Sri Lanka in Australia

[mattfb]

Yes, i see your point.
I was thinking more for the future but i understand what your saying, TBH i dont feel it will make to much of a difference because both batsmen are capable of batting in both positions.

We will just have to wait and see.

 

[angryangy]

The issue I take with Clarke at 4 is that he is often too easy to get rid of. He seems to have gotten rid of the more loose of his offside shots, but he still has some woeful quirks, concentration for one. Remember against New Zealand when he left a ball that hit middle stump? He got bowled by Simon Jones in the Ashes in slightly less embarrassing fashion, but leaving nevertheless. Harmison also took out his middle stump with a slow yorker, clever play by Harmy, but still it was a crucial time in the game when Clarke should have been tighter. Clarke doesn't have that aura of unbreakability. If you lose the top 3 quickly, no. 4 has to come out and stop the rot.

 

[manee]

Remember against New Zealand when he left a ball that hit middle stump?

Its not his fault, he just forgot to play a shot.

 

[Inbox24]

Well, if u want short term (3-4 years) worth of decent batting then have Hussey at no.4. Clarke is more a future investment if we were to play him at 4 right now. But we maybe should groom him for later no.4 permanency.

 

[Animator!]

The issue I take with Clarke at 4 is that he is often too easy to get rid of. He seems to have gotten rid of the more loose of his offside shots, but he still has some woeful quirks, concentration for one. Remember against New Zealand when he left a ball that hit middle stump? He got bowled by Simon Jones in the Ashes in slightly less embarrassing fashion, but leaving nevertheless. Harmison also took out his middle stump with a slow yorker, clever play by Harmy, but still it was a crucial time in the game when Clarke should have been tighter. Clarke doesn't have that aura of unbreakability. If you lose the top 3 quickly, no. 4 has to come out and stop the rot.

You want him in the dying light of a test match that you are trying to save by playing a shot to a ball wide outside the off-stump against someone who had been bowling away swing for a few overs? Jones just got one to reverse. It's a once in a lifetime ball. Clarke is at no fault for that.

 

[angryangy]

We shouldn't give him the spot just because he's 26. He needs to know why he shouldn't get the spot more than anything. Five years is a long time, players can manage 50+ Tests in that amount of time, but also a relative unknown can become a potential selection in that space.

Besides, Clarke has done better at six than at five and better at five than at four, where he has done nothing. He is at best playing shots and playing free on top of a decent score, but usually out of his depth trying to hold ground. He has time before he peaks and he might grow into that role, but it isn't his yet.

 

[angryangy]

You want him in the dying light of a test match that you are trying to save by playing a shot to a ball wide outside the off-stump against someone who had been bowling away swing for a few overs? Jones just got one to reverse. It's a once in a lifetime ball. Clarke is at no fault for that.

Yeah, it was a good ball, but what if Jones had bowled a decent off-cutter on a similar line? It was outside off, but right in the corridor and obviously full enough to hit the stumps. Reverse swing, inswing, offcut or just a nip off the seam would have also had Clarke in a spot of bother. If he was late in defending or just got in its path, it would have been better. Let's face it, if Jones had put the outswinger on off stump, you'd expect a defence, right?

For Clarke, yes I would rather see him attack the ball than leave it, his straight drive is a lot more reliable.

 

[aussie1st]

Noffke has totally out bowled Johnson against SL taking 5 wickets. Surely this guy must be putting up his hand for selection.

 

[mattfb]

The issue I take with Clarke at 4 is that he is often too easy to get rid of. He seems to have gotten rid of the more loose of his offside shots, but he still has some woeful quirks, concentration for one. Remember against New Zealand when he left a ball that hit middle stump? He got bowled by Simon Jones in the Ashes in slightly less embarrassing fashion, but leaving nevertheless. Harmison also took out his middle stump with a slow yorker, clever play by Harmy, but still it was a crucial time in the game when Clarke should have been tighter. Clarke doesn't have that aura of unbreakability. If you lose the top 3 quickly, no. 4 has to come out and stop the rot.

He gets found out chasing the ball and getting bowled middle stump by leaving balls is obviosuly a cause of reverse swing and the ball will reverse swing more when the ball gets older and Clarke might have to face up to that at 5 if the top 4 bat for a long time which they usually would do.

 

[angryangy]

That's reasonable thinking and even if not that, Gilchrist has made mention that batting at 7, he sees the second new ball quite a bit. From a positive perspective, we should hope he can use that and develop his defensive skills.

However, there's a fair bit of difference to coming in at 3/300 and falling cheaply, vs coming in at 2/50 and falling cheaply. Hussey is definitely quite at home being Mister Perfect, while Clarke is some time away from that.

 

[mattfb]

I see your thinking, Hussey is probably at the top of his game right now.

 

[cricketmad09]

Noffke is scoring some runs aswell in the tour match. Hypothetically, if we pick Hogg and Noffke gets a go, imagine the batting line-up

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Symonds
Clarke
Hussey
Gilchrist
Noffke
Hogg
Lee
Clark

Fair batting line-up.

 

[jordox]

The issue I take with Clarke at 4 is that he is often too easy to get rid of. He seems to have gotten rid of the more loose of his offside shots, but he still has some woeful quirks, concentration for one. Remember against New Zealand when he left a ball that hit middle stump? He got bowled by Simon Jones in the Ashes in slightly less embarrassing fashion, but leaving nevertheless. Harmison also took out his middle stump with a slow yorker, clever play by Harmy, but still it was a crucial time in the game when Clarke should have been tighter. Clarke doesn't have that aura of unbreakability. If you lose the top 3 quickly, no. 4 has to come out and stop the rot.

Huh? Why are you mentioning Clarke's harmison and jones dismissal? What the hell does that have to do with anything? Jones used fantastic reverse swing which got Clarke and Harmey bowled a good slower ball.. Your pretty random mate. Neither of those proves anything about Clarke.

And what the? "If you lose the top 3 quickly, no. 4 has to come out and stop the rot". WHA!? You could say that in regards to number 3, 4, 5 ,6 ,7..

Clarke is a fantastic batsman. I'd go as far to say he has widest range of shots and elegance behind Ponting in the WHOLE team. Oh yes, I went there, but I really believe it.

I honestly don't think it matters between Hussey and Clarke, I would go Hussey at 4 based on maturity and his attitude.

 

[angryangy]

I'm not even going to bother.

 

[jordox]

I'm not even going to bother.

please do.

Noffke is scoring some runs aswell in the tour match. Hypothetically, if we pick Hogg and Noffke gets a go, imagine the batting line-up

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Symonds
Clarke
Hussey
Gilchrist
Noffke
Hogg
Lee
Clark

Fair batting line-up.

LOL that is a scary scary lineup.

Although Noffke career is almost finished with all his injuries isn't he?