***Official*** South Africa in Australia 2012

[LongHopCassidy]

Lyon must play.

Unless Clarke's balls enough to win the toss and bowl, his four quicks have two sessions to get them out else him, Warner and other sorry part-timers go in to be cannon-fodder to keep the over-rate beneath capital punishment levels.

And how the **** will four quicks take wickets if three can't?

 

[Cabinet96]

I think Burgey makes a good point about going in without Lyon. Watson is a quality bowler, and having him as the 5th fast bowler is just excessive and a waste IMO. The only time he'd bowl is if the 4 quicks weren't doing anything, in which case Clarke would want to try spin to change things up, so would probably end up bowling himself/Warner more than Watson.

You have 4 quality seamers already. There really isn't need for a 5th.

 

[NUFAN]

Yeah Lyon is a certainty, looking forward to the commentators mentioning the fun fact that Warney used to always say how much he enjoyed bowling at the Gabba.

Lyon could be useful in getting out the tail, getting out Duminy, helping the overrates and potential making a big impact if we are bowling come day 5.

I have confidence in Clarke that he'll use Lyon wisely.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Surely Lyon has to play, can't really go into many tests without a spinner and get away with it especially when one of the part timers has a long history of back problems as well.

 

[Burgey]

I just don't htink you need five quicks. I mean, you might if an innings goes three and a half days, but fmd it's a bit of overkill, surely.

 

[Top_Cat]

Can only think those advocating Lyon play outright haven't seen him bowl this Shield season. I'm not a fan of 4 quicks either but he's not just struggling to get ****s out, he's struggling to keep them from bashing him for under 5/over, something he's never struggled with before. Confidence has to be shot and I wonder whether the thing for him is to play him against the best side in the world.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

If that is the case then pick another spinner then, would always want to have a spinner in my test side unless it is a real greentop.

 

[NUFAN]

Can only think those advocating Lyon play outright haven't seen him bowl this Shield season. I'm not a fan of 4 quicks either but he's not just struggling to get ****s out, he's struggling to keep them from bashing him for under 5/over, something he's never struggled with before. Confidence has to be shot and I wonder whether the thing for him is to play him against the best side in the world.

I thought you've been saying all summer that he's not bowling as bad as his figures suggest?

I've seen him bowl a bit and yeah he's not putting enough pressure on the batsman. Nowhere near enough dot balls but I don't think SA are the worst team for him to bowl at.

Lyon will be needed at Adelaide for the second Test so hopefully he does a respectable job at Brisbane.

 

[uvelocity]

he'll be right. I mean he's been skippering, and the playing under another "spinner"

I have full confidence that clarkeh will massage the best out of him

 

[Top_Cat]

I thought you've been saying all summer that he's not bowling as bad as his figures suggest?

Is true from the perspective of not bowling half-trackers every ball because his line hasn't been bad. A spinner getting milked you can use, a guy getting smashed but taking wickets you can use. A bloke getting smashed, tucked away even when he lands one and not taking any wickets is a big risk for the Test side.

From the outside, it looks like he's just not getting the work on the ball he should. Mind you, it probably depends on net form too. If he's just trying a bunch of stuff out and it's not coming off but you can see his stock ball is okay, you might consider playing him anyway. But if he really is struggling to know where they're going and you play him, that **** ends careers. Like I said, I'm a big fan of playing a spinner in all but the most pace-friendly of conditions but if your best spinner is really down in the dumps, worth considering another combo.

 

[Burgey]

If they aren't going to pick Lyon, go back to Crayfish.

 

[Burgey]

Can only think those advocating Lyon play outright haven't seen him bowl this Shield season. I'm not a fan of 4 quicks either but he's not just struggling to get ****s out, he's struggling to keep them from bashing him for under 5/over, something he's never struggled with before. Confidence has to be shot and I wonder whether the thing for him is to play him against the best side in the world.

Yeah but it isn't four quicks, it's five. It's madness.

 

[Spikey]

aus a match will be streamed

 

[Top_Cat]

Watson shouldn't bowl much/at all, I reckon. Would happily trade any wickets he takes for tons against Steyn, et al.

 

[benchmark00]

Yeah but it isn't four quicks, it's five. It's madness.

Pick another batsman then!

 

[Cabinet96]

aus a match will be streamed

Do the streams work outside of Australia?

 

[uvelocity]

Pick another batsman then!

well it's too late, lyon will play.

 

[Burgey]

Watson shouldn't bowl much/at all, I reckon. Would happily trade any wickets he takes for tons against Steyn, et al.

I think we all would. I saw an article saying he's working on improving his conversion rate. I don't know if that means he's trying to round up a posse to take to Hillsong of a Sunday or what, but I hope he makes a poultice of runs.

Pick another batsman then!

That would be a better option, but there isn't one in the squad UIMM.

 

[Burgey]

Do the streams work outside of Australia?

Looks like it...

 

[benchmark00]

The problem is that I can picture Lyon being totally ineffective in Brisbane. The few overs he will bowl could easily be bowled by Clarke, and they would be more likely to get a wicket/not release pressure.

Starc, if selected, would be the 4th front line pace option, and provides variety through being left armed.

Ppl srsly can't be advocating Lyon on the basis that it will help over rates, surely??

And adding to the Watson thing, you only want him bowling 5 overs a day, so that leaves potentially another 85 that will be dealt with by the seam bowlers. Imagine how fresh they would all be after they have short spells. On paper it doesn't release any pressure as you always have a fresh 140+ bowler steaming in at you.