Bahnz
Hall of Fame Member
???The only thing that makes me less worried about this batting performance is the fact that the NSW bowling lineup is stronger than the Aussie bowling lineup.
???The only thing that makes me less worried about this batting performance is the fact that the NSW bowling lineup is stronger than the Aussie bowling lineup.
It was a joke...
You just never give it a rest do you?The funny thing is, NSW's five best quicks aren't playing this game for one reason or another. Opening the bowling were NSW's 6th and 8th choice seamers. 9th choice bowled first change (and grabbed three poles).
Perhaps throw in a smiley or something next time. I was seriously questioning your sanity for a minute there...well moreso than usual anyway.It was a joke...
Catching no fish today made me insane...it was the gayest fishing expedition ever. Perhaps in a few weeks once it gets warmer. Smileys are for the weak.Perhaps throw in a smiley or something next time. I was seriously questioning your sanity for a minute there...well moreso than usual anyway.
Was sort of hoping Hilfenhaus would jag a spot in the squad and play in Brisbane - his ability to swing and shape the ball would have offered a lot to the attack, with Johnson, Clark, Watson and Lee all being pretty gunbarrell straight (although to Watson's credit, he got it to hoop a bit reverse in India).Australian 13 for the First Test announced
Ricky Ponting (c)
Michael Clarke (vc) (subject to fitness)
Stuart Clark
Brad Haddin
Matthew Hayden
Michael Hussey
Mitchell Johnson
Simon Katich
Jason Krejza
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Andrew Symonds
Shane Watson
Siddle over Bollinger, Noffke, etc. Gah. Pretty expected apart from that.
If the Indian tour should have thought the Australian selectors ANYTHING is that in this crucial post McGrath/Warne era, they need to read conditions better & pick sides accordingly, since the wonderful balance of golden era to have an XI that can win in all conditions is gone.I can't see how Symonds would play. They won't drop Watson for him, because he played well in India, and they won't drop any of the top 5 batsmen for him because they are all firmly established. The only viable option would be to drop Krezja and only play three specialist bowlers.
Seems unlikely to me.
I'm sure the Indians felt the same about getting out to JJ.Quality effort from NZ, getting out to Lambert? Are you serious
My thoughts exactly, as I wrote last week, Andres. There's a real sameness about our quicks, in that sense. Hilfenhaus swings it from ball one, he doesn't have to wait until reverse swing occurs.Was sort of hoping Hilfenhaus would jag a spot in the squad and play in Brisbane - his ability to swing and shape the ball would have offered a lot to the attack, with Johnson, Clark, Watson and Lee all being pretty gunbarrell straight (although to Watson's credit, he got it to hoop a bit reverse in India).
Disagree with this though. I would prefer the better bowler at six, rather than the better batsman - it gives the team another dimension. Plus, with Haddin, Lee and Johnson to follow, we 'bat long' anyway.Hoping Symonds plays over Watson - he's a match winner, which at this stage Watson isn't, and at the moment I think we really need that.
Australian 13 for the First Test announced
Ricky Ponting (c)
Michael Clarke (vc) (subject to fitness)
Stuart Clark
Brad Haddin
Matthew Hayden
Michael Hussey
Mitchell Johnson
Simon Katich
Jason Krejza
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Andrew Symonds
Shane Watson
Siddle over Bollinger, Noffke, etc. Gah. Pretty expected apart from that.
I can see where you are coming from - but my thought line on this (I'll make it clear I'm not much of a Watson fan, but thats for another day) is that the variety that Symonds offers us will the ball might be more useful than a fourth up and down seamer. As ordinary as his batting has been his meds have been decent in Shield cricket this summer - he does get it to swing and you'd imagine he's got a pretty similar strike rate to Watson. Watson might look more polished as a bowler but I doubt that he is really any more effective.Disagree with this though. I would prefer the better bowler at six, rather than the better batsman - it gives the team another dimension. Plus, with Haddin, Lee and Johnson to follow, we 'bat long' anyway.
He did so very well, a nice 170 in the end, scoring the majority of New Zealands runs in the end. Promising start to the series.Seems How's made an attractive 42*. Will be interesting to see if he can convert it. History says no.