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***Official*** 3rd Test at the WACA
- Thread starter James
- Start date
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
May as well take the selection discussion in here.
I think that, barring a great second innings knock, Martyn will be out the door come the WACA test. Assuming Watson is fit he's an automatic selection for the flexibility he adds and his recent form, and Martyn has pissed it away in both tests so far while Clarke has been responsible and handled the bowling well.
Picking Watson opens the door for MacGill, who is a pretty good selection atm as he's fit, has some Pura Cup wickets behind him and the attack struggled in Adelaide. The WACA will probably be a road anyway, in which case his ability to bowl long spells and gets some assistance from a dead surface will be helpful.
So who do Australia drop? Anyone think Martyn deserves another chance ahead of Clarke, or that Watson shouldn't be picked? I'm guessing five specialist bowlers might be a popular option, but I don't think they'll go that way. I'm thinking that, as harsh as it is, Lee is the one who will have to go to get MacGill in the team, and Martyn's test career is more or less over.
I think that, barring a great second innings knock, Martyn will be out the door come the WACA test. Assuming Watson is fit he's an automatic selection for the flexibility he adds and his recent form, and Martyn has pissed it away in both tests so far while Clarke has been responsible and handled the bowling well.
Picking Watson opens the door for MacGill, who is a pretty good selection atm as he's fit, has some Pura Cup wickets behind him and the attack struggled in Adelaide. The WACA will probably be a road anyway, in which case his ability to bowl long spells and gets some assistance from a dead surface will be helpful.
So who do Australia drop? Anyone think Martyn deserves another chance ahead of Clarke, or that Watson shouldn't be picked? I'm guessing five specialist bowlers might be a popular option, but I don't think they'll go that way. I'm thinking that, as harsh as it is, Lee is the one who will have to go to get MacGill in the team, and Martyn's test career is more or less over.
Johnners
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
As you said, barring a great 2nd innings knock Martyn will be gone. Clarke has shown a lot better temperament and attitude to batting in the longer version of the game since being dropped, and it showed with his patient 50 in brisbane. I'm hoping he can continue on tomorow and make a well earned Century.
If Watson is indeed fit and plays, and Australia still holds a lead, whether it be 1-0 or 2-0, Lee deserves another crack IMO. It'd be a different story if Macgill was taking 10-fers for NSW but he's not, and for that reason i'd keep Lee for at least another match to see if he can get it right.
If Watson is indeed fit and plays, and Australia still holds a lead, whether it be 1-0 or 2-0, Lee deserves another crack IMO. It'd be a different story if Macgill was taking 10-fers for NSW but he's not, and for that reason i'd keep Lee for at least another match to see if he can get it right.
aussie tragic
International Captain
A little radical, however my 3rd Test XI:
1. Hayden (Jaques breathing down his neck)
2. Langer
3. Ponting
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Gilchrist (after his ton in Adelaide
)
7. Lee (his batting ave is 43.75 over last 5-tests)
8. Warne
9. Clark
10. MacGill
11. McGrath
It's supposed to be a road so why do you need more batting than the top 6 above. After all, Gilchrist, Lee & Warne at # 6-8 are better than Flintoff, Jones & Giles
[As I said a bit radical & I'm sure they'll go Watson at # 6, with Lee or MacGill to carry the drinks]
1. Hayden (Jaques breathing down his neck)
2. Langer
3. Ponting
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Gilchrist (after his ton in Adelaide
)7. Lee (his batting ave is 43.75 over last 5-tests)
8. Warne
9. Clark
10. MacGill
11. McGrath
It's supposed to be a road so why do you need more batting than the top 6 above. After all, Gilchrist, Lee & Warne at # 6-8 are better than Flintoff, Jones & Giles
[As I said a bit radical & I'm sure they'll go Watson at # 6, with Lee or MacGill to carry the drinks]
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PhoenixFire
International Coach
Any thoughts on what the WACA pitch is going to be like? I heard that when WA played there it was just a road, flat, slow and takes spin, nothing like the WACA of old.
aussie tragic
International Captain
Three FC scorecards from this year (tame draw to start, then a win by just 6 runs, followed by a huge Innings win)PhoenixFire said:
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/engine/match/251599.html
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/engine/match/251601.html
http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/engine/match/251605.html
PhoenixFire
International Coach
Damn, any pitch that lets Marcus North score such a big hundred must be mighty flat, unless he's improved since he played at Lancashire in 2005.
aussie tragic
International Captain
Yeah, there were 7 FC 100's in the 3 games, 6 of them big ones:
Rojers - 279
North - 239*
Paine - 215
Langer - 188
Love - 186
Voges - 152*
North - 107
Rojers - 279
North - 239*
Paine - 215
Langer - 188
Love - 186
Voges - 152*
North - 107
PhoenixFire
International Coach
Great, another road, just what England need 
BingLeeElectric
Banned
Time to pension Martyn off now and you have to keep Clarke and start looking to the future.FaaipDeOiad said:
Perfect opportunity. It would be ridiculous if it were Clarke to go what with the age of this team. And please no comeback again this time. If it doesn't work out this way, bring Hodge back.
Watson in for Martyn, Macgill in for Lee.
BoyBrumby
Englishman
I'd say Martyn needs huge runs in the 2nd to save himself now, particularly if Clarke goes on tomorrow, but I wouldn't take Lee as inevitably the man to go for MacGill. He looked an awful lot more threatening than McGrath in our first innings & crucially is able to run in all day. It'd be a huge call to make, but surely no one player is bigger than the team? McGrath can't go on being picked for who he is rather than how he is performing.
Admittedly there's a week off for him now, but all accounts I've heard of the WACA suggest it's unlikely to be conducive to McGrath's style of bowling &, in any case, Oz now have the estimable Clark for such an eventuality.
Admittedly there's a week off for him now, but all accounts I've heard of the WACA suggest it's unlikely to be conducive to McGrath's style of bowling &, in any case, Oz now have the estimable Clark for such an eventuality.
PhoenixFire
International Coach
Unless I'm mistaken, Martyn is the longest serving player in the Aus team at the moment, he's been going for 14 years now at Test level, Warne might pip him though.
Mister Wright
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I think Australia's selection for the 3rd test will depend on whether we draw or lose the game and how Australia perform in their 2nd innings. If we lose and Hayden has a poor 2nd innings, there may be pressure on his spot, given the next test is 2 weeks away. Martyn needs runs, and unless Lee bowls well in the 2nd innings and takes wickets his spot SHOULD be under pressure.
For England if Vaughan is fit he should come in for Anderson which would give England batting down to Jones at 8 which would mean no reason to select Giles and Panesar can play as the spinner and have Pietersen and Vaughan as back up spinners.
For England if Vaughan is fit he should come in for Anderson which would give England batting down to Jones at 8 which would mean no reason to select Giles and Panesar can play as the spinner and have Pietersen and Vaughan as back up spinners.
shortpitched713
International Captain
I might dismiss this with a simple charge of blasphemy, but it gets at a situation that has cropped up again and again. Why the higher standards for McGrath? Hes had all of two bad innings, and now you're calling for his head!?!BoyBrumby said:
It might have to do with the fact that you're an Englishman, but a few Australians have been quick to jump on him again. There's no reason that you'd drop McGrath at this point instead of Lee, except that Lee is younger. That's it. McGrath has performed better than Lee in the recent past, and has a much better Test record than him. The guy who's going to give Australia a better chance of winning the Ashes is McGrath.
adharcric
International Coach
Clarke should definitely get the nod ahead of Martyn now. If Australia opt for Watson and MacGill, Lee should surely miss out.
If Hayden fails in the third test as well, Jacques may have an outside shot in the fourth test.
As for England, Panesar for Giles is a no-brainer once again. Bring in Mahmood for Anderson IMO, with Harmison remaining in the attack despite being useless so far. The return of Vaughan is quite overrated - chances are he'll be dreadfully out-of-form and turn out to be a waste of a batting spot if he plays in this series. England cannot afford that.
If Hayden fails in the third test as well, Jacques may have an outside shot in the fourth test.
As for England, Panesar for Giles is a no-brainer once again. Bring in Mahmood for Anderson IMO, with Harmison remaining in the attack despite being useless so far. The return of Vaughan is quite overrated - chances are he'll be dreadfully out-of-form and turn out to be a waste of a batting spot if he plays in this series. England cannot afford that.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
If Watson is fit for this test & Martyn is the one to be dropped, who is going to bat @ 4?, i think Hussey should stay @ 5 since thats an important position by itself. Is Clarke or Watson good enough to bat @ 4 ATM. All that the selectors will have to look at when naming the side for the second test.