Brad Hogg as a test match option

[sideshowtim]

Agreed Perhaps this is also the reason for the general dislike against him then.

People generally dislike him because Australian fans are generally very fickle. We're lucky in this country that in most cases guys who come into the national side with a large backing perform magnificently from the word go. This hasn't been the case with Watson. While he's achieved substantial amounts in his career thus far (winning a World Cup, not bad eh?), he hasn't achieved the sort of individual results I'd say alot of Australian fans come to expect, particularly from a player with such hype surrounding him. It's only a matter of time before Watson fulfills this hype though in my opinion. His record in the toughest domestic comp in the world speaks for itself. He'll blossom one of these days.

 

[Dasa]

I reckon Watson cops a lot of flack partly because people think of him as a genuine all-rounder and his bowling, while decent, isn't anything special and people allow that to affect how they rate him overall. If he was thought of as a batsman who bowls a bit, he'd be rated higher amongst the general public imo.

 

[four_or_six]

People generally dislike him because Australian fans are generally very fickle. We're lucky in this country that in most cases guys who come into the national side with a large backing perform magnificently from the word go. This hasn't been the case with Watson. While he's achieved substantial amounts in his career thus far (winning a World Cup, not bad eh?), he hasn't achieved the sort of individual results I'd say alot of Australian fans come to expect, particularly from a player with such hype surrounding him. It's only a matter of time before Watson fulfills this hype though in my opinion. His record in the toughest domestic comp in the world speaks for itself. He'll blossom one of these days.

It's interesting, because if you want to bring young guys into the team, you're going to get that kind of thing.

I guess there haven't been many spots 'up for grabs' recently, so those that have been have generated lots of speculation.

Like this post about Hogg replacing Warne.

 

[sideshowtim]

I think he can be prominent with both roles really. I know people don't see it often, but I see Watson as brimming with potential. He bowls at a very nice speed and while he doesn't move the ball alot, his changes of pace have become incredibly potent in the shorter version of the game, and will only improve. His batting I feel is obviously his strongest art, and he's proven now that he can pretty much bat anywhere. Incredibly handy player, and a very safe pair of hands in the field too. He's only going to get better.

 

[Richard]

I reckon Watson cops a lot of flack partly because people think of him as a genuine all-rounder and his bowling, while decent, isn't anything special and people allow that to affect how they rate him overall. If he was thought of as a batsman who bowls a bit, he'd be rated higher amongst the general public imo.

Something of a Kallis, really, rather than a Flintoff.

 

[Mister Wright]

Something of a Kallis, really, rather than a Flintoff.

Kallis was a genuine allrounder though when he started his career, and like most allrounders, as their career develops, one part of his game developed to be better than the other.

 

[Richard]

We're lucky in this country that in most cases guys who come into the national side with a large backing perform magnificently from the word go.

Stephen Waugh? Merv Hughes? Ian Healy? Shane Warne? Damien Martyn? Justin Langer? Glenn McGrath? Matthew Hayden? Ricky Ponting? Darren Lehmann? Simon Katich? Michael Clarke?

No, didn't take any of them a little while to become good Test players, did it?!

 

[Richard]

Kallis was a genuine allrounder though when he started his career, and like most allrounders, as their career develops, one part of his game developed to be better than the other.

Even back in 1998, he was clearly more of a batsman than a bowler. Indeed, since he got over the horror trot that started his career, he's always been a pretty damn good batsman. His bowling has got worse in the last 4 years or so, sure, but it was never really as good as his batting, he was just a pretty decent fourth-seamer.

 

[Malleeboy]

I'd agree Watson's batting alone would give a good case for giving him a run, and his bowling is improving. I think the selectors will pick him. Compare his first class record to Flintoff's (and Flintoff's test stats aren't much better.)
Watson Bat 49 Bo 30
Flintoff Bat 35 Bo 32

Imagine this as Australia's bottom six (listing FC av as some have played little or no test cricket as of yet.)

Watson 49
Gilchrist 44
Hogg 34
Lee 18
Johnson 24
Clark 14

 

[Julian87]

Neither Johnson or Hogg should be anywhere near the side imo.

1 Hayden
2 Watson
3 Ponting
4 Hussey
5 Clarke
6 Hodge (though it will be Symonds unfortunately)
7 Gilchrist
8 Lee
9 Clark
10 Bracken/Tait
11 Macgill

 

[Malleeboy]

Neither Johnson or Hogg should be anywhere near the side imo.

1 Hayden
2 Watson
3 Ponting
4 Hussey
5 Clarke
6 Hodge (though it will be Symonds unfortunately)
7 Gilchrist
8 Lee
9 Clark
10 Bracken/Tait
11 Macgill

Why not Rogers (or Jacques) to open and Watson at 6?
But if Watson opens then I hope Hodge gets another go.

Have you seen Macgill's domestic form? He must be close to retirement given his stats last year.

Maybe Bracken deserve another crack, given his ODI form. But Johnson's fc form is a match for Bracken's and his batting is better. DK thinks Johnson's is the real deal then for my money he should get the gig.

My team...

Hayden
Rogers
Ponting
Hussey
Clark
Watson
Gilchrist
Hogg
Lee
Johnson
Clark

If Hogg doesn't impress I'm not beyond giving Tait his spot and running a five man pace.
As I posted previously, you need quality and variety in an attack. Lee, Clark, Johnson, Tait and Watson would give that. (Or your preference Bracken for Johnson.)

 

[andyc]

Despite this thread lasting 17 pages, please don't let it fool anyone. There is no way Hogg is making the test team. He doesn't even play FC cricket for his state, ffs.

 

[sideshowtim]

Stephen Waugh? Merv Hughes? Ian Healy? Shane Warne? Damien Martyn? Justin Langer? Glenn McGrath? Matthew Hayden? Ricky Ponting? Darren Lehmann? Simon Katich? Michael Clarke?

No, didn't take any of them a little while to become good Test players, did it?!

I was talking in recent times. And Clarke had a magnificent start to his Test career.

 

[Perm]

Despite this thread lasting 17 pages, please don't let it fool anyone. There is no way Hogg is making the test team. He doesn't even play FC cricket for his state, ffs.

Agree totally with this post, it's stupidity to think he is going to make the Test team. I may be setting myself up for a big Greigy, but I'd be more than happy to take it if the Australian selectors decide to make such a foolish move and pick him.

 

[andyc]

Agree totally with this post, it's stupidity to think he is going to make the Test team. I may be setting myself up for a big Greigy, but I'd be more than happy to take it if the Australian selectors decide to make such a foolish move and pick him.

Agreed 100%

 

[Richard]

Agree totally with this post, it's stupidity to think he is going to make the Test team. I may be setting myself up for a big Greigy, but I'd be more than happy to take it if the Australian selectors decide to make such a foolish move and pick him.

TBH, Hogg has Greigied me once before (though long before the term was invented; when you were aged just 12; and when I'd not even joined CW and was posting on a different forum; even more crazily, though, it was when I'd said the famous "I'll eat my computer") so I'd not be so confident ever again.

 

[Richard]

I was talking in recent times. And Clarke had a magnificent start to his Test career.

Hardly, until The Ashes 2006\07 he'd made not that much impression and was very much a fringe player.

 

[andyc]

I'd call making a hundred and taking 6/9 in your debut series making a pretty good start to your test career.

 

[Richard]

Well yeah but that was just 1 series, wasn't it? After the next game following that, things went rapidly downhill and didn't get better for 2 years.

 

[Josh]

Really really don't think it's a good idea to open Watson in test matches.