Commonwealth Bank Series

[aussie1st]

I was assuming "compared to another leftie" was directed at Bollinger. Oh well guess you meant Johnson which on current form Hilfy is definitely the better.

 

[langerrox]

I was assuming "compared to another leftie" was directed at Bollinger. Oh well guess you meant Johnson which on current form Hilfy is definitely the better.

lol no i meant having two lefties will lose the 'suprise' of having a lefty, the other leftie being bracken!

 

[aussie1st]

Oh oops
We had the two lefties in our previous match against England so nothing has changed on that front. They are different types of bowlers so they still give us variation and the righties we have are very different.

 

[RoboRocks]

Australia pace attack is excllent, its got pace, swing and accuracy.
What they do lack is a wicket taking spinner in now, Hogg doesn't seem to be effective very often.

 

[aussie1st]

Just something about Hogg which doesn't full me with confidence. He has a good wrongun but usually I hope he doesn't get smashed. Still he has got the job done when asked of him so can't complain about that.

 

[RoboRocks]

He looks unthreating at times, maybe is time to someone like Cullen a go.

 

[aussie1st]

Bit tough though as we haven't given Hogg any chance this series to show his form. Also doesn't seem like we will be going with much spin unless it's a spin top.

 

[mattfb]

and he looks unsure with the bat too adn you cant have htat if he comes in at 8

 

[aussie1st]

Is this during our domestic season? I haven't seen Hogg for a while obviously given he hardly gets a game for Aus these days.

 

[mattfb]

Im just saying generally whenever he plays, i barely see him play let alone bat when i do see him bat he looks shaky and he come sin at 8 doesn't he? you need a steady batter at 8 in ODIS

 

[Sando]

Just something about Hogg which doesn't full me with confidence. He has a good wrongun but usually I hope he doesn't get smashed. Still he has got the job done when asked of him so can't complain about that.

I used to think the same thing, but his last couple of years have been impressive enough in my opinion.

2004
20 wickets @ 24.15 S/R 30.6 E/R 4.74
148 runs @ 37.00

2005
27 wickets @ 24.04 S/R 29.52 E/R 4.89
95 runs @ 15.83

2006
26 wickets @ 24.00 S/R 32.54 E/R 4.43
113 runs @ 16.14

That's some pretty solid consistency, particularly impressive is his strike rate, any time you're grabbing about two wickets every ten overs you're doing a fairly good job. And it's not as if he's 'buying' wickets, his economy rate of around 4.7 over the past 3 seasons is pretty impressive in the current era of high innings totals. It could be said that he benefits from the inroads made by the quality pace attacks, but all he can do is bowl at what he is presented with. He also is a more than adequate lower order player (if plays with Lee it gives us 7 quality bats and 2 solid lower order players) who can loft and nudge.

I haven't seen much of Cullen, what I have seen hasn't impressed me all that greatly (love the fact that he loops it up there, just haven't seen him turn it all that much, could be the pitches though), but alot of people that know alot more about cricket/spin bowling speak highly of him so hopefully he can start making some baby steps forward a la Mitch Johnson.

 

[IloveGilly]

I don't think he will be out for much longer. Selectors wouldn't go into a WC without a specialist spinner without playing some games.

 

[Sando]

Im just saying generally whenever he plays, i barely see him play let alone bat when i do see him bat he looks shaky and he come sin at 8 doesn't he? you need a steady batter at 8 in ODIS

Last 10 innings from Hoggy in ODI's

10 (11) @ WIN
38 (49) @ IND
12 (24) @ IND
4* (1) @ BAN
7 (17) @ BAN
6 (8) @ SAF
13 (16) @ SAF
1 (5) vs SL
22* (30) vs SL
16 (22) @ ENG

That's not too bad given coming in that low he's generally required to either throw the bat or hold up an end. He's not an all-rounder by any stretch, but you add that two wickets @ about 47 to this sort of production at 8 and sometimes 9, I reckon he's done the job for the Aussies. Whether or not there is another bloke that could do the job is another thing, but I think he's been a valuable member of the squad.

 

[aussie1st]

I used to think the same thing, but his last couple of years have been impressive enough in my opinion.

2004
20 wickets @ 24.15 S/R 30.6 E/R 4.74
148 runs @ 37.00

2005
27 wickets @ 24.04 S/R 29.52 E/R 4.89
95 runs @ 15.83

2006
26 wickets @ 24.00 S/R 32.54 E/R 4.43
113 runs @ 16.14

Yea thats quite decent and his FRC and 20/20 form was quite good too. Hes obviously our number 1 spinner and will be taken to the WC.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Should give MacGil ago in the ODI's seeing as he has aspirations of playing on for acouple of more years. His a heck of allot better then all of the other options if you were to replace Hogg.
I don't think a number 8 really matters. They should be able to handle a bat which Hogg can but generally you'd want one of you're better bowlers playing. If you're putting a bowling option whose a better batsman then the better bowling option then you're not showing much confidence in the top 7 batsman who are above him.