With Waugh and Astle at 3 and 4, the last thing you needed was an opening batsman. I know this is all hypothetical, but if Johnson were to open for this team ahead of Waugh, I'd expect Junior to rage quit.Picking Neil Johnson as an opening batsman and will make up part of the fifth bowler. Really wanted at least one player from that Zimbabwe side that showed so much potential and Johnson is a perfect fit. With 1679 runs @ 36.5 in 48 ODI's, he also took 35 wickets.
One Day team so far
1 Nick Knight (100 ODIs - 3637 runs @ 40.41 sr 71.52)
2 Neil Johnson (48 ODIs - 1679 runs @ 36.50 sr 70.2 & 35 wickets @ 34.85)
3 Mark Waugh (244 ODIs - 8500 runs @ 39.35 sr 76.9 & 85 wickets @ 34.56)
4 Nathan Astle (223 ODIs - 7090 runs @ 34.92 sr 72.64 & 99 wickets @ 38.47)
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Yeh I had Waugh opening originally and he was just as competent in the middle order and thats where I needed stability. I consider he and Knight my best two bats in this line up and I didnt like the idea of them opening together. Was always a fan of Johnson, very capable player, I realise he isnt a more capable opener than Waugh or Astle but he never batted anywhere else but opener except for one or two times.With Waugh and Astle at 3 and 4, the last thing you needed was an opening batsman. I know this is all hypothetical, but if Johnson were to open for this team ahead of Waugh, I'd expect Junior to rage quit.
I think its an interesting decision, potentially Nathan Astle might not bat until the 15th or 20th over, so that certainly goes against his natural instincts to play aggressively early on in an innings whilst the field is up. I don't think he batted lower than number three for the last ten years of his ODI career.Yeh I had Waugh opening originally and he was just as competent in the middle order and thats where I needed stability. I consider he and Knight my best two bats in this line up and I didnt like the idea of them opening together. Was always a fan of Johnson, very capable player, I realise he isnt a more capable opener than Waugh or Astle but he never batted anywhere else but opener except for one or two times.
What happened to GIMH - already been skipped?Jamee now has 10 hours left.
His 12 hours came and went.What happened to GIMH - already been skipped?
Surely Vettori had already been taken?
I was actually sleeping when you posted this message... Edit - Nah I was wide awake at workApparently not!
Oram, Attapatu, Brad Hogg > Vettori?!?!?!
You guys are sleeping!