Andrew Symonds as a Test cricketer?

[Slow Love™]

Definitely cemented his spot for some time now, unfortunately for the likes of Watson and those of us who don't much like watching him play.

Batted well again in the second innings, and his bowling was absolutely crucial. Clearly outbowled Hogg on the 5th day, and aside from the Dravid dismissal which wasn't out he really earned his wickets. He's obviously not going to be a dangerous spinner all the time, but the fact that he can get sharp, dangerous turn against quality players on the 5th day as well as bowl useful seamers the rest of the time does significantly increase his value as a player. This will be especially true if Australia are without a specialist spinner any time in the near future and get stuck on a wearing pitch or simply one that turns.

And you can't question his batting record of late at all, or his efforts in the field. He's simply turning into a really valuable test cricketer.

Definitely. Got to be one of the (if not the) most maligned players on this forum, and although anybody has the right to dislike him, some of it's excessiveness (and I suspect, some of the reasoning) is a little off-putting for mine.

I'm not really a purist though, and I can see why his sheer brutality (like Hayden who is similarly disparaged, and with a much better record of performance) might put off the aesthetes among us. I really don't think he's as ordinary as some portray him as, at all, I think he's easily good enough to be a valuable test cricketer.

 

[Prince EWS]

Well he is 100% good for cricket..i havent seen such a consistent player...

Has seen lots of test cricket, this bloke.

 

[frey]

Has seen lots of test cricket, this bloke.

Totally agree Shaunx. Gone quiet Prince?? On recent performances, an objective view would surely be that Andrew Symonds is a most talented and valuable Test cricketer.

Any further thoughts Prince on his performance in Sydney and the series?

 

[Flem274*]

Has seen lots of test cricket, this bloke.

With regards to Symonds, he wouldn't have a show in hell of getting in to our team on a consistent basis. He'd have to play on NZ minefields in FC level and those pitches are not up to FC standard. He'd really struggle IMO, he'd probably average around 35 like Taylor, and probably have an average inflating double hundred like Taylor whearas you have Sinclair, Fleming and Fulton who all average 40+ then you have Ryder who averages 40+ and a young gun in his second season by the name of Greg Hay averaging 55. I think Greg Todd averages 40+ as well. Then there is Rob Nicol and Neil Broom who are number 5 batsmen and average very close to 40. Now Sinclair is batting at five for us ATM and he has Styris, Taylor, Broom and Nicol lining up behind him for that spot. Taylor shouldn't be in that que but is for some abusrd reason but those are the blokes he'd have to beat. Then there are the number 4s in FC cricket that Fulton has lining up behind him. Hay, Ryder, and Todd. Suggesting Symonds should bat at 4 ahead of them is laughable. Symonds would get owned. In fact I think he wll get owned after this lovely little honeymoon when he goes somewhere with seam movement.

What alot of people don't realize is despite our lack of depth we still have excellent middle order depth and they have to score runs and compete for international spots on minefields. Before Symonds stopped being a slogger he would have been destroyed by nagging fast medium bowlers on greentops.

And yes you can roll your eyes all you like at this nutty kiwi ranting but rest assured he'd be far from a walk in. He would probably get a chance but he'd then fail and get a dose of knee jerk selections and droppings NZ style.

EDIT: I forgot that Vincent is also after a middle order spot.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Also, while you don't punish him for the Umpire not giving him out, you should (and mostly people are) punished for getting into the eventuality where an Umpire should give you out.

To think that at this very moment this man is scheduled to be driving on the open roads of England.

 

[Prince EWS]

Totally agree Shaunx. Gone quiet Prince?? On recent performances, an objective view would surely be that Andrew Symonds is a most talented and valuable Test cricketer.

Any further thoughts Prince on his performance in Sydney and the series?

As Smith said, "Was out about 700 times. gagfc."

 

[Flem274*]

Voted bring back Fiery. He'd agree with my rant see.

 

[racism is bad]

has an all rounder rating of 6 now, batting average of 42, not bad when you look at where he was a few years ago

 

[Mister Wright]

Symonds is so valuable to the Australian test team, and I think with Hogg bowling ****, Australia will play 4 quicks at the WACA, using Symonds as a keeper if needed.

Big chance of the Alan Border medal imo.

 

[racism is bad]

Symonds is so valuable to the Australian test team, and I think with Hogg bowling ****, Australia will play 4 quicks at the WACA, using Symonds as a keeper if needed.

Big chance of the Alan Border medal imo.

nah he missed a bunch of games injured

 

[burr]

Definitely. Got to be one of the (if not the) most maligned players on this forum, and although anybody has the right to dislike him, some of it's excessiveness (and I suspect, some of the reasoning) is a little off-putting for mine.

I agree. I'm not a massive fan (except of his ground fielding) but I don't get the point of hate campaigns and so much vitriol directed at one player.

 

[Mister Wright]

nah he missed a bunch of games injured

MOTS in India for ODIs, and didn't do too badly against N.Z. and had a fairly successful WC. Also only 6 tests in the period and Tri-Series to come. Only other real contender is Matthew Hayden imo.

 

[Prince EWS]

Symonds is so valuable to the Australian test team, and I think with Hogg bowling ****, Australia will play 4 quicks at the WACA, using Symonds as a keeper if needed.

Big chance of the Alan Border medal imo.

Stretching it a bit IMO.

 

[Mister Wright]

Stretching it a bit IMO.

Haha, don't know what I was doing there.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Symonds is so valuable to the Australian test team, and I think with Hogg bowling ****, Australia will play 4 quicks at the WACA, using Symonds as a keeper if needed.

itstl.

 

[gwo]

Symonds in 2008
Bat Av. : 223
Bowl Av. : 23.33

nuff said?



Also career batting avg > career bowling avg

WOOHOOOO

And he's won 16/17 test matches

Clearly he's the glue behind the team.

 

[Richard]

I'm not really a purist though, and I can see why his sheer brutality (like Hayden who is similarly disparaged, and with a much better record of performance) might put off the aesthetes among us.

Ratings of Hayden aren't due to being put-off from an aesthetic POV though.

To think that at this very moment this man is scheduled to be driving on the open roads of England.

Not scheduled to be, I was.

 

[NUFAN]

With regards to Symonds, he wouldn't have a show in hell of getting in to our team on a consistent basis. He'd have to play on NZ minefields in FC level and those pitches are not up to FC standard. He'd really struggle IMO, he'd probably average around 35 like Taylor, and probably have an average inflating double hundred like Taylor whearas you have Sinclair, Fleming and Fulton who all average 40+ then you have Ryder who averages 40+ and a young gun in his second season by the name of Greg Hay averaging 55. I think Greg Todd averages 40+ as well. Then there is Rob Nicol and Neil Broom who are number 5 batsmen and average very close to 40. Now Sinclair is batting at five for us ATM and he has Styris, Taylor, Broom and Nicol lining up behind him for that spot. Taylor shouldn't be in that que but is for some abusrd reason but those are the blokes he'd have to beat. Then there are the number 4s in FC cricket that Fulton has lining up behind him. Hay, Ryder, and Todd. Suggesting Symonds should bat at 4 ahead of them is laughable. Symonds would get owned. In fact I think he wll get owned after this lovely little honeymoon when he goes somewhere with seam movement.

What alot of people don't realize is despite our lack of depth we still have excellent middle order depth and they have to score runs and compete for international spots on minefields. Before Symonds stopped being a slogger he would have been destroyed by nagging fast medium bowlers on greentops.

And yes you can roll your eyes all you like at this nutty kiwi ranting but rest assured he'd be far from a walk in. He would probably get a chance but he'd then fail and get a dose of knee jerk selections and droppings NZ style.

EDIT: I forgot that Vincent is also after a middle order spot.

With Bracewell as coach you may just be right..

 

[Richard]

 

[JerseyGuy]

Players like him who do not play in the spirit of the game don't deserve place in any cricket team. Why do all the controversies involve him? Where there is smoke there is fire...If Harbhajan is at fault, so is Symonds in provoking him. He has done this repeatedly against Indian players. Harbhajan's batting frustrated Aussies so much that they resorted to word game in getting him out. It is so disgusting.