**Official** New Zealand in Australia

[Prince EWS]

I don't think Symonds has done enough to get into the Test side. He did make a decent half century in the first innings of the last Shield match, but for the most part he's been not too good and looked pretty poor in the last Ford Ranger match [not the best indicator I know]. He hasn't done anything of note bowling wise either.

As much as I don't really rate him that highly, he wasn't dropped based on his performances. He was dropped based on his attitude and, from all reports, this has been rectified.

 

[NUFAN]

As much as I don't really rate him that highly, he wasn't dropped based on his performances. He was dropped based on his attitude and, from all reports, this has been rectified.

What does this mean exactly?

Has he attended each training session and not gotten in trouble with the match referee?

Symonds a bit of a character and if his attitude has changed, this could produce negative cricket results and dent his confidence.

I would pick him in the ODIs, but wouldn't pick him for Test Cricket yet.

 

[NZTailender]

Do you know what a generalisation is? As a general rule, Johnson and Watson DO NOT move the ball. Obviously i'm talking about the majority of balls they bowl, of course they will have moved balls throughout their careers, but generally they do not move it. What are you failing to understand about what I have been saying?

Saying that they have never moved a ball is different to saying they generally don't move a ball. The former is an absolute. Maybe I am being pedantic but saying...

Well, Watson and Johnson have never moved the ball off the straight.

&

Johnson, Lee, Watson and Clark have never swung the ball

...is just plain wrong and they are not generalisations. I don't know about you, but I don't know anyone who uses the word 'never' as a generalisation. Like 'Ferrari have never won an F1 Championship'. Is that a generalisation?

Also, where have I insulted anyone?

Can you not see how pedantic and stupid you are being

Found it slightly insulting, considering I wasn't having a go at you, just calling you out on being wrong.

I don't know why I should've expected a mature and measured response from yourself, because ever since you've joined this forum you have been nothing but aggressive towards others, argumentative, negative and overly defensive. Seems like you enjoy getting into petty tit-for-tat arguments and generally bait people, so in my books you're pretty much a troll.

But don't worry, you won't have to worry about me being pedantic, obvious or stupid towards you again

Say hello to 'BingLeeElectric', 'Leslie1' and 'JustTool' for me.

 

[NZTailender]

Anyways....

Who's going to fill Australia's number 6 and 4th bowling option behind Lee, Clark and Johnson?

Watson and Krejza have the inside running, but will Krejza be needed at the Gabba especially if Symonds somehow gets selected?

So Krejza, Noffke, Bollinger, Hilfenhaus and I suppose Siddle and even White [lol] to fill the 4th bowling spot.

Watson and Symonds and I guess whoever the next best middle order batter is, but this is doubtful.

Don't think Watson had done enough to keep his spot ahead of Symonds. Think it would be ridiculous of the selectors not to pick Symonds, especially if they have said he's ready in return.

Didn't the chairman come out already and say he had done enough to be picked or something?

About Symmo

I was pretty much the only member on this forum I know of who agreed with the decision of taking Krejza to India, but even I don't think he should play at home, regardless of his figures in this Test match. Symonds at 6 with four quicks for mine.

I'd love it if Watson and Krejza played because they're two of my favourite cricketers and I've supported them for a long time now, but I don't think they're the best options at home really. Four quicks is a must at home for mine (at least until a spinner starts doing something consistently at First Class level in the same conditions) and despite the fact that I have more faith in Watson as a Test cricketer than Symonds, Watson's bowling wouldn't be particularly useful with four quicks already in the team and Symonds has proven a lot more with the bat anyway.

I know what you mean, but it could possibly be of great benefit to have a frontline spinner in our XI, especially if Watson is retained.

I don't think Symonds has done enough to get into the Test side. He did make a decent half century in the first innings of the last Shield match, but for the most part he's been not too good and looked pretty poor in the last Ford Ranger match [not the best indicator I know]. He hasn't done anything of note bowling wise either.

It still makes up a pretty interesting argument on who will be the fourth bowler, I can't see Bollinger being selected as he'd be completely out of match practice, which is unfortunate for him.

As much as I don't really rate him that highly, he wasn't dropped based on his performances. He was dropped based on his attitude and, from all reports, this has been rectified.

What does this mean exactly?

Has he attended each training session and not gotten in trouble with the match referee?

Symonds a bit of a character and if his attitude has changed, this could produce negative cricket results and dent his confidence.

I would pick him in the ODIs, but wouldn't pick him for Test Cricket yet.

Though I tend to agree that 4 frontline quicks would be the way to go for Australia in this series, I very much doubt that they will do it. After Warne retired they turned to MacGill and Hogg, and when they were unavailable, instead of playing 4 seamers in the WIndies they handed a debut to Beau Cassonand in India they've called upon Cameron White and now Jason Krezja, which suggests that they are always going to pick a spinner of some sort whether it be in the vein of White or a frontline spinner.

I hope that White is discarded for Clark for the first test versus NZ, as Lee-Clark-Johnson-Krezja would be IMO the strongest possible 3 seam-1 spin option available to Australia at this point.
Even if Watson is replaced by Symonds, I don't think they'll go with 4 quicks and rely on Symonds, Katich and Clarke for spin. At this stage, the only way Bollinger, Noffke or Siddle get a game against NZ is by injury or the resting of one of Clark, Lee and Johnson.

 

[Prince EWS]

Though I tend to agree that 4 frontline quicks would be the way to go for Australia in this series, I very much doubt that they will do it. After Warne retired they turned to MacGill and Hogg, and when they were unavailable, instead of playing 4 seamers in the WIndies they handed a debut to Beau Cassonand in India they've called upon Cameron White and now Jason Krezja, which suggests that they are always going to pick a spinner of some sort whether it be in the vein of White or a frontline spinner.

I hope that White is discarded for Clark for the first test versus NZ, as Lee-Clark-Johnson-Krezja would be IMO the strongest possible 3 seam-1 spin option available to Australia at this point.
Even if Watson is replaced by Symonds, I don't think they'll go with 4 quicks and rely on Symonds, Katich and Clarke for spin. At this stage, the only way Bollinger, Noffke or Siddle get a game against NZ is by injury or the resting of one of Clark, Lee and Johnson.

Yeah I agree with that. I think it's quite unlikely that Australia will play four specialist quicks, particularly given Krejza's performance in the fourth Test against India. I was just arguing that it'd be the way I'd go if I was a selector.

 

[HMas]

4 quicks at perth only

 

[NZTailender]

Yeah I agree with that. I think it's quite unlikely that Australia will play four specialist quicks, particularly given Krejza's performance in the fourth Test against India. I was just arguing that it'd be the way I'd go if I was a selector.

Lee-Bollinger-Clark-Noffke for mine, with David Hussey coming in at 6 and bowling a few overs

 

[pup11]

My Aussie XI for the 1st test would be like this:

1.S.Katich
2.M.Hayden
3.R.Ponting
4.M.Hussey
5.M.Clarke
6.A.Symonds
7.B.Haddin (wk)
8.J.Krejza
9.B.Lee
10.S.Clark
11.M.Johnson
Watson has done decently enough on a tough tour like India but i think he hasn't done enough to keep Symonds out of the side, Clark surely has to play and and hence White misses out.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Watto swinging the ball quite well aws.

 

[aussie]

I say rest Ponting & Lee for this test series.

 

[IndGunner]

Cant rest Lee, he needs this series to get back into rythm, And ponting prolly wants to miss no matches i mean he does have to catch up to tendulkar and who better to tee of against than NZ there bowling isnt the best

 

[JimmyGS]

Found it slightly insulting, considering I wasn't having a go at you, just calling you out on being wrong.

Not particularly, just not specifying every little thing about what he was stating. Overall, he's 100% correct. Everyone knew what he was saying, but for some reason you decided to go over it with a fine tooth comb and try to call him out. I don't know why, maybe you were just in a bad mood, who knows?

 

[Prince EWS]

I say rest Ponting & Lee for this test series.

Ponting obviously wants to play in it given he's sacrifised the series in India to avoid a suspension.

Seriously though, unless players are injured, they should NOT be rested for Tests. If they want a rest or appear to need one, let them have an ODI series off.

 

[IndGunner]

It better be worth it Punter

 

[NZTailender]

Not particularly, just not specifying every little thing about what he was stating. Overall, he's 100% correct. Everyone knew what he was saying, but for some reason you decided to go over it with a fine tooth comb and try to call him out. I don't know why, maybe you were just in a bad mood, who knows?

 

[Athlai]

Used that the other day TBH.

 

[Johnners]

Assuming all players are fit/available/not lynched by a mob of angry fans

I would be at all surprised to see Clark come in for White, and no other changes made from the Australian team currently playing in Nagpur.

 

[Polo23]

That sounds about right Clapo...unless the Aussies have forgiven Symonds already?

 

[Johnners]

Even if they have forgiven Symonds, I doubt they'll oust Watson after his bowling performances in this current match, and the fact that he has at least scored a few runs recently, which is more than can be said for Symonds.

Won't be surprised if they drop Watson for him though.

 

[Polo23]

Even if they have forgiven Symonds, I doubt they'll oust Watson after his bowling performances in this current match, and the fact that he has at least scored a few runs recently, which is more than can be said for Symonds.

Won't be surprised if they drop Watson for him though.

Yeah, Watson getting cut would be pretty harsh. For NZ's sake I hope they stick with Watson.