Australian Discussion (Final Squad Announced Post #82)

[Oscillatingmind]

If there not going to pick the best team, why bother even going? urgh

 

[TumTum]

Our bowlers are going to get a caning. MASSIVE pressure on Punter to fire with the bat, and I pray to every god that may or not exist that bloody Clarke doesnt pull any dodgy 4 off 35 innings because he's setting himself up for late slog that wont happen because he doesnt have the shots anymore after Lara Bingle took his balls with her when she left and now he clings to some half assed defence for dear life.

iirc Clarke had his best performances just after the break-up, maybe that was out in anger though and now he's depressed.

I like our chances tbh, we have the best all-round team, just like before the Champions Trophy in 2009. My only worry is that Watson/White might get bogged down by containing spinners.

 

[Oscillatingmind]

It's not like not picking Hodge is a surprise. But they could at least come out and justify it, just say they think he's a **** or something. Just lets reflect on this.

this season
Hodge has 8 matches & 494 runs at a S.R of 97 with 3 hundreds and 1 fifty
Dussey has 7 matches & 143 runs at a S.R of 80 with 1 fifty

last season
Hodge played 11 matches had 622 runs at a S.R of 93 with 4 hundreds
Dussey played 9 matches had 298 runs at a S.R of 96 with 2 fifties

Its just a joke they we can't afford any more. Hodge has better career bowling figures as well, though I haven't seen him bowl.

 

[Jayzamann]

Love how Peter English tore up Hilditch's comments about Hauritz's ODI record in India.

 

[pup11]

Bit of a lottery this WC with no Super Six stage.

Straight from the Group Stage, which we should easily advance from, into sudden death Quarter Finals.

I think it's important we finish as high as possible in our Group, and therefore draw someone low from the other group in the Quarters.

Yeah, I'm not the biggest fan of this current format which pretty much ensures that from the group stage all decent teams make it into the last 8, and then as you said its pretty much a lottery from there.
The super 6 format was better as it allowed the best sides to take make it into the last 4, which is basically what you wish to see happening in a tournament like the worldcup.
As for the final squad, can't say I'm hugely disappointed with it but I still can't understand why we kept picking blokes like Hopes, Swampy jr. and Ferguson for as many games as we did, when were not going to take them to the worldcup.
Also don't know what they have seen in Hastings to rate him as an all-rounder, the guy is just a decent bowler with good changes of pace but he certainly is no all-rounder, and someone like Christian would have been much better pick.
Hauritz goes into the tournament as the lone spinner, but I seriously hope we give Smith as many overs as possible leading into the worldcup because with some overs under his belt he can then certainly deliver the goods in the sub-continent, and his main role should be with the ball atleast for now.
Our fast bowling would largely depend on how we mange and use Taity during the worldcup, he is our trump card as far as the quicks are concerned, as Lee really doesn't have the greatest of records while playing in the sub-continent and both Mitch and Dougie are looking off-colour.
The batting line-up probably would have to be at their best if we are to go all the way, that's why its important guys like Watto, Ponting White, Huss bros. and maybe even Clarke really step it up a notch, and if we do that then there is no reason why we can't make it 4 in a row....

 

[robelinda]

Just go back to the 1992 WC format.

 

[Spark]

Love how Peter English tore up Hilditch's comments about Hauritz's ODI record in India.

He had a few good games tbf (and a few bad ones)

 

[social]

Dont have any huge problems with the squad other than the selection of Paine

IIRC, teams are allowed to draft in a standby player in the event of an injury, so why bother with a second wicketkeeper?

The selection of both he and Dussey is simply the means by which they've managed to omit Hodge at any cost

 

[Spark]

Dont have any huge problems with the squad other than the selection of Paine

IIRC, teams are allowed to draft in a standby player in the event of an injury, so why bother with a second wicketkeeper?

The selection of both he and Dussey is simply the means by which they've managed to omit Hodge at any cost

Haddin missing three stumpings in a single game on a deck with nice, even bounce may have something to do with it

 

[robelinda]

Haddin missing three stumpings in a single game on a deck with nice, even bounce may have something to do with it

That was some huge fail. And a big worry ahead of any series. How many years does Haddin really have in the test/odi team? I reckon 2, maybe 3 at most. They wont want to keep Paine or Wade waiting too long, Haddin has some rank periods with the gloves, its just so awful sometimes. Ian Healy must be pretty angry at the standard of keeping these days.

 

[Mister Wright]

Not too unhappy with the team. So glad Doherty hasn't been selected.

We will be chasing some huge scores with a bowling attack of Johnson, Bollinger, Tait & Lee.

 

[robelinda]

Not too unhappy with the team. So glad Doherty hasn't been selected.

We will be chasing some huge scores with a bowling attack of Johnson, Bollinger, Tait & Lee.

Just dont think about it. At least most other teams have poor attacks too, I guess we'll see who stands up. Can just imagine our pacers being slammed all around Indian grounds and Ponting having no idea how to stem the flow. I guess thats Indian grounds for you, more than anything else.

 

[Spikey]

That was some huge fail. And a big worry ahead of any series. How many years does Haddin really have in the test/odi team? I reckon 2, maybe 3 at most. They wont want to keep Paine or Wade waiting too long, Haddin has some rank periods with the gloves, its just so awful sometimes. Ian Healy must be pretty angry at the standard of keeping these days.

I'm probably just being pessimistic but there's more chance of Hilf going to SL than Haddin imo...

 

[robelinda]

I'm probably just being pessimistic but there's more chance of Hilf going to SL than Haddin imo...

Well at least we wont - or I hope we dont - load our team with spinners for SL conditions, no point in doing that, unless some crazy kid emerges between now and then!

Best to take a stifling pace attack, similar to what South Africa did to India in the late 90's when they won over there. And even in 04 when we did well in SL we had Warne at one end, but McGrath, Dizzy and Kasper bowling REALLY well at the other end, just doing the workhorse job. I think Hauritz has to be the man for SL.

 

[vcs]

Didn't McGrath miss the 2004 SL series?

 

[robelinda]

You know, i'd forgotten that. Williams and MacGill were the support. Pretty amazing series. But of course because Warne played and did well Ponting got no credit for really good captaincy.

 

[Spikey]

10 just said Hussey is having surgery tonight and is expected to be ruled out...

 

[marc71178]

The super 6 format was better as it allowed the best sides to take make it into the last 4,

Kenya 2003 say hi.

 

[Sylvester]

10 just said Hussey is having surgery tonight and is expected to be ruled out...

Good dam. And Marsh looks to be his replacement. Marsh called in for Hussey
I can think of 3 that should have been ahead of him in Ferguson, Hodge and Christian. Marsh struggles to find the gaps and that is the last thing we need from our number 6 where he'll most likely be playing. His last ODI is a prime example of this.

 

[andyc]

Bleh. Reckon Ferguson would be the closest 'like for like' replacement for Hussey, in terms of being able to come in and find the gaps from the go.