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

[Biggy]

Love how this was on FTA. Maybe we'll see this for all international Australian games in the future, fingers crossed.

The only thing I'm really looking out for in this series is for Ponting to get amongst the runs. Played wellish last night and sort of gave his wicket away, so hopefully he can step up in the next few like he did last year.

Was it really? SBS or that One HD channel?

 

[TumTum]

Was it really? SBS or that One HD channel?

Nine.

Just watched the highlights and it wasn't really Hazlewood's day with England romping home on a flat pitch against a low score.. The ball to Kieswetter is why I rate Hazlewood so highly, the ball nipped in and also kept low of a length, something that McGrath used to do regularly.

 

[Biggy]

Nine.

ah sooo.

 

[sifter132]

For mine Clarke is fine as long as a big hitter is there with him. Today was a rare occasion where he was left in the final few overs, usually he has tried to up the tempo and got himself out before that period and usually White or Hussey are at the other end or still in the shed. On this occasion I suspect he knew he had to stay there and anchor the innings even in the remaining overs.

As unofficial president of the unofficial Michael Clarke fanclub, I agree We need someone reliable in the middle. We can't stack the lineup with Watson, Warner, Ponting, White, Hussey and say ZOMG these guys can hit boundaries. We need Clarke exactly for games like last night where no one does well, no partnerships are formed and there needs to be a grind. Of course the payoff for that is that if he's in at the end you can't take as full toll of the final overs as you'd like. But that's the price you pay.

Batting wise, the one change I'd consider making when Haddin comes back is opening with Hopes/Watson which would not force Watson to be the aggressor at the top and hopefully that might get some longer innings out of him. Also, Hopes loves quick bowling and would target anything loose in the opening overs. We saw last night how ugly he is against spin and him coming in at 5 down in before 40 overs have come up is a recipe for disaster as Yardy stalled the Aussie innings.

Which is fine in theory, but in practice the captain has to be able to trust that fifth bowler. On the short term, Watson has been expensive. He hasn't bowled 10 in an ODI since India last year and he was also the weak link in the Twenty20s.

Yeah, Watson has been expensive. But Ponting trusts him more than Hopes at the death and in powerplay situations - which is kinda why his figures are expensive (a bit of chicken and egg happening) Watson's also the guy Ricky hopes can buy a wicket due to the batsmen either relaxaing when he comes on or lining him up and miscuing - like last night. Hopes is a great downhill bowler, coming on in the middle when wickets have fallen and it surprised me that England got onto him a bit, since he usually thrives in that situation - like he did vs Ireland. TBH If Hopes can't succeed in the middle he's all but useless given his lack of prowess in powerplays and the death. So I think we need to play both to cover 10 overs (or more) reliably, especially given our hit/miss seamers.

I thought Hazlewood was pretty average tbh, I really don't understand why he's on this tour with the World Cup less then a year away because unless Australia go through a massive injury run he wont be there. Surely playing guys like Nannes and Tait would make much more sense at this stage?

Yeah he was kinda average, but I liked the look of him - especially given the pitch and lack of swing. It's only the 2nd time I've seen him bowl, and you can see that he's got a little bit about him. I loved that bouncing ball he bowled to Kieswetter that got him on the top hand. No wonder he played above the one that bowled him then... :laugh Unfortunately, he had some loose balls but if he can cut out most of those I think he's going to be pretty mean. In a couple of years of course.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Waiting for this match more the Asia Cup Finals TBH.

 

[ajdude]

Watson's also the guy Ricky hopes can buy a wicket due to the batsmen either relaxaing when he comes on or lining him up and miscuing - like last night.

It honestly took me ages to realise you hadn't conjured up a new cricketer in Ricky Hopes. I feel slow.

 

[angryangy]

Harris, Hazlewood out. Smith, McKay in.

 

[Aussie Team]

and Australia to bat first

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Are you sure?

rahulkhush added 1 Minutes and 18 Seconds later...

Oh yes!! Again hope some Morgan action plus to add some more spices Pieterson

 

[King Pietersen]

Not great for Australia to lose Harris, he was easily their best bowler in the last game, so to lose him will hurt their attack. Bollinger and McKay looks a much nicer opening pair to face than Bollinger and Harris. Really don't think an attack of Bollinger, McKay, Watson, Hopes, Smith and Hauritz would strike fear into many International batting line-ups. Saying that though, they'll probably hammer us tonight.

 

[angryangy]

They need to produce some scores. If they bat to their potential, the bowling is good enough. If they continue to give up soft dismissals, they will put pressure on the bowlers.

 

[Num]

I would liked to have seen Hazlewood remain in the team rather than bringing Smith in. Sure, Australia's batting wasn't so good in the first ODI, but to have Hopes/Smith coming in at No.8? Hmm.

 

[angryangy]

wow, splendid timing. no need to play any stupid hoicks, please.

 

[cricketmad09]

If Paine doesn't start upping his strike rate, then drop him. He hurts the team both on the scoreboard and psychologically by scoring as slowly as he does. He has the potential to score faster, i've seen it myself in the 20/20s, but he is chosing not to.

cricketmad09 added 2 Minutes and 49 Seconds later...

I would liked to have seen Hazlewood remain in the team rather than bringing Smith in. Sure, Australia's batting wasn't so good in the first ODI, but to have Hopes/Smith coming in at No.8? Hmm.

Smith should come in before Hopes. People keep forgetting that he is a batsman first, and a very good one. It's only because we desperately want to find a replacement for Shane Warne that so much attention is put on his bowling. His bowling at this stage is only average, but he could easily be in the team for his batting alone

 

[angryangy]

yeah, that innings took too long. he didn't really back himself to get back to a short of length delivery, he just kept going forward and it didn't work.