5th and 6th best long-form batsmen in Australia

[Prince EWS]

I think it's pretty clear that Watson, Katich, Ponting and Clarke are the best four, or at least four of the best six, but I thought I'd poll CricketWeb to get some opinions on exactly who the other two are.

Ignore age, ignore limited overs cricket, ignore injury, ignore bowling, ignore fielding, ignore potential to improve and ignore cyclical form too but don't ignore what you believe to be genuine improvement or decline.

There's a poll coming, but it might take a while because I'm including quite a few options. I've left Hodge and Symonds out because they've retired from First Class cricket.

 

[morgieb]

Khawaja would be the first. **** knows about the second.

 

[vic_orthdox]

To be fair, think that you can only look at middle order batsmen in this current climate, because our openers are so settled.

 

[andyc]

Usman the clear first pick for me, went Dussey for number 2 but less sure about that.

 

[vic_orthdox]

I've selected Usman Khawaja and David Hussey.

Khawaja needed another ton this season to this point to push his claims, and I reckon even doing it in the Ryobi Cup would have been enough, but unfortunately he's not good enough in that form. Still think that the onus in general has to be put upon the aspirant to force the incumbent out, and Khawaja did everything but. The fact that Hussey ticks every other box about his cricket means that Khawaja has to go that extra mile to force him out.

What I like about David is that he manages some super knocks, has made some amazing runs under pressure and led Victoria to some fourth innings chases. But at the same time, he's not the reliable rock; reckon he'd be well suited to number four with Clarke at five but that's not going to happen.

 

[benchmark00]

Went Khawaja and Cosgrove, which may surprise a few.

 

[benchmark00]

****, didn't see the Mailman there. Change Cosgrove to him.

 

[TumTum]

M.Hussey and North.

 

[Prince EWS]

To be fair, think that you can only look at middle order batsmen in this current climate, because our openers are so settled.

I'd definitely be prepared to change the order a bit if an opener was clearly a better option than the rest. Khawaja himself was always an opener before he he came into Shield cricket UIMM and he's only ever batted three there so it's not like batting five or six would be entirely natural for him either.

 

[Julian87]

Hussey and Haddin.

 

[vic_orthdox]

I've selected Usman Khawaja and David Hussey.

Khawaja needed another ton this season to this point to push his claims, and I reckon even doing it in the Ryobi Cup would have been enough, but unfortunately he's not good enough in that form. Still think that the onus in general has to be put upon the aspirant to force the incumbent out, and Khawaja did everything but. The fact that Hussey ticks every other box about his cricket means that Khawaja has to go that extra mile to force him out.

What I like about David is that he manages some super knocks, has made some amazing runs under pressure and led Victoria to some fourth innings chases. But at the same time, he's not the reliable rock; reckon he'd be well suited to number four with Clarke at five but that's not going to happen.

To be fair, not really sure that either are that much better than North or Hussey, not putting my balls on the line with that one because if I were picking the side for the Ashes come this Thursday, I'd be picking the incumbents.

 

[Jono]

Dussey

daylight

Khawaja

 

[NUFAN]

FFS 20 batsman are listed and not one who plays for QLD

I went for Khawaja and Mussey.

 

[Prince EWS]

FFS 20 batsman are listed and not one who plays for QLD

Haha, 24 if you include the four I left out for being too obviously good.

 

[NUFAN]

Should have included last seasons shield player of the year Hartley or Lynn!

Just joking really but still sad that we don't have any batsman who would make Australia C!

 

[morgieb]

Why's Mail in there? ITO?

Even so, I think he's retired from domestic cricket anyway.

 

[benchmark00]

 

[Furball]

Is Cosgrove the fatty who plays for Glamorgan?

 

[Prince EWS]

Is Cosgrove the fatty who plays for Glamorgan?

Ask Bill Lawry.

 

[Prince EWS]

Why's Mail in there? ITO?

Even so, I think he's retired from domestic cricket anyway.

Makes him even more irrelevant, doesn't it?