*Official* Third Test at the WACA

[Ruckus]

How are you possibly going to take 20 wickets with line-up 1?
Line-up 2 is more likely to take 20 wickets, although it is still quite unlikely to do so.
Bowlers are doing worse than batsmen imo.
1000+ runs for 5 wickets is absolutely rubbish. Even a state team would've done better.

Seeing as though I didn't even specify the fast bowlers, you're assuming Hauritz is going to make a significant difference (I'm pretty sure Hauritz hasn't made much of a difference before.)? As we don't have a very good spin bowler at the moment, Watson + 3 other quicks are going to have to take the bulk of the wickets. Whether you like that or not, it is the reality. Don't see at all how you can justify the batsmen are doing better than the bowlers...bowlers have failed in unfavourable conditions, batsmen have failed in favourable conditions.

 

[benchmark00]

Didn't think I'd ever say this, but if Australia are looking to pull the trigger and take 20 wickets at any cost, the best option is Jason Krejza.

 

[Spark]

Would play Smith + 4 seamers. I still consider Smith a batsman, maybe a batting all-rounder in one-day cricket, but is more likely to get wickets than North. (Also runs).

For fast bowling, I'd take Dougie, Siddle, Harris and Cameron.

Personally I hope Doherty plays for as long as possible. I've tried to give him the benifit of the doubt, I don't think you can judge a cricketer by one match. But I can't bring myself to consider XD as Test match standard.

I said this a couple of times but today I really did start wishing we had Hauritz, because he really could've made use of the rough which was well wide of off stump and reasonably full.

 

[Furball]

You're not seriously suggesting playing North as a specialist spinner are you? Geez, I at least was just having a bit of a laugh, but...

Is it such a terrible shout? He's got a better FC record than pretty much any other Aussie spinner.

 

[Spark]

Because, as I said, he only has to bowl when he feels like he's bowling well.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Didn't think I'd ever say this, but if Australia are looking to pull the trigger and take 20 wickets at any cost, the best option is Jason Krejza.

Agreed.

 

[TumTum]

He went for 1/200 iirc at Perth last time.

 

[benchmark00]

What's your point?

The issue is that out of all spinners currently available in domestic cricket, he probably has the best 'big haul' potential.

Considering Australia's pacemen are impotent (in this current line up) but able to bowl relatively economical if instructed to, Krejza could be used as an out and out attacking option, which they didn't want him to do when he was selected first time around.

 

[Spark]

Eh, I don't know about that. England have been scoring at quite a lick all series, tying them down is the one thing we simply haven't been able to do.

Well, apart from taking wickets, that is.

 

[Redbacks]

Watto
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North (home farewell test)
Haddin
Johnson (and tell him we are playing RSA and to picture Graham Smith before bowling to any left hander)
Harris
Siddle
Dougeh!

 

[TumTum]

What's your point?

Point is it kinda doesn't matter who we choose as our spinner, if the pitch is flat and the batsman play sensibly, the spinners will get clobbered either way.

 

[benchmark00]

Eh, I don't know about that. England have been scoring at quite a lick all series, tying them down is the one thing we simply haven't been able to do.

Well, apart from taking wickets, that is.

I will re-quote a section of my post:

Considering Australia's pacemen are impotent (in this current line up) but able to bowl relatively economical if instructed to

The pace bowlers in this series have had to play a more attacking brand of cricket due to the non-penetrating nature of the spin options.

 

[benchmark00]

Point is it kinda doesn't matter who we choose as our spinner, if the pitch is flat and the batsman play sensibly, the spinners will get clobbered either way.

This shows a disappointing lack of insight into slow bowling.

Obviously a spin bowler is aided when the pitch is taking alot of turn, but the pitch has absolutely nothing to do with flight, drift and pace through the air. Doherty is poor in all these aspects, in particular speed through the air. Krejza bowls a slower ball, with a higher trajectory through the air. It's conducive to going for alot of runs, but also able to take alot of wickets.

 

[TumTum]

This shows a disappointing lack of insight into slow bowling.

Obviously a spin bowler is aided when the pitch is taking alot of turn, but the pitch has absolutely nothing to do with flight, drift and pace through the air. Doherty is poor in all these aspects, in particular speed through the air. Krejza bowls a slower ball, with a higher trajectory through the air. It's conducive to going for alot of runs, but also able to take alot of wickets.

Yeah Doherty is a poor bowler, but just because Krezja bowls in an attacking style doesn't mean he is going to get the wickets. Krezja was played easily in Perth last time where the pitch was flat and SA batsman in good form. England's batting atm is arguably better than SA's. All in all Krezja's selection is not going to help.

 

[benchmark00]

Yeah Doherty is a poor bowler, but just because Krezja bowls in an attacking style doesn't mean he is going to get the wickets. Krezja was played easily in Perth last time where the pitch was flat and SA batsman in good form. England's batting atm is arguably better than SA's. All in all Krezja's selection is not going to help.

So your alternative is what exactly? Just stick with what we've got in the hope it turns around?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Think you guys are getting ahead of yourselves a bit, still got plenty to play for in the 2nd test and could easily still be 0-0 on day 1 at Perth.

At least wait to see if the players in the 2nd test put up much of a fight before changing the whole team.

 

[Pup Clarke]

So your alternative is what exactly? Just stick with what we've got in the hope it turns around?

Here's a radical idea...don't play a specialist spinner.

 

[TumTum]

So your alternative is what exactly? Just stick with what we've got in the hope it turns around?

I really can't be ****ed with who we pick tbh. But Doherty certainly has to go (his fielding has annoyed me the most).

 

[benchmark00]

Think you guys are getting ahead of yourselves a bit, still got plenty to play for in the 2nd test and could easily still be 0-0 on day 1 at Perth.

At least wait to see if the players in the 2nd test put up much of a fight before changing the whole team.

That's not the issue though, Australia have to win the series to reagain the Ashes, a drawn series is not good enough. Sooner or later the selectors are going to have to select a team which gives Australia the best chance to secure twenty English wickets.

 

[Ruckus]

So your alternative is what exactly? Just stick with what we've got in the hope it turns around?

Pretty much this. A bowling attack of Harris, Siddle and Bollinger shouldn't be impotent. These guys are quality bowlers, and hopefully the WACA will give them something more to work with. If the English batsmen continue their domination, then you have to simply yield, and admit sometimes there isn't much you can do.