***Official Australia in India***

[silentstriker]

Huh? On what do you base these comments? Why have you elevated Johnson?

On the fact that a bad spinner will cost you a lot more than a bad fast bowler in India. In fact, an OK spinner might still cost you more than a bad fast bowler.

 

[Julian87]

I just think he'd be a better bowler on surfaces that took spin, basically. He doesn't get much response from Australian surfaces and Casson being a wristy is affected less by this. It's not so much that I think you should always take a finger spinner to India, but that I think this finger spinner in particular would benefit a great deal from Indian pitches in comparison to what he gets at home, and therefore improve his record. If Casson had done more than performed decently for half a season I'd have him in there, but with none of the spinners actually have a genuine case at all, I'd go with the one I've always thought had something to him, which is Krejza.
.

Agree 100%.

And just on his average in FC cricket. Australian pitches are roads atm, and most teams are playing a defensive finger spinner, if one at all, besides NSW and Victoria. Many have a better average than Krejza simply because they bowl darts all day, try and keep the runs down and pinch the odd wicket. Krejza has never been that type of bowler, so when he rocks up and has to bowl on day one Tuggeranong Parkway pitches to the likes of Simon Katich and Brad Hodge, there is no wonder his average is so poor. I take it with a grain of salt, simply because from the first time I saw him bowl, i thought he was the best finger spinner in the country. I still do.

After seeing what India have done to Warne over the years, and Hogg last year, going with Krejza rather than Casson was a good move IMO.

 

[Top_Cat]

Agree 100%.

And just on his average in FC cricket. Australian pitches are roads atm, and most teams are playing a defensive finger spinner, if one at all, besides NSW and Victoria. Many have a better average than Krejza simply because they bowl darts all day, try and keep the runs down and pinch the odd wicket. Krejza has never been that type of bowler, so when he rocks up and has to bowl on day one Tuggeranong Parkway pitches to the likes of Simon Katich and Brad Hodge, there is no wonder his average is so poor. I take it with a grain of salt, simply because from the first time I saw him bowl, i thought he was the best finger spinner in the country. I still do.

After seeing what India have done to Warne over the years, and Hogg last year, going with Krejza rather than Casson was a good move IMO.

Hasn't always been the case, certainly wasn't when Krejza was in the NSW squad. Even there, with his competition comprising such spinning luminaries as Nathan Hauritz and Casson himself, he couldn't make a go of it. He's a talented bowler, sure, but it's a risky move hoping he'll come good in a Test series against India. Anyway, there's a lot to suggest the Indian decks for this series will be roads too.

 

[Johnners]

From Cricinfo

Ponting's batting - he repeatedly came out to the spinners, trying to reach the pitch of the ball - was revealing. He took an off-stump guard against offspinner Jason Krejza, placing his back foot in line with middle. Ponting had succeeded against Muttiah Muralitharan by getting outside the line of off stump and playing with the turn on the leg side. However, against Harbhajan Singh, he has repeatedly lunged forward and perished. Perhaps today's method is an indication of the tactics he is likely to employ against Harbhajan.

Makes a good point re: Lunging fowared to HB Singh. Whatever the case, hope Ponting sorts something out to belt the snot out of him.

 

[Top_Cat]

From Cricinfo

Makes a good point re: Lunging fowared to HB Singh. Whatever the case, hope Ponting sorts something out to belt the snot out of him.

Risky in some ways. That tactic is good against blokes who turn the ball big but I can see Ponting being pinned right in front to a Harbhajan top-spinner (as he was a few times in 2001). However, if the pitches are a flat as they look like they're going to be, it negates the effect of the bounce Harbhajan usually gets so I dont think we'll see too many catches in-close. That probably is what caused more problems for Ponting than anything else. Personally, if Ponting does well, it'll be mainly due to his mentality rather than a miracle cure for his technical issues.

 

[pasag]

On the fact that a bad spinner will cost you a lot more than a bad fast bowler in India. In fact, an OK spinner might still cost you more than a bad fast bowler.

Johnson's been leaking runs left, right and centre recently though. If you were arguing for Siddle then maybe.

 

[pup11]

On the fact that a bad spinner will cost you a lot more than a bad fast bowler in India. In fact, an OK spinner might still cost you more than a bad fast bowler.

Mate, there is a thing called over rates too to deal with here, if Australia pick 4 seamers in such energy sapping conditions they would more or less struggle to bowl 90 overs in a day,Clarke is a decent spinner for a part-timer but to expect him to fill in as a full-time spinner is just not on as he has lingering back problem to deal with and neither is his bowling good enough to really effect top batsmen constantly.

Australia' strength lies in their fast bowling and the spinner' role on this tour is basically to try to tie one end up and bowl tightly so that the fast bowlers can attack from the other end.

 

[silentstriker]

Johnson's been leaking runs left, right and centre recently though. If you were arguing for Siddle then maybe.

I was arguing for a pace guy, you brought up Johnson. I was thinking Bollinger actually. But yea, I do think that even Johnson, if he is crap, would still be better than a spinner.

 

[pasag]

I was arguing for a pace guy, you brought up Johnson. I was thinking Bollinger actually. But yea, I do think that even Johnson, if he is crap, would still be better than a spinner.

Yeah Bollinger should be there before any bowler after Lee and Clark.

 

[pup11]

Risky in some ways. That tactic is good against blokes who turn the ball big but I can see Ponting being pinned right in front to a Harbhajan top-spinner (as he was a few times in 2001). However, if the pitches are a flat as they look like they're going to be, it negates the effect of the bounce Harbhajan usually gets so I don't think we'll see too many catches in-close. That probably is what caused more problems for Ponting than anything else. Personally, if Ponting does well, it'll be mainly due to his mentality rather than a miracle cure for his technical issues.

I think Martyn used a similar tactic against Harbhajan during the last Indian tour and he was pretty successful too, so it can work for Punter also, but the only thing here that can work against Punter is that unlike Martyn he mostly doesn't play the ball soft hands, so he if works on that then he may be able to negate Harbhajan pretty successfully and finally get the monkey off his back.

 

[Jakester1288]

So after the latest injuries, provided Watson is out of the first test (which is unlikely), I think we should have a line up similar to this:

1. Jaques
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Katich
7. Haddin
8. Krejza
9. Lee
10. Bollinger
11. Clark

That is our strongest possible line up we can name from the players on tour, and to be honest, it's not that bad.

 

[pup11]

Bryce McGain,with a shoulder injury and might be on the flight back home soon.

Terrible news this for McGain, was so close to getting his Baggy green, it would be really hard on him to be ruled out of the series due to an injury after having got a chance so late in his career.

 

[Top_Cat]

I think Martyn used a similar tactic against Harbhajan during the last Indian tour and he was pretty successful too, so it can work for Punter also, but the only thing here that can work against Punter is that unlike Martyn he mostly doesn't play the ball soft hands, so he if works on that then he may be able to negate Harbhajan pretty successfully and finally get the monkey off his back.

Has to get it off his face first.

 

[pup11]

So after the latest injuries, provided Watson is out of the first test (which is unlikely), I think we should have a line up similar to this:

1. Jaques
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Katich
7. Haddin
8. Krejza
9. Lee
10. Bollinger
11. Clark

That is our strongest possible line up we can name from the players on tour, and to be honest, it's not that bad.

Watson is down with viral fever, so can't see that stopping him from playing in the first test, and what makes you think that Bollinger would get the nod ahead of Johnson in the first test, it could only happen if Johnson gets smashed in today's practice game and Bollinger manages to take a lot wickets at the same time, but still i can't see the Aussies dropping Johnson for the first test.

 

[Jakester1288]

Watson is down with viral fever, so can't see that stopping him from playing in the first test, and what makes you think that Bollinger would get the nod ahead of Johnson in the first test, it could only happen if Johnson gets smashed in today's practice game and Bollinger manages to take a lot wickets at the same time, but still i can't see the Aussies dropping Johnson for the first test.

Sorry, I just saw the headline that Watson is not playing the practice match.

I don't think many people actually think Bollinger will get selected over Johnson at all. It's more hope. He is, as I have said many times before, and made a whole thread about it, explaining why he should not be selected and who his replacements should be. I named a test squad then as well, around 3 months ago, and I am still sticking with it now. It is the most logical line up, with the best players. And if your best bowlers are pace bowlers, you need to include them, instead of fiddling around with young spinners, who have no where reached maturity for a Cricketer.

 

[pup11]

Australia in India 2008-09

Krejza not intimidated by India

October 2, 2008

Jason Krejza, the uncapped offspinner, is confident he can make a success of his likely Test call-up after Bryce McGain was ruled out of the opening match in Bangalore with a shoulder injury. It leaves Krejza as the only fit specialist spinner in Australia's squad and he is now set to become the country's 402nd Test cricketer.

He arrives on the international scene with a modest domestic record; he has 43 first-class wickets at 45.46 from 23 matches mostly with New South Wales and Tasmania. However, Krejza has a reputation as an aggressive spinner and a big turner of the ball, and he said he would not be intimidated by India's batsmen.

"I am confident that I can come over here and be successful, that is why I targeted this tour," Krejza told the Age. "If I can spin it hard and get it in the right areas, get a few big wickets, that would be great.

"I'm not intimidated, because bowling to our guys, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting and the others, it isn't much different. They treat spinners as Indians do, very, very aggressively. I have confidence that I've got the skills to do it."

Krejza, 25, is also keen to try out his version of the doosra. "I've been working on it for four or five years," he said. "It will definitely come out this series, because I want to keep these Indian batsmen on their toes."

Krejza collected 3 for 35 in the weekend's tour game against the RCA Centre of Excellence, which was his first chance to bowl in match conditions in India. He was on the recent Australia A tour but rain prevented him bowling a ball.

It was also during the Australia A games that McGain picked up his shoulder strain, a niggle that has lasted much longer than he initially expected. Although McGain will remain with the squad until he can be properly assessed, the team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris believes it will be two to three weeks before he will be able to bowl, meaning a flight home is a strong possibility.

That would be good news for Beau Casson, the left-arm chinaman bowler who made his Test debut in the Caribbean but was overlooked for the squad for India as the selectors wanted one wrist-spinner and one finger-spinner. Casson suffered a minor injury when he slipped in the outfield on the Australia A trip but he said if the call came for him to replace McGain he would jump at the chance.

"I'll be ready if needed, absolutely," Casson told the Daily Telegraph. "That was the reason for missing a few games with Australia A in India, because I wanted to get back on the park as soon as possible.

"I've had [physio] Pat Farhart weave some of his magic and the groin has responded really well. I've played three games of cricket since and, being one-dayers, I've had to move from side to side a fair bit, so I couldn't be happier with the way I'm feeling."

© Cricinfo


He has a doosra..., when did that happen, heve never seen him bowl even a decent top-spinner, i hope he is just not saying that to keep the Inidan batsmen guessing.

 

[pup11]

Sorry, I just saw the headline that Watson is not playing the practice match.

I don't think many people actually think Bollinger will get selected over Johnson at all. It's more hope. He is, as I have said many times before, and made a whole thread about it, explaining why he should not be selected and who his replacements should be. I named a test squad then as well, around 3 months ago, and I am still sticking with it now. It is the most logical line up, with the best players. And if your best bowlers are pace bowlers, you need to include them, instead of fiddling around with young spinners, who have no where reached maturity for a Cricketer.

Meh, no need to be sorry or anything, i was just saying that Watson was just down with a viral fever that's unlikely to keep him out of the first test.

Anyways, can't help but think that Johnson is in Ponting' good books or something like that, the way he bowled in the previous Indian series and then in West Indies, i am even surprised at the fact he is even there in the squad, i think if cricketing sense was applied then it wouldn't have been hard to figure out for the selectors that Johnson is not good enough to be bowling in test cricket atm, and due to this stupidity Bollinger who is looking awesome atm would be carrying drinks on most of this tour while Johnson keeps getting whacked around the park.

 

[Mister Wright]

Bryce McGain,with a shoulder injury and might be on the flight back home soon.

Terrible news this for McGain, was so close to getting his Baggy green, it would be really hard on him to be ruled out of the series due to an injury after having got a chance so late in his career.

Symonds is the shadow player, so hopefully he gets called up.

 

[TT Boy]

Apparently this warm-up game is being shown on TV and I think I might be able to watch it.

 

[Mister Wright]

Gee..Is Watson the worst tourist ever? If it isn't injury, it's ghosts, if it isn't ghosts, it's viral infections. Shocker.