robelinda
International Vice-Captain
Are still talking about Johnson, Or Ian Botham?????Championing a bowler who takes wickets with pies.
Are still talking about Johnson, Or Ian Botham?????Championing a bowler who takes wickets with pies.
As an Englishman, it would please me should this line-up take to the field at Brisbane. Would certainly fancy our chances of getting stuck into that middle order, probably because of its inexperience. Would rather see those boys walking out rather than a Mike Hussey, but that may be more to do with what Hussey has been capable of in the past, rather than his current capabilities.It's incredibly annoying that the selectors have failed to do anything about Hussey/North for so long making it much more difficult to drop them so close to a big test series. Neverthless, I'd have
Katich
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Khawaja
Smith
Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger
Siddle/Harris
Hussey has been averaging worse than North in the past two years tbfAs an Englishman, it would please me should this line-up take to the field at Brisbane. Would certainly fancy our chances of getting stuck into that middle order, probably because of its inexperience. Would rather see those boys walking out rather than a Mike Hussey, but that may be more to do with what Hussey has been capable of in the past, rather than his current capabilities.
I was tempted to get Hodge in the middle order but Smith can offer a lil something something with the ball and I think Usman could potentially bat at no.3 when Ponting calls it quits so I see no need to delay bringing them inDon't see why everyone is pumping for young guns. How long have they been on the scene? To me it makes more sense to select experienced replacements like Brad Hodge for such an important series. It's not as though Hodge is a crap batsman. Give the young guys a couple more years to be gun in a strong FC competition and bring them in when it isn't the Ashes series.
Hodge has retired from First Class Cricket mate.Don't see why everyone is pumping for young guns. How long have they been on the scene? To me it makes more sense to select experienced replacements like Brad Hodge for such an important series. It's not as though Hodge is a crap batsman. Give the young guys a couple more years to be gun in a strong FC competition and bring them in when it isn't the Ashes series.
Australia should pick with the Ashes in mind I think. Time enough for experimenting with youngsters afterwards. Hodge will see you guys right.I was tempted to get Hodge in the middle order but Smith can offer a lil something something with the ball and I think Usman could potentially bat at no.3 when Ponting calls it quits so I see no need to delay bringing them in
Woah, when did that happen?Hodge has retired from First Class Cricket mate.
Not too many experienced batsman are playing first class cricket at the moment..
Slipped my mind that. No wonder I didn't pick him!Hodge has retired from First Class Cricket mate.
Not too many experienced batsman are playing first class cricket at the moment..
Hey, it worked for Jimmeh in The AshesI saw the South Africa series and only saw highlights of most of the India series.
But let's just say, I'll be ecstatic if Hilfenhaus looks a million dollars this Ashes and carries on averaging 50 on flat decks.
Which qualifies as bowling well apparently.
Ever stopped to wonder why that might be the case?Ha well compared to what i've been reading here in the last few pages. Its good to see someone else basically saying what i'm saying. At times arguing on CW can be like a lonely walk on a deserted road.
Just before Christmas last year - Hodge|retirement|Cricket|australiaWoah, when did that happen?
David Hussey and Michael Klinger? Older heads with plenty of runs are the way to go in a more brittle middle order in a huge series I reckon.
Taking away the bowling and the fielding do you think that Steve Smith is a better bat over Phil Hughes?Phil Hughes shouldn't play imo, but if you're that low on sure bets then one of Smith and Khawaja would be all right I guess. North isn't that bad. He's going to put you in awesome positions one in four innings.
So is Hughes though. Hughes is found out atm.Taking away the bowling and the fielding do you think that Steve Smith is a better bat over Phil Hughes?
Smith's batting is extremely overrated for mine.
Is this the same Hughes that scored nearly 1000 runs in the last Aussie fc season and battered the Kiwis in the second innings of his only test since being dropped?So is Hughes though. Hughes is found out atm.
I don't know enough about Smith to comment.
with the exception of one innings in India, he's barely laid bat on ball for 12 monthsAs i said. Given i have seen him bat in all those tests. Most of his dismissals have been more down to hit getting out to dumb/overly aggressive shots, instead of him looking technically exposed & getting out one way all time. Which if that where the case, then that would have been a HUGE problem.
But given that hasn't been the case, i am confident once he focuses more when he bats. He will score more consistently, i have no worries.
Amla is a very different looking batsman today than he was when he first played test cricketAmla? Amla's a fairly aesthetic batsman IMO.