*Official* Tour Matches

[zaremba]

Cook has always struggled on a similar line, just outside off, bringing him forward where he just pushes at the ball. He also drove with a very stiff front leg, and much work has been done with Gooch to get front knee flexing much more.

Mrs Z took this photo of Cook's dismissal at Edgbaston last year which illustrates the point well

 

[Woodster]

Neither Strauss nor Cook are strong against the short ball. Strauss is excellent against the **** ball. Johnson would have been fine at Lord's if his bowling were back of a length and accurate - if not completely successful. He got wrecked because he was bowling short, wide, leg side, the works.

What makes you think they're not good against the short ball ?? Cook especially is strong in this area.

 

[Woodster]

Mrs Z took this photo of Cook's dismissal at Edgbaston last year which illustrates the point well

Excellent bit of photography Mrs Z. That's exactly where he's had problems, you can see the front foot is still on the move even after he's nicked it.

 

[Jarquis]

That looks a very, very awkward shot.

 

[Burgey]

What makes you think they're not good against the short ball ?? Cook especially is strong in this area.

I certainly think Cook is stronger against the short ball, and his weakness is the off stump, good length or slightly fuller approach being spoken of on here.

Strauss is an interesting one. I think he doesn't have a weakness agaisnt the short ball per se, but he doesn't have the control over the shot that Cook does. He certainly pulls the ball well, but I have seen him dismissed a few times where he's lost control of a hook shot to a ball at or just above throat height.

I wouldn't say it's alarming, but I think it's an approach that can be taken every now and again to him. IIRC he fell to the pull/ hook in Brisbane a couple of times last tour where he lost control over the shot.

That photo of Cook is instructive (and a good one - kudos Mrs Z!!). I've seen that shot so many times as I sadly play it a fair bit myself - the stiff legged drive (mine is caused by old knees that don't bend too well, though tbf I was never a good driver anyways). The weight transference seems wrong, and I find in my case it just means the bat gets out in front of the body too far.

It really is a lovely photo tbh. Hope we see plenty more like it this series too

And Tum Tum, I genuinely don't think trying to bounce someone out at Adelaide is a good thing to try.

 

[Burgey]

Please stop calling Siddle crap it is making me nervous. If he plays and does well it is entirely your fault.

He's not crap, I just don't think he's as good as the bloke they're talking about replacing.

Dougeh!

Dougeh.

 

[Pothas]

Probably not but Mr Furball makes me nervous with his assertions.

To be fair I think both are good bowlers but neither are going scare England, they might both have good series if they play but England are more than capable of making runs against them, same goes for Hilfenhorse. Just have to hope Johnson is ****.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Probably not but Mr Furball makes me nervous with his assertions.

To be fair I think both are good bowlers but neither are going scare England, they might both have good series if they play but England are more than capable of making runs against them, same goes for Hilfenhorse. Just have to hope Johnson is ****.

What makes you think that? Was the best bowler in 09

 

[Pothas]

Yeah and he is a decent bowler but he is not going to intimidate anyone, physically or mentally.

The Australian attack is decent but unless Johnson pulls something special out the bag I am confident England can make competitive totals on a regular basis, just not sure they will be able to make the really imposing ones, we very rarely do.

 

[TumTum]

Yeah and he is a decent bowler but he is not going to intimidate anyone, physically or mentally.

He doesn't have to intimidate them. Only thing I care about is that he hits the sticks on a regular basis

 

[Pup Clarke]

Plus the guy possess the best short ball in world cricket imo

 

[Furball]

Probably not but Mr Furball makes me nervous with his assertions.

To be fair I think both are good bowlers but neither are going scare England, they might both have good series if they play but England are more than capable of making runs against them, same goes for Hilfenhorse. Just have to hope Johnson is ****.

Haha, I'd just be far more nervous with Bollinger taking the new ball than Siddle.

 

[social]

Haha, I'd just be far more nervous with Bollinger taking the new ball than Siddle.

TBF to Siddle, his average has blown out to "Anderson" proportions by virtue of a bad injury-hampered summer

Guy has been rated as a future great by no less a judge than Mark Boucher and he still has huge potential

Having said that, I'd pick Bollinger BUT having 3/4 of your attack as left-armers has rarely, if ever, been tried

 

[Jarquis]

Wonder if Australia are leaning away from picking Bollinger due to the extra rough he and Johsnon would generate for Swann?
I'm not saying they're scared of Swann, or that is the reason behind the decision, but is it ridiculous to suggest the thought might have flicked through their mind?

Jimmy's taken 84 @ 28 since Siddle's debut ftr.

 

[social]

Wonder if Australia are leaning away from picking Bollinger due to the extra rough he and Johsnon would generate for Swann?

I'm not saying they're scared of Swann, or that is the reason behind the decision, but is it ridiculous to suggest the thought might have flicked through their mind?

Rough is not a huge factor at Brisbane - the pitch is like concrete and it has really only suited a couple of spinners in history anyway

Think it comes down to match fitness and the fear of the unknown (3 left armers in a 4 man attack)

 

[Jarquis]

How about for the rest of the series? Is it likely to be a factor?

 

[social]

Wonder if Australia are leaning away from picking Bollinger due to the extra rough he and Johsnon would generate for Swann?
I'm not saying they're scared of Swann, or that is the reason behind the decision, but is it ridiculous to suggest the thought might have flicked through their mind?

Jimmy's taken 84 @ 28 since Siddle's debut ftr.

Meh!

Same ole, same ole when the sun is out - guy is style over substance

Anyway, he was pummeled by Tamim last summer in favourable conditions and is the only batter remotely comparable to the Aussies

 

[Jarquis]

Meh!

Same ole, same ole when the sun is out - guy is style over substance

Anyway, he was pummeled by Tamim last summer in favourable conditions and is the only batter remotely comparable to the Aussies

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I'm not championing Jimmeh for the upcoming series.

He only got tapped by Tamim when the sun come out funnily enough

Could've been worse, could've gone for 70+ against West Indies/Pakistan like 2 of your bowlers

 

[social]

How about for the rest of the series? Is it likely to be a factor?

Rough is generally not much of a factor in Oz

Adelaide , MCG and Sydney (but not of late) "may" have something in it for the spinner but it's not a great hunting ground

 

[Jarquis]

Rough is generally not much of a factor in Oz

Adelaide , MCG and Sydney (but not of late) "may" have something in it for the spinner but it's not a great hunting ground

Yeah, I understand it won't really be a decisive thing in the series. So won't have been the decisive in the selector's decision.
I just can't see them wanting to help Swann at all.
Thus why I brought it up as an idea, nothing more.