**Official** Tour Matches

[Son Of Coco]

Never assume anything with the Oz selectors

Ponting has already intimated that the team will be unchanged and this might be nothing more sinister than giving guys a bat

I thought he said something about Johnson that intimated he might not be in the next test if he doesn't perform well in this match. Can't remember his exact words though.

Wouldn't mind seeing them declare soon and give the bowlers another hit out. If I were Johnson I'd want another chance to get some rhythm.

 

[pasag]

Declare plz.

 

[Top_Cat]

Manou.

EDIT: Declaration. Robbed of a ton, tbh.

 

[social]

Manou.

EDIT: Declaration. Robbed of a ton, tbh.

Likely to retire with a batting average of over 50 for Oz - I'd be happy with that

 

[social]

So if Watto bowls ok here today and manages to avoid breaking a finger on a scratchy before the test starts, has he done enough?

 

[Richard]

Manou.

EDIT: Declaration. Robbed of a ton, tbh.

Thought you didn't like him?

 

[pasag]

Thought you didn't like him?

See location

 

[pup11]

So if Watto bowls ok here today and manages to avoid breaking a finger on a scratchy before the test starts, has he done enough?

Yeah he has done enough, but as you said before, you never with these Australian selectors..

 

[vicky]

Anyone know how hughes was dismissed this morning?

 

[iamdavid]

Given how random and senseless several Australian selections of late have been, and also given that current form seems to dictate Watson should be brought into the side and Johnson ushered out. How suprised would people be if they did a straight swap of Watson for Johnson?

 

[pasag]

Given how random and senseless several Australian selections of late have been, and also given that current form seems to dictate Watson should be brought into the side and Johnson ushered out. How suprised would people be if they did a straight swap of Watson for Johnson?

It would be madness.

 

[Richard]

See location

Oh yeah, I know he's a SA'n, but I've heard him hint that he and Manou don't get on before now.

 

[Athlai]

That would be a rubbish decision, thats like a 3.75 man attack.

 

[NUFAN]

Given how random and senseless several Australian selections of late have been, and also given that current form seems to dictate Watson should be brought into the side and Johnson ushered out. How suprised would people be if they did a straight swap of Watson for Johnson?

It did cross my mind but no way would Watson be a part of a 4 man bowling attack.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Given how random and senseless several Australian selections of late have been, and also given that current form seems to dictate Watson should be brought into the side and Johnson ushered out. How suprised would people be if they did a straight swap of Watson for Johnson?

Not going to happen.

 

[iamdavid]

They've set a precedent for it in the past, Watson was practically part of a four man attack in his last test, granted the pitch was green and they had Symonds as a backup bowler....Given some of the selections we've seen over the last 14 months I don't think anything is out of the question

 

[Son Of Coco]

I thought he said something about Johnson that intimated he might not be in the next test if he doesn't perform well in this match. Can't remember his exact words though.

Wouldn't mind seeing them declare soon and give the bowlers another hit out. If I were Johnson I'd want another chance to get some rhythm.

Glad The Huss got my message.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

They've set a precedent for it in the past, Watson was practically part of a four man attack in his last test, granted the pitch was green and they had Symonds as a backup bowler....Given some of the selections we've seen over the last 14 months I don't think anything is out of the question

Yeah I went to type something about that but figured the situation was so different that it didn't warrant mention. In regards to that:

a) He'd just come of his best sustained period of fitness in years and bowled extremly well as a 5th wheel in India, whereas now it's still questionable whether he could bowl more than 10ish overs a day.
b) It was on a green deck in Brisbane against New Zealand very early in the season (basically still winter almost) and with really nothing to lose.
c) He bowled puss and made no runs batting with the tail in that game.

 

[iamdavid]

Yeah I went to type something about that but figured the situation was so different that it didn't warrant mention. In regards to that:

a) He'd just come of his best sustained period of fitness in years and bowled extremly well as a 5th wheel in India, whereas now it's still questionable whether he could bowl more than 10ish overs a day.
b) It was on a green deck in Brisbane against New Zealand very early in the season (basically still winter almost) and with really nothing to lose.
c) He bowled puss and made no runs batting with the tail in that game.

All valid points, I'm certainly not suggesting it would have any merit to it, just that given recent selection trends and the form of the two players in question I get this disheartening feeling that it's not out of the question.

C'mon they picked McDonald as part of a four man attack in South Africa just a couple of months ago on some pretty flat tracks, and I don't buy that McDonald brings any better value with the ball than a fit Watson.

 

[andyc]

Manou batting ahead of North, despite North not scoring many in the 1st innings, its seems like a pretty obvious indication that North might not be picked for the next test.

Or maybe they've decided that North is a shoo-in for the next game, so it doesn't matter if he bats or not.