*Official* Australia in India 2010

[Prince EWS]

Honestly, if Hauritz plays - and I think he will - and North is dropped I'd pick Hughes before Smith. With Clarke and Katich in the side you have plenty of part-time options that are definitely capable of taking a few surprise wickets. And Hughes, I think, will enjoy the Indian conditions.

Yeah, but the big question about Hughes is what we do with the rest of the batting order. All our best batsmen who aren't in the eleven are openers - which is I suppose what happens when both your opening batsmen are converted middle order players. Watson definitely shouldn't bat below four and I'd really much prefer Katich not to either. That means Clarke has to bat five and I really doubt the selectors would do that as they'd see it as a step backwards in his progression, as such.

Do we just stick Hughes in at six? Would he actually be a better middle order batsman than Smith, even ignoring bowling?

Ideally Khawaja, Bailey or White would actually be on tour so we could pick our next best middle order bat...

 

[Flem274*]

Such a big question it required teh dubble post.

 

[aussie]

Honestly, if Hauritz plays - and I think he will - and North is dropped I'd pick Hughes before Smith. With Clarke and Katich in the side you have plenty of part-time options that are definitely capable of taking a few surprise wickets. And Hughes, I think, will enjoy the Indian conditions.

Smith & North are more solid/threatening part-time spinners than Clarke & Katich.

Although North should be dropped. I'd keep him for this final test, since his off-spin will needed. He should be dropped for Hughes for the 1st Ashes test however.

Hauritz should be dropped without a doubt, given he proved once again without a doubt that againts quality batsmen on turning wickets he isn't good enough. Its the quick bowlers that will give AUS 20 wickets in the final tests. Bring in Smith to help shore up the lower-order, since AUS biggest weakness as it has been for the last 3 years has been the tendancy to have batting collapses.

Yeah, but the big question about Hughes is what we do with the rest of the batting order. All our best batsmen who aren't in the eleven are openers - which is I suppose what happens when both your opening batsmen are converted middle order players. Watson definitely shouldn't bat below four and I'd really much prefer Katich not to either. That means Clarke has to bat five and I really doubt the selectors would do that as they'd see it as a step backwards in his progression, as such.

Do we just stick Hughes in at six? Would he actually be a better middle order batsman than Smith, even ignoring bowling?

Ideally Khawaja, Bailey or White would actually be on tour so we could pick our next best middle order bat...

Watson should definately stay opening forever.

I dont see a problem with Katich dropping down bat to #4 or 5. He has consistently showed in his career that he can adapt to batting anywhere in the top 6 & he keeps scoring.

If Hughes comes in he has to open as well.

Also now that Ferguson is back, during the AUS summer i'd expect the selectors to push him back up the test pecking order ahead of Khawaja, Bailey. Dont see Bear as a test match option.

 

[GotSpin]

Why do you want Hughes to open in the ashes when he reportedly hasn't fixed any of his technical issues

 

[Noble One]

I hate the idea of Ferguson even being considered a replacement come the Australian summer. ODI and T20 performances aside, he has done very little to demand selection at Test level. One good season for South Australia (and this was two seasons ago) after four mediocre season doesn't suggest a fix to the middle order issues.

 

[Top_Cat]

Agree. He'll need to show some form early on for SA. And because it's Adelaide, he'll probably need a couple of hundreds or one big one just to be in the running.

 

[Prince EWS]

I hate the idea of Ferguson even being considered a replacement come the Australian summer. ODI and T20 performances aside, he has done very little to demand selection at Test level. One good season for South Australia (and this was two seasons ago) after four mediocre season doesn't suggest a fix to the middle order issues.

Yep. I actually got aussie to agree to this at one point after a few longish posts; he must've forgotten.

 

[Prince EWS]

Agree. He'll need to show some form early on for SA. And because it's Adelaide, he'll probably need a couple of hundreds or one big one just to be in the running.

Him missing Shield games to play ODIs will annoy me greatly this season tbh.

 

[aussie]

Yep. I actually got aussie to agree to this at one point after a few longish posts; he must've forgotten.

Ha oh ye, i forgot about that. Well i take it back, Feguson indeed shouldn't get picked unless he has a strong FC season especially in the post McGrath/Warne era of consistent AUS batting collapses.

 

[Kylez]

Him missing Shield games to play ODIs will annoy me greatly this season tbh.

Me to . Although when he is over in India playing in the ODI's he will only miss out on the One Day Cup games and not any shield ones.

 

[Top_Cat]

Him missing Shield games to play ODIs will annoy me greatly this season tbh.

Don't think he'll miss any early season games for this ODI series will he?

 

[Prince EWS]

Don't think he'll miss any early season games for this ODI series will he?

Nah, was referring to the home ODIs.

 

[Top_Cat]

Nah, was referring to the home ODIs.

tbh, in terms of furthering his Test chances, would rather he play ODI's against strong opposition than making gimme tons on Adelaide.

 

[Prince EWS]

tbh, in terms of furthering his Test chances, would rather he play ODI's against strong opposition than making gimme tons on Adelaide.

Well I disagree strongly, particularly if he's going to bat down the order, because

a) We already know he can make quick 50s.
b) We already know he's good at ODI cricket.

What we need to see him from him is a greater appetite for runs, and the ability to push on to big scores. I think gimme tons in Adelaide against state attacks would show us more of an improvement in his game than scored 60 (55) batting six for Australia in ODI cricket, which we already know he can do. His technique and ability isn't really in doubt; it's his ability to concentrate and get the runs. I'd even rather see him knock up a double ton for SA Second XI at this point than see him make another pretty ODI fifty.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ha oh ye, i forgot about that. Well i take it back, Feguson indeed shouldn't get picked unless he has a strong FC season especially in the post McGrath/Warne era of consistent AUS batting collapses.

To be fair though the landscape of our batting problems has changed a bit - we've become a bit collapse-prone and for all the annoying things about Ferguson's batting, he's always been relatively consistent at getting starts. He's the polar opposite of Marcus North. I just think it'd send a terrible message back to state cricket that the quickest route into the Test team is to look like you're going to score runs and that actually scoring them is secondary.

It's one thing picking players who are unproven but have done well in their short careers and look the goods (like Hughes). It's another thing entirely to pick players who look like they'll perform but haven't done so yet (like Smith as a bowler or, to some extent, Ferguson as a FC batsman).

 

[Top_Cat]

Well I disagree strongly, particularly if he's going to bat down the order, because

a) We already know he can make quick 50s.
b) We already know he's good at ODI cricket.

What we need to see him from him is a greater appetite for runs, and the ability to push on to big scores. I think gimme tons in Adelaide against state attacks would show us more of an improvement in his game than scored 60 (55) batting six for Australia in ODI cricket, which we already know he can do. His technique and ability isn't really in doubt; it's his ability to concentrate and get the runs. I'd even rather see him knock up a double ton for SA Second XI at this point than see him make another pretty ODI fifty.

Eh, we'll see. For me, playing against a higher standard of opposition in ODI's trumps playing a lower standard and scoring more.

To be fair though the landscape of our batting problems has changed a bit - we've become a bit collapse-prone and for all the annoying things about Ferguson's batting, he's always been relatively consistent at getting starts. He's the polar opposite of Marcus North.

God, disagree with this. For ages he was an atrocious starter. That he's not getting pinned on the crease within his first 10 balls is a relatively new development.

 

[kingpin]

i still believe North>>Smith.... Just like Ponting He is just finding his ways to get out....

 

[Prince EWS]

Eh, we'll see. For me, playing against a higher standard of opposition in ODI's trumps playing a lower standard and scoring more.

I just don't see how him doing well in the ODIs will tell us anything we don't know, or show any sort of improvement. I mean it'd be a different case if we batted him at 3 if he peeled off four hundreds, but that won't happen. If he plays well it'll be with consistent scores resembling 60 (55) after coming with against defensive fields. I have complete faith in his ability to do that already; I doubt his ability to go on with the job in the unlimited overs scenario though. The area of his game that needs improving/proving isn't playing quality bowlers, but pushing on with fifties, and he won't get a big opportunity to do that with the way Australia use him in ODIs.

Ferguson's just odd. The quality of the bowling has always been secondary when he comes to him; he's going to produce very similar returns at all levels IMO because he usually gets himself out with a concentration lapse rather than actually being dismissed as such. IIRC he was never really outstanding in Adelaide grade cricket either and got selected mostly on aesthetics and potential to begin with.

 

[howardj]

Harsh on Callum.

I think he's like an MJ Clarke - not a great FC record early doors, but every time he's dipped his toe into international waters via the shorter forms, he's looked the goods. That's a great sign, and like Clarke I would back him to succeed if dumped into the choppy waters of Test match cricket.

 

[howardj]

Ferguson, Smith and Hughes. >>>>> Hussey, North, Katich.

It's time to make the move.

Let's be bold.