My 1st test review
I dont know about you guys, but of the post McWarne era for me this is the most satisfying test win for AUS, even more so that those win in SA 09, Headingley 09, Perth 2010. Maybe because its coming off the back of the Ashes hammering, however every aspect of AUS cricket i found wonderfully satisfying - especially in the bowling.
With regards to bowling firstly on Copeland and well damn he is slow ha. First time seeing his speeds under a speed gun compared to the few times i saw him bowl for NSW in big-bash matches on live-stream and i must say i am surprised that his speeds range is just 122-126.
He fully deserved to be picked for this test given the concerns many had of the attack being loose with regards to Johnson and green with debut of Lyon versus these SRI batsmen in his 1st test. But going forward i cant see him being a consistent pick, Bollinger should have his place for sure taking the new-ball with Harris - that is AUS best new-ball attack.
I would still even have Siddle over him in the pecking order, since as aforementioned add Bollinger and if the team can bowl like this all the time, Copeland ability to doing the donkey role is not need. We can have three traditional 140 mph quick bowlers and let Lyon do the donkey role - which is what spinners should do anyway.
On Lyon and i think the much maligned selectors deserve some credit here for noticing his raw talent and picking him for tests. As most know i have been a firm belief that since 2008 AUS should have been playing four (4) fast bowlers in most tests and my belief for that has always been vindicated. No spinner should have been picked unless they did something substantial over a full First-class season, instead of the selectors picked a plethora of dud non-turning spinners like Casson, Doherty, Haurtiz, Beer who are/where incapable of doing the main job of a test spinner on turners/wearing 4th and 5th day wickets.
While spinner who did well domestically like Cullen and McGain looked way short of test standard when selected.
But i always said if the selectors noticed a spinner who looked to have those qualities of potential test standard who may not have played many FC games, he can certainly be picked/risked. They did so with Krejza in 2008 which is why up until now i always supported his inclusion in the test team and they have done the same correctly with Lyon.
Lyon clear advantage of Krejza is that he has better control, although both can be lethal on turners/wearing 4th and 5th day wickets. Krejza leg-spinner style looseness was the Achilles heel that gave him many detractors.
So Lyon should be here for an extended stay as the main test spinner and hppefully the new panel backs him even if a bad game pops up between now and year end.
Big shout to Ryan Harris of course also, he was always the leader of the attack and great to see him back. The AUS selectors seriously should wrap him in cotton wool due to his injury record and keep him as a test specialist alone, and cut his ODI & T20 career short - since the test attack between now that the 2013 Ashes needs him fit and firing. However they can bring him back for the 2012 T20 world-cup if they want.
Where was that reverse-swing in the Ashes Shane Watson?. We saw it in the 2009/10 AUS home summer from him and it went awol in the Ashes.
On the batting although Katich should obviously been playing, i'd reserve judgement on them until the next test, given that the pitch turned alot and i don't think any of the top 7 got out to bad shot selection.
AUS have gone through various phase since the glory era ended after the 2006/07 Ashes; firstly was transitional phase from SRI 2007/08 to SA 08/09, which saw the team trying to find its best XI after the retirement of the greats.
Then unfortunately after the 2-1 win in S Africa 09 up until the horrific Ashes defeat, the settled into a 18 month period of terrible inconsistent cricket mainly thanks to a crop of dumbass selectors.
Hopefully now with argus review and all this test win is the start of the real revival for AUS in test cricket going forward.
My best test XI for most conditions now:
Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Katich
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Lyon
Bollinger
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Ponting rushes home for birth of second child
So Marsh will make his long awaited debut. Khawaja hasn't snapped up the 6 spot yet so once again they will go head to head in a match. Just wonder if Khawaja will move up to 3 given that is what happened last time Ponting was missing.
Yikes i forgot he was bound to leave because of this, hopefully a lack of Katich doesn't come back to haunt them now.