*Official* First Test at the Gabba

[Prince EWS]

If they were going to drop Hussey then they would have left him out of the squad.

He meant for the second Test.

 

[NUFAN]

Finding it hard to multi quote on the iPhone but responding to a few posts..

Henan Khawaja is a great selection and he should bat at 4 to not disrupt the lineup. Hopefully he does well to keep his spot.

No shot that the selectors don't rate Smith as a top 6 option, I've been saying it all along that he isn't good enough yet and is only getting a look in cause he has potential with the ball.

 

[Howe_zat]

He meant for the second Test.

My mistake. Christ, I'm getting so much wrong this morning. I ought to go back to bed.

 

[Top_Cat]

I'm less than convinced by the argument that you should never debut a player in the Ashes.

I dunno, there's a convincing case against it.

 

[Howe_zat]

I dunno, there's a convincing case against it.

Now you're just being unfair.

We don't talk about that period of England selection policy...

 

[Top_Cat]

Couple of Aussies in there, to be fair.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Mildly surprised at Khawaja's (potential) call up given how badly he muffed his rehersal. Hughes IMHO; made runs, at least as good FC record, etc.

Only thing Khawaja seems to have over him is not being a specialist opener.

 

[Top_Cat]

Even then, opened at under-age level.

That and Usman's made runs in every other game he's played.

 

[morgieb]

Mildly surprised at Khawaja's (potential) call up given how badly he muffed his rehersal. Hughes IMHO; made runs, at least as good FC record, etc.

Only thing Khawaja seems to have over him is not being a specialist opener.

Better recent form, isn't as flawed technique wise ala Hughes.

Plus, Watson and Katich has been fine for us - why would we want to disrupt that?

 

[Spark]

Khawaja's call-up is pretty damning for Smith, they clearly don't rate him as a batsman.

Not so sure about that tbh. It's not exactly taxing to call up a spare batsman and I don't think anyone will be too offended by the implication that Khawaja is a better specialist bat than Smith.

 

[Howe_zat]

Not so sure about that tbh. It's not exactly taxing to call up a spare batsman and I don't think anyone will be too offended by the implication that Khawaja is a better specialist bat than Smith.

It just shows how far off playing he is. He was picked behind Doherty as a spinner, which is not so bad as he could feasibly play in the top six, but Khawaja's call-up shows that Smith is behind him in the order too. Tie in North as well and it seems he has very little chance of an Ashes test.

 

[GotSpin]

If Khawaja does well and one of North/Hussey fails, they could conceivably be pushed out which is only a good thing in an otherwise dire situation.

He may have failed in the tour match, but he's succeeded in almost every other shield game.

 

[Ruckus]

If Khawaja does well and one of North/Hussey fails, they could conceivably be pushed out which is only a good thing in an otherwise dire situation.

He may have failed in the tour match, but he's succeeded in almost every other shield game.

Yeh but unfortunately at this stage it looks as though Khawaja might ironically end up replacing one of our top batsmen in Clarke, rather than Hussey or North who probably should of been replaced.

A bonus though is that hopefully Khawaja will be be taken along as part of the squad even beyond the Gabba test as a backup for Clarke (because I'm sure Clarke's problem won't resolve completely for the duration of the Ashes). Therefore if Hussey or North fail, he will be right there for selection (as opposed to e.g. Ferguson).

 

[GotSpin]

Yeh but unfortunately at this stage it looks as though Khawaja might ironically end up replacing one of our top batsmen in Clarke, rather than Hussey or North who probably should of been replaced.

A bonus though is that hopefully Khawaja will be be taken along as part of the squad even beyond the Gabba test as a backup for Clarke (because I'm sure Clarke's problem won't resolve completely for the duration of the Ashes). Therefore if Hussey or North fail, he will be right there for selection (as opposed to e.g. Ferguson).

Yeah I've obviously, with others, been calling for Khawaja to replace the hopeless two. However, as long as we can get him in the team, it's somewhat of a good thing. If he performs, and Hussey/North fail, he could potentially take the no.5 or 6 position when Clarke comes back.

 

[NUFAN]

I'm looking forward to nein's new technology. The score is going to be on the bottom of the screen and the batsmans scores up the entire time. Also bowling speeds from a bowlers last 5 overs.

Looks good tbh I could get used to it.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Is there the potential that Steve Smith could end up being a Test level Moises Henriques?

Moey, at this stage, is a wonderful package, but not quite good enough with the bat or the ball in FC cricket. Steve Smith, at least for the next couple of years, could be classified as the same, IMO.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Yeh but unfortunately at this stage it looks as though Khawaja might ironically end up replacing one of our top batsmen in Clarke, rather than Hussey or North who probably should of been replaced.

A bonus though is that hopefully Khawaja will be be taken along as part of the squad even beyond the Gabba test as a backup for Clarke (because I'm sure Clarke's problem won't resolve completely for the duration of the Ashes). Therefore if Hussey or North fail, he will be right there for selection (as opposed to e.g. Ferguson).

AWTA.

If Clarke is fit for the 2nd test and Hussey or North have failed then surely Clarke would replace them.Then again the way the Aussie selectors work they'll drop Katich and open with Hussey.

 

[NUFAN]

Is there the potential that Steve Smith could end up being a Test level Moises Henriques?

Moey, at this stage, is a wonderful package, but not quite good enough with the bat or the ball in FC cricket. Steve Smith, at least for the next couple of years, could be classified as the same, IMO.

Yep he really could be. I can't wait to see how NSW fit the all rounders and spinners in the XI and how much bowling they all get.

 

[Ruckus]

Yeah I've obviously, with others, been calling for Khawaja to replace the hopeless two. However, as long as we can get him in the team, it's somewhat of a good thing. If he performs, and Hussey/North fail, he could potentially take the no.5 or 6 position when Clarke comes back.

Oh right, sorry I misinterpreted what you said. Yeah if Khawaja does replace Clarke and peforms at a high level then he might well stop either North of Hussey coming back, although given the conservatism of the selectors I wouldn't be suprised if he was kicked out. It would make little sense to do that, but the selectors seem to have an obsession with sticking with the 'in' players. For that reason I was quite suprised Hauritz got the axe...

 

[Gilly Fan]

Got my last exam on Wednesday so I'll have all of Thursday and Friday to watch the first 2 days.

Can't wait.