Room For Symonds in Aus test side?

[PhoenixFire]

Tbh, he is one of those batsmen like Runako Morton, Hayden and who I just hate watching, basically because of a horrid technique. Plus I've never actually seen him bat well. Awesome fielder as well, I'd have him there abouts the ODI side, but nowhere near the test one.

 

[Prince EWS]

Tbh, he is one of those batsmen like Runako Morton, Hayden and who I just hate watching, basically because of a horrid technique.

Agreed. Unlike Hayden though, his ability to score runs at test level is just as lacking as his technical aptitude. Hayden at least has some patience and can which ball to hit with his technically void bludgeoning blows.

Morton manages to keep the ball on the ground a lot of the time, too, which is a plus.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Yeah when Morton actually hits it. I remember him playing the most dire innings of 70 against England where he was dropped at least 3 times and played and missed more times than I care to count.

 

[Richard]

It's not as if England were at full strength though, nor did they play to the best of their ability. If England field the team they did against India, they will get smashed by Australia indeed, but if they have a full compliment and perform at their best, they will challenge Australia at home. Australia in Australia is a totally different matter though.

No, we weren't. We could easily have won each series had the Vaughans, Trescothicks, Flintoffs, Hoggards and, possibly, Joneses have been fit. But on the other hand, the replacement players in the respective series mostly performed credibly - the trouble against Sri Lanka exclusively related to catching, and against India established seniors.

In any case, even under-strength sides have often dealt with said subcontinental sides at home. Failing to win both is a serious stain on our copybook and one that it'll take a lot to tippex.

 

[aussie]

To be fair I think India and particularly Sri Lanka are about as real as the competition gets at the moment.

England certainly still a challenge, just the abundance of injury woes since Ashes O5 have hindered progress.

 

[iamdavid]

It's not as if England were at full strength though, nor did they play to the best of their ability. If England field the team they did against India, they will get smashed by Australia indeed, but if they have a full compliment and perform at their best, they will challenge Australia at home. Australia in Australia is a totally different matter though.

What would you call Englands "full compliment"...assuming everybody is fit and sane (fanciful).

1.Trescothick/Strauss
2.Cook
3.Vaughan*
4.Pieterson
5.Bell/Collingwood
6.Flintoff
7.Nobody cares+
8.Hoggard
9.Harmison
10.Jones/Sidebottom
11.Panesar

??

 

[chaminda_00]

Trescothick or Cook to keep...

 

[Richard]

TBH, if they weren't opening batsmen it honestly would be worth a shot - they can't really do worse than several of the recent incumbants.

However, I still think Foster getting a shot might be worth a go, and equally I still think Prior's wicketkeeping could surprise some. Not saying it will, but some people I think have reacted too quickly on the basis of 1 game.

And TBH I don't think anyone could argue that Jones and Harmison would be in a full-strength side any more, I'm beginning to think Jones will never again be anything worth while, Harmison obviously doesn't merit a place as much as Tremlett on recent evidence, and six is clearly at least and I mean at least one place too high for Flintoff.

Right now, it'd be more like this IMO...
Trescothick
Cook
Vaughan
Pietersen
Collingwood
Bell
Foster
Flintoff
Hoggard
Sidebottom
MSP

Which is hardly a side to frighten, really. Plenty of runs should be scored, but I've never had any massive faith in Hoggard without something in something (be it ball or pitch in one or two different ways) to help him and to date the assumption (not - yet - by me) is that Sidebottom will be similar. Panesar is obviously a fingerspinner and won't be much use on a non-turning pitch, and this just leaves Flintoff who won't have bowled in a Test for a year by the time he next bowls, and indeed has played just 5 out of the last 16, which is hardly inspiring.

And if it comes down to Flintoff to bowl-out sides on wickets that don't aid seam or spin, and with a ball that gets scuffed quickly, I'm none too confident.

 

[PhoenixFire]

At what point will Anderson/Broad/Tremlett be in the England Test side I wonder. When Hoggard and Sidebottom reitre probably.

 

[Richard]

TBH Tremlett and\or Broad might well be brought in at any time. I doubt either will be especially effective in Lanka, though, or indeed anywhere where the wickets are flat.

And Anderson may still be considered ahead of Sidebottom in the pecking-order, though that really makes little sense to me.

 

[Nate]

Fan of Symonds in the Test side. Richard - you commented on how unfair it was of Katich to be dropped after his last few matches for Australia? Do we now do the same thing to Symonds?

 

[Richard]

Yes, certainly. I'm not saying it would be exactly fair on Symonds - I've actually said it a few times, this being one such example. To make 156 (lucky as it was) and 48 and not play the next game is very definately unfortunate.

However, at least there is a legitimate reason for Watson playing ahead of him (should he do so). There was none for Symonds playing ahead of Katich in 2003\04 - none at all.

 

[sunilreddy]

Hayden
Hussey
Ponting
Hodge
M.Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Lee
S.Clark
Mcgill
Tait

And speaking of Watson. It will be a miracle if he stay's fit for 5 days.

 

[Richard]

Are you another Indian who supports Australia like Sameer?

And like the British traitor below who supports 'em too.

 

[aussie]

I have a gut feeling Symo will make the transition into the test side just as he did in the ODI side after the 2003 World Cup. He still may have some technical issues to sort out but which batsman doesn't.

With Watson becoming such a liability these days which is so unfortunate for the bloke, Symo could be a good man to have. Not as an all-rounder since he can never be one in test level, but as a good utility player in a 6-1-4 formation (i.e 6 bats, keeper & 4 quicks)

 

[Prince EWS]

I have a gut feeling Symo will make the transition into the test side just as he did in the ODI side after the 2003 World Cup. He still may have some technical issues to sort out but which batsman doesn't.

With Watson becoming such a liability these days which is so unfortunate for the bloke, Symo could be a good man to have. Not as an all-rounder since he can never be one in test level, but as a good utility player in a 6-1-4 formation (i.e 6 bats, keeper & 4 quicks)

If Symonds isn't an allrounder, then what the hell is he? He certainly isn't a specialist test batsman.

 

[Matt79]

Remarkably restrained response from Prince there, considering...

 

[Flem274*]

I wouldn't waste a middle order spot on Symonds when there are many better players.

The team I would pick

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Clarke
Katich
Hussey
Gilchrist
Lee
Clark
Hilfenhaus
MacGill

 

[Matt79]

Katich over Hodge?

 

[Flem274*]

Katich over Hodge?

Forgot him. Hodge in for Katich then, even though Hodge is as thick as a brick wall.