Because he was used as an all-rounder for ages, but then he became a strike weapon.Oh ok, bit of a waste of talent then isn't it? He is already 31...
Well, even we are destroying the indian bowlers ahaha - they suck.Really? Looked alright in India.
And Swann's a big threat if Ponting's left-handed...
We could look at replacing Ponting with McDonald though (and making him captain) after today's performance.
Tbh, he was playing most of his cricket at Adelaide prior to that which is quite comfortably one the most batting friendly decks in the world, so won't say he wasn't any good before moving to QLD.Wasn't any good pre-2007 tbf.
The thing is that Tendulkar did change his game completely.He cut of all the flashy strokes and settled down to play a precentage game plus he bats at no 4 where he hardly have to face the brand new ball.Anyways, would like to remind the people who are saying that Ponting is finished, that similar things were said about Tendulkar when he was the same age as Ponting is now and was going through a rough patch and now Tendulkar is almost 38 and its for all to see how he has been performing in the last few years.
The summary of all this is, that you never write off great players because they always make their critics eat their words!!
Thats exactly what i was going to say- changed his game.The thing is that Tendulkar did change his game completely.He cut of all the flashy strokes and settled down to play a precentage game plus he bats at no 4 where he hardly have to face the brand new ball.
Ponting on the other hand is not willing to change his game or drop down the order.He better make his choice quickly becourse its naturaly not easy for a 35 year older (almost 36) to come at one drop and hook/pull 140+kph new ball bowlers...
True, but the difference between top-3 and middle order is facing the new ball first up or when you're set.No.4's obvious have to face the new ball as well in innings where they go on to score some runs, for instance. (2nd new ball)
Pretty impressive to add 20km/h to your bowler just through weights. A few of our youngsters might want to do likewise as that extra yard of pace could be just what the need.Rhino Harris was a med-quick bowling all-rounder for all but his last season for SA. Before that season, he hit the weights, added 20Km/h to his bowling and bowled relatively well. After moving to QLD, he's absolutely blossomed into a Test-standard strike bowler.
The dude always had the attitude, just didn't have the weapons. Now he most certainly has the weapons. Even if his bating has a slipped a bit, so what? Better to be world-class at one thing than average at more than one in his case.
And McDonald, gun. Would love it if he was still in the selector's minds.
I wouldn't recommend this approach, weights will only work for some bowlers. Many examples of good fast-bowlers who end up hitting the gym too hard, gaining muscle and encountering all sorts of issues with injuries. Harris is a fantastic bowler now, but how many games is he continually missing due to injury?Pretty impressive to add 20km/h to your bowler just through weights. A few of our youngsters might want to do likewise as that extra yard of pace could be just what the need.
A little late, but thanks for this.Here's Khawaja's innings from today:
YouTube - Usman Khawaja 11/11/2010
Contains every ball he faced barring the first one (which he left) and the ball he got out to.
It is a big risk, yes, but he was definitely injury-prone anyway. It's why SACA let him go to QLD (stupid ****ers); he wanted a 3-year contract and they were only willing to offer him 2 based on his injury history.I wouldn't recommend this approach, weights will only work for some bowlers. Many examples of good fast-bowlers who end up hitting the gym too hard, gaining muscle and encountering all sorts of issues with injuries. Harris is a fantastic bowler now, but how many games is he continually missing due to injury?
Many fast bowlers are simply designed to be tall and lean. I wouldn't say it's an issue anyway with the next crop of fast bowlers in Australia. Hazlewood, Starc, Pattinson etc are hardly slow.
Big chance for Usman todayHope not tbh. We need to see some of the NSW guys other than MC score some runs (Watson, Khawaja, Haddin)
I think we have to give credit to Holland, it was a very nice first over, he flighted the ball well and bowled a very good line.Hmmm, is Khawaja's play against spin usually better than this? He's not looked very convincing.