Dec 16-20: 3rd Test - Australia v England at Perth

[War]

Don't think anyone is discarding Beer just yet, more anger directed towards those crazy selectors. O'Keefe has been robbed.

If one goes on the theory that the selectors are not learning from their mistakes after the failures of Haurtiz & Doherty & realises that they are just consistently picking useless tweakers who dont turn the ball who have done nothing significant in first class cricket. Aren't ever test quality since they aren't good enough to be holding bowlers againts good test batsmen - nor can they win you test on 4th/5th day wickets.

One has to right Beer off without a doubt. Since they are proven pretty conclusively now that they are just picking spinner by default (along with a bit of word of mouth by Mickey Arthur) & aren't thinking about picking a spinner who has wicket-taking ability i.e someone who acutally turns the ball like Krejza (although reservations about him still exist with regards to accuracy).


Nor do they seem to want to accept the simple position which id say most people have come to realise by now. That no test standard spinners exist in Australia. Theirfore unless one acutally dominates/is a consitent threat like what Colin Miller/Cullen/McGain in the FC scene (of course if after doing well in FC cricket & they are exposed as short of test/international standard like McGain & Cullen where, thats a different headache), you simply cant pick one. Just back your quicks which is your bowling strenght.


lol O'Keefe has been robbed indeed @ least he had some good looking FC stats, although it flatters him. To be frank he is another Doherty disaster waiting to happen though. Picking him would have just been a farr less worse than Beer, but still a incorrect choice.

War added 6 Minutes and 59 Seconds later...

For me, all the heat is on Hughes. He didn't make that initial squad for the 1st Test and hasn't done anything to make this one.

Well its a interesting situation with Hughes. No doubt his FC form has been very patchy & is not what you want for a guy going into to history defining Ashes test.

But some would argue that he still averages 50+ in test & in the crucial A game vs ENG he looked solid. Thus would back him to step up on the big stage again.

Of course though its certainly not ideal.

 

[aussie1st]

lol O'Keefe has been robbed indeed @ least he had some good looking FC stats, although it flatters him. To be frank he is another Doherty disaster waiting to happen though. Picking him would have just been a farr less worse than Beer, but still a correct choice.

He may do but definitely should have got a chance. So far he seems to have a knack for picking up wickets and keeping it tight. Should have seen what the fuss was about at the very least. If Beer fails I guess we go on to Holland because of his 'local knowledge'.

 

[War]

He may do but definitely should have got a chance. So far he seems to have a knack for picking up wickets and keeping it tight. Should have seen what the fuss was about at the very least. If Beer fails I guess we go on to Holland because of his 'local knowledge'.

Hahahah ye. That means O'Keefe or a recall for Hauritz is possible for the SCG based on "local knowledge" too. I think we may be finally understanding how the selectors think.

 

[aussie1st]

"Doug Bollinger has been omitted from the squad. Both Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus did not play in Adelaide but will be strongly considered for selection in the Perth Test match where conditions will suit them. Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle were the pick of our quicks at Adelaide Oval and these four make up the pace attack for the Perth Test match.

Shock for third Test: Beer picked

Quote from Andrew Hilditch. Dear oh dear, the guy gets no wickets and barely looked threatening and they say he was one of the picks of the quicks.

 

[Crew of Black]

Michael Beer...

*Goes looking for my Aussie citizenship*

 

[Owzat]

Quite interesting and amusing to see your lot on the receiving end of the chop and change approach to panicking! I've even heard talk of Warne coming out of his retirement home to save your sorry Rs. Wouldn't be the biggest or daftest move in this series, he did take 23 wickets last time England toured and only Clark (26) took more that series

Your bowling hasn't done great, Siddle's not taken a wicket since he ripped England apart in the 1st Test 1st innings, the rest haven't done much except Harris and even that was ok.

Batting seems to be a big problem as well though, apart from Ponting's 51no he's scored 19 runs in the series. Katich has scored half his runs in his one fifty of the series, in fact only Hussey, Watson and Haddin have batted consistently as reflects in the fact they're the only three batsmen averaging above 31.

Makes a series of it though, I'd back the aussies to come back if either side went behind. The spinner might come back to bite you on the Rs though, seems the selectors are determined not to use Hauritz and if they do now they'll look silly, even though his average at home is 29.66 and it's 32.10 against England.

 

[ferg512]

I highly doubt that Beer will play though. I'm sure they'll go with an all seam attack considering Smith is in there.

 

[hedger_14]

Ok, there are 3 matches left in the series, why have the selectors given up already. Hilditch should be sacked. Why the fearsome tweak would you call up a player who has played 5 FC matches and averaging 40. And considering Hauritz in his last 2 shield matches, has taken 5/39, 3/62 and scored 146, wouldn't you recall him.

And even if you don't recall Hauritz, at least call up someone like Holland or O'Keefe who are actually good. These selectors are an absolute disgrace. I'm following South Africa now.

 

[aussie1st]

My main worry with the 4 pace attack is Siddle and Johnson both being capable of leaking runs. I hope at least one of them is on song to backup Hilfy and Harris as I wouldn't want Smith being required to take the load off an expensive Siddle or Johnson as he probably won't fare much better in the economy stakes.

 

[sifter132]

If Beer fails I guess we go on to Holland because of his 'local knowledge'.

WARNEY + MCG comeback = SAVIOUR

Shock for third Test: Beer picked

Quote from Andrew Hilditch. Dear oh dear, the guy gets no wickets and barely looked threatening and they say he was one of the picks of the quicks.

Well calling Harris and Siddle the pick of the quicks is stupid, mainly because only 3 quicks played...So both were better than Bollinger - we already knew that.

Batting seems to be a big problem as well though, apart from Ponting's 51no he's scored 19 runs in the series. Katich has scored half his runs in his one fifty of the series, in fact only Hussey, Watson and Haddin have batted consistently as reflects in the fact they're the only three batsmen averaging above 31.

The thing that's bugging me right now is the batting of 8-11, the bowlers. Just loose and reckless, even the previously stodgy Siddle is throwing the bat. I'd like to see a bit more resolve at the bottom of the order as traditionally it's a great strength for Australia. Beer's selection doesn't exactly help though, his highest FC score is 6* so far...

 

[-D-S-B-]

Beer

Beer

Beer

Beer

crack

Somewhere in New Zealand Jesse Ryder just got excited.

Michael Beer, who would've thought! I honestly thought Warnie was taking the piss by suggesting him, I never thought for one second he would be on the selectors radar.

 

[ajdude]

Is this the first case of a player being picked that doesn't have a Wikipedia article?

 

[6ry4nj]

Johnson would be a better - and more likely - choice than Beer.

The thing is, they've got 7 "bowlers" in the twelve, so they must be thinking of one of them purely as a batsman. Oh dear, I just realized. They're thinking of Watson as just a batsman. They'll have Beer carrying the drinks (), and be thinking of Smith as their spinner and 5th bowler.

Big mistake.

But still not as big as picking Beer.

 

[aussie1st]

Foxsports is saying Beer and Smith will play so one quick left out. Makes sense as like the Doherty selection they wouldn't make all that fuss and then not pick him.

 

[ferg512]

Why not select Hauritz?? At least if he doesn't get wickets he can play as a batsman