The VB Series 2006

[aussie1st]

Whatever is the batting order, I reckon AUS will have to be flexible enough to change the batting order according to situation. For e.g. if they don't loose any wickets in say first 18-20 overs, then they can promote Symo and Hussey up the order ahead of Ponting, Martyn and Clarke. More so,because AUS has the players who can bat at any position.

Not ahead of Ponting, there is nothing slow about him. Ponting is the perfect number 3 no need to promote anyone ahead of him. Martyn, Clarke fair enough.

Whats not to love about Jaques, state player of the year, scoring big 100s in ING, and that magical 94 on debut.

 

[James219]

Agreed Ponting is the crucial part of the middle order that can act both roles at once, that is providing stability in the middle order and guiding them, also scoring at a very quick rate. Symonds is not as reliable up the top with some tentative footwork, not to say he will do a bad job, but he won't be as efficient compared to somoene like Ponting. If need be he could obviously be promoted ahead of Clarke and Martyn.
There will be no merit in Hussey opening either, with Katich continuing to be selected and Jaques actually past the brink in my opinion. Cosgrove is a great prospect but I don't see him coming in too soon.

 

[Sman-21]

Symonds should never be promoted up the order unless its during power plays and he has a license to slog.

Hes not a guy that you can depend upon to bat through an innings.
Definantly best keeping him for overs 35+.

But no point resting symonds as when he fails with the bat, he makes up for it in the field with great saves and batsmen to scared to run when ball is near him.
Plus he can bowl 5 overs for us.

 

[aussie1st]

Not 5 overs, the whole 10. With our current team if we have to bowl first we only have 5 bowlers. If we rested Symonds then we would only have 4 bowlers which is just stupid.

 

[James219]

He'll bowl ten depending on how his rhythm is, but yes he usually fills that role. As mentioned he puts pressure on the batsman with their shot selection and running with just his reputation, can bowl consistently on a length and tie the batsman down, can fill in the overs with his pace and is a genuine matchwinner with the bat. If he is rested then we will be assured that the selectors have lost it.

 

[aussie1st]

He basically has to bowl 10 unless he is getting whacked (this is when we bowl first). We haven't actually seen the part timers of Clarke, Katich or Hussey used yet. I hear Hussey is a handy bowler similar to Hopes but slower so may be we should give him a bowl. Katich is a handy chinaman bowler so we could also try him.

This article shows why me and a number of others want Jaques in over Katich.

Despite his solid half-century in Adelaide, the jury is still out over whether Katich is the right man to open the innings for Australia in the Caribbean.

With a strike rate of 72 and a best score of 82, Katich is neither a scorer of particularly fast or big scores in one-day internationals.

Phil Jaques has shown in domestic cricket he can be both aggressor and anchorman. If Katich is dropped it would be because the selectors thought Jaques might give them five-star service rather than the four-star ride they are getting at the moment.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18119524-32462,00.html

 

[James219]

Yep that article just about sums up what we've been saying for quite a while where Katich is relatively solid but torn between both roles, not performing to the heights that others can in either aspect.

 

[ajay2k5]

I think SL will win today and take the series...

 

[aussie1st]

Not if they concede 340 as Aus have won the toss. Cmon Gilly show us the fireworks!
This is what Aus wanted as I don't know what would have happened if SL batted first.
Mick Lewis is supersub, great move imo as hopes was hopeless.

Bye bye 340, Gilly out for a duck and guess who Dilshan gets the catch. SL look to have really turned the corner lately.

 

[MUFC1987]

My new favourite Cricketer is Tilekaratne Dilshan.

 

[Pak_cricketer]

lol, Its like the ball likes him or something!

Wow, Vaas looks wired

 

[MUFC1987]

Aussies on here have gone quiet.

 

[Pak_cricketer]

Ok I've figured this out, If Srilanka win this game, and the Aussies lose 2 more series, Pakistan have a chance to get to first place in the rankings! Execllent!

 

[aussie1st]

Thats it, get Katich out of my sight! What did I tell you about this guy?
Good bowling by Vass.

 

[MUFC1987]

Ok I've figured this out, If Srilanka win this game, and the Aussies lose 2 more series, Pakistan have a chance to get to first place in the rankings! Execllent!

Would it not be easier for you guys to just win the World Cup?

EDIT: Bye-Bye Katich. :happy