Group A - Australia, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa

[aussie_ben91]

So if say Hussey bats like this when he turns 35 (as his career has had a similar build to Hayden's) and his struggling and vying for a spot in the lineup despite having a Test average of around the mid 50's and ODI record of the 40's (as it's beginning to drop lately) he'll be a complete player for us with those records and you know he can go but his going through a tough trot will you throw him out of contention of being in the side? Players have still succeeded at age 35, 36, 37. Maybe not til there peak but still respectable enough to be well respected. Hell, Hayden's still even ranked the 6th best batsman in the world at the moment in Test Cricket and despite missing 2 years of ODI cricket, Hayden's still gotten his ranking up to 23. Symonds in 2004 bagged 5 ducks in a row, was he done then?

 

[aussie1st]

Michael Bevan ring a bell? He is rated one of the best if not the best ODI batter going around, but when he was struggling in his last few years he was dropped even though he clearly still had it. Heck Andy Bichel was dropped and again he clearly still had it. And while I'm at it, Darren Lehmann, and I can go on.

Has Hussey been dropped yet? When he does then we will consider that boat.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Michael Bevan ring a bell? He is rated one of the best if not the best ODI batter going around, but when he was struggling in his last few years he was dropped even though he clearly still had it. Heck Andy Bichel was dropped and again he clearly still had it. And while I'm at it, Darren Lehmann, and I can go on.

Has Hussey been dropped yet? When he does then we will consider that boat.

Hayden was dropped in the same vain. I guess succeeding in Test Cricket really helped him as he is one of the most consistant hundred scorers the world has ever seen. Hayden also didn't rely on county cricket to boost his average up either. Every time he played a full domestic season in Australia he'd average better or around 50. Hell go check on www.cricket.com.au and look at the players profiles it'll show there domestic averages in Australian competition, Hayden averages 51. No one in the current Australian squad comes close to that.

 

[aussie1st]

Hayden was dropped in the same vain. I guess succeeding in Test Cricket really helped him as he is one of the most consistant hundred scorers the world has ever seen. Hayden also didn't rely on county cricket to boost his average up either. Every time he played a full domestic season in Australia he'd average better or around 50. Hell go check on www.cricket.com.au and look at the players profiles it'll show there domestic averages in Australian competition, Hayden averages 51. No one in the current Australian squad comes close to that.

Bevan also didn't rely on county cricket, he averages 60 in the Aus OD comp.
Point is Hayden was dropped and brought back in, he starts a new player and should be given the same time to succeed as a new player. If Hodge only got 6 games to succeed then Hayden should be the same.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Well Hayden was brought back in. Made 49 & 54 but Watson who didn't acchieve as well in that series as Hayden did was still selected?

I like Watson as a player, but I think he'd be more potentially used as a number 4 if his going to have to bowl 10 overs if his going to be a pure allrounder.

 

[aussie1st]

He scored the 79 plus got wickets so of course the selectors wanted to try that road out rather than go down the tried road of Hayden.

Watson won't be needed as a pure all rounder in this WC, spin is proving handy already as Hogg has shown, so Hodge off spin will be handy as will Symonds off spin and also Clarke spin. So Watson won't be needed to bowl 10.

 

[irottev]

Bowling 10 overs and opening the batting seems like a lot of pressure for a young player like Watson. Infact probably for anyone.

I don't think Gilchrist and Watson compliment themselves that well either. Both seem to want to play their strokes. The last thing you need is to lose 2 openers quickly.

 

[manee]

Gilchrist and Watson opening would be best if chasing a "HUGE" score with Hayden coming in three, Ponting in at four and the rest from there.

 

[Cricketman]

Gilchrist and Watson opening would be best if chasing a "HUGE" score with Hayden coming in three, Ponting in at four and the rest from there.

You seriously think Ponting is going to give up his precious wunber 3 slot?

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Gilchrist and Watson opening would be best if chasing a "HUGE" score with Hayden coming in three, Ponting in at four and the rest from there.

There should be Haddin also in the lower middle order in watsons place but no more Hayden , if he play like this , we will definatley not going to win , he seemed very uncomfortable and nervous while playing his shots

 

[aussie1st]

Gayle opens and bowls 10 overs lots of times as does Jayasuriya, Malik, Hafeez, Davison...
Fact is Watson won't be needed to bowl his 10 overs anyway. We already have 4 specilist bowlers and then 4 bowlers that can share a 10 between them.

As for not complmenting well, that same combo won us the Champions trophy something we have never done before. In the final we lost both Ponting and Gilly, what did Watson do? He knuckled down and guided us home not got out trying to smash it.

 

[ZexyZahid]

If Hayden is fit and well, I don't think there will be changes among the top. Although, Watson is in form with the bat.

 

[Cricketman]

Gayle opens and bowls 10 overs lots of times as does Jayasuriya, Malik, Hafeez, Davison...
Fact is Watson won't be needed to bowl his 10 overs anyway. We already have 4 specilist bowlers and then 4 bowlers that can share a 10 between them.

Ah, but Watson's a full-fledged fast bowler, while the ones mentioned are spinners. Fast bowling takes alot more toll on your body then 10 overs of gentle spin.

 

[aussie1st]

I'm fully aware of the strains on the body for quickmen but has he been injured while opening for Australia? Quick answer NO! So until that happens I don't see a problem with it.

And if you want a quickman see Kallis, Oram, Flintoff if they make a 100 that's exactly the same as Watson opening the batting and making a 100. They all bowl 10 overs. Also Gilly opens the batting and keeps that causes a lot of strain too yet he has hardly ever been inujured.

 

[Cowburn199]

Gilchrist and Watson opening would be best if chasing a "HUGE" score with Hayden coming in three, Ponting in at four and the rest from there.

I feel Ponting is fine where he is now, he suits his spot in the line up.