West Indies tour of Australia, November-December 2009

[aussie1st]

Going to be in for a long day if we don't get these two out quickly. Johnson looks deadset average for the leader of our pack.

 

[CG123]

Australia still have the class batters of old, but I feel they don't have the strongest of bowling line-ups anymore.

Bollinger FC average of 30.
Siddle FC average of 28.
Johnson FC average of 30.
Hauritz FC average of 44.
Watson FC average of 29.

 

[Robelinda]

Yep the bowling is good, but not all that threatening. Need a strike bowler. As bad as Lee can be at least he tries to be attacking, Johnson's stocks have dropped considerably since the start of the Ashes- just not enough balls in the right area, which was Lee's problem too, but at least he could fire out a batsman or two in a hurry with sheer pace, we just dont seem to be capable of that at the moment.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Hussey is following Dravid, way slow

 

[shirazu]

Australia's bowlers are fine. Dunno which other attack going around you'd rather have. Maybe SA I guess but I'd take these guys. Just not a lot of really good strike bowlers around these days. McGrath and Warne were once every 20 years type bowlers and you got them both at once.

Not sure what this team is really lacking. Above average in all areas and there's plenty of reasonable replacements as well if anyone gets hurt. Still looks like the Windies might draw this test or even put the Aussies under pressure, should be good to watch. This sort of thing happens when you win the toss on a good pitch and then get some runs in the lower order.

 

[angryangy]

However, it is fair to argue that there are bowlers in the last 20 years other than McGrath and Warne who have performed better for Australia than these current ones. Jason Gillespie immediately springs to mind. Of course, some of these guys are in the larval stage of their careers, but there is good reason why Australian bowlers are held to lofty standards.

 

[TumTum]

Hauritz really needs to do a Benn here and get a 5-fer.

I hope Ponting uses some imagination and opens with Hauritz against Gayle.

There is no point of defense at this point, even if WI get away from us and post something big, we can attempt to draw it eitherway.

 

[sifter132]

Pretty Impressed with Roach, his run up looks un complicated and it looks as if there shouldn't be as much stress on his body. Seems to generate most of his pace through a strong delivery stride. His run up reminds me of Simon Jones, doesn't boom in, almost jogs in and generates pace in the delivery stride and a strong pull through of the leading arm. Good find.

Yeah he looks good. Fast and can move the ball. Just needs to cut out the no-balls. It's a mark of the lessening dominance of Australia that a few fast bowlers have done well out here the last few years. Not so much in 06/07 (sorry Flintoff :laugh), but in 07/08 it was Ishant Sharma, last summer it was Dale Steyn and this time it's Kemar Roach. In years past, it's kinda been a fast bowlers graveyard here.

Actually, just looked up some figures. Wanna know the fast bowler with the most wickets in Tests in Australia in the last 10 years? It's Ajit Agarker 27 wickets in 7 Tests @ 35.07.
Then comes Harmison, 24 wickets in 10 Tests @ 50.86, a few more
Andy Caddick, 20 wickets in 4 Tests @ 34.50
Hoggard, 19 wickets in 7 Tests @ 45.31
Steyn, 18 wickets in 3 Tests @ 26.16

In fact there's only 3 fast bowlers who've averaged under 30 in Australia in the last 10 years: Steyn 18 wickets @ 26.16, Andre Nel 14 wickets @ 29.64 and Merv Dillon(!) 16 wickets @ 29.93. So those 2 barely scrape under the 30 mark.


And the Cricinfo commentary was saying Siddle has a hamstring strain? Not real cool if true. I guess the West Indies won't be batting for the full 2 days or even a full day tomorrow if they play well, so the Aussies should be able to cope for a day if he can't bowl much/at all. But it won't help in their quest for a win.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Johnson's stocks have dropped considerably since the start of the Ashes-

a lot of people have jumped all over johnson, saying he's off form etc etc. it's worth remembering he was only ever in form for six tests against the same team. He's already 28, his peak, I honestly think just maybe he was never as good as we were lead to believe in the first place.

 

[Howsie]

Yeah he looks good. Fast and can move the ball. Just needs to cut out the no-balls. It's a mark of the lessening dominance of Australia that a few fast bowlers have done well out here the last few years. Not so much in 06/07 (sorry Flintoff :laugh), but in 07/08 it was Ishant Sharma, last summer it was Dale Steyn and this time it's Kemar Roach. In years past, it's kinda been a fast bowlers graveyard here.

Yep, that's been one of his problems in the past. He would quite often bowl five or more no balls a spell.

 

[TumTum]

a lot of people have jumped all over johnson, saying he's off form etc etc. it's worth remembering he was only ever in form for six tests against the same team. He's already 28, his peak, I honestly think just maybe he was never as good as we were lead to believe in the first place.

The 2 overs he bowled today were leg-stump gifts.

I can't believe I am actually saying this, but we kinda depend on Hilfenhaus :doh

 

[aussie1st]

Siddle could sit out rest of Test - Australia - Fox Sports

FFS, Lee mk2, Siddle is so injury prone and now it looks like hes going to do a Lee and leave us with 4 bowlers.

 

[TumTum]

Hauritz should do a Benn and bowl the whole day, 30 overs probably.

It will be a long day for Johnson and Bollinger :doh

 

[sifter132]

Hmm, hoping that Siddle can come on and bowl at least a few overs even if he has to sit the morning session to rest up. Let's see:

Johnson 20 overs
Bollinger 20
Watson 10
Hauritz 25-30
North/Hussey 5
That's 80-85 overs, so 5-10 from Siddle would be handy. Watson could bowl more I suppose, but I'd be wary of bowling him too much.

That said, I'd give Watto the new ball this morning with Dougie. Gayle might play loosely at Watto as I would assume he wouldn't show the same respect to him as he might to Mitch. So he might force some shots from decent line/length balls that he mightn't risk against Mitch. Plus Watson is probably more likely to swing it

Not sure how long Hilfenhaus or Siddle might be out for, but I guess McKay is looking good for a spot in Perth, especially if they play 4 quicks. Not sure they will anyway, but it's an option. After that who's next? Stuart Clark? Maybe, would be a good test of where the selectors see him. Dirk Nannes? Probably the best candidate, but maybe he's too old for the selectors to debut and they probably wouldn't want 3 lefties in an attack. After that you're probably looking at Brett Geeves or maybe even Peter George after his big 8fer the other week.

 

[aussie1st]

Gayle gives no one respect, if the ball is in his zone he will smack it as he showed yesterday when taking Johnson for 11 runs or whatever it was. Might as well see Watson can do with the new ball but won't happen.

As for the replacement, if we win it would be McKay else they will probably go the safe option with Clark to make sure we don't suffer an embarrassing series loss or a draw.