. He was playing great before the knee injury and will be the logical reserve batsman I would imagine.

There are a few other issues with this side though: 1) death bowling. At the moment, Watson is possibly Ricky's preferred bowler - not ideal, 2) Hopes v Smith at #7, 3) where's Haddin going to bat - opening? #6? Pinch hitting in the middle? I've still got the wild idea to open with Watson and Ponting - I think he'd be an awesome opener.

Oh and I just found out they are showing these England ODIs (or at least what they can fit around Wimbledon) on Channel Nine! Woot! More late night goodness

 

[aussie1st]

Clarke has a lot of brownie points for the ODI format, as you said he is the guy to bag atm. Ferguson could struggle to make the side since Hopes is going so well at 7. Smith will need to get his bowling together if he wants to push Hopes or even Hauritz out since Clarke can roll his arm if needed.

As for Haddin, I'd have him opening as he likes to get set and when he does he can be devastating during the middle overs. The other option is getting rid of Hopes for Marsh/Warner but that means we lose that bowling option and Watson's bowling is dodgy atm.

 

[Num]

Yeah I agree with most of that. Except for Clarke, the guy's been averaging around 40 in the last year still. He's just the current trendy guy to bag. No one bags Shaun Marsh for example and he's been pretty dodgy of late. The guy who I hope is close to coming back: Callum Ferguson. He was playing great before the knee injury and will be the logical reserve batsman I would imagine.

There are a few other issues with this side though: 1) death bowling. At the moment, Watson is possibly Ricky's preferred bowler - not ideal, 2) Hopes v Smith at #7, 3) where's Haddin going to bat - opening? #6? Pinch hitting in the middle? I've still got the wild idea to open with Watson and Ponting - I think he'd be an awesome opener.

Oh and I just found out they are showing these England ODIs (or at least what they can fit around Wimbledon) on Channel Nine! Woot! More late night goodness

With Clarke, in matches batting first in the past year, he's averaged 27.84 and his strike rate hasn't been very good of recent either. I'd give him this one day series against England and the one day series against Sri Lanka to return to form, but the possible replacement would have to be given enough game time before the World Cup.

In 2009, Clarke also had the lowest strike rate (69.77) of batsmen who had scored at least 700 runs as well as having the second highest dot ball percentage despite the fact he is touted to be a batsman who operates in singles and turns the strike over consistently. You've also got to consider the fact that this dot ball percentage statistic includes opening batsmen who bat in tight field settings at the start of an innings whereas Clarke generally gets to come in during the middle overs when the field is spread and singles are easier to take.

http://www.cricinfo.com/awards2009/content/story/448892.html

 

[War]

Attack lacks cutting edge - Australia - Fox Sports

Always felt that way with the attack we have, it lacks that strike bowler to rip lineups apart.

Which is why hopefully by the time the WC comes around next year. Tait is back in the ODI team.

 

[War]

Yeah he's obviously going to be professional drink mixer for this tour, unless there's a paceman injury. Or if Clint McKay bowls pies for the first 2-3 ODIs v England.

Same for Shaun Marsh, he's really been screwed by Haddin's injury as Paine will be locked into open for the series I imagine.

Interesting to see Smith getting the #7 gig today over Hopes. I wonder how much the Ashes is going to play in Smith's selection/non-selection. Are we going to 'hide' him for the Ashes? Are we going to play him to try and get him some confidence against Pommie players? Or does none of that matter? I'd love to see him tried at #7 because I think our best team for a subcontinental world cup has he and Hauritz as 2 spin options with 3 specialists quicks + Watson to cover the pace requirements. Hopes is handy (as Mark Taylor will tell you a zillion times per summer), but I'm not sure how he'll fare over in India. He doesn't play spin well as a batsman and his bowling copped a fair bit of hammer when he played IPL over there.

Not really my friend.

In all the ODI series AUS have won in India in the last decade. 2001, 2003 TVS Cup, 2006 CT, 2007 & 2009 ODI series. A second spinner was never needed. The pitches in India are batting beauties, thats was very much the case during the last 3 IPL tournaments. So really turners aren't going to be prevalent in India.

You may get slow turners in SRI & BANG. But i dont think AUS are going to be playing many games in the WC next year their.

Plus Hopes bowling was pretty solid in those 2007 & 2009 ODI series, with his off-cutters. Which ATM is far more solid that Smith's bowling.

 

[TumTum]

Hazlewood :banana2

 

[angryangy]

Didn't see that coming

 

[aussie1st]

Big congrats to Hazlewood, I believe that makes him our youngest International (or is it ODI?) Solid start so far, the usual feeling out period.

 

[cricketmad09]

Don't understand how Hopes is still in the team. Now that we have Watson in the team who can be used as the 5th bowler which means that we don't need Hopes as a 5th bowler and he is definately not good enough as a batsman to be in the team for his batting alone. We'd be better off playing Marsh, Voges, Hussey, Bailey or Smith

Either that or play 3 bowlers and 2 all-rounders and have Hopes at no. 8

 

[Biggy]

Don't understand how Hopes is still in the team. Now that we have Watson in the team who can be used as the 5th bowler which means that we don't need Hopes as a 5th bowler and he is definately not good enough as a batsman to be in the team for his batting alone. We'd be better off playing Marsh, Voges, Hussey, Bailey or Smith

Either that or play 3 bowlers and 2 all-rounders and have Hopes at no. 8

Really? Hopesy's coming of a 5fa. I also think Watson has the tendency to occasionally be a bit expensive with the ball. I like Watson as the 6th option.

ODI number 3000.

 

[cricketmad09]

Really? Hopesy's coming of a 5fa. I also think Watson has the tendency to occasionally be a bit expensive with the ball. I like Watson as the 6th option.

ODI number 3000.

Most teams have 4 bowlers and 1 all-rounder. You can't afford to have too many bowlers because it weakens your batting. Our side is alot weaker having Hopes at no. 7 instead of the names mentioned before and that and with Watson as the 5th bowler his bowling doesn't make up for the deficits in his batting.

5fa against Ireland. Apart from 3-4 batsman they're all grade cricket batsmen or worse.

 

[angryangy]

And Watson got carted around by grade cricketers.

 

[aussie1st]

Luke Wright should be used a lot more, nice line and length and bowling at a similar speed to Broad. Both openers gone now, if we want a big one its going to come from the next two coming in.

 

[cricketmad09]

And Watson got carted around by grade cricketers.

Got anything to back up this claim?