Hussey's been "in a slump" since before North even made his debut. He gets a lot of starts and just can't go on with them with the way he used to; he's been poor for ages. I'd like to retain him and bat him at six to give the team some solidarity there and also take advantage of his ability to bat well with the tail, but if he was dropped I'd find it difficult to call it a poor decision unless it was for Ferguson.
Over complicating it, for mine. He's a good bat with a good technique and solid temperament who's scored runs at the top level against some good attacks. As HJ said, he's looked better the higher he's played so it's largely a question of form for me. If he shows some, it puts him in the running for a Test spot.
Over-simplifying it, for mine.
What's the point of continuing with Hussey? It used to be only legends were persisted with once you reach 35 (guys like Ponting for example).
Hussey must go.
I really couldn't wouldn't care if three of our batsmen had received letters from the Queen if they were still the most likely to score runs in the next Test match. You don't move people on based on their birth certificates; you base the team on their likely output. Dropping Hussey would be justifiable, not because he's 35, but because he's been dire for ages. Dropping Katich would be insane. Dropping North is a must, but I bet if he was 22 and his likely replacement was 30 you'd be in here supporting him, or failing that posting more cliches and comparing it to the Steve Waugh dropping saying it'll improve him or whatever. Player development is what state cricket is for; the best players at the time should be in the Test team whether they're 12 or 85.
Yeah but it's not just the raw numbers. Averaging 50+ for SA should be like averaging 40+ for anyone else. Been an albatross around the neck of SA batters of years but remains true that scoring well for SA means a lot less than other runs. If Callum belts two tons before Christmas but has a run of outs for Australia in the ODI's, don't think he should be in contention for Tests at all.
Bare with him for this Ashes.... I still believe he is more dependable than many other batsman in Australian Line-up....
Correct.
Yea i see the similarities. But lets not forget after Pups exciting start vs IND & NZ 04. He ran into problems in the 05 Ashes & 05/06 home summer & was dropped. Its until he went back to FC & scored his only career FC double hundred, that things changed for him.howardj said:
He'd need another Adelaide performance to justify his spot in future tours, imo.
Hussey will play the first Test against England without question. If Australia aren't winning comfortably and he isn't doing well though he'll get axed - the selectors have shown a very cautious hand in changing the team in the lead-up to an Ashes series but they've shown no mercy once it begins. I'd be inclined to go the other way if anything, but hey-ho.
I actually think Ponting is in tremendous form. He just finds ways to get out, either through stubbornness or stupidity.
Yeh wtf, thats absurd?? Katich and Watson are the only reliable players in the team at the moment.
When I say 'form', I spose I mean both physically and mentality. I agree that he looks and seems to play as good as ever for the brief moments he is in, but mentality there is something going on with him. Whatever it is, it is significantly disrupting his abilitity to score runs, and he needs to work it out quickly.
. I think it would be of especial concern to Clarke if Ponting gets out, because he seems to really follow his every move.