Pakistan Tour of Australia 2009/10

That's why we have lost out competitive edge, the fast bowlers leak lots of runs so our spinner has to do the containment.

Although Watson has proved to do that job nicely.
 
Ajmal has done really well in the side match. If we get a spin friendly track, there is no harm in playing Kaneria and Ajmal together. Australia struggled big time against afridi and Ajmal in Abu Dhabi.
Umar Gul needs a rest now. He does not know what his stock delivery is in Test matches. He bowls either two full or two short. He is only effective when there is reverse swing around but that can't be guaranteed. Its time to give Rauf a go.
 
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They might have less issues with Ajmal when they're not forced to manufacture runs off him, but their recent history against spinners is indeed problematic. I'd be very concerned if they fail to read Kaneria out of the hand as they did Mishra last year, because it was to disastrous effect.
 
Your face -__-

You own the Magic. Shouldn't you know? :p

Nah but seriously, going by state games it seems to go well for batting in the first innings, then the quicks do well in the second, spinners in the third and then batsmen again in the fourth.

But in the last game, none of the innings were completed. And the Vics chased down 350 off on the fourth day.
 
Gazza_11 said:
Your face -__-

You own the Magic. Shouldn't you know? :p

Nah but seriously, going by state games it seems to go well for batting in the first innings, then the quicks do well in the second, spinners in the third and then batsmen again in the fourth.

But in the last game, none of the innings were completed. And the Vics chased down 350 off on the fourth day.
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They are keeping me away from the ground, thinking I have a conflict of interest. I assure you I dont:p

Well seems a pretty good all-round pitch. This is a good series for us, as it will show us where we stand in the Test Arena. Both sides arent on their best of form IMO but the Aussies are still firm favorites
 
Interesting whispers going on

ALL kinds of whispers were doing the rounds on the intriguing topic of Ricky Ponting's stand-in. The most eyebrow-raising had Usman Khawaja receiving a one-off Test call-up against Pakistan because a temporary selection of Phillip Hughes might do the young man's head in.

Khawaja, so the whispers went, could enter and depart the Test XI more seamlessly than Hughes while becoming the first Muslim to represent his country.

Supposedly, there was a no-win element to recalling Hughes. If he failed, he would return to the Sheffield Shield with fresh doubts over his long-term future. If he scored a hundred, he would go through the confusion of being squeezed out again, Ashes-style.

Overlooked was the fact it would be cruel to deny Hughes the heady experience of a Boxing Day Test because of whatever uncertainties lay around the corner. Hughes ended up getting the nod despite being dismissed for seven in the first over of day four in the Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Victoria … but he admitted the form of Khawaja and Phil Jaques had him looking over his shoulder.
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Plenty of whispers, but centuries to Khawaja and Jaques speak volumes

I can imagine the outrage from non NSW supporters if Khawaja got selected.
 
I reckon Katich should go to three, his standard spot. Hughes and Watson might be our opening combo of the future.

Gazza_11 added 1 Minutes and 49 Seconds later...

The MCG just seems like a good place for Hughes to resume his career though. I don't know why, good vibes?

Khawaja definitely wouldn't be a bad choice though.
 
From Mr Craddock-

Australia also have problems with their spinning option Nathan Hauritz.

As Shane Warne points out, Hauritz has become one of the most improved players in the country and his Test record of 35 wickets at 32 from 10 Tests is more than passable in these desperate times. Steadiness has its own rewards, but at some point a spinner must be able to win you a match and Hauritz has not yet taken more than three wickets in a Test innings.

Hauritz has not won a Test for Australia, or barely a game at first-class level, so he doesn't know the feeling of being a last day destroyer.

The challenge does not bring out the best in his bowling.

Australia's spinning game plan is in a holding pattern with Hauritz holding the fort until a man with more weapons comes along.

Sadly for Australia, that could be years away.
 
Maybe Jon Holland could be the way to go, also a holding type bowler but could have more potential on the last day tracks. Will have to see how he goes if Victoria give him a proper run. Bailey can been good in the wicket taking depeartment just need SA to play him.
 
Gazza_11 said:
I reckon Katich should go to three, his standard spot. Hughes and Watson might be our opening combo of the future.
.
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Agree with this. People keep talking about dropping Watson down the order and moving Hughes in, but look at Katich - he's not gonna be round much longer so that's hardly going to be a lasting partnership. Who are the other potential openers? Rogers? He's 32 already. Jaques is 30 and a better shot I guess.. But it may be that for the 2013 Ashes for example, Hughes and Watson would be the best combination available, so why not keep Watson up top for the moment?

What is the down side of Watson opening? Surely it's that he can't bowl late in the oppositions innings or he'll be tired for his batting. Well if we are relying on Watson knocking over the tail, we've got more problems that where Watson should be batting.

And without wanting to put too much of a mock on Watson, he's looking like a Matthew Hayden type opener at the moment. Once he's in, the bowlers struggle to find a spot to bowl to him and he cracks the ball very hard. Must be a bit intimidating - like Haydos was for so many bowlers. He and Phil Hughes could be a combination that takes the game away from the opposition very quickly.


aussie1st said:
Interesting whispers going on
Plenty of whispers, but centuries to Khawaja and Jaques speak volumes

I can imagine the outrage from non NSW supporters if Khawaja got selected.
Click to expand...

Wow the ex-players would have gone apes**t if Hughes hadn't been selected :laugh, but I can buy the Usman theory. The key is what the selectors told Hughes.
If they said, 'just go make runs for NSW', well he's done that even if it was against a Victoria attack without Nannes, Siddle, McKay and Harwood.
If they said, 'we need to see you improve your technique', well maybe scoring a century against McGain and McDonald isn't the best indicator of that.
If they said, 'we're going to give you a season off to improve your game', then they really should have picked Usman (or Klinger) instead of giving Phil a call.
 
Can't wait for some key retirements from the Aussies, Punter, Hussey and Katich. They should all be retired and gone in 3 years time. Want to see all this young blood playing for Aus
 
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