Tour match thread -Scotland v Australia Aug 28

[iridescentt]

^^ Yeah he's done that a lot to Dale Steyn and Ishant Sharma.

Ouch. That delivery must've hurt Katich.

 

[King Pietersen]

2nd bruise for Katich. Actually bothered to try and get out of the way of that one though. Harmison looking better than Onions atm though, that has to be the battle for the series, I can't the the point in picking a 2nd spinner who's not good enough.

 

[SciD]

Harmy is booking his place in first test though I still believe Onions will offer better results. They can let go off Broad to make way for Onions. Is Sidebottom injured?

 

[barmyarmy]

I'm really glad Harmison is firing. I've always said that a fit and performing Harmison is an essential ingredient to Ashes success.
I'd be tempted to go Broad, Anderson, Harmison, Flintoff, Swann.

 

[nz0003]

Yeah, whats happened to Sideass?

 

[King Pietersen]

He's playing for Notts. Done ok, picked up a couple lower order wickets. I'd pick Harmy and Onions ahead of him though. To think I copped abit of flak for saying that Harmison should have been included in the 17 man squad as well....:cool:

I've been incredibly bored by David Lloyd's commentary today. He's constantly repeating the same old rubbish when watching a batsman he's not seen before. "He's got a good set-up" and "He's well organised" are 2 of his most used and most annoying phrases. Makes you wonder whether he knows what he's talking about..........

 

[smssia0112]

If he can keep bowling like that, I've got no qualms.

Sure, but that's a big if. The question is, can he bowl this well against the English 1st XI consistently? The consistently part is what I'm most worried about. Sure he is capable of producing some great deliveries, but his inconsistency and tendency to get into old habits (no balls, loose deliveries) are what has always made me cautious of Lee form. I jumped on when he was red hot against India, but his returns since then do not deserve the recall. Frankly, Clark is much less of a risk and affects the bowlers around him too.

 

[SciD]

If bowl is reversing then Siddle+Lee combo will be deadly for the English batsman though.

 

[King Pietersen]

Bowling whilst injured is always a harsh time to judge a bowler. I slagged Sidebottom off for his performances in the last few months when he was bowling whilst injured, and he came back and looked good and seems to be back to his best. Lee has to be picked for the series, he was brilliant yesterday. Bowled as quick a spell as I've seen from anyone for ages, had control, found some reverse swing and he was bowling a delivery I like to see, the yorker. Would be ridiculous if Hilfenhaus, Hauritz or McDonald play ahead of him.

104 retired for Bopara Hopefully he'll be able to replicate this form against the Aussies.

 

[King Pietersen]

Solanki > Hauritz

 

[angryangy]

That awful bowling near the end was like they were trying to hasten the declaration.

 

[manee]

Bowling whilst injured is always a harsh time to judge a bowler.

Nice to see that you've seen sense.

 

[sifter132]

Harmison gets another Ponting gone decent ball outside off stump but a poor shot by Ponting really.

Theory of the day: Ponting in his current state should NOT be batting at #3.

I doubt he would give up that spot now, but he is just playing so loosely - almost recklessly. Every time he comes in now, he seems desperate to put his stamp on the bowling. It's almost as if that golden run he had from approx. 01/02-06/07 has made him - in his mind - an awesome, almost invincible batsman who can play as he pleases. Yes he's still able to score runs occasionally (he's averaging 43 since the last Ashes), but I'm not liking his mindset.

At 1/10 he doesn't seem to care about the early loss too much and doesn't exercise much caution. I'd bat him at #5, hoping that he might change his mindset a bit if he came in at 3/50, instead of 1/10. Move Clarke up to #3, he has the temperament for it, and is playing very well at present.

Anyway...back to reality. Is Harmison a decent shot at getting back in or is it too late? From memory of past series, he troubled Michael Clarke a lot, Simon Katich and Ponting a bit, probably more so now for Ponting with his mega forward lunge he does now. Ishant Sharma and Morne Morkel made Ponting struggle and Harmison is just the type to replicate those awkward length deliveries. And now of course he's cracked open Phil Hughes. Hussey played him well in 06/07, but he played EVERYONE well.

He'd be worth a shot for me. Is Onions really entrenched? A couple of Tests against the Windies when others are injured doesn't sound like a selection lock. Sidebottom must be a chance too. There's plenty of competition for that last spot then: Onions v Sidebottom v Harmison v Monty v Rashid. They can't name them all in the squad.

 

[aussie1st]

The boxes are slowly getting checked. Marcus North's form is not so much of a worry now. Only Ponting and Hughes are the concerns with the batting atm, but I'm sure England will expose some other ones during the Test.

 

[Will_NA]

I'm sure Harmison would do a very good job in the Ashes. The problem is, it's almost certain he will flop when England travel to India, West Indies when there's less in there for the bowler, he's miles from home, the crowd is intense and the temperature rises. Even in places like South Africa where he does get pitch assistance, he struggles.

The fact that he no longer takes the new ball shows that he is a very timid person. Can we say to him, 'Alright, we'll choose for this series at home but we know you won't be up for it abroad and we'll look for someone else.'

There's no doubt to me Harmison is better than any of our bowling options bar Flintoff and, maybe, Anderson when firing but is he deserving? Will he give 100% abroad or will his mind wander back home, as it has time and time again. Harmison has to prove he's worthy and has the bottle to do it at all times otherwise he'll either become a horses-for-courses bowler, be dropped or act purely as a passenger when playing in India, South Africa, etc.