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*Official* Tour Matches

Ruckus

Ruckus

International Captain
Spark said:
At their full potential, I would say the openers are evenly matched.
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Hmm evaluating which of the openers are better is a tricky one. I would still say Aust are at an advantage though. I mean Katich averages 54 in FC cricket in Aus, and around 46 in test cricket. And Watson is averaging 50 as an opener (which is really all that matters considering his other positions were interspersed with injuries etc.). On the other hand, you have Strauss and Cook who both average low 40's and sub-30 in Australia. Though, the stats definately don't provide the whole picture imo. Strauss and Cook have both looked very solid in the warm up matches.
 
Spark

Spark

Global Moderator
Strauss definitely is capable of averaging 50-60. Cook I'm not so sure, but it's not as clear cut as the middle order, which at their full potential is the best I've ever seen IMO.
 
Spark

Spark

Global Moderator
TumTum said:
Disagree there, because of Cook.
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I'll have to admit here I just haven't seen enough of Cook to make a fair judgement about where he is at his best. I've seen enough to know that his normal level of play is definitely a rung below the other three though.
 
Ruckus

Ruckus

International Captain
Spark said:
Strauss definitely is capable of averaging 50-60. Cook I'm not so sure, but it's not as clear cut as the middle order, which at their full potential is the best I've ever seen IMO.
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Yeh I've always wondered why Strauss' average is so low. He looks a lot better player than his stats suggest. However, often is the case in cricket that someone can look pretty awesome but still not reach great heights. Watson is another one who comes to mind. I have no doubt Watson will eventually push his average up to the mid-high 40's, but I don't think you would blink an eye-lid if Watson happened to be a 50+ average batsman. His technique looks very sound, but often he just gets himself out.
 
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GotSpin

GotSpin

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
DeusEx said:
Yeh I've always wondered why Strauss' average is so low. He looks a lot better player than his stats suggest. However, often is the case in cricket that someone can look pretty awesome but still not reach great heights. Watson is another one who comes to mind. I have no doubt Watson will eventually push his average up to the mid to 40's, but I don't think you would blink an eye-lid if Watson happened to be a 50+ average batsman. His technique looks very sound, but often he just gets himself out.
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Watson needs to start converting more. No good just getting 30s and 40s then getting out.
 
Ruckus

Ruckus

International Captain
Got_Spin said:
Watson needs to start converting more. No good just getting 30s and 40s then getting out.
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Yeh exactly, but I think that just proves that being a great batsmen is more to do with your mind and concentration than your technique.
 
GotSpin

GotSpin

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
DeusEx said:
Yeh exactly, but I think that just proves that being a great batsmen is more to do with your mind and concentration than your technique.
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Yeah. Something Ponting was so good at.

It's actually a real problem with Katich and Watto. They both get great starts but neither often converts, and before you know it, we're two down after looking good before.
 
Spark

Spark

Global Moderator
On that note.

Worth noting the conversion rates too: 3/17 of Ponting's 50+ scores in the last two years are triple figures. Katich and Watson are pretty poor too: 4/18 and 2/12 respectively. As you'd expect North is the best with 5/9, with Clarke the next best at 6/15.
 

Attachments

Ruckus

Ruckus

International Captain
Spark said:
On that note.

Worth noting the conversion rates too: 3/17 of Ponting's 50+ scores in the last two years are triple figures. Katich and Watson are pretty poor too: 4/18 and 2/12 respectively. As you'd expect North is the best with 5/9, with Clarke the next best at 6/15.
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Haha North WAG.
 
morgieb

morgieb

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DeusEx said:
Yeh I've always wondered why Strauss' average is so low. He looks a lot better player than his stats suggest. However, often is the case in cricket that someone can look pretty awesome but still not reach great heights. Watson is another one who comes to mind. I have no doubt Watson will eventually push his average up to the mid-high 40's, but I don't think you would blink an eye-lid if Watson happened to be a 50+ average batsman. His technique looks very sound, but often he just gets himself out.
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He had a poor time from like 2006 to start of 2008, and he hasn't done a lot this year either.
 
T

tooextracool

International Coach
Had a pretty major technical flaw which he has since ironed out. I know some over here like to believe that a batsman with a great temperament can overcome technical flaws but it definitely wasnt the case in his situation.
 
T

tooextracool

International Coach
Neil Pickup said:
This is nice; our second string who haven't played in two months have managed to skittle a batting line up that included Khawaja and Ferguson, whom I could have sworn were Chappell and Bradman reincarnate and should have played 30 Tests apiece by now.

I've never been able to say this, but I think that if we play to the best of our abilities, then we will win the series. We won't be relying on Aussie underperformance. We won't be relying on luck and weather. Everything appears to be in complete control in the camp right now: roll on Brisbane.
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Given what I have heard, it seems to me that arguably Tremlett and Shahzad are>> Anderson and Finn in these conditions so lets not take this too seriously. I agree with those that feel that Australia are marginal favorites at home though I do believe that if they played anywhere else from Beijing to Timbuktu that England would be the better team.
 
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