I'd rather have him than Hughes. Or move Watson down the order to replace Smith.Yeah I think it's fairly obvious Shakib would play. I don't think Tamim would though.
Yes, comfortably.Would Marcus North walk into the Bangladeshi team ?
Yeah, he isn't rated around here though, is he ? I am mildly shocked at the anti-North (and even anti-Johnson, for that matter) sentiment around here.Yes, comfortably.
He was the face of Australia's dipping standards. Frankly I don't think he's good enough to play as a specialist batsman for Australia but he was never quite as bad as some people made out. At this point in time I'd probably rate him a better batsman and a better bowler than Steve Smith, although Smith's being picked as much for developmental reasons and potential as he is for his likely output at the moment.Yeah, he isn't rated around here though, is he ? I am mildly shocked at the anti-North (and even anti-Johnson, for that matter) sentiment around here.
I didn't say Marcus North was better than Tamim; he isn't. I said I'd back him to perform better in Australia at the moment. I also said I expected that to change after Tamim got a little more experience in the conditions.For me, Tamim would casually stroll into Australia's Test team at the moment. He was in superb form this year, much better than any opener Australia have to offer. Admittedly I've only really seen him against England but he was superb in that series. Clearly he's got all the talent in the world and, I'm not sure if we're including this, but if he had the nurturing of the Australian management and the quality of players around him, he could develop into a world class player. Tbh I think he could do anyway, I was that impressed by him.
Abdur Razzaq would probably get in the ODI side aswell as Shakib, who would obviously get into both teams, so there is some truth in what Siddons says. He probably knows better than us, considering he has no significant partiality on the matter, being Australian.
And at people suggesting Marcus North is better than Tamim. No way.
Ah, okay. I still disagree, though. I'm not sure how well he would go on Australian wickets either, but on form I'd still back him to get into the team quite easily. He did pretty well on an Old Trafford pitch that did a bit, and he has so much talent.I didn't say Marcus North was better than Tamim; he isn't. I said I'd back him to perform better in Australia at the moment. I also said I expected that to change after Tamim got a little more experience in the conditions.
Wait, so Shield cricket is a better measure of an opener's skill than Test cricket? I don't think Tamim would get into the side ahead of Katich, who I respect very much as an accomplished Test cricketer, but I think he is far more talent than Hughes, and has been in much better form in internationals.People who think Tamim is better than Hughes would also think Katich, Cosgrove, Rogers and Khawaja are better than Hughes, though. Hughes isn't everyone's cup of tea but if you don't agree with his selection there are other options at full strength other than Tamim. Tamim would need to score a lot of Shield runs to get into the Australian team and I really don't think he'd do it - certainly not at this stage anyway, particularly given how little experience he has on bouncy wickets.
Whether or not Tamim would walk into the Australian team is a much more complicated debate than whether or not you think he's better than Hughes because Hughes isn't the only option if you happen to think he's rubbish. If Tamim was suddenly available he certainly wouldn't "walk in" as suggested; he'd need to prove himself in the Sheffield Shield on Australian wickets in competition with the other batsmen. I'm not saying he wouldn't get there or that he isn't better than Hughes, necessarily, but it's a bit like the Chris Nash/NZ argument - he'd need to prove himself within the system first; he's certainly not good enough to walk in based purely on what he's done already.
Would Marcus North walk into the Bangladeshi team ?
Well, yeah. Shakib and Tamim are a class apart in their own side. They are still picking Ashraful ffs.Yes, comfortably.