Group A - Australia, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa

[aussie_ben91]

Clark getting added into the WC squad definately is a big blow to us.

 

[aussie1st]

Well now all we can do is hope he proves us wrong not likely but not much we can do about it now.

Hehe good Old Warnie.

"Come the World Cup, when the team are close to full strength, we will still be good enough to smash everybody else and make it a hat-trick of titles after 1999 and 2003," Warne said.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21273328-23212,00.html

 

[aussie_ben91]

It was always a good feeling as an Australian to know you have Warney on your side both playing & verbally.

 

[angryangy]

So long as Hoggie comes through, the middle overs should recover some credibility. I imagine Hodge and Hussey will be putting a bit of extra practice on their bowling; hopefully Clarke is up to a moderate workload (it might be worth tucking him down lower to keep fresh). If we can consistently get just a couple of good overs from part timers, it works a world of difference. Watson will be needed though and he will have to restore a bit of consistency to his game, or perhaps reach a whole new level.

Hopefully Cooley delivers on his word and brings these damn pace bowlers into line.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Is Tait in the Squad ?

 

[smssia0112]

Is Tait in the Squad ?

Yes he is, he beat Clark for the spot, so at least we have someone who is similar to Lee. I don't really rate Lee, he sprays it too much, Tait is better imo.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Yes he is, he beat Clark for the spot, so at least we have someone who is similar to Lee. I don't really rate Lee, he sprays it too much, Tait is better imo.

yes , but problem with tait is that , he is not good hitter like lee , in the slog he will not be able to score :crying , huge resposibility on Mcrath now

 

[smssia0112]

Yeah I realise that, but given that we might only have 11 fit and available players for our first match, I think we should be seriously considering replacing a couple of the players who are under a cloud. My thought was that Gilchrist would be the least crucial player of the 4 that mightn't be there for the Scotland game.

What started as, "oh we can carry Symonds through the first round even though he won't play", has now turned into "can we carry Symonds, Lee, Gilchrist and maybe Hayden through the first round if they can't play?" I just don't like the sound of that...

The thing I agreed with about your point is that any replacing of players doesn't have to happen straight away. But I think it would be an advantage to have any potential substitutes in the squad sooner rather than later.

Gilly and Symonds should be there/right for the Super 8s though, so I'm happy to have them there. As for Hoggard, I agree aussie, he can do things when there's no pressure, but when he wants to be economical in ODI cricket he bowls it the same all the time. Clark is too similar in that aspect, he is a line and length guy, not a variation guy. Whereas Watson is just a bouncer/standard guy. So sick of him getting so many opportunties, White would be more useful imo, at least his batting does something.

 

[sifter132]

I also don't really like the selection of Clark. He had his chance through the Commonwealth Bank series and showed he is pretty average. He got wickets his supporters say, but so did Watson in the Chappell-Hadlee series. If I remember, most of them came from catches on the boundary or poor shots from batters, rather than good bowling from Clark.

Also annoying is how the journos see his good Test form as automatically making him a good ODI selection. I like this quote too from Geoff Lawson:

"If Stuart Clark had played in New Zealand the chances are we would have won all three games," Lawson said.
Reference: http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/...ble-says-lawson/2007/02/21/1171733845009.html


You've got to be kidding Geoff - definitely not the first one. We were smashed. It was our biggest loss ever, Clark was definitely not going to save us in that one.

 

[genghis_khan]

I felt a sadness when i heard that Clark was added and Hilf missed out, but i was expecting it.
I would regard Bracken as a strike bowler, you dont have to be blisteringly quick to be regarded as a "striker". But as mentioned he needs to re-discover that CC form (ie that Chris Gayle delivery : )

 

[angryangy]

Bracken does have an enviable average (and I mean enviable - in the top 10 of all ODI players). I don't think you could have an average under 25, a strike rate around 30 (or in this case, under 30) and not be considered a strike bowler. He is there to take wickets. He moves the ball, controls the ball and is very deceptive at times. Always a good chance for wickets and is efficient.

If it seems like he's holding back, I'm sure it's for the World Cup (especially that slower ball, you don't want to turn into Saqlain overexposing your secret weapon and dulling its shine).

 

[aussie1st]

Yea true Bracken is a strike bowler just don't really have faith in him getting the wicket when we need it like the 30th over.

Watson is a good partnership breaker even getting hammered he got 2 break through just don't bowl him at the death causes he the worst of the lot.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Bracken better be saving it for the worldcup because a few weeks ago his bowling average almost went under 20 and now it's 22!

Watson is a good partnership breaker but tends to lose the accendency and should probably be taken off immediately after taking a wicket and give Tait a crack at the new batsman.

 

[aussie1st]

Yea that's exactly what I was thinking although it's more the death bowling where he suffers. Usually he gets a breakthrough at the start of the death overs so Ponting/Hussey think hes going well and keep bowling him. Then suddenly hes cost the side the game.

 

[IloveGilly]

Australia definitely going to struggle now. We lose it all right before the WC.