*Official* England in Australia (2 T20 & 7 ODIs)

[Ausage]

A much better article on Clarke.

Eh, mixed bag for mine. Makes some good points, but it's let down by putting emphasis on worrying about whether the public "really knows" the guy. Who gives a **** who he votes for or whether he's embarrassed by his public displays of affection with Lara. The average punter knows more about Clarke's personal life than they do any other cricketer so the point seems a bit silly to me.

I think we're (we being the Australian public) being a bit self important when it comes to Clarke and the captaincy. Whether we like him should be a distant 10th or so when it comes to the issue of whether he's fit for the captaincy. It's been said before but respect from his teammates and tactical nous are the key concerns. Of course he has to prove he deserves a place in the team as a batsman as well. But there's so much rubbish written about the guy and why he doesn't deserve the captaincy, and there was a bit in that article too imo.

 

[Furball]

I agree, it shouldn't be guaranteed, but playing in Australia at the back end of a 2 month tour, is so different to the sub continent during the WC and with Bell being one of England's best against spin, you'd have to back him especially over other players. He could do with making at least, a good contribution before this series is over and the same can be said for Morgan.

Morgan at least has some credit in the bank. Bell doesn't.

 

[Ramcambrien]

Morgan at least has some credit in the bank. Bell doesn't.

bell made 84 in a match,morgy has done jack in this series.....

 

[Jacknife]

I'd be tempted for the WC to go for Anderson, Broad, Shahzad and Swann, then get the remainder of overs out of Colly, Tott and KP if needed. I think there our best bowlers and to keep the balance right we'd need Colly in with Bell and obviously Trott. From what I've seen even though Yardy batted well today, I'd give him a miss along with Wright and Tredwell.
Enjoyed watching Anderson bowl again, looks like he's still in great rhythm and got the yorker in well. Shahzad was well up around 90mph, off what seemed a 15 meter run up and he as well showed good variation with slower balls and yorkers.

 

[howardj]

The Rug badly needs to work on his fitness.

Not good enough for a professional athlete to hit the wall in an ODI.

 

[Top_Cat]

haha, interesting to see contrasting emotions about Marsh post-Bellerive vs now. No point in panicking about his inconsistency, have accept he'll have low periods in between the big knocks.

Probably why he hasn't played a Test yet, it'll be North all over again (possibly worse).

 

[Top_Cat]

The Rug badly needs to work on his fitness.

Not good enough for a professional athlete to hit the wall in an ODI.

Yeah, not as if it was a typical Adelaide scorcher either. Pretty mild day and he was burning up.

I wonder where on Earth it went, tbh. He's been bowling big overs for NSW since he was dropped and I can't imagine he'd be doing absolutely nothing else at NSW training.

 

[Burgey]

This. If you are batting someone that low then they need to be able to hit the boundaries. If a few of those many swipes had the strength to reach the fence or clear the fielders we may have actually still won.

What gets me with Smith, especially last night, and with a number o younger blokes, is a preoccupation with scoring in a certain zone. I realise it's difficult, but what I think sets the really good to great LO batsmen apart is an ability to score in more than one zone.

Last night saw Smith seemingly preoccupied with staying leg side of the ball and smashing through covers. I'm not being too hard on the kid here, as it was a tough situation tbf, but the good players adapt. If the ball isn't where their primary scoring area is for a given field, they still find a way to hit to different areas. Someone like Bevan or Hussey, sure they'll want to go over cover, but if the ball is full on leg stump they'll have a zone to hit to on the on side. I just think Smith's approach last night was a little one dimensional.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, not as if it was a typical Adelaide scorcher either. Pretty mild day and he was burning up.

I wonder where on Earth it went, tbh. He's been bowling big overs for NSW since he was dropped and I can't imagine he'd be doing absolutely nothing else at NSW training.

He might be crook. I mean he was very good the other night, and that after batting a while too, which is not something he'd be used to. Seems to come and go in a short space of time, this fitness thing with him ATM. As you say, it shouldn't happen to someone within the space of a few days.

 

[Jarquis]

Pietersen's brain is non-existent

 

[Furball]

bell made 84 in a match,morgy has done jack in this series.....

Against Bangladesh. Which was his first ODI since Pietersen was captain. Since then he's done nothing. Morgan has been brilliant since he came into the England set up.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Yup, he has been shocking in the field off late as well, and its a mystery why nobody in the Australian camp has been able to spot it yet.

Nobody in the Australian camp? Except, like, everyone after the Adelaide Test? And before the Brisbane Test?

 

[BoyBrumby]

In semi-seriousness, I can't imagine the syrup helps. Must get bloody hot under there.

Well, we actually know it does.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Absolutely, trying to beat long-on/off is just silly.

The ground isn't that big, and White's game is to target that area. Rather him doing that than swiping across the line of the ball, just because its a short boundary.

 

[Spark]

Then go dead straight, or go to midwicket. Long-on/off with fielders back is a very low-percentage shot.

 

[Spark]

If we're set on playing Colly as the nominal 5th bowler (and, in all honesty, I'd say #7's about right for his batting just now) with support from Trott and/or KP and maybe Bell, Swanny might just come in as a straight swap for Yardy.

If we aren't playing two spinners in Sydney or Adelaide there's no guarantee we will in Bangladesh or India either.



Really? I thought he looked dog rough today. Whatever the cause, for such a usually fluent batsman it was painful to see how far out of touch he's become. The contrast with Watson at the other end was very marked.

Nervous and feely for sure, but middled quite a few as well. Just can't break the shackles that are most likely self-imposed at the moment.

I'd say he timed the ball better than White.

 

[howardj]

Steven Smith

WAG

Has so much upside this kid

 

[Spark]

What gets me with Smith, especially last night, and with a number o younger blokes, is a preoccupation with scoring in a certain zone. I realise it's difficult, but what I think sets the really good to great LO batsmen apart is an ability to score in more than one zone.

Last night saw Smith seemingly preoccupied with staying leg side of the ball and smashing through covers. I'm not being too hard on the kid here, as it was a tough situation tbf, but the good players adapt. If the ball isn't where their primary scoring area is for a given field, they still find a way to hit to different areas. Someone like Bevan or Hussey, sure they'll want to go over cover, but if the ball is full on leg stump they'll have a zone to hit to on the on side. I just think Smith's approach last night was a little one dimensional.

Bang on. Clarke has exactly the same problem (when in form, that is)

 

[TumTum]

Steven Smith

WAG

Has so much upside this kid

Hasn't won us a single match yet, in any format. He's put in small contribution in almost every game he's played though.

 

[vcs]

Why is Bell's spot being questioned? Who would England replace him with? Surely it's between Trott and Collingwood for the last slot in the middle order?