Australian Tour of India, October 2010/11

[aussie1st]

If there's an injury during the World Cup, surely the selectors will be ringing Nannes before Pattinson or Starc. Warner has to be 4th/5th choice opener behind Watson, Haddin, Marsh, Paine and maybe even Hopes

Hence they are trying out Pattinson and Starc. If they go well in India then the selectors have more options, if they don't go so well then they know what they will get from Nannes if needed. But really none of the 3 should be needed with Johnson, Bollinger, Harris, Lee, Hilfenhaus, Siddle, Tait, McKay all to call upon.

As for Warner, hes there to give us that x-factor, lets be honest our batting is pretty weak atm, our totals have been sub par and our starts likewise. We are missing that opener to get us away to that flyer, Watson can do it here and there but not consistently. Paine lacks the acceleration for an opener. Hence the selectors are looking at two possible explosive options in Marsh and Warner. Marsh himself is like Watson in being inconsistent with the explosive starts in this format. Of course Marsh might end up at 3 with Warner and Paine as the openers.

 

[angryangy]

It's certainly speculative, but this close to the World Cup, it would be a waste not to be. Plus, it's even closer to the Ashes, so any chance to ensure the right preparation for Test players must be taken.

I don't think there would be much point in picking David Hussey. He's had a lot of chances. If he fails, his failures don't tell you anything. Warner is kinda in the same boat, but there's lots more upside. It's worthwhile to see if he has improved.

Fergs and Marsh are no-brainer picks. I too question Hopes, but maybe in such a situation they want to see whether he can play a role of more responsibility. So too, the pressure is on McKay to perform, which I think shows that they think better of him than what he served up in England. His slower ball did prove vital in deciding the last series in India, but he has to show that his execution is up to scratch.

In Starc, I expect the selectors see a potential understudy to both their big left-armers. He has a very similar delivery to Johnson, but his arm is higher and he's even taller than Bollinger. He's been known to swing the ball as well. If he can show good pace and hold his nerve in a tough place to bowl, then he should be a handful.

Pattinson might not fit the conditions as well as Starc, but he might actually have done more for his spot. His 6/48 last summer was a sign of big things and he might have but he got injured. Since replacing Hazlewood, the two rookies have been treated as a unit, so it will interesting to see who is higher in the pecking order.

 

[SciD]

^I don't see why the track should be flat. India's retained the trophy already, so they can't lose the series. Shouldn't they be wanting another win to get their ranking points higher? I thought that was the point of this whole series, to solidify the #1 ranking.

I said so that everyone is proved right. If you ask 99% of people they will say India will prepare dead pitch for this game.

The truth is we either have dead pitches in India or real dust balls. Both will not go well with Aussies.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

India will play with spirit of Cricket and as Dhoni said in ICC Awards these test matches are made such a way that result is 100% guaranteed. So no flat tracks for sure

 

[razahood]

Flat tracks have made test cricket boring hope we'll have a lively track in the last test

 

[SaiSrini]

I think we will have a dusty track for the last test. Seeing the response to the Mohali match, now more people will watch the Bangalore game. Also here is a really good chance to make this into a mini classic test series between the two celebrated rivals. Also I thought Mohali would be the dead track whereas Bangalore will be the decent one. Mohali turned out to be pretty good. I think Bangalore will also be good. It will be highly spinner friendly in the end. Lets see.

 

[Cricketman]

ODI Practice games? Gimme a break we've played more than enough in sub-continent conditions. I really don't understand how playing a few ODI games like 4 months before the WC is gonna help,lol. It's the other teams that need practice not us =P

Not for us, for the Aussies.

Anyone else think Laxman shouldn't bat at number 5 but at 6? iirc the last Sri Lanka test (in which he got a hundred) was at number 6 as well. IMO he is one of the best number 6s ever, he shouldn't move from that position.

I would argue that he is the third best number 3 in the world too.

 

[SciD]

Aussies have never lost in Bangalore.

 

[War]

Dussey had his chance and didn't take them and it's not like he set the world on fire in the FRC last season. Hodge had a much better season. Nannes hasn't set the world on fire in the 50 over format either. So not fussed that neither are picked and can't blame the selectors for not picking them.

I'd say Hussey & Nannes form in T20s of late should definately push them towards an ODI call-up.

Yes and no. They've sure made some clangers: Beau Casson (although to be fair Stuart MacGill was bowling absolute garbage in that series, it's just Casson doesn't have the mindset to be a Test cricketer), White in India '08, Symonds over Watson for 08/09 and the continued charity towards North. But on the flipside I also like how they've quickly identified young players and got them involved, like Smith, Hughes, Warner, Siddle - none had played a lot of cricket before selection and most of them look the goods for the future (I'd like to see Siddle play more FC cricket first though). Previously Australia had a real problem blooding young players: it was Ponting, Clarke and uhhhh...Brett Lee for about 10 years there.

- The persisting of North

- My favourite the persisting of Hauritz

- After Watson got injured vs NZ 08/09. They should have played 4 quicks during the home series vs SA 08/09. Picking Krejza & Hauritz as part of 4-man attacks in the 1st two test basically costed AUS that series.

- Taking McDonald to SA 08/09 tests instead of Nannes

- The 2009 T20 WC squad selections. SMH

Its too much man. These selectors are crap. AUS need formers players who have top cricket brains, since is the post McWarne era with not any legends, getting the tactics right is MORE important than ever. Thus i'd like to see Mark Taylor, Allan Border & one of the Chappell brothers as selectors. Hell even Shane Warne..

 

[lethalhughes]

Mitch Marsh should be close to the odi squad. I have a feeling he'll get his opportunity after the world cup.Warner is a good pick..I know Paine has done ok in odi but i am not sold on Paine opening the batting in odi cricket, check his strike rate.I know with Haddin down they don't really have many options but Wade looks the goods.Love the job the selectors have done in odi cricket.Their selections seem very thoughtful, cant really say they've done a good job in their test selections though.

 

[Params7]

Haha VVS ftw!! GG Aus.

Params7 added 0 Minutes and 22 Seconds later...

Aussies have never lost in Bangalore.

First time for everything

 

[aussie1st]

- Taking McDonald to SA 08/09 tests instead of Nannes

Hard to criticize that when they ended up winning the series. At the start it was very dodgy but paid off in the end.

Just remembered that Warner was at 6 for quite a bit of last season so hes not just limited to being an opener, he can also provide us the hitting power late in the match. Marsh, likewise, he had his best innings in an ODI when he batted at 5.

 

[angryangy]

McDonald was the smart choice in conditions that offered a bit for seamers. He was tight, reliable, kept batsmen accountable and kept the over rate up.

They needed that bowler because they were already debuting Hilfenhaus and putting faith in Siddle to keep performing. Nannes as backup might have been reasonable, but throwing him in the 1st Test would have been an unnecessary risk. Besides, the third Test showed that what they forgot wasn't a paceman at all, it was the backup batsman.

 

[razahood]

Gambhir is having an injury i think,so some relief for the Aussies

 

[Chetan0304]

Sree likely to return. is Laxman fit?