• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

***Official*** Australia in India 2012/13

pup11

International Coach
All the people questioning Hughes' ability against spin are probably forgetting that he scored a match saving century against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka on a day 4 pitch, the only difference is that he was opening the batting at that time.

Anyways... Hughes' struggle in this series are not to dissimilar to Ponting's way back in 2001, the only difference is that at that time we had selectors who knew how to groom young players unfortunately that is just not case anymore, so if they drop Hughes ''again'' then all it will do is further stun his growth as an international player.
 

Son Of Coco

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Frankly speaking its just sad to see the kind of stick Hughes copes whenever he fails, he is sailing on the same boat like all other batsmen, yet he is the one who is always under the spotlight whenever he fails.

He has basically opened the batting all his life and now in very tough conditions he is being asked to start his innings against spin which he clearly isn't used to doing, makes you wonder what these selectors were thinking while picking 5 openers in one squad.
Sorry mate, but if you are an international test batsman and spin causes you these sorts of problems then it's not simply a matter of it being unfair because you have to start your innings against it. Haven't India opened the bowling with spin this series?

What he needs to do is follow Matty Hayden's lead, recognise he struggles against spin, and go away and practice hard to counter it. Unfortunately it's too late for this series, he's shot. It beggars belief that the fact it's spinning its **** off in India and that's something Australia isn't prepared for. They have one of the best players of spin in the world at the moment, if not the best, in Clarke and it seems he was either unwilling to hand out any tips, or nobody bother to watch/ask.

These blokes are paid good money to turn up for a series prepared for the conditions. Maybe someone needs to write some of them a memo to remind them it seams a bit in England too.
 

pup11

International Coach
Might not be scoring runs, but at least he celebrates in the right way.

Logic.
You can have all the talent in the world but without the right attitude its not going to take you very far, Shaun Marsh is pretty good example of this.
 

Burgey

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Anyway, looking at the game, we need two tons minimum. One or both of these two and/ or Clarke seem the only realistic chances. This is Cowan's real chance to play a crucial knock. Much as its unlikely given his predilection for starting then getting out, the team desperately needs a patient ton from him. Be great to see Watson find some form too. Have them put together another 150 odd to give us some hope of saving the match.

It's the hope what gets ya.
 
Last edited:

vic_orthdox

Global Moderator
At least if Hughes had've opened, he wouldn't have faced spin from the start...

Look, I didn't see any of the Sri Lankan series where he got his score, but watching him in other (more natural for him) conditions, it's always seemed like it's taken big, risky shots for him to score against spin; only when he's playing through point does he look like he has the game with a minimum of risk.
 

vic_orthdox

Global Moderator
Also, one or two people mentioned Maxwell bowling around the wicket too quickly or too often.

Does it a fair bit, because with his technical shortcomings as a bowler, he's a more dangerous bowling at that angle. Same reason as why he gets more bite when he bowls well outside off stump from over the wicket, whereas when he pitches around off-stump the ball is very flat and lame, with no energy.
 

pup11

International Coach
Sorry mate, but if you are an international test batsman and spin causes you these sorts of problems then it's not simply a matter of it being unfair because you have to start your innings against it. Haven't India opened the bowling with spin this series?

What he needs to do is follow Matty Hayden's lead, recognise he struggles against spin, and go away and practice hard to counter it. Unfortunately it's too late for this series, he's shot. It beggars belief that the fact it's spinning its **** off in India and that's something Australia isn't prepared for. They have one of the best players of spin in the world at the moment, if not the best, in Clarke and it seems he was either unwilling to hand out any tips, or nobody bother to watch/ask.

These blokes are paid good money to turn up for a series prepared for the conditions. Maybe someone needs to write some of them a memo to remind them it seams a bit in England too.
Last time I checked only 17% of the total balls bowled in the last few Australian FC seasons have been bowled by spinners so that's hardly providing enough practice against spin to the next gen batsmen, to make matters worse the quality or skill level of spin they are facing is nothing compared to what they are facing at the intentional level.

What these young players need are good mentors and coaches who can help then out to tackle different conditions and challenges and help improve their skills, guys like Rixon (spin bowling coach), Di Venuto (batting coach) and De Winter (fast bowling coach) just don't have the knowledge to pass onto these young players, therefore Australian cricket administration needs to open their coffers and bring in people with extensive international experience to guide the next crop of players.
 

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Good thing is this has been a **** day for Jono with Kohli failing and dropping a catch.
Was not there today. Your obsession with posting about me when I'm in Hyderabad is worrying though. Only out of the country for less than a week ffs. I'll buy you a steak when I get back.
Hughes on track to 'best' Ian Bell's record of "most inept display by a top-order Test batsman against spin"
Hughes is looking far worse than Bell. Hughes is on track to top Ponting 2001.

You can't fault the selection though. Yes when we saw him bat vs Lanka in Sydney 2nd dig we knew this was possible. But who else are they going to play? Sure maybe now he may get a tap on the shoulder, but it was fair enough taking him on tour.
 
Last edited:

Burgey

Request Your Custom Title Now!
IIRC, ahead of the 2001 series, Hayden took himself to India and went to a spin academy and faced shed loads of spinners on Indian wickets. He could do that as there was sufficient space in the itinerary for him to do so. A number of our batsmen should try and do that whenever they can. It broadens their games and their range of shot.
 

Spark

Global Moderator
You can have all the talent in the world but without the right attitude its not going to take you very far, Shaun Marsh is pretty good example of this.
You can have all the talent in the world but if you're not scoring any runs (at all) then it won't take you very far either.

I'm not saying he shouldn't have played, of course not. I'm saying he looks shot and that I don't think it'll do anyone any favours to keep playing him this series (least of all him). Well, except Ashwin.
 
Last edited:

Prince EWS

Global Moderator
IIRC, ahead of the 2001 series, Hayden took himself to India and went to a spin academy and faced shed loads of spinners on Indian wickets. He could do that as there was sufficient space in the itinerary for him to do so. A number of our batsmen should try and do that whenever they can. It broadens their games and their range of shot.
The BCCI have banned a whole stack of players from doing that though, including (IIRC) every centrally contracted England player. So I don't know if Hughes would be allowed.
 
Last edited:

Spikey

Request Your Custom Title Now!
IIRC, ahead of the 2001 series, Hayden took himself to India and went to a spin academy and faced shed loads of spinners on Indian wickets. He could do that as there was sufficient space in the itinerary for him to do so. A number of our batsmen should try and do that whenever they can. It broadens their games and their range of shot.
Thanks Haydos.
 

vic_orthdox

Global Moderator
IIRC, ahead of the 2001 series, Hayden took himself to India and went to a spin academy and faced shed loads of spinners on Indian wickets. He could do that as there was sufficient space in the itinerary for him to do so. A number of our batsmen should try and do that whenever they can. It broadens their games and their range of shot.
Thought he just went to the Academy at Allan Border Field, and got them to produce some dustbowls in the nets.
 

Spikey

Request Your Custom Title Now!
as the saying in the ole deep south goes: smitteh now, smitteh tomorrow, smitteh forever. on your bike hughes
 

Son Of Coco

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Last time I checked only 17% of the total balls bowled in the last few Australian FC seasons have been bowled by spinners so that's hardly providing enough practice against spin to the next gen batsmen, to make matters worse the quality or skill level of spin they are facing is nothing compared to what they are facing at the intentional level.

What these young players need are good mentors and coaches who can help then out to tackle different conditions and challenges and help improve their skills, guys like Rixon (spin bowling coach), Di Venuto (batting coach) and De Winter (fast bowling coach) just don't have the knowledge to pass onto these young players, therefore Australian cricket administration needs to open their coffers and bring in people with extensive international experience to guide the next crop of players.
Or, as Hayden did, they could also take some initiative themselves and actually seek out opportunities to expand their own game. If what we have now is a generation of players who expect others to make changes in their game for them then we are in more trouble than we think.

Admittedly playing in things like the IPL and Big Bash means they have less time to do so. But maybe you need to sit down at some stage and decide if you want to be a better player, or some extra cash in the bank. At the end of the day it's the player's responsibility in both the choice and the outcome.
 

Top