Craig
World Traveller
Google search says yes.
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*Official Third Test at Edgbaston
- Thread starter superkingdave
- Start date
Demolition Man
State Vice-Captain
Bat, bat and bat some more.
duffer
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Heh.
In other news Merv Hughes was on Fox and refused to answer questions about selection. Imagine that, media wanting to ask a selector about team selection. Most pointless TV guest ever.
Demolition Man
State Vice-Captain
Oh dear, only one was this is going to end.
Demolition Man
State Vice-Captain
Good on ya phil now go get back in the nets.
BoyBrumby
Englishman
Would surely be the way to go. Hussey averages roughly 55 as an opener whereas Watson could hardly buy a run when he had a crack for QLD.
Me neither, but presumably the selectors were well acquainted with it and it wasn't seen as an issue when he was carting the SA attack a few months back. Yes, he has a quirky techique and yes he has issues with fast, short-pitched stuff but this can't be news to the selectors, surely? If it is one wonders what they've had their heads stuck and if it isn't why only give the boy three innings before the "thanks, but no thanks"?
I agree with your point about ruthlessness, but where is their consistency? What has Johnson done to warrant the selectors' largesse that Hughes hasn't? Hughes career FC figures are more impressive and has performed in English conditions in the very recent past.
If Johnson has been retained because he's a genuine #8 it's wrong-headed IMHO & I'd refer the jury to PEWS's "Agarkar Law".
Pizzorno
State Vice-Captain
It'd be hilarious if Ponting won the toss and chose to bat first in an attempt to erase the mistake of the last time he was at Edgbaston, only to then get bowled out for less than 200. I'm sure the man would never want to step foot in Birmingham again.
Not going to happen though obviously.
Not going to happen though obviously.
Uppercut
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Johnson shouldn't be retained.
Now that we've got over it, can we please move on to judging a completely different selectorial decision on its merit?
Demolition Man
State Vice-Captain
Yeah, no way he will win the toss.
NUFAN
Y no Afghanistan flag
Is Hughes playing now, but coming in to bat at 3?
BoyBrumby
Englishman
Merit? It has very little I can see. Just because I agree that players' feelings shouldn't be an over-riding consideration doesn't mean the call doesn't stink.
Dumping a specialist opener who averages over 50 in FC & test cricket for a bloke who averages less than 20 in tests and couldn't buy a run when he's been tried as an opener? Even allowing for Hughes's technical quirks it's a ****ing howler.
Woodster
International Captain
The weather looks sh**e with no signs of improving. The lovely Lucy said showers will be passing through during the morning and the afternoon should give way to spells of sunshine. The problem being the amount of water that this ground has already taken, it cannot afford to take much more or we can kiss goodbye to the first day's play and an entirely wasted day off work!!
So disappointing that the bleeding weather should ruin such a sporting spectacle! Typical of the weather over here!!So annoying.
So disappointing that the bleeding weather should ruin such a sporting spectacle! Typical of the weather over here!!So annoying.
Woodster
International Captain
Can't see anything good in selecting Watson to open the innings. It's not like Australia have no options for a back-up opener, if they hadn't you could understand an experiment with a player like Watson.
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
Haven't read any of the discussion here yet, but I'll go on record as saying that I don't think it's a bad decision to pick Watson, or to have him open. I think having Hussey open and batting Watson at 4 would probably be a better choice but it's understandable if the selectors don't want to displace Hussey with his somewhat shaky form etc.
I wouldn't be surprised if Watson did reasonably well opening the batting, he's got a good technique and he's such a huge confidence player that throwing him in there against the new ball might do him a world of good. In the modern era opening isn't that different from batting down the order anyway.
To put it another way, if you're going to pick Watson, and the only choices are to have him open or bat at 6 or 7, I think he's better off opening. He's the last of the Australian top order batsmen I'd want stuck with the tail, while Hussey has done very well down the order in general.
I wouldn't be surprised if Watson did reasonably well opening the batting, he's got a good technique and he's such a huge confidence player that throwing him in there against the new ball might do him a world of good. In the modern era opening isn't that different from batting down the order anyway.
To put it another way, if you're going to pick Watson, and the only choices are to have him open or bat at 6 or 7, I think he's better off opening. He's the last of the Australian top order batsmen I'd want stuck with the tail, while Hussey has done very well down the order in general.