Group A - Australia, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa

[Leicester Fox]

the minutes silence at the South Africa game was really poor,the crowd just talked through it and you couldn't tell when it started and when it finished

 

[woodywiss sa sa]

You cannot compare an opener and a number 4 in my opinion. They're playing two completely different roles.
Hayden quiet frankly played a pathetic shot in the Holland game.

 

[aussie1st]

Why can't you compare an opener to a number 4? Anyone in the top 4 can make a century. You make it sound like every opening batsman bats until the 40th over and then everyone else has to slog it and get out and you're using that as an excuse.

What you fail to realize is that in 2001 Hayden came into the ODI side due to his complete domination of India in the earlier part and he was never really in the squad anyway as he was a replacement for a resting Mark Waugh or Adam Gilchrist. Infact those latter 2 scores of 27 & 38 were when Hayden was brought into the side full time and they mere signs of Hayden's emgerence in the ODI game once Mark Waugh was sacked. Although 38 isn't as bad a score as you make it out to be.
As for 2003, lol. Well he was ranked among the top 5 best batsma in the world wasn't he?

Make excuses all you like Hayden went through a slump in form just like any player does? Clarke has an average of 43 and is an integral part of the side so why shouldn't he be given more chances just like Hayden?

2001 and 2003 are a long time ago. And besides, look at what happened when he was retained. He started scoring runs again. How many players can play 9/10 good innings. Do you expect Hayden to succeed every innings?

THis is quite a heated debate really. I'm liking it.

Forget the period my point is there is no consistency. He wants Clarke dropped after 6 bad games yet Hayden has the same amounts during those periods shown yet he brushes them off with excuse after excuse. I never wanted Hayden dropped during these periods and because I'm consistent I don't want Clarke dropped during this period.
Same can said about Clarke with your point.
He started scoring runs again. How many players can play 9/10 good innings. Do you expect Clarke to succeed every innings?

 

[Leicester Fox]

If South Africa bowl like they did today they will get spanked by Australia but their batting is immense. Loving the rain!

 

[ZexyZahid]

South Africa won by 7 wickets against Scotland. Too bad Smith didn't get his century.

 

[Leicester Fox]

I'm glad Smith didn't get his century it's just a shame the match didn't get called off for rain in the 19th over

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

If South Africa bowl like they did today they will get spanked by Australia but their batting is immense. Loving the rain!

Absolutely, not impressive bowling tonight by South Africa

 

[Helpman]

I'm glad Smith didn't get his century it's just a shame the match didn't get called off for rain in the 19th over

Well thats pretty spiteful and unessesary. Rather make comments like that in England's group.

 

[Leicester Fox]

oh come on who actually likes Grame Smith? It was only a joke,calm down dear

 

[aussie1st]

Quite a lethal partnership SA have at the top when both Smith and De Villers fires. Both were well over the 100 SR.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Forget the period my point is there is no consistency. He wants Clarke dropped after 6 bad games yet Hayden has the same amounts during those periods shown yet he brushes them off with excuse after excuse. I never wanted Hayden dropped during these periods and because I'm consistent I don't want Clarke dropped during this period.
Same can said about Clarke with your point.
He started scoring runs again. How many players can play 9/10 good innings. Do you expect Clarke to succeed every innings?

Bhahahaha... You did want Hayden dropped though. You were calling for his head throughout the entire CBS and when Hayden almost failed for a 5th time you were in the CBS thread going off about how his ODI career should've been over at that particular moment.
I'm not saying Clarke should be dropped, I'm just putting forward my case to you that he hasn't done enough for you and other people to think he should be selected over Haydos.
Why shouldn't Clarke be given more chances like Hayden? Go check Hayden's International record, you wouldn't find more then 5 Australians batsman who've had more success then him. Hayden makes centuries while Clarke has always averaged around 40-45 whereever he goes.

 

[genghis_khan]

South Africa again fail to bowl out a minnow...so obviously their batting is their strength at the moment. Only problem for them is Australia's batting is also their strength and slightly better imo.

Interesting to hear Sir Garry Sobers praise Shane Watson, it's about time a high profile commentator gives him some positive feedback.

 

[aussie1st]

I was talking about those periods I stated. I wanted Hayden during the CBS because he had not shown enough in the 5 games since returning to the side. Just like I wanted Hodge dropped for the same reason. Yet you wanted Hodge dropped for not performing but were more than happy to make excuses for Hayden's failures. As I said before he starts of a new player when he came back into the side because he had been dropped. Again no consistency, just bias towards Hayden. Heck we just have to go to the Best Aus ODI side and see you wanted Hayden over Waugh yet more than 80% of the cricketing brains were in favour of Waugh.

 

[aussie_ben91]

That's because Hayden's a better batsman? By a fair way aswell. I dunno, I never took into account the bowling & fielding although, Waugh's was a mere rolling the arm over and hoping the batsman does something really stupid. I'm sure Hayden could've done the same thing. :

It's not a matter of low statistics, because Hayden was originally dropped from the ODI squad for averaging 34 in a series against England. and before the Netherlands game Clarke was averaging 11. Clarke is just out of form and we need to make way for a spot for Symonds.

You talk and act about consistency like you're one of the Australian selectors. It's not a trail of fairness but common sense. Clarke has been moved to number 4 and it hasn't worked.

 

[aussie1st]

Clarke at 4 not working? He averages 40 there, geez what more do you want a player to average at 4? 100?
And you say out of form, he just made a 90, if he was out of form he would have got a duck. Clarke won't be dropped, it will be Watson or Hodge.