Warne-Muralidaran Trophy (Australia in Sri Lanka) Aug-Sep 2011

[aussie1st]

Should be a declaration overnight to let the spinners do battle. However Copeland could steal the vital wickets they need.

 

[sifter132]

He played in the last Test, so you'd think his chances were good even if he made 30-40.

And yet it seems in articles I've read that Shaun Marsh is/has been ahead for that #6 Test spot, seemingly because he might be more used to it and might start better against spin. That surprises me, because as you point out, Usman is basically the incumbent and if we're selecting Marsh to be a specialist #6, then...lets just say we could find much better #6s, since Marsh is essentially a top order guy too - and he's hardly Michael Clarke against spin. If anything, I think Hughes would start best against spin out of those 3 - why not put him at #6?? If Marsh gets picked over Usman based on 70 in that ODI and a good IPL (which will be disguised as 'good record in spinning conditions'), I won't be particularly happy.

But that brings up another issue, which is the Aussie batting order. The case against Usman is that he won't be as good at #6. Well why not change the order to reflect that? Usman can make big 100s and he has a good 100-50 ratio of late, you don't want a guy like that at #6. The other issue is do you really want Ponting and Hussey occupying key positions when they could retire at any moment? Why not start diminishing their role right now? I think my current order might be: 1) Khawaja, 2) Hughes, 3)Clarke, 4)Watson, 5)Ponting, 6)Hussey. Watson loves opening, but there's 2 things working against that: his bowling workload, and the fact that he can't make 100s. Clarke or Watson should be the longer term #3, so get Ricky out of there. And IMHO, Ponting needs to be demoted until he can start cracking 100s again. Just some random theories for the day

I thought Lyon would be better but it looks like Beer is having the upper hand

From my very limited impression - Lyon seems more attacking, Beer seems more reliable. Perhaps if Copeland gets a job, then Lyon would be a better complimentary bowler. If Siddle stays, then Beer's better control might be the go.

 

[aussie1st]

1) Khawaja, 2) Hughes, 3)Clarke, 4)Watson, 5)Ponting, 6)Hussey.

Wouldn't mind seeing that, although some have been suggesting Clarke should be batting lower not higher. Hussey seems to be losing it ever so slowly and his 100s are starting to get few and far between. His 50s will be good at 6 rather than 5 so that change is good.

 

[timchrist984]

yeah, I reckon Watson should be at 3, then Ponting, Clarke then Hussey.

 

[Num]

Wouldn't mind seeing that, although some have been suggesting Clarke should be batting lower not higher. Hussey seems to be losing it ever so slowly and his 100s are starting to get few and far between. His 50s will be good at 6 rather than 5 so that change is good.

Yeah, Clarke should be shifted to #5 in my opinion. I'd go 1. Watson, 2. Hughes, 3. Khawaja, 4. Ponting, 5. Clarke and 6. Hussey.

 

[ferg512]

Yeah, Clarke should be shifted to #5 in my opinion. I'd go 1. Watson, 2. Hughes, 3. Khawaja, 4. Ponting, 5. Clarke and 6. Hussey.

This was the order I was going to pick, I think it is the most likely one the selectors will go with as I doubt they will drop Watson down the order when despite not making the 100s he has been making solid runs.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

yeah, I reckon Watson should be at 3, then Ponting, Clarke then Hussey.

Yep, that's sounds good to me, Watson shouldn't be opening. He just gets himself out too much when he is set. Clarke will keep himself at 4 though. It's a machismo thing as much as anything and the Sri Lankan attack isn't going to test him with the new ball (if he has to go in early).

I don't know if Watson will be any better at 3 but at least there is a chance that one of the openers will get set and make himself some big runs with Khawaja there in place of Watson.

And Copeland gets a wicket with the new ball. Baggy Green awaits.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

I haven't watched the ODI series because I'm not really interested in ODI series' but how was Clarke's captaincy?

He doesn't know whom to give bowl and when, only think he was aware of that he has enough bowlers, at his arsenal to complete 50 overs.

 

[Num]

Lyon takes the wicket of Samaraweera. If Lyon were to take the wicket of anyone in this second innings of the Sri Lanka Board XI, Samaraweera's probably the most influential in terms of convincing the selectors to pick him over Beer, as he'll definitely be a part of Sri Lanka's Test batting line-up.

Amongst the Khawaja-Marsh and Copeland-Siddle position battles, I think the most crucial one - particularly given the Test series is bound to be played on pitches which favour the spinners - Lyon-Beer is flying under the radar a bit. Who would you guys prefer to be picked?

For me, Lyon's a good prospect, but I'd be reluctant to continue with the scattergun selection policy regarding spinners and drop Beer after he's played only a single Test. Unless Beer gets absolutely carted in this second innings against SLBXI, I'd play him for the first Test and if Australia win, give him another chance in the second Test as well, though if it's a draw/loss, have a serious look at Beer's performance and whether Lyon would be a better option for the second and third Tests.

 

[angryangy]

It would be a bit crazy to pick Beer in the squad and not give him any more chances. The real question is whether conditions might at some point lead them to choose both spinners.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

It would be a bit crazy to pick Beer in the squad and not give him any more chances. The real question is whether conditions might at some point lead them to choose both spinners.

Lyon or Beer won't make a huge dent in Sri Lanka. I think they should give Beer another go purely on the grounds that he's had one test and the treatment of spin bowlers makes my stomach churn.

It's insane they just wouldn't subject an opener to this ridiculous treatment. Imagine if we'd gone through Marsh, Khawaja, Hughes, Katich, Rogers, Cowan, Robinson, Klinger and I don't know the Bull's openers but chuck in a couple of them as well in 3 years, giving them 2 tests maximum each.

Our selectors' would have been locked up by now if they'd done that.

 

[timchrist984]

Aussie bowlers getting hammered in the 2nd innings, it's like the ashes all over again.

 

[aussie1st]

It would be a bit crazy to pick Beer in the squad and not give him any more chances. The real question is whether conditions might at some point lead them to choose both spinners.

Picking one of them is hard enough don't need both of them.

 

[War]

Copeland probably has to play no doubt. If he indeed can translate his metronomical style of bowling onto the international stage - then looking forward to the tests in South Africa and beyond - he would be the perfect stock bowler in a 4-man pace attack, where the other 3 quicks will be the aggressors.

Ponting should not move from number 3, a bit surprised some are even suggesting that. This is first series without the captaincy after his unproductive last few years, so he deserves the chance to show whether he can do a Tendulkar/Dravid like old-age revival before thoughts of moving him down the order are seriously considered.

However Clarke could certainly move down to # 5 , since Khawaja i dont think should be batting lower than # 4.

With regards to spinners its just a case of pick either one of them (since Clarke and selectors would be crazy to pick two dud spinners and depend on Watson as a third quick bowler) and hope they dont get clattered - since lets loose sight of the fact that neither of them should have been in the test squad.

So im looking at..

Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Khawaja
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Lyon/Beer
Copeland


Looking at Sri Lanka it will be interesting to see if they play 3 spinners or not

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Which is all the more reason to get some new blood into a winning setup. Again what benefit is there in picking Dussey? Ponting and Hussey already provide the experience factor.

He was not failing in his last three- series prior to his struggles in the SRI, does he did not deserve to be axed for this tour and beyond.

Blooding youngsters is fine, but if its you are speaking about blooding them for the 2014 world cup already - then it is too early.

Show me one player that the English selectors picked where that player had a batting average of 20 in that season.

Broad averaged 80 in the Ashes and 48 vs Sri Lanka en route to his performances vs England. Virtually every fan and English pundit was of the opinion that he should not have played in the IND series.

He was in the English lineup already so they are two separate cases. That is more comparable to say Johnson.

It is still the same premise of picking/backing of player when he is not in form to come good.

http://www.planetcricket.org/forums/cricket-discussion/england-flower-aiming-2015-world-cup-75658.html[/url]

So much for no team planning towards the 2015 WC huh? You are kidding yourself if you think teams aren't planning for it. ODI cricket is all about the WC, all the ODI series we play are in build up for that. While teams may not be shedding their old fellas just yet, they most certainly have a timeframe for when they want to do so.

Teams always say that, but 4 years out no team can ever tell what their team will be for the the next tournament. Too much unknown quantities with regards to the form of players can occur and the rise of potential young stars.

Of course a player who is 35 in previous world-cup may not be at the next WC tournament - but as you said such a players have obvious time frames, when selectors may want to see them leave so that younger player who will be at the next WC can come through.

The ultimate prize in ODI cricket may be to win the WC, but shelving older players like you and other were suggesting with the case of Lee, Ponting for example after AUS were knocked out the WC isn't going to help the preparation for the next world cup - since it will cause you to be defeated in ODI series.

Where did I say I was arguing with those points? Heck they are the reasons for me dropping Dussey.

That point was specific response to this portion of post of yours:

All this coming from the guy that said preparing for the future is overrated? However you are more than happy to have Hopes and Harvey moved along? Dussey is no different no matter how you try and spin it.

 

[Biggy]

Another spinner bites the dust.