G.I.Joe
International Coach
Fixed, tbh.
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*Official* Australia in India 2010
- Thread starter Matt79
- Start date
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
Thankfully dropped. Should have never played tests for AUS.
Spark
Global Moderator
letahlhughes
Cricket Spectator
Are we talking about the same McDonald here who bowled really well in the South African series?I bet you if Watson goes down injured,North gets dropped McDonald may very well add to his test cap.I think he's a very useful player.
outbreak
First Class Debutant
I agree that McDonald is a handy player and he's one of my favorites at Victoria. I don't see him doing much more at international level though as it's pretty clear now selectors have chosen others over him and would be more likely to play others over him. It's a shame his first class record is good and to me he's done well enough in the handful of tests he's played to have warranted afew more games but i don't see it happening now as he is average when you compare him to some of the established all rounders.
letahlhughes
Cricket Spectator
What happens if Paine has a good series both odi and test.Would that mean the end of Haddin
.I think Paine is the best keeper in australia but he isn't even the second best wicket keeper batsman in australia.I like my keepers to be ''top notch''' with the bat and also good enough if not outstanding with the gloves. I think Paine looks ok with the bat just that am not quite convince yet.I don't like the idea of Tim Paine opening the batting in odi cricket to.
.I think Paine is the best keeper in australia but he isn't even the second best wicket keeper batsman in australia.I like my keepers to be ''top notch''' with the bat and also good enough if not outstanding with the gloves. I think Paine looks ok with the bat just that am not quite convince yet.I don't like the idea of Tim Paine opening the batting in odi cricket to.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
McDonald did not bowl "really well" in the SA series. Although he didn't disgrace himself, McDonald basically fed off the pressure that created by the brilliant bowling of the pace trio of Johnson/Hilfy/Siddle & was "allowed to be economical". The SA batsmen where never in a dominant enough batting position until the Capetown to take advantage of him "the obvious weak-link" in the bowling attack. He never posed a wicket-taking threat, AUS where better off picking another fast-bowler in SA.
Plus of course his Ashes squad selection was useless another pure batsman like Brad Hodge should have toured. While his his debut SCG test, although he gave the selectors the a 5-man attack of variety all series, after Watson got injured earlier that summer vs NZ. It severly weakened the batting, since McDonald wasn't a test match number 6. Thankfully though the batting outside Hayden & Hussey (to a degree) was never under Ashes 2005 pressure, during the home series vs SA. So a combination of continous solid batting & a balanced attacked enabled a win @ SCG thus McDonald useless position in Sydney was again masked.
Plus no if the hypotetical scenario was to occur where Watson goes down injured & North is dropped. I see no reason why McDonald should be recalled. All the selectors would have to do is bring in a pure opener to partner Katich & another middle-order bat to replace North @ 6 - something like this:
Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja/Ferguson/Bailey
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hilfy
Bollinger
Or also drop Katich down to middle order if you dont want to bring in one Khawaja/Ferguson/Bailey & recall one of Jaques or Rogers to open with Hughes. No reason to ever recall McDonald.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
Haddin should still be number 1, even if Paine has a good series. Just that Haddin will have to bring more consistency to his game, since if he continues his current inconsistent test batting form - he could very well & be dropped for Paine. Haddin in his test career hasn't truly lived up to his batting potential - he definately good enough to be a top 6 batsman long term.What happens if Paine has a good series both odi and test.Would that mean the end of Haddin
Plus yes i dont like Paine opening really either. But given his style of play in ODIs, he really cant bat nowhere else in the order.
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letahlhughes
Cricket Spectator
I agree that Haddin should still be number one even if Paine has a good series.However to suggest Haddin is a top 6 batsman long term is stretching it a bit.Guys like Sangakkara, Gilchrist,Flower are , Haddin is not.He doesn't have the temperament to be top 6.But in saying that i would like to see him play on for 3 years and then i expect Wade would have overtaken Paine by then and would be the number one keeper batsman.Wade's batting imo is already superior to Paine's.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
Sanga & Gilly where top 4 batsmen TBF. But i certainly do think Haddin has the ability to average 40-45 with the bat in tests. He just needs to curb his attacking instinct a bit more. Since in his test career to date - he has gotten alot of times playing aggressive shots that he really could have been more circumspect to.
If lets say Smith evolves into the top-quality spin bowling all-rounder in the Benaud mould. Having a consistent Haddin @ 6 & Smith @ 7 - would be great.
letahlhughes
Cricket Spectator
You may disagree but i think Smith's batting is already better than Haddin.He certainly has better temperament than Haddin. As you said :'Haddin 6 , Smith 7 ( assuming Smith evolves into a quality spin bowling all rounder).I don't think will see that.In my opinion Smith will always be a batting all rounder.His leggies will improve but his bowling wont be good enough to be picked as a bowling all rounder.So its either top 6 or never for Smith.Smith himself has already realise that If his going to force himself in and play regularly in the test team for australia he'll have to make a massive impression with the bat.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
It depends on Smith's development in the future & the strenght of the other batsmen in the order basically. His leg-spin bowling could become anything really, since he has the basics right, while his batting is already fairly proven @ the highest level.
So i would think if Smith where to develop into a spin bowling all-rounder. Capable of averaging 35-40 with the bat & be a leggie that can a real wicket-taking threat on turners. I see him batting @ 7 with that dual role tentatively. But its early days still.
Well yea i do disagree ATS. Wouldn't rate Smith batting ahead of Haddin really. ATM i dont see being a test match number 6 long term with that technique of his - number 7 looks good for him @ test level i'd say. But i see consistent top 6 ability in Haddin - whether he ever lives up to obvious ability is another story however.letahlhughes said:
But as your rightfully said it basically depends on Smith's development. If his bowling becomes good - AUS got a top quality spin-bowling all-rounder. But if it doesn't & he has to push for a place in the test side on his batting strenght alone, it may be difficult for him. I would think the AUS seelctors definately have hopes for him to be spin-bowling all-rounder for test though - he is clearly been fast tracked for that role ATM.
kingpin
State Vice-Captain
Well i wud prefer a batsman instead of smith in INDIA in tests.....but in ODI's smith is a must