*Official* Australia in India 2010

[Prince EWS]

Yeh thats true, but if he really takes to being a batsmen there isn't much anyone can do about it. I think he himself actually insinuated he wanted to focus more on being a batsmen (might be wrong about that though).

The Steve O'Keefe guy looks somewhat promising as a spinner, averages 27.53 so far.

You're the second person to mention him in this thread today. Wonder who the first one was.

But nah seriously, I'm a bit sceptical of O'Keefe. He took 7/35 against Sri Lanka A - I don't really know what to make of that because the pitch was spinning like a top and all the spinners took cheap wickets, but to be fair you'd expect Sri Lanka A to be fair players of spin. That skews his stats a little bit, although you haven't taken the current match against SA into account - he took seven today (across two innings) and actually averages 23 now. I'll he honest and say he really doesn't look much at all, but unlike Hauritz and Smith he's actually done something at least. If I was going to play a spinner for the Ashes it'd probably be him, tbh.

 

[Ikki]

Just keep Hauritz IMO. North and Hussey (who I have really like) are the two who really, IMO, have no case for a spot anymore.

 

[Prince EWS]

Just keep Hauritz IMO. North and Hussey (who I have really like) are the two who really, IMO, have no case for a spot anymore.

As much as I don't think North is much good, he will not and should not be dropped. You don't pick a batsman for a Test, watch him hit a ton and then drop him for the next game, unless someone's coming back from injury. Should've been dropped before this game (should've been dropped for the tour of New Zealand actually) but there's no case to drop him now.

Watson appears to be bowling less and less, so I'd just take four quicks in. Home series so we can't get 'doctored'.

 

[Ruckus]

You're the second person to mention him in this thread today. Wonder who the first one was.

But nah seriously, I'm a bit sceptical of O'Keefe. He took 7/35 against Sri Lanka A - I don't really know what to make of that because the pitch was spinning like a top and all the spinners took cheap wickets, but to be fair you'd expect Sri Lanka A to be fair players of spin. That skews his stats a little bit, although you haven't taken the current match against SA into account - he took seven today (across two innings) and actually averages 23 now. I'll he honest and say he really doesn't look much at all, but unlike Hauritz and Smith he's actually done something at least. If I was going to play a spinner for the Ashes it'd probably be him, tbh.

Sounds pretty decent to me. He also can bat too, I didn't even realise. Averages 52. Wow.

 

[blahblahblah]

who all with me on an indian whitewash 2-0 ?

 

[Ikki]

As much as I don't think North is much good, he will not and should not be dropped. You don't pick a batsman for a Test, watch him hit a ton and then drop him for the next game, unless someone's coming back from injury. Should've been dropped before this game (should've been dropped for the tour of New Zealand actually) but there's no case to drop him now.

Watson appears to be bowling less and less, so I'd just take four quicks in. Home series so we can't get 'doctored'.

Well, I am not looking at the selectors' point of view; who seemed to use his ton as evidence that he belongs. I am talking in general that his ton really didn't change squat and averaging in the 30s after almost 20 tests is just unacceptable. Hussey has been averaging in the 30s for even longer than that.

 

[Son Of Coco]

With respect, having access to the best coaches, bowling at Ponting in the nets every day, being exposed to Test cricket, and bowling five overs during a day's play to the best opposition Test players in the world, I feel would be more beneficial to his bowling.

I don't like complicating things. If a guy is averaging 50+ with the bat in FC cricket, is a great field, is a promising leggie, and is replacing a dud....then just pick him.

Possibly, depends on how much he is used though when it comes to the game itself. Not much point picking a guy to bowl spin and then having Hauritz there as the main man. Personally, I don't see the point in picking a 'back-up spinner'. I'd just hope, if he gets picked as a batsman, that he doesn't give spin away.

Who is Australia's spin coach at the moment too?

 

[honestbharani]

Awesome.. Sachin is God.. congrats India!! Well played Punter, Paine and Hilfy along with Vijay and Pujara..


Good series.. Great cricket. Real highlight is that we are back on cricket now from about fixing just a fortnight ago.. India Australia series are the ****!!!

 

[howardj]

Who is Australia's spin coach at the moment too?

JL

 

[morgieb]

5th in the test rankings now. Corrin's gonna be unbearable.

Mind, still probably 1st in the CW rankings, though

On another note, good series. Some decent players, but India were just too good. Not the end of the world, we almost won the 1st test and played competitively in the 2nd (until the final innings).

 

[Ruckus]

Well, I am not looking at the selectors' point of view; who seemed to use his ton as evidence that he belongs. I am talking in general that his ton really didn't change squat and averaging in the 30s after almost 20 tests is just unacceptable. Hussey has been averaging in the 30s for even longer than that.

Na, its not unacceptable. It just takes longer than that for a batsmen to 'get' to their average. North averages 37 after 19 matches. Ponting averaged 38 after around the same matches. Watson averages 39 after 22 matches. Etc. etc.

I'm am certain North would come to average in the 40s given enough time.

 

[blahblahblah]

JL

 

[blahblahblah]

sachin has claimed no: 1 test batsman rankings


stands 17 points clear of sangakarra

 

[morgieb]

Na, its not unacceptable. It just takes longer than that for a batsmen to 'get' to their average. North averages 37 after 19 matches. Ponting averaged 38 after around the same matches. Watson averages 39 after 22 matches. Etc. etc.

I'm am certain North would come to average around 40 given enough time.

He's 31. He's gone downhill since his debut. He's on borrowed time imo. So's Hussey.

 

[howardj]

He's 31. He's gone downhill since his debut. He's on borrowed time imo. So's Hussey.

Exactly, you can't in my respectful opinion compare North after 20 Tests to Ponting and Watson after the same number of games.

Watson and Ponting were young punks on the rise.

North is a crusty old fart with the same Shield record as his patchy, mediocre Test record.

I think I need to be banned.

 

[Ikki]

Na, its not unacceptable. It just takes longer than that for a batsmen to 'get' to their average. North averages 37 after 19 matches. Ponting averaged 38 after around the same matches. Watson averages 39 after 22 matches. Etc. etc.

I'm am certain North would come to average in the 40s given enough time.

Ponting was a pup and actually averaged about 41 after 19 matches. Watson was consistently injured and was there as an all-rounder.

North's on the wrong side of 30 and if his FC record is anything to go by he'll get low 40s at best. Why waste our time? Bring someone like Khawaja or even Smith IMO.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think I need to be banned.

I agree strongly.

 

[Son Of Coco]

JL

 

[howardj]

Ponting was a pup and actually averaged about 41 after 19 matches. Watson was consistently injured and was there as an all-rounder.

North's on the wrong side of 30 and if his FC record is anything to go by he'll get low 40s at best. Why waste our time? Bring someone like Khawaja or even Smith IMO.

Good work this.

 

[biased indian]

sachin has claimed no: 1 test batsman rankings


stands 17 points clear of sangakarra

when was he last there 5 or 10 years ago ?