*Official* Fifth Test at The Oval

[NUFAN]

If Watson is unfit then replace him directly with Faulkner. That would make sense. Your no.6 from last test who bowls replaced by a guy who'll bat around that mark and also bowls. Watson as a batsman alone is only justifiable bcos Usman and Hughes are little better. However the selectors might have flummed a partial answer to the threat posed by Anderson's line and Swann's spin by loading the top order with lefties and the MO with righties. Playing Watson at 3 and bringing in Faulkner now give a little bit more for Anderson and Swann to work at and over.

How did you come to that conclusion?

I'm pretty sure Khawaja denied he was even told to work on that, which if true is astonishing.

Oh really? I hadn't heard that. I wouldn't be surprised if he was told to rotate the strike more. End of the day though if you get out softly for low scores you aren't going to stay in the side for too long though hey.

I guess looking at his series Khawaja had one decent innings, was out caught when he didn't hit it, got out bowled around his legs looking for runs and had three very tame dismissals where he failed. So 3 tame dismissals against a top bowling unit shouldn't put him completely at the back of the pack in terms of getting back into the Test team IMO. I really don't think he should return though unless he has say an 800 run year @ 45 or something though.

 

[Spikey]

hmm cant find a quote. I retract my allegation

(But I'm certain Usman said something like I wasnt really told to work on (x) or (y) by Australia after being dropped.)

 

[Top_Cat]

Honestly, I get the feeling there's more to it than we know. If Khawaja was making the right noises and doing the really hard yards behind the scenes, reckon they'd back him to the hilt.

 

[the big bambino]

How did you come to that conclusion?

Its a suspicion more than anything. Anderson's out swing is dangerous to right handers then he follows up with one that straightens. I think his stock ball is less dangerous to lefties. Swann looks unbeatable bowling to our left handers, and while still good, not as much to our right handers. I think Anderson has taken 5 more right hander wickets this series while for Swann the situation is reveresed.

 

[NUFAN]

Its a suspicion more than anything. Anderson's out swing is dangerous to right handers then he follows up with one that straightens. I think his stock ball is less dangerous to lefties. Swann looks unbeatable bowling to our left handers, and while still good, not as much to our right handers. I think Anderson has taken 5 more right hander wickets this series while for Swann the situation is reveresed.

Yeah I agree that Swann has been unbeatable against our left handers (apart from at times Agar and Starc lol) but that makes Faulkner's selection a good one as far as I can tell.

Of course if Anderson is on song and Swann bowl in tandem it doesn't help anyone regardless of the hand they bat with.

 

[Top_Cat]

Reckon Broad more likely to lend a hand with batting.

 

[Maximas]

As far as I'm concerned, Australia have picked 4 specialist batsmen, a wk, 2 all-rounders, both of whom bowling is their stronger suit IMO (debatable with Watson, pretty even for him) and 4 bowlers (leaving us with 5 seamers and some part-time spinners along with Lyon). How do you justify that on
- a dry pitch and...
- within a team that has possibly outperformed england with the ball but has misfired with the bat.

I just don't understand

 

[the big bambino]

Well they can farm the strike as an option. Anderson's wickets this series are 11/6 right v left. Swann's are 9/14. Given those stats and the nature of Anderson's stock ball it makes sense to play left handers against the new ball. If a left hander is still in by the time Swann has a turn then at least they have their eye in. Starting a right hander against Swann is the better option given his stats. Thats why I'd have righties down the order for him. Which means Watson: Which means I've changed my mind about where he should play. Starting him high increases Anderson's impact. Giving Swann a lefty to start at increases his chances.

 

[Maximas]

I would back the openers to outlast Jimmy initially, allowing Watson to come in at three without Jimmy being all over him

 

[NUFAN]

Well they can farm the strike as an option. Anderson's wickets this series are 11/6 right v left. Swann's are 9/14. Given those stats and the nature of Anderson's stock ball it makes sense to play left handers against the new ball. If a left hander is still in by the time Swann has a turn then at least they have their eye in. Starting a right hander against Swann is the better option given his stats. Thats why I'd have righties down the order for him. Which means Watson: Which means I've changed my mind about where he should play. Starting him high increases Anderson's impact. Giving Swann a lefty to start at increases his chances.

I still don't get the issue with Faulkner though? Sorry if this question is obvious or offensive, but do you actually know what hand Faulkner bats with?.

 

[Burgey]

I still don't get the issue with Faulkner though? Sorry if this question is obvious or offensive, but do you actually know what hand Faulkner bats with?.

 

[Julian87]

Between India and England its hard to rank the undeserved Baggy Greens been given out. But

1. Faulkner. Tasmanian.
2. Maxwell. Victorian.
3. Agar. Lyon took 7 the previous test.
4. Henriques.

So if your an all rounder who can show any return in any format your a chance. This whole thing still feels like wanting extra bowling because Harris and Watson may break. Yet they couldn't do the obvious and drop Watson. He gets a promotion and a spot on the team sheet. Maybe his name is actually 2nd one down.

lyon actually took 9 in the previous test.

 

[NUFAN]

Its easy to rank.

1. Agar
2. Maxwell
3. Henriques
4. Faulkner

 

[Daemon]

Smith pretty lucky imo, crapness of hughes and khawaja so far has saved him from criticism.

 

[benchmark00]

Noofers you're off your tree. Faulkner is absolutely ridiculous. At least Henriques is a batting allrounder.

 

[NUFAN]

Henriques is only a batting allrounder because NSW continue to select 7 bowlers in their eleven.

On my scale of most evil selections from the Indian tour to present, Henriques stands at level 3. Level 3 are cricketers who don't add much and are picked on hope. They are picked to play in live Test matches due to one good performance. Faulkner stands at level 4. He is similar to level 3 evil selections such as Henriques but has been selected to play in a Test match with the series already decided.

 

[the big bambino]

I still don't get the issue with Faulkner though? Sorry if this question is obvious or offensive, but do you actually know what hand Faulkner bats with?.

Ha you got me. I don't know who I saw and mistook for him.

 

[benchmark00]

Honestly I can't in good conscious call Faulkner an all rounder. He's capable of a good knock, but so is Starc, Pattinison, Harris, Agar, Johnson and even Siddle. Are they all rounders?

Gotta ask yourself two questions:

1. Is putting Faulkmer in ahead of Usman Khawaja improving the batting? No.
2. Is putting Faulkmer in ahead of Bird improving the bowling? No.

 

[NUFAN]

Ha you got me. I don't know who I saw and mistook for him.

Man...

Enjoy your debut Faulkner experience.

 

[Tangles]

Rogers
Warner
Watson
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Faulkner

This is what the plan is right? You would think there's a good chance that Smith, Haddin and Faulkner could go quickly given some of our displays. Some inroads with the new ball and we could be proper ****ed.