*Official* Fourth Test at Headingley

[aussie]

Nope, reckon Haury's spot is secure for the series. If anything, they'll give Watto more of the ball if they need it.

EDIT: Sure enough, Ponting on record saying the same;

'Warm up Watto', says Ponting - The Ashes 2009 - Fox Sports

Those 3 overs he bowled where horrible. Watson is wayyyyy of the level he was in IND. This is madness ATM.

 

[social]

Those 3 overs he bowled where horrible. Watson is wayyyyy of the level he was in IND. This is madness ATM.

I was more worried about how Watson looked than they way he bowled - stiff as a friggin' board and an injury waiting to happen

Select him as a bat and forget the bowling IMO

 

[sparkey]

Those 3 overs he bowled where horrible. Watson is wayyyyy of the level he was in IND. This is madness ATM.

Agree 100% he can only be picked on his batting form

 

[marc71178]

Clark should have played since the first test. There is nothing wrong with him that i could see in that televised warm-up, just the foolish notion by Neilsen that "Clark can't play because he & Siddle are the same type of bowler" christttt.

Or maybe they actually have observed him in nets etc and know that he wasn't fit enough or something?

 

[GIMH]

Wouldn't have imagined myself saying this a few weeks back, but I'd be pleased if Hauritz was dropped. Been Australia's second best bowler I reckon (after Hilfy).

 

[age_master]

As much as i would like the 4 man pace attack with Lee and Clark both back i dont think dropping Hauritz would be a good idea at this point, he has been pretty solid and easily Australia's second best bowler so far this series.

Siddle has to go for Lee or Clark depending on conditions. Clark is the safer option but if the ball is likely to reverse at any point Lee is easily more dangerous.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah, last few years Headingley hasn't been the greentop of yore so I can't see Hauritz being dropped now.

Siddle the only realistic casualty from Oz, IMHO.

We have potentially more scope; Bopara and Broad might both have cause for concern and if Fred isn't up to it it might be wise to patch him up for one final hurrah at the The Oval.

 

[GIMH]

If Fred misses out then I'd bet large sums of money on Broad being retained. Not sure on Bopara though.

 

[BoyBrumby]

If Fred misses out then I'd bet large sums of money on Broad being retained. Not sure on Bopara though.

Well, I actually reckon if Fred does miss out then Broad is less likely to be retained. We could bring in a specialist bat & specialist bowler then. Prior at #7, Swann 8...

Trott & Sid for my money, but Harmy and Key for the selectors' I would think.

 

[GIMH]

Well, I actually reckon if Fred does miss out then Broad is less likely to be retained. We could bring in a specialist bat & specialist bowler then. Prior at #7, Swann 8...

Trott & Sid for my money, but Harmy and Key for the selectors' I would think.

Disagree. Think the selectors like having quality bats right the way down to 9, Sid/Jim/Harmy batting at 9 isn't what they want (not that Sid or Jimmy aren't good enough to play there, though).

Bopara either isn't ready or good enough so he should go, it's just whether they have faith in the alternatives. I'd agree that Key the most likely. We don't have to wait too long to find out, mind.

 

[Top_Cat]

I was more worried about how Watson looked than they way he bowled - stiff as a friggin' board and an injury waiting to happen

Select him as a bat and forget the bowling IMO

Could see signs of him loosening up towards the end of his spell, started to get his pace up at least. Hopefully he's getting some serious net work in.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Disagree. Think the selectors like having quality bats right the way down to 9, Sid/Jim/Harmy batting at 9 isn't what they want (not that Sid or Jimmy aren't good enough to play there, though).

Bopara either isn't ready or good enough so he should go, it's just whether they have faith in the alternatives. I'd agree that Key the most likely. We don't have to wait too long to find out, mind.

Yeah, I think you're right that they like a long batting line up (and we have seen the benefits of one this series already more than once), but I can't help think that Broad has been effectively a specialist #8 batsman. If Fred is unable to play (won't say "if he isn't fit", 'cos he's obviously not) the thought of Broad playing as part of a 4-man attack is scary & the idea of Fred being replaced by a specialist bowler and Broad and Swann moving up a place each weakens the lower order anyway.

But yeah, on Bopara it's a "thanks, but no thanks" for now. Given his struggles against what's a (comparitively) ordinary Aussie attack one wonders how badly he'd have done against previous crim batteries.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah, suppose you're right on the batting line-up being weakened by Fred being replaced by a bowler anyway. All the talk points towards Harmison being the main in line to replace Fred, and if Fred is fit Sidebottom being in line to replace Broad. I say all the talk, really that's just what I've read at the Beeb.

Sidebottom at Headingley would make sense, in theory

 

[Manee]

Those 3 overs he bowled where horrible. Watson is wayyyyy of the level he was in IND. This is madness ATM.

I was more worried about how Watson looked than they way he bowled - stiff as a friggin' board and an injury waiting to happen

Select him as a bat and forget the bowling IMO

Can anyone elaborate on Watto's spell? I missed it and am interested to see what he came out with. Tbh, you shouldn't be worried even if it was down at 120kph because Watson started off spells at that all the time against India in the Test seires before warming up and bowling well at 130kph.

 

[GIMH]

He only got three overs, basically delivered juicy half-vollies to Flintoff & Prior

 

[Matt79]

Clark for Siddle and Haddin (if they're certain he's fit) for Manou should be the only changes for Aus. Think Johnson showed enough improvement to suggest he's regaining he's mojo somewhat.

I'd boot Broad unless Flintoff doesn't come up. Bopara must be getting close as well.

 

[GIMH]

Reckon we'll line up like this (contradicting my point about long batting in a way)

Strauss*
Cook
Key
Bell
Collingwood
Prior+
Flintoff
Swann
Anderson
Sidebottom
Onions

Failure to finish the job means they can move away from the old "don't change a winning team mentality." Key is not someone I can see long-term in this side, but for the time being he can come in and do a job for two games.

Big thoughts ahead of the winter for the selectors, but for now, Bopara isn't ready.

 

[Uppercut]

Wouldn't have imagined myself saying this a few weeks back, but I'd be pleased if Hauritz was dropped. Been Australia's second best bowler I reckon (after Hilfy).

He's bowling neatly. He concedes runs more slowly than most of the Aussie attack but you never exactly worry about him. He'll never win Australia a game, particularly at Headingley.

Think Andrew McDonald would be a much better option at Headingley. Harsh on Hauritz but i don't give a ****. McDonald will be much more effective.

 

[GIMH]

Anyone remember how picking horses for courses worked out at Headingley last year?

 

[Uppercut]

Well Hauritz isn't going to do anything, and if McDonald's not doing the job, at least you've strengthened the tail considerably.