*Official* Road to 2013 Ashes

[adub]

And I will say in addition to that, if he had played this season Andrew McDonald would be a more suited player for the all rounder spot, as he is a more accomplished batsman at the moment, and although Moises is probably the better bowler, the role should be one of a batting all rounder.

yeah agree with that.

We'd gladly settle for a mid 30s bat who could bowl a dozen economical overs and pick up the odd wicket.

 

[Jono]

Nope.

I didn't want Henriques to be in the starting XI in India. Smith should have played ahead of him out of the squad picked

Henriques should only play if they need to accommodate two spin bowlers, which unless there is a rank rank turner (exceptional circumstances) we don't have two spin bowlers worthy of selection in the same XI.

The fact that Henriques debuted despite Australia only going in with one recognised spin bowler was a tactical error, but they got away with it because Moises batted out of his skin.

Sorry I am not following?

Anyway by "you" I didn't mean you per se, I meant a hypothetical person.

I feel I am not communicating my point well so I'll restate.

I can't see why Henriques shouldn't tour England if one is of the view that they should have toured India. If you felt he was worthy of a touring India being close to making the Australian team (even if not in the best XI), then I can't understand how that view could have been changed considering how much it looked like he belonged. Yes he fell away a bit near the end, but it was very encouraging.

So if one wanted him to go to India, surely he should go to England too, unless the conditions are playing a part.

Does that make sense?

 

[benchmark00]

Sorry I am not following?

Anyway by "you" I didn't mean you per se, I meant a hypothetical person.

I feel I am not communicating my point well so I'll restate.

I can't see why Henriques shouldn't tour England if one is of the view that they should have toured India. If you felt he was worthy of a touring India being close to making the Australian team (even if not in the best XI), then I can't understand how that view could have been changed considering how much it looked like he belonged. Yes he fell away a bit near the end, but it was very encouraging.

So if one wanted him to go to India, surely he should go to England too, unless the conditions are playing a part.

Does that make sense?

As I said, I have no problem him touring from an experience side of things, but then I wouldn't care him not touring because he shouldn't play a match.

Ideally he should be having another season of county cricket so he plays plenty of cricket over there. In a touring squad he'd play the odd tour game but not as much as is desirable from a learning POV.

 

[Jarquis]

And I will say in addition to that, if he had played this season Andrew McDonald would be a more suited player for the all rounder spot, as he is a more accomplished batsman at the moment, and although Moises is probably the better bowler, the role should be one of a batting all rounder.

 

[Jono]

As I said, I have no problem him touring from an experience side of things, but then I wouldn't care him not touring because he shouldn't play a match.

Ideally he should be having another season of county cricket so he plays plenty of cricket over there. In a touring squad he'd play the odd tour game but not as much as is desirable from a learning POV.

Gotcha.

What was your reaction when Henriques got selected to go to India, out of curiosity?

 

[Spikey]

henriques spot depends on two things - how big your squad is (16 players, no room, 19 players, yes and in between well maybe ) and whether McDonald is an option

 

[benchmark00]

Gotcha.

What was your reaction when Henriques got selected to go to India, out of curiosity?

I was fine with it because I knew India was a place where you often need to play two spin bowlers and Moises was probably the best man for the all rounder position aws.

 

[adub]

Does Moises have a County option available? I'd certainly agree that a good county stint would be 1000% better for him than a couple of warm up games, net bowling and drinks waiter duties.

 

[Spikey]

He can get a contract, yes (Played test cricket recently and can get a work permit anyway thanks to being born in Portugal) but I assume all the spots would be filled by now. Maybe could get a fill in spot during the Champs Trophy

 

[Jono]

I was fine with it because I knew India was a place where you often need to play two spin bowlers and Moises was probably the best man for the all rounder position aws.

Yeah good stuff. I understand

So the conditions is playing a part, but not as if England won't suit Henriques, more the conditions are playing a part in Australia's overall team structure.

Much clearer now.

 

[Pothas]

Bailey any chance of being called up? Had a horrible seasons hasn't he?

Only asking because he is coming over to Hants, if he got runs early season in England you would have thought it would put him in contention.

 

[Spikey]

most of the options have had bad seasons tho so whatever

 

[NUFAN]

Bailey any chance of being called up? Had a horrible seasons hasn't he?

Only asking because he is coming over to Hants, if he got runs early season in England you would have thought it would put him in contention.

He has had a horrible first class season with the bat so unfortunately I can't see him making the squad now. It's a shame because he looked so good for Australia in the ODIs this summer, he just couldn't translate his form to red ball cricket.

 

[Spikey]

the more notable thing is that the aus selectors could have easily overlooked his poor shield form and picked him for india but they didn't. they also didn't pick him an aus a earlier this summer

 

[Prince EWS]

I agree with you as long as he doesn't pull up injured half way through a game and I really, really don't want the selectors to play our keeper at 6 and bring in an extra bowling option who is really just a bits and pieces player like a Maxwell or Henriques just in case this sort of thing happens. I know it could happen to anyone, but Harris is definitely more likely.

From the squad that toured India - Henriques, Maxwell, Wade, Doherty and Johnson have no place in my 17 man squad.

I agree with the makeup of our best eleven, but I'd like Henriques in the squad anyway. It's a five Test series; a lot can happen to change our minds about the balance of the side.

I reckon we'll see Australia go in with a top six of Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Watson, Clarke and Smith. Watson may drop down to five or six but I think that's the top six we'll go in with in a rough order. It's not the one I'd pick exactly, but I'd be happy enough with it. Anyone's guess as to who the reserve batsman/batsmen will be but you can put the house on it not being Usman.

I really don't know what the selectors will do with the keeping spot. I think we'll probably actually take two to England, and I'm going to assume at this point they'll be Haddin and Wade, but Wade brought all our worst fears to life regarding his wicket keeping in India and worryingly for him also batted like a stooge so I'd not be surprised at all if Haddin was now regarded as #1.

 

[Prince EWS]

He has had a horrible first class season with the bat so unfortunately I can't see him making the squad now. It's a shame because he looked so good for Australia in the ODIs this summer, he just couldn't translate his form to red ball cricket.

It must be really frustrating for Bailey; he started the Shield season playing a few home games on some terrible batting wickets and struggled as virtually everyone else did. He got called up for the ODIs and while he was playing them the Shield pitches got vastly better for batting but he of course wasn't playing. He scored plenty of runs in the ODIs but his Shield numbers at the end of the day look terrible for the season.

I've never been a fan really, but he is obviously a good Shield batsman. We're not talking about a long-term OD specialist who is yet to prove his quality in four day cricket, so unless they think he's declined or that he's out of form (the latter of which he disproved in the ODIs) then it's slightly harsh to hold it against him IMO. If his Shield form was going to be so crucial for his Test chances, then what the **** were we doing actually playing him in those ODIs?

 

[morgieb]

Please bring Harris, he'll break down during the 2nd Test.

I'll be OK with him breaking down if he wins us Tests.

 

[Prince EWS]

I'll be OK with him breaking down if he wins us Tests.

As discussed before, the worry with taking Harris is that he breaks down on the first day of a Test. If he's not fit for every Test then nothing lost, nothing gained as long as we take that into account when deciding how many players to take.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

As a cricket fan i'd like him to be picked, as an England fan I hope he isn't as I rate him. Head says that if he was English i'd be very worried if he was in our squad for a tour as you can't trust his fitness and there are many others in the Aussie squad you can say the same about so it's a no from me. Too big a risk after so long out. Such a shame for the guy and cricket in general.

 

[social]

England has not been spoken about much in this thread but they obviously have their issues as well, specifically:

a. No. 6

b. 3rd seamer - Finn was largely poor in NZ

c. The fitness of Anderson, Swann and KP - major issues as there are no replacements of remotely similar qualities

Opener could also become an issue as jury is still out on Compton who will probably get the gig for the first couple of tests