*Official* Australia in India 2010

[Noble One]

I would regard Watson as Australia's best sub-continent pace bowler. It's just that he can't bowl more than 10-12 overs a day.

My bowling attack is Hilfenhaus, Johnson, Bollinger and Hauritz with Watson and North to share all-rounder responsibility. I would only consider Smith if it was a raging turner from day one.

 

[howardj]

I don't count watto as a genuine pace bowler. I think 2 quicks and watto would fail. Dougie should get the ball over there but i'm still not decided on if he is as good as some people talk him up to be. Out of what we have on offer from the established bowlers he's good enough though until we blood some younger bowlers. Johnson is the one i'm not liking at the moment and he needs to step up as he's a senior player with the amount of tests under his belt now.

I think Watson is a gun with the ball, and needs to take on a heavy workload for these two Tests. As I say, you'd certainly have a quick coming back into the team for the Ashes, and in terms of pecking order, Bollinger would be the man. However, I think you have to think a bit outside the square in India - and especially when we are raging underdogs.

I seriously considered punting a batsman and going with five bowlers - a luxury which we could probably accommodate what with Paine, Johnson, Hauritz and Smith in the lineup.

 

[howardj]

I think Smith will be an absolute star, and I reckon we should play him every chance we get.

He's a young guy who lands and turns leggies on a good length, fields brilliantly, and blasted centuries in Shield cricket last year.

Weapon.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Think that Watson needs to be managed better than that. Expect him to be thrown the ball in little spurts, and only kept on for long periods if he's getting some reverse in which case he's probably our most dangerous option.

Think that selection wise, the tour will be played with one eye on the Ashes, and the 3 quicks and 1 spinner balance will be maintained.

 

[howardj]

Agree with Watson needing to be managed RE workload.

But I'd back him to withstand a flogging (work-wise) in a two Test series where we need flexibility.

Also agree that we'll take the safe option

Katich
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Paine
Johnson
Hauritz
Dug
Hilf

 

[outbreak]

I don't mean to say watto can't bowl. I mean he isn't a genuine option to fill a slot as a bowler for me. Maybe if he dropped his opening role and batted down the order and bowled more overs he could become one but as he is now we need more overs from a bowler to exclude a 3rd paceman.

 

[aussie]

I know he's a bit of cult figure, but I'm not sold on Bollinger personally. I think his debut against SA is more a reflection of his ability at international level than outings against NZ, WI, Pak etc. I think Smith would offer more as a package in India, and we could still have essentially three quicks - Watson, Johnson and Hilfenhaus. Let's not forget that you don't have to be a great spinner to pick up bagfuls in India - Ritz and Pup etc.

Also, you say the quicks did the job in India in 2004, but I'd suggest there's a bit of a quality difference with today's lot compared to back then.

Well i dont have those reservations about Bollinger. Firsly its fairly clear he a much improved bowler than his debut, where id say he bowled decently. Secondly Windies played very in the tour to AUS & NZ were fairly decent too. Pakistan where woeful team @ home & ENG. I see no reason why one should have worries about Bollinger being effective againts strong batting teams.

Smith is too unproven in both facets to play. AUS need to have 5 bowlers (with the seamers being the main source of wickets). I cannot see how one can pick an best XI in this test series & pick spit without some risk factor being involved.

As already mentioned you cant pick Watson as 3rd seamer, thats wont be wise. Although he has a major role to play with the ball since he one of the key reverse-swing bowlers AUS - but he is not a strike bowler. He will/shoud be used his short sharp burst with the old ball mainly. Giving him extra workload as a 3rd seamer to bowl 20 overs a day for eg, could challenge his body & also weaken his effectiveness.

An attack of Bollinger/Hilfy/Johnson/Watson clearly isn't on apr with the great 2004 pace trio yes. But they have (except for Johnson) all have the basic skills to bowl well in IND conditions (reverse -swing), which is historically proven to be a key facet that fast-bowlers need to doing well in IND.

That Clarke incident @ Mumbai 04 was a freak incident on a one of worst pitches in recent test history. Fact is no spinner has played a leading role in winning a series in IND for the opposition since IND became a force @ home.

 

[aussie]

Think Bollinger is liked in the Australian camp for his bowling on the subcontinent. Think that England doesn't suit him, where you are challenged to bowl a bit fuller and take the batsman on - I don't think Dougy likes being driven at all. His bang-it-in approach will work better on the flatter wickets of the subcontinent.

Indeed.

He's still injured, yeah.

Haha forget he was still out injured for a minute.

 

[Xuhaib]

i think it will be a 1-1 Aus should do well if they can overcome their mental block against Harbhajan.

 

[howardj]

Well i dont have those reservations about Bollinger. Firsly its fairly clear he a much improved bowler than his debut, where id say he bowled decently. Secondly Windies played very in the tour to AUS & NZ were fairly decent too. Pakistan where woeful team @ home & ENG. I see no reason why one should have worries about Bollinger being effective againts strong batting teams.

I have big reservations about guys who lob in the scene from nowhere when they're 28 or 29. He only averages 28 in FC with the ball. I just don't think he's that good of a bowler, and am not convinced that at his age that there is great scope for improvement.

Smith is too unproven in both facets to play. AUS need to have 5 bowlers (with the seamers being the main source of wickets). I cannot see how one can pick an best XI in this test series & pick spit without some risk factor being involved.

Smith is unproven. But boy, let's look at him. He's 21, averages 50+ with the bat in FC cricket, has taken a five wicket haul, lands them well, and spins them plenty. He's also a great field. I think he's much more value to the team than someone like North, and I'm just not convinced that Bollinger will go that great over there, although I understand your thoughts in picking him.

As already mentioned you cant pick Watson as 3rd seamer, thats wont be wise. Although he has a major role to play with the ball since he one of the key reverse-swing bowlers AUS - but he is not a strike bowler. He will/shoud be used his short sharp burst with the old ball mainly. Giving him extra workload as a 3rd seamer to bowl 20 overs a day for eg, could challenge his body & also weaken his effectiveness.

As I say, I'd only overwork Watson in these two Tests - they're unique circumstances. I think allrounders are out strength at the moment, guys like Watson and Smith can give us real flexibility on the subcontinent. I dare say they have picked Hughes instead of Usman because they are looking to drop Watson down the order with the view of bowling him much more in these two Tests.

 

[howardj]

I don't mean to say watto can't bowl. I mean he isn't a genuine option to fill a slot as a bowler for me. Maybe if he dropped his opening role and batted down the order and bowled more overs he could become one but as he is now we need more overs from a bowler to exclude a 3rd paceman.

Don't rule this out in India.

I think it's why they dropped Usman for this tour, and brought in Hughes.

They want Watson to do more bowling in these Tests.

 

[four_or_six]

Depends how much you want Watson's runs. If you drop him down the order and he comes in against Harbhajan, he may not score too many.

I'd say Australia should go with the 'safe' option, North/Katich/Clarke can easily handle spin bowling support, and North just about deserves a last chance.

 

[Noble One]

I expect by series end that North will bowl more overs than Watson. North really needs to step up with the bat though, technically he is due a big score. It's how his career always pans out.

 

[Jono]

So glad Yuvraj was dropped from the test squad.

Lol'ed at his recent comments on Cricinfo.

Now when you see the newcomers, do you see yourself at the age of 20 again?
I see a lot of guys making the same mistakes.

What mistakes?
By mistakes I mean you come into the team, you have some success and you think, "Yeah, I can do the same things on the field all the time," which is not possible. Then after playing for India, you think, "I can do whatever I want," which is also not possible. It's just immaturity. No experience, so you make mistakes and hopefully you learn something from them, and from the older players.

I see a lot of youngsters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are very talented and flamboyant. As a senior I tell them not to make the same mistakes I made, and try to guide them to a better tomorrow. When I began playing, you could say the game was changing, the distractions were beginning. Now the distractions are too much and my advice to the younger guys is mostly not to be distracted by what is happening outside and to concentrate on the game.

Do they listen?
They don't listen, especially Rohit and Virat. [Suresh] Raina still listens a little bit, but Rohit and Virat always argue with me. I don't blame the youngsters for not listening, because a lot of times Sachin or Sourav or Kumble said something to me and I said "What do they know?". But it's just your age… boys mature very late. That's what I've learned from my life. As a senior, I think it's our duty to help the junior guys, like [Ravindra] Jadeja and Praveen Kumar. I think it's our duty to help them as their career progresses. Hopefully they'll listen, if not to me, to other players.

To be honest, I'd prefer Kohli not listen to Yuvraj, and just chat with Sachin and Dravid

 

[Prince EWS]

I think it's why they dropped Usman for this tour, and brought in Hughes..

No, they did that because Hughes returned from injury.

 

[Prince EWS]

So glad Yuvraj was dropped from the test squad.

Lol'ed at his recent comments on Cricinfo.

Now when you see the newcomers, do you see yourself at the age of 20 again?
I see a lot of guys making the same mistakes.

What mistakes?
By mistakes I mean you come into the team, you have some success and you think, "Yeah, I can do the same things on the field all the time," which is not possible. Then after playing for India, you think, "I can do whatever I want," which is also not possible. It's just immaturity. No experience, so you make mistakes and hopefully you learn something from them, and from the older players.

I see a lot of youngsters like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are very talented and flamboyant. As a senior I tell them not to make the same mistakes I made, and try to guide them to a better tomorrow. When I began playing, you could say the game was changing, the distractions were beginning. Now the distractions are too much and my advice to the younger guys is mostly not to be distracted by what is happening outside and to concentrate on the game.

Do they listen?
They don't listen, especially Rohit and Virat. [Suresh] Raina still listens a little bit, but Rohit and Virat always argue with me. I don't blame the youngsters for not listening, because a lot of times Sachin or Sourav or Kumble said something to me and I said "What do they know?". But it's just your age… boys mature very late. That's what I've learned from my life. As a senior, I think it's our duty to help the junior guys, like [Ravindra] Jadeja and Praveen Kumar. I think it's our duty to help them as their career progresses. Hopefully they'll listen, if not to me, to other players.

To be honest, I'd prefer Kohli not listen to Yuvraj, and just chat with Sachin and Dravid

Yuvraj should listen to Kohli IMO.

 

[TumTum]

I expect by series end that North will bowl more overs than Watson.

Watson has really improved his bowling recently, so I don't think so. Unless of course Australia is getting its butt kicked on a raging turner.

 

[Jayzamann]

North has a lot to do to win me over and justify his spot in the team, tbh.

Of course he'll be the first person I blame if Australia don't do well. Mwahaha

 

[Top_Cat]

haha, love Yuvraj's interview, bagging new players for making the same mistakes he still does, shaking his head "They just don't LISTEN!".

As one of the bad-boy generation in the Indian team, did you have a guide?
I feel our bad-boy generation has always been overplayed.

This said despite looking the epitome of douche in the pic accompanying the article.

 

[howardj]

No, they did that because Hughes returned from injury.

No, no.

I could be horribly wrong but I don't think Hughes was injured way back at the time they picked the squad for England. I know he was injured at some stage and is now fit again.