The Australian top order doom and gloom thread

[NUFAN]

In fairness to Khawaja, with Copeland bowling it would have felt like a net session. #haveImadeitclearIdon'trateCopesyet

Anyway, I just did a search on Clarke and his 329* and it consisted 91 1's, 39 4's and a six so no Khawaja's rotation of the strike hasn't improved but he still did manage to bat at a good speed.

 

[Spikey]

i guess i've been silly and never really thought about the impact usman has on the other batsman's ability to score singles...mussey would probably go insane

 

[benchmark00]

In fairness to Khawaja, with Copeland bowling it would have felt like a net session. #haveImadeitclearIdon'trateCopesyet

Anyway, I just did a search on Clarke and his 329* and it consisted 91 1's, 39 4's and a six so no Khawaja's rotation of the strike hasn't improved but he still did manage to bat at a good speed.

Yeah but he batted at a good speed because it's a shield attack and more loose balls would come than would in a test match. And yeah, as Spike**** says, it has a big impact on his team mates as well.

Don't get me wrong, I'd still select Usman, but it's obvious where his deficiencies lay.

 

[Prince EWS]

i guess i've been silly and never really thought about the impact usman has on the other batsman's ability to score singles...mussey would probably go insane

His actual running isn't really the problem though; it's the fact that he doesn't manipulate his defensive shots into gaps. I don't think anyone is suggesting Khawaja should just take more singles; he needs to create them with his batting.

 

[Spark]

Yep AWTA, from what I've seen he hasn't learned to rotate the strike yet.

Hang on a sec, I'll just get out my ball by ball Shield scorecards from the shed.

Ok, back.

Usman Khawaja Shield scores over 50

- 88 from 176 balls against SA consisted of 11 1's, 10 4's and a six
- 54 from 38 balls against NSW had 0 1's (lol), 8 4's and 2 6's.
- 54 from 134 balls against NSW had 7 1's and 10 4's.
- 138 from 173 balls against TAS 13 1's, 21 4's, 2 6's.

So 334 runs from 521 balls - 31 1's, 49 4's, 5 6's.

Seems like he is still boundary reliant but is that really a bad thing. 31 singles sounds low though it has to be said.

It is because it means he's overreliant on bad balls to score. Top level Test attacks won't give him that all that often.

 

[benchmark00]

Can a mod change the title of this thread to: 'The Australian top order d00m and gl00m thread' ?

 

[benchmark00]

It is because it means he's overreliant on bad balls to score. Top level Test attacks won't give him that all that often.

Beaten ****, taste it big time.

 

[Prince EWS]

It is because it means he's overreliant on bad balls to score. Top level Test attacks won't give him that all that often.

And when they do it'll be in the form of half volleys outside off because that's such an obvious plan to him at the moment, and he doesn't put those away for four anyway.

 

[Spark]

Beaten ****, taste it big time.

i will end you ****

 

[Spikey]

His actual running isn't really the problem though; it's the fact that he doesn't manipulate his defensive shots into gaps. I don't think anyone is suggesting Khawaja should just take more singles; he needs to create them with his batting.

i'm probably thinking that usman has a bad impact on the other batsman because i read

selectors have expressed reservations about his attitude, criticising his running between the wickets and his fielding. They've demanded he improve in those areas before adding to his six Tests.

Watson set to take over from Ponting at No.4

today. like, that seemed odd to me. i thought he meant 'rotating the strike. but then i thought about that bruns/usman single-less hour so now i'm putting two and two together and now accusing usman of just being lazy full stop

 

[Justo]

I'm sold. No Khawaja please. Hughes, Doolan or Ferguson(being realistic here and excluding Cosgrove) in that order. At least we know Hughes can play spin which will be pretty important for the coming 3 tours.

 

[Spikey]

Quiney scoring big on the good guy ranking is really keeping him in the game.

 

[Flem274*]

Are the best 9 ever jokes overdone yet?

 

[Spikey]

I don't see why they would be

 

[benchmark00]

I'm sold. No Khawaja please. Hughes, Doolan or Ferguson(being realistic here and excluding Cosgrove) in that order. At least we know Hughes can play spin which will be pretty important for the coming 3 tours.

ffs Cribb, see what you've done?

 

[NUFAN]

Are the best 9 ever jokes overdone yet?

Nein.

 

[Justo]

ffs Cribb, see what you've done?

Haha. I'm not a fan of Ferguson(actually think he's severely overrated) but if we were going for a new guy at 4(which we aren't now it seems) I could tolerate him on the basis he's reasonable against spin.

 

[Dan]

So, I think we can narrow it down to a list of 5 or 6 guys that the selectors will be looking at to take the number 3 slot.

Phil Hughes:
Pros:

• Has 500 Shield runs behind him this season.
• Has improved his leg-side play, namely pulling/hooking.
• Bucketloads of talent/high ceiling.
• Won't be facing Chris Martin.
• Can rotate the strike and play spin.

Cons:

• Still prone to edging into the slips.
• Has been exposed at Test level before.
• Average-to-poor in the field, especially with Cowan at batpad.
• Still in the trial run stage of his new technique.

Usman Khawaja:
Pros:

• Decent form behind him.
• Looked relatively assured at Test level.
• Bucketloads of talent/high ceiling.
• Knows his limits

Cons:

• Can't rotate the strike
• Technique can be exposed by good pacers.
• Average-to-poor in the field, especially with Cowan at batpad.
• Perceived as lazy and having an attitude problem.

Alex Doolan:
Pros:

• The form batsman of the Shield season.
• Good, simple technique.
• Made a big ton against the South Africans.
• No real weaknesses that I am aware of.

Cons:

• Comparatively inexperienced at FC level
• Only has this season as a big runscorer.
• How does he deal with spin?

Rob Quiney:
Pros:

• He's a good bloke.
• Has 3 big Shield summers behind him.
• Made the best 9 ever seen.
• Bowls decent medium pace.
• Gun set of hands in the field.

Cons:

• Test average: 3.00
• Requires bat-on-ball early to get settled, meaning he's a nervy starter.
• High likelihood of nicking behind early - boom-or-bust batsman.

Joe Burns:
Pros:

• Has youth on his side.
• Looks quality from the little time he's played.
• Bucketloads of talent/high ceiling.
• SL's attack is the perfect group of pacemen to introduce a young batsman against.
• Can rotate the strike and play spin (as far as I'm aware).

Cons:

• Hasn't had as big a summer as he might have hoped.
• Lack of experience at Shield level.
• Constantly overshadowed by Khawaja and Forrest.
• More of a number 4 or 5 batsman, rather than 3.

Callum Ferguson:
Pros:

• Has international success behind him, albeit in ODIs.
• He looks so pretty at the crease.
• Talented.

Cons:

• Poor FC record on the Adelaide Oval highway.
• Hasn't made many this year.
• Makes an attractive 30 then throws it away.

Feel free to add, subtract and disagree. Based on that I still don't know what the solution is.

 

[uvelocity]

clarke to 3 hussey 4 watson 5 hughes 6

 

[Spikey]

Callum Ferguson:
Pros:

• Has international success behind him, albeit in ODIs.
• He looks so pretty at the crease.
• Talented.

Cons:

• Poor FC record on the Adelaide Oval highway.
• Hasn't made many this year.
• Makes an attractive 30 then throws it away.
• Still Callum Ferguson

added a con


Feel free to add, subtract and disagree. Based on that I still don't know what the solution is.

added a con