Given that neither of them are particularly good anyway, and North is most likely going to be retained in the team irrespective of how he performs this match, his involvement in the team might as well be put to better use by allowing another batsmen to come in. Don't think you could really argue that Hauritz's spin would provide any advantage over North's spin + his batting + another batsmen in the team.No, I don't think it's debatable. North's bowling is good but Hauritz's is simply better. North has the advantage of being able to not have to bowl when he knows he isn't bowling well, Hauritz doesn't.
I didn't even see your post??? I thought it was a good idea myself. "Plain stupid" is your opinion, and I disagree. Seeing as though we don't have an exceptional specialist spinner, their role in the team is not that important. North can cover the 'lesser' aspects of spin bowling. The attack of this team at this stage will always be dependant on our quicks, and shouldn't rely on a spinner.I'm saying that Hauritz would be a more useful specialist spinner than North.
Sorry, but retaining North as a specialist spinner is just plain stupid. It was a joke, you're taking it way too seriously.
It might be an idea, but not a very good one.I didn't even see your post??? I thought it was a good idea myself. "Plain stupid" is your opinion, and I disagree. Seeing as though we don't have an exceptional specialist spinner, their role in the team is not that important. North can cover the 'lesser' aspects of spin bowling. The attack of this team at this stage will always be dependant on our quicks, and shouldn't rely on a spinner.
Nothing more to add than this. AWTA.It might be an idea, but not a very good one.
Did we learn nothing from Cameron White's inclusion in the Australian team.
You pick 4 specialist bowlers, including one specialist spinner. That man has to be one of Hauritz or O'Keefe.
God I hope not...Word on the street is that S Marsh will debut at his home ground in the 3rd Test.
I would be all for picking O'Keefe, because he looks promising with the ball and the bat. But I wasn't talking about him because it seems at this stage very unlikely he will even come under consideration. Furthermore, the whole premise of having North as the 'main' spinner is because it is assumed he will be retained in the team. As this test has shown, it is our batting which is the main problem atm, hence making North the main spinner allows his position to be of better value, and allows another batsmen into the middle order. Once again, you cannot possibly argue that having Hauritz as the main spinner and North as the no. 6 would be better than having North as the main spinner and an extra proper batsmen (e.g. Khawaja).It might be an idea, but not a very good one.
Did we learn nothing from Cameron White's inclusion in the Australian team.
You pick 4 specialist bowlers, including one specialist spinner. That man has to be one of Hauritz or O'Keefe.
Australia batting for 20 overs has my full backing.Should sucker punch them with David Warner and Watson opening the batting imo.
But it isn't an either-or situation. You can jettison North without making other changes you know.I would be all for picking O'Keefe, because he looks promising with the ball and the bat. But I wasn't talking about him because it seems at this stage very unlikely he will even come under consideration. Furthermore, the whole premise of having North as the 'main' spinner is because it is assumed he will be retained in the team. As this test has shown, it is our batting which is the main problem atm, hence making North the main spinner allows his position to be of better value, and allows another batsmen into the middle order. Once again, you cannot possibly argue that having Hauritz as the main spinner and North as the no. 6 would be better than having North as the main spinner and an extra proper batsmen (e.g. Khawaja).
Compare the line-ups, which one do you think would be more likely to succeed:
1.
Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja
North (spinner)
Haddin
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
2.
Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Hauritz
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
Yeah of course, but that isn't what I was talking about. I was referring to the likely scenario of North being retained. Frankly, if it was up to me I would probably have O'Keefe and Cameron/Copeland in the team...But it isn't an either-or situation. You can jettison North without making other changes you know.
I wouldn't mind that, he's in form and made a lot of runs for WA this season thus far.Word on the street is that S Marsh will debut at his home ground in the 3rd Test.
How are you possibly going to take 20 wickets with line-up 1?I would be all for picking O'Keefe, because he looks promising with the ball and the bat. But I wasn't talking about him because it seems at this stage very unlikely he will even come under consideration. Furthermore, the whole premise of having North as the 'main' spinner is because it is assumed he will be retained in the team. As this test has shown, it is our batting which is the main problem atm, hence making North the main spinner allows his position to be of better value, and allows another batsmen into the middle order. Once again, you cannot possibly argue that having Hauritz as the main spinner and North as the no. 6 would be better than having North as the main spinner and an extra proper batsmen (e.g. Khawaja).
Compare the line-ups, which one do you think would be more likely to succeed:
1.
Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja
North (spinner)
Haddin
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
2.
Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Hauritz
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
Australia actually need to win the ashes, so they have to win tests. They can't win if the bowlers don't take 20 wickets. I would drop north for another bowler, who can perferably bat a bit.Not great but the pitches have been flat. 245AO is much more inexcusable for mine.