*Official* Fifth Test at The Oval

[Spikey]

I will be actively rooting against Faulkner in this game. Like, all he can do is cause problems by performing well. He cannot be batting at 7 at the Gabba. He needs to crash and burn. No offence son, but your role in this team is bad.

 

[Spikey]

I would like to hear Matthew Hayden's thoughts on this

 

[Dan]

In fairness to Faulkner here, his selection does improve the batting by sheer virtue of not being Usman. He's made decent runs in every dig on tour and has improved his batting markedly throughout his career. Still not a good selection given the opportunity cost was Phil Hughes or Matthew Wade, but I honestly would not be surprised to see a couple of jammy 30s out of him.

 

[Furball]

For those of us who've never seen Faulkner play*, what is the huge issue? Or is it just the stupidity of dropping a batsman for a bowling all-rounder that's causing this reaction?

He appears to have a reasonable record, although I appreciate that as he plays his Shield cricket for Tasmania his domestic record requires a large pinch of salt when looking at it.

*I might actually have seen him play but ODIs are a different format and I clearly couldn't have been paying that much attention.

 

[benchmark00]

Fully expecting forkers to take the new ball and bowl six slower balls in his first over.

 

[NUFAN]

I remember all you bois were doubting Forkers selection in the squad and I thought he might get a call up at some point. The kid is averaging 82 with the bat on this tour, I don't use the term all time great lightly so I wont use it now.

 

[Riggins]

our strength this series has been our tail end batting. and this makes the tail even stronger. genius, probably.

 

[theegyptian]

I don't get why Aus have started naming their team a day early especially when there are big changes. Just gives England free information to plan how they're gonna play.

Well actually I do get it. It's consistent with the random selections.

 

[benchmark00]

Siddle to bat ahead of Forkers btw.

 

[morgieb]

#bringbackhilditch

Disgraceful decision if true.

 

[dermo]

anyone see the back page tonight? robert craddock was of the opinion one of mickey arthurs biggest failings was his inability to get watson out of third gear

 

[benchmark00]

It's got Darren Lehmann in conjunction with Shane Warne written all over it.

 

[Prince EWS]

For those of us who've never seen Faulkner play*, what is the huge issue?

His bowling is the left armers union's answer to Clint McKay (ie. straight pies) and until very recently was touch and go to bat ahead of Butterworth or Krejza on any given day for Tasmania. He's just not very good. Should be nowhere near the touring party at all IMO and will need to continue his improved application with regards to realising his batting potential exponentially to ever become a Test standard cricketer in any role. Butterworth himself probably would've been a better pick if only for the fact that he approaches Test standard in at least one aspect of his cricket and would be well-suited to English conditions.

 

[Spikey]

For those of us who've never seen Faulkner play*, what is the huge issue? Or is it just the stupidity of dropping a batsman for a bowling all-rounder that's causing this reaction?

He appears to have a reasonable record, although I appreciate that as he plays his Shield cricket for Tasmania his domestic record requires a large pinch of salt when looking at it.

*I might actually have seen him play but ODIs are a different format and I clearly couldn't have been paying that much attention.

Well I and plenty others dont really think he's a good bowler but whatever he might surprise. It's the bolded that has really, extremely pissed me off. Our problem is identifying what our top 6 should be. So we're experimenting with the wicket keeper at 6. It pissed me off when we did it at the SCG earlier this year, and it pisses me off now. Just rest Siddle/Harris if you want to see Faulkner so much.

 

[morgieb]

For those of us who've never seen Faulkner play*, what is the huge issue? Or is it just the stupidity of dropping a batsman for a bowling all-rounder that's causing this reaction?

He appears to have a reasonable record, although I appreciate that as he plays his Shield cricket for Tasmania his domestic record requires a large pinch of salt when looking at it.

*I might actually have seen him play but ODIs are a different format and I clearly couldn't have been paying that much attention.

The latter, it just seems unnecessary. It's like you trying to drop Bairstow for Woakes or something.

 

[dermo]

#bringbackhilditch

Disgraceful decision if true.

I saw clarke's press conference, it's happening.

 

[Dan]

For those of us who've never seen Faulkner play*, what is the huge issue? Or is it just the stupidity of dropping a batsman for a bowling all-rounder that's causing this reaction?

He appears to have a reasonable record, although I appreciate that as he plays his Shield cricket for Tasmania his domestic record requires a large pinch of salt when looking at it.

*I might actually have seen him play but ODIs are a different format and I clearly couldn't have been paying that much attention.

The latter. I actually rate the guy relatively highly - if we were on a greentop and went without a specialist spinner (relying on the People's Champ for some partnership breakers), I think he'd be a fantastic selection at number 8 (4th seamer, useful batsman) - the role Andrew McDonald played in South Africa back in 2009.

His bowling record is influenced by playing in Tassie, but his stats in Adelaide (with limited sample size and a pathetic batting team admittedly) are the same as his Hobart numbers. And his batting average is higher in Tasmania that anywhere else.

Plus he makes decent scores in pressure situations - has a nice habit of 80s in Shield finals to get Tasmania the win/draw.


Actually wrote an article about this whole thing here, if anyone is remotely interested.

 

[Furball]

The latter, it just seems unnecessary. It's like you trying to drop Bairstow for Woakes or something.

Would probably improve our batting tbh.

 

[NUFAN]

For those of us who've never seen Faulkner play*, what is the huge issue? Or is it just the stupidity of dropping a batsman for a bowling all-rounder that's causing this reaction?

He appears to have a reasonable record, although I appreciate that as he plays his Shield cricket for Tasmania his domestic record requires a large pinch of salt when looking at it.

*I might actually have seen him play but ODIs are a different format and I clearly couldn't have been paying that much attention.

I think some will say his bowling has huge question msrks about his ability to take top order Test wickets unless conditions absolutely suit and the fact that he has never scored a first class century doesn't help his cause either.

The positives about Faulkner is that he is just 23, his batting has improved, his fielding is good and he is a tight bowler with a great Shield record who has performed well in Shield finals.

 

[Howe_zat]

The Faulkner selection seems to be drawing attention away from how badly Starc has been ****ed around with. Plays the first, third and fifth Tests of a series despite doing no more or less than was expected of him.