South Africa in Australia Dec 2008-Jan 2009

[aussie_ben91]

Picking McDonald seems like a waste of time, he will never be test standard, his batting is mediocre and his bowling record is inflated from playing most of his cricket record on the green green grass of the MCG.

Wait... didn't you once say Australia has the flattest pitches in world cricket?

 

[Slowcoach]

No Ben, I said the greenest.

 

[angryangy]

So his bowling has been assisted by the pitches, but his batting has not been affected? I think I'll let that one go through to the keeper.

 

[nikhil_99]

Clarke once again played well,but the day certainly belonged to SA,6 wickets,specailly they got Haddinn's wicket in last session,Johnson can bat we all know,but Haddin is specialised bastman,its upto Clarke and Johnson,they at least need to get to 300-350.

 

[Raj_Aryan]

Aus have struggled almost all session of this series.

 

[Big Man]

Aus have struggled almost all session of this series.

Not quite all as there has been periods where we have actually been in front.

But the problem is we havent been able to put our foot on the throat, lacking a killer instinct.

It'll come back with time.

 

[King Pietersen]

I don't really see the benefit of having McDonald in the side. He's not like any of the other class all-rounders around the world. His record is just average in both his batting and bowling. If you look at the best all-rounders in the world they've got 1 strong suit which they're class. Kallis is a top class batsman, Flintoff is a world class fast bowler and Vettori is a quality spinner, McDonald doesn't seem to have 1 stand out feature of his game. I just think it would benefit Australia more to either pick a class batsman or a quality bowler, not try and pick someone who's average at both, it seems they're intent to find a Flintoff/Kallis but none of the all-rounders are good enough. I'd much rather see someone like Dave Hussey in the side if I was an Aussie fan.

 

[mattfb]

Yeah, David Hussey should have been in the side a long time ago. We don't need a fantastic all rounder. Our batsmen can bowl a bit- Dave Hussey, Clarke, Katich - and if we give our attack bit of time to settle in that should be enough.

 

[formula1man]

I would have liked to have seen Marcus North.

 

[mattfb]

Why does every all of a sudden want Marcus North purely because one of the people on the commentary team put him on there line-up for this match?

Is Noffke injured?

 

[manee]

Is Noffke injured?

Yes, but I reckon he'll be very greatful for the injury.

 

[aussie1st]

Why does every all of a sudden want Marcus North purely because one of the people on the commentary team put him on there line-up for this match?

Is Noffke injured?

D Hussey form hasn't been as good this season, North continues to average in the 40s. Also Hussey does have a knack for giving away his wicket which we don't need atm. North on the other hand would add that steel in the middle order that we so badly need. But I wouldn't say no to Hussey been given a go.

 

[Sman-21]

North is a quality batsmen an with his stats over the last few years really should be getting a game as the 6th batsmen the fact he is a very handy spinner meant he should of got a game at the scg.

Dave Hussey also should be getting a game just on his batting i would choose him over North anyday but because it was at the SCG i think north was the better option.

I just cannot understand our selectors at all
Andrew Mcdonald in the baggy green not a good bowler only avg not a good batsmen only avg why pick him?
An most prob know my opinion on horroritz the most defensive specialist spin bowler.

Do they even want us to win with batsmen out of form we arent making big enough totals an bowlers struggling to take 20 wickets a game.
They got 1 right so far an thats Bollinger know idea how he will go but he has great stats at scg an has been bowling well all season so cant deny him a game.
I think hilfy also has good stats this season an prob should be getting games ahead of siddle.

 

[Big Man]

I would have liked to have seen Marcus North.

So did Tom Moody.

 

[angryangy]

Everyone loves a bandwagon, but North has surely done the right things to be selected. Many great players retired in the last couple of seasons and so while his current abilities might not quite have stacked up against Lehmann in his heyday, he's entering his own peak now. Of course if youth is the pressing issue there are 23 and 24 year olds leading comparable careers who could also be picked.

That said, if I was going to take a batsman based on what I'm actually seeing right now, it'd probably be Hodge. He's getting on a bit, but he is just a top quality player. Of course, he's one of many who looks in command of his game in limited overs, but I see no safer bet for a Test player.