Zimbabwe 'A' v Australia 'A' v South Africa 'A'

[Sylvester]

That's where he feels most comfortable.

 

[Anku31]

If Price could hang around for a couple of hours more,Zim XI have a good chance of saving this match.

 

[Ruckus]

Is Trent Copeland the real deal? Do people think he could average 25 or less in test cricket? I have to say, even though I'm a big fan, when I first saw him against a speed gun only getting around 120-125 kph I was somewhat disappointed...but does it really matter? The man keeps getting wickets, and in direct comparison with our so-called test standard bowlers of Siddle and Hilfenhaus who continually perform worse.

 

[Spikey]

Tail end wickets (7-11):
Siddle 8

update'd

 

[adub]

Is Trent Copeland the real deal? Do people think he could average 25 or less in test cricket? I have to say, even though I'm a big fan, when I first saw him against a speed gun only getting around 120-125 kph I was somewhat disappointed...but does it really matter? The man keeps getting wickets, and in direct comparison with our so-called test standard bowlers of Siddle and Hilfenhaus who continually perform worse.

That's what I love about him. He turns up every game and takes wickets. When he's not getting wickets he's giving nothing away and putting the pressure on the batsmen to find a way to score. He's a fantastic partnership bowler. Good bowlers would love to bowl with him.

 

[Sylvester]

Only one way to find out.

Ah that joker Siddle, comes to the party after the other bowlers do all the work.

 

[adub]

Nice to see Marsh chipping in for another couple of wickets. Going to be interesting to see how he performs this summer. I might even become a fan.

 

[adub]

Surprise, surprise! We come back from lunch and Copeland who has proven he can bowl 20 over spells standing on his ear is taken off after 13 overs 2/18. We're in the tail now and Siddle with his one tail end wicket and going at 3.5 rpo stays on so he can make his figures look good and seem like the destroyer.

 

[Spikey]

and krejza!

naturally i'm gonna blame greg chappell

 

[adub]

Siddle fail. Last two wickets a run out and Krezja.

 

[Spikey]

He'll be disappointed no doubt. Marsh & Warner the feel good stories for this tour. feel a bit sorry for butterworth, did no harm to his future chances but didn't really get a opportunity thanks to hilf wasting a spot in the first match

so i guess we can focus on trying to predict the test squad now.

 

[robelinda]

Not much to predict. Same old crap. Can anyone really see Siddle and Hilf doing the damage in SL? That will be total fail. Johnson will have a shocker, he has no idea unless its bouncy. I really hope someone steps up, Copeland has chance of going, but i'd imagine he'd have a decent test series without being awesome, can just see him bowling 20 overs for 20 runs, but no wickets.

 

[NUFAN]

I reckon everyone against Siddle is being extremely harsh. He can take top order wickets, he's done it on many occasions and will continue to do so.

I would include Copeland in the Test squad for sure, he's ticked all the boxes.

My squad by the way..
Clarke, Watson, Hughes, Ponting, Khawaja, MHussey, SMarsh, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, Copeland, Harris, Hauritz, Krejza/Beer.

Not really sure on who should be second spinner.

 

[robelinda]

Not sure Hauritz is fit yet, i think he said just the other day that he aiming for the SA tour. Still can't bowl a ball yet....

Would love to see S Marsh go, but i reckon they will go for Smith at 6 or 7 still.

 

[Spark]

Not much to predict. Same old crap. Can anyone really see Siddle and Hilf doing the damage in SL? That will be total fail. Johnson will have a shocker, he has no idea unless its bouncy. I really hope someone steps up, Copeland has chance of going, but i'd imagine he'd have a decent test series without being awesome, can just see him bowling 20 overs for 20 runs, but no wickets.

Johnson has done well in India, actually. Highly counter-intuitive but there you go.

 

[Nate]

Solid tour. Just hope the selectors learnt something from it!

 

[Ruckus]

Not much to predict. Same old crap. Can anyone really see Siddle and Hilf doing the damage in SL? That will be total fail. Johnson will have a shocker, he has no idea unless its bouncy. I really hope someone steps up, Copeland has chance of going, but i'd imagine he'd have a decent test series without being awesome, can just see him bowling 20 overs for 20 runs, but no wickets.

Even if that is the case (Copeland actually takes wickets though, so it's probably a bit unfair), it could surely only do the team some good given the state it is in. Pretty much the main problem over the Ashes (and for a considerable time before) has been the lack of a bowler who can be consistent and not leak runs. We've often had pretty awesome individual bowling performances, yet the opposition still achieve a ridiculous amount of runs because of the other bowlers spraying it everywhere. Once recent example that comes to mind is Siddle's performance in the first innings of the 4th Ashes test - Siddle got awesome figures of 6 for 75, yet England still managed to get 513 runs...crazy **** right there...

 

[adub]

I reckon everyone against Siddle is being extremely harsh. He can take top order wickets, he's done it on many occasions and will continue to do so.

I would include Copeland in the Test squad for sure, he's ticked all the boxes.

My squad by the way..
Clarke, Watson, Hughes, Ponting, Khawaja, MHussey, SMarsh, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, Copeland, Harris, Hauritz, Krejza/Beer.

Not really sure on who should be second spinner.

I don't hate Siddle by any stretch. I just think Harris and Dougy are better. When he pitches up he can really trouble good bats, but too often he drops short and sprays it down the leg side. I don't care how hard you're trying and how close to your top speed you're bowling at the end of the day if you're dragging them short down the leg side.

Copeland surely must take Hilfenhaus' spot though. He's more economical whilst making the batsmen play more often and therefore taking more wickets.

 

[Ruckus]

Yeah a seam attack of Harris, Dougeh and Copeland looks very balanced to me, and has a nice variation in styles. You've got pace in Harris, bounce in Doug and economy in Copeland to hold it together.

 

[Spikey]

Yeah I wouldn't say we need someone to keep it cheap - Hilf does it and Siddle on his non-"best bowler in the world" days usually keeps it cheap....it's just they're keeping it cheap because they bowling rubbish outside off. I'd rather Harris-Dougeh-MJ-Hauritz right now but obviously that won't happen.