South Africa in Australia Dec 2008-Jan 2009

[aussie1st]

So drop Siddle? Johnson can't be dropped after taking 11 wickets and was the only threating bowler and I doubt the selectors are game enough to drop Lee.

Have to be unless they go 4 pacemen. I now don't see a place to have both Lee and Siddle in the same side. Both are skid bowlers and bowl similar pace and neither looked threatening at the WACA. And since the selectors won't drop Lee, Siddle it is. Of ccourse I still believe we can't have Lee and Johnson in the same side but since Clark got injured it would be the surprise of the century if Lee got dropped.

 

[aussie_ben91]

For the future, we should be focusing on...

Johnson - Express bowler (90mph) / Left-Arm Angle
Siddle - Hit the deck bowler / Workhorse
Hilfenhaus - Swing Bowler / Workhorse

We need to drop Lee, but I'm not so sure when. His lost his pace which is why he is in the side. Ponting doesn't usually hint at dropping a senior players but he claimed to be disapointed with Lee's lack of pace in the post-match press interview so you never know.

 

[mattfb]

We need Hilfy, but pelase please please not Watson. We have enough quality in the domestic ranks to pick 4 quality bowlers, we shouldn't need a fantastic 5th bowling option. A decent 5th and 6th bowling option will be just fine. We should bring in Hussey for Symonds

 

[Sman-21]

Cant believe there giving hauritz another go grrr as crap as i think krezja is i think hes more dangerous than hauritz.

But like someone said earlier generally offspinners dont go that well here in aus so when we are playing at home since we have no great spinners i think we are better of not picking any an just getting clarke to bowl 10-20overs katich to bowl 10-20 an if symo is in team get him to bowl about 10.

 

[smssia0112]

It's hard to tell if it's really been bad for spin, with the spinners always being an afterthought. Holland got 2/59 in 29 overs when he did get picked, which isn't too bad, but that's the most any of them have been allowed to bowl so far. If Hauritz keeps his end tight, then I would consider it a good job, because there usually is enough in the wicket for good pace bowling to get the wickets. Solid chance he doesn't get picked, though.

Mind you, if you want to play it on performances, why have we got Hilfenhaus in? He doesn't have a good track record at Melbourne. I'd still be leaning towards height and bounce, just because it doesn't require mysticism like swing.

Not sure if it will be obvious how it is going to play, as it has also had appealing characteristics for batsmen in a couple of matches, but recent Tests have shown a bit of seam movement or uneven bounce off the surface. Either way, it's going to be hot and sunny all week and so I can see no threat of under-preparation.

Just going by the last couple of games it's not been great, White got belted around a fair bit in the OD and he barely bowled in the Shield game.

I'm frustrated that no third opener was picked in the extended squad, how long are we going to give Hayden especially considering a loss.

 

[angryangy]

If Hayden can score anywhere, it's at the MCG.

 

[venom2011]

South Africa ODI and Twenty20 squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Johan Botha (vice-capt), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld. <- basically a left-handed KP

 

[jarl]

We need Hilfy, but pelase please please not Watson. We have enough quality in the domestic ranks to pick 4 quality bowlers, we shouldn't need a fantastic 5th bowling option. A decent 5th and 6th bowling option will be just fine. We should bring in Hussey for Symonds

If Symonds isn't going to be allrounder in test then Hussey should be our 6th specialist batsman, there is no way anyone can claim that Symonds is at least in our top 10 batsman in Australia the most overated player in our team but for some reason all the players and selectors have a soft spot for him : If not Hussey then someone with youth on there side you just have to look at South Africa with how mature all there young players are especially AB Devilliers 24-25 old and showed the maturity of a senior player and Australia has no one like that.

 

[angryangy]

KP by his allegiances, but maybe not quite as skilled.

 

[venom2011]

No I'm referring to batting style as well as skill. He's averaging 72.70 with SR of 113 this season. He's a similar power stroke-maker with preference for the on-side.

 

[Chetan0304]

I am not a bandwagon :

WORLD CHAMPIONS added 2 Minutes and 11 Seconds later...



Don't talk crap :


We are still NO 1. We have great bowlers. Just need to get rid of this Krejza. 1 win and will once again abck in our usual track. Tbh we will win our Boxing day test match.

Not for long, it's gonna be South Africa followed by India

 

[aussie1st]

Selectors were never going to drop Hayden mid series. If we lose the Boxing day test match and he fails then hes as good as gone. And should Lee fail he too is gone.

 

[ZexyZahid]

I don't understand why Lee has to be dropped. In the Test series against New Zealand he took 12 wickets in 2 matches and it's now that he didn't perform, although from the commentary I read he was unlucky to not have more wickets.

I am pretty sure Lee will play in the next match and in the ODI series. And Hayden has scored more then 1000 runs at the MCG (1072 runs) and it's more then any other ground.

 

[aussie1st]

He struggled in India and struggled in the first test against the Kiwis. His 2nd test was good but it was against the Kiwis which doesn't hold much ground as Hauritz found out. It's also more his pace which has dropped and his lack of swing. Plus he is meant to be the leader of the pack but he has been far from that so far.

And if we lose the 3rd test will become a dead rubber and the selectors will be looking for blood and also trying to blood new players. Hence Lee and Hayden are on their last legs.

 

[sohum]

Reading through this thread, I'm wondering if it's the Pakistani selectors or Aussie fans talking, given the former's tendencies towards chopping and changing!