Australia - the aftermath of the Ashes

[TumTum]

Really unnecessary. He's doing a great job opening and hasn't had any injury problems since coming back to the side.

 

[Debris]

He is doing a good job in every respect except getting really big hundreds. Big hundreds is really what you want from your openers ideally. That is the main reasion why I think a move might be beneficial.

 

[Spark]

It's the one position in our order that has been consistently working, though. I'd fix the broken stuff before starting on the not-broken.

 

[Debris]

It's the one position in our order that has been consistently working, though. I'd fix the broken stuff before starting on the not-broken.

Putting Watson at 4 would fix the middle order.

 

[TumTum]

Putting Watson at 4 would fix the middle order.

What about the top order We need 10 more Watson's atm

 

[marc71178]

What about the top order We need 10 more Watson's atm

Is this an attempt to prevent opposition bowlers getting any more wickets - 10 run outs an innings guaranteed?

 

[TumTum]

Is this an attempt to prevent opposition bowlers getting any more wickets - 10 run outs an innings guaranteed?

If ~500 runs per innings are guaranteed, yes

 

[Jarquis]

http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/2426028-post168.html
Coach defends Clarke, Hughes over Ashes drinking claims

 

[howardj]

After much deliberation and rethinking, I've settled on my Test team for SL tour

Katich
Usman
Watson
Clarke
Ponting
Smith
Haddin
Hauritz
Harris
Siddle
Young Gun (Pattinson, Starc, Hazlewood etc)

I agree with Trevor Hohns in the paper today, that Usman should open and that Katich would be a good man for him to be inducted into this role with. Katich also adds some true grit, and his stodgy technique is likely to defy Father Time better than most.

Watson, a top order player, is the best man to bat at three.

Harris is our best Test bowler at present, so he comes back in.

While I really think some tough love needs to be meted out to Johnson and Hughes.

I also think the selectors need to move beyond Johnson, Hilf, Doug etc. and see what the next line of quicks has to offer.

And I can't have Ponting, Katich and Hussey all in the same team I'm afraid. Hussey, but for three Ashes Tests, has been dire for two years.

 

[Spark]

Copeland!

 

[howardj]

Agree - bracket him with the other Young Guns.

Cummins too!!!

 

[vcs]

Drop the only middle-order batsman who did well in the Ashes, and include three guys who were totally clueless?

 

[howardj]

It's very easy to make statements such as that in isolation. For the SL tour though, there are a number of factors that need to be weighed prominent among which is the need to start rebuilding. In my opinion, it's not tenable to still go on having three 35 year old players in the top six. It's not easy to drop one of them, but for the reasons I've explained, the man would be Hussey. Three good Ashes Tests does not a future make. It's not unusual to move on 36 year olds who are not legends.

 

[brockley]

Rest hughes then send him back to the academy to relearn his game.

 

[howardj]

I don't think Hughes should be there either.

 

[Jarquis]

Hussey over Ponting

 

[Spark]

Hussey over Ponting

Inclined to agree.

 

[Uppercut]

Hussey over all of the other batsmen and it's not close.

 

[Debris]

Cummins too!!!

Hmmm, not sure I would be picking a 17 year old who has not played a first class match yet although he does look like he might be a superstar of the future.

 

[Spark]

Arthur could coach Australia | Fox Sports