**Official** Australia in Bangladesh

[aussie]

After today's knock, Katich is the second highest run scorer in the world behind Sangakkara in 2006 ODIs. He's also averaging almost 44 for the year and has one century and five fifties. His strike rate isn't that bad either. The amount of crap he cops on here when he's not done anything wrong is really quite amazing.

Yes, Jaques is probably a better ODI batsman than Katich, but you can't drop a guy who is making valuable runs as consistently as anyone else in the side. I was in favour of Katich being ditched six months ago, but he's been in excellent form against all opposition since then, and he deserves to make the World Cup squad based on the way he has played. In fact, Australia's entire batting order has been very productive in recent times, with Gilchrist, Katich, Ponting, Symonds, Clarke and Hussey all averaging over 40 for the year. It's only been the bowling and Martyn that have struggled at times.

If Jaques or Cosgrove is to come into the side, it will be in the middle order, because the openers have been in fine form.

yea i agree he has been very good even though Jaques, Cosgrove & even Hayden are probably better OD openers than him. I dont have a problem with him opening the batting with Gilly because Australia have 7 other aggressive batsmen up to Lee who can easily up to scoring rate, so his not so fast scoring should not be a problem once he is consistent which he has been in his time as opener.

But i wont say he has a WC place totally secured TBH, lets say between the Tri-series in India before the CT to the VB he begins to fail & Jaques continues to smoke runs in the ING Cup he could lose his place.

 

[Complicated]

One of the arguements against Katich is that he plays for his average and perhaps not for the team highest possible score. You have players like Symonds and Hussey coming in after the 40 over mark, who are striking at a run a ball. Theres so much depth in a line up with Ponting, Clarke, Maryn, that Katich's 30 for 50 wastes 20 balls other players could capitalise on. The other point to note, is that early on the field restrictions make it easier to score runs making Katich occupation more costly. There also some concern about Katich's running between the wickets.

I think Katich is a good player, but the critism he cops has a reasonable basis.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

yea i agree he has been very good even though Jaques, Cosgrove & even Hayden are probably better OD openers than him.

How can you derive Cosgrove is better than Katich for one day international opening on one innings where he slogged a demoralised Bangladesh team for 70?

 

[luckyeddie]

What a tool, Cosgrove gets out needing 1 run to win

Well batted though on debut

He was distracted - someone told him that they'd nearly run out of pies in the cafeteria.

 

[aussie]

How can you derive Cosgrove is better than Katich for one day international opening on one innings where he slogged a demoralised Bangladesh team for 70?

well in domestic cricket last year his OD form as an opener was second the Jaques & even though he smoked Bangladesh his innings clearly showed he has more ability as a OD opener than Katich..

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Well, I'd have liked to see Katich's form in OD Domestic cricket... oh wait, he was consistently scoring runs at the top of the order for the International team, right.

And he hardly smoked them, he gave many chances.

 

[GotSpin]

well in domestic cricket last year his OD form as an opener was second the Jaques & even though he smoked Bangladesh his innings clearly showed he has more ability as a OD opener than Katich..

One match against Bangladesh...

 

[luckyeddie]

well in domestic cricket last year his OD form as an opener was second the Jaques & even though he smoked Bangladesh his innings clearly showed he has more ability as a OD opener than Katich..

One match against a lacklustre opponent and you elevate him so highly.

OTT?

 

[marc71178]

Bearing in mind his reactions to Bangladesh controlling the majority of the First Test, I'd say it's par for the course.

 

[aussie]

Well, I'd have liked to see Katich's form in OD Domestic cricket... oh wait, he was consistently scoring runs at the top of the order for the International team, right.

Thats not what i mean, i was refering to there domestic performances as openers which would have have been the 1st stage in them being selected to open in any case for Australia. Katich has had success as an opener at domestic level but i presume it as been with the same style that he has done at international level. Cosgrove even though was not totally convincing showed that he is more aggressive which shows that he has more potential as a OD opener than Katich. But no it doesn't make him better than Katich just yet

And he hardly smoked them, he gave many chances.

well i wont be totally sure i slept true the latter half of his innings & had to school as i am now..

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

One match against a lacklustre opponent and you elevate him so highly.

OTT?

Well, to be fair, he did average 70 in both forms of the game in the Pura Cup last season, so there's plenty of reason to think he's good. No reason to say he's better than Katich yet though.

 

[aussie]

One match against Bangladesh...

I am not saying he is BETTER than Katich i said he has more ability as an OD opener than Katich. One could compare Katich to openers like Gary Kirsten or Attapatu, Cosgrove would be classed as an aggressive opener & his recent domestic form shows what he is capable of. No one would say Kirsten & Attapatu were better than any of the aggressive openers of the last 10 years.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Well, to be fair, he did average 70 in both forms of the game in the Pura Cup last season, so there's plenty of reason to think he's good.

I didn't know they played for the Pura Cup in one-day cricket

 

[Steulen]

I thought he meant Cosgrove has a FC bowling average of 70

 

[Jono]

I can't believe Katich cops it from all corners yet Martyn gets off scott free.

Martyn should go from the ODI team IMO. And its not even a question IMO, if Martyn has a poor CT then Jaques or Cosgrove should slot in.

 

[Jdz]

I agree, Katich is just doing a stable job at keeping his wicket in hand and letting the more aggressive players play the big shots.

Did Australia still win despite Katich not hitting a ton of runs? yes.

 

[Great Birtannia]

Did Australia still win despite Katich not hitting a ton of runs? yes.

And here I was thinking Australia never ever win

I do agree that Martyn should go first. He is good for a cameo before he throws his wicket away playing an unnecessary shot.

I reckon Watson will take his spot before the world cup providing he can stay fit!

 

[aussie]

I can't believe Katich cops it from all corners yet Martyn gets off scott free.

Martyn should go from the ODI team IMO. And its not even a question IMO, if Martyn has a poor CT then Jaques or Cosgrove should slot in.

well the main reason i think Martyn was not that convincing in the VB series & in South Africa was because he was not that assured of his side during that time after being intially dropped after the ashes, but after his match-winning hundred in cape-town & overall safe performances in the test series in SA i think he feels a bit more assured & i would expect us to see the consistent Martyn of old in one-day international next season.

But if Martyn is not as consistent i would rather Watson to come into the team in his place.

 

[GotSpin]

well the main reason i think Martyn was not that convincing in the VB series & in South Africa was because he was not that assured of his side during that time after being intially dropped after the ashes, but after his match-winning hundred in cape-town & overall safe performances in the test series in SA i think he feels a bit more assured & i would expect us to see the consistent Martyn of old in one-day international next season.

But if Martyn is not as consistent i would rather Watson to come into the team in his place.

Why would Watson replace Martyn.

 

[howardj]

After today's knock, Katich is the second highest run scorer in the world behind Sangakkara in 2006 ODIs. He's also averaging almost 44 for the year and has one century and five fifties. His strike rate isn't that bad either. The amount of crap he cops on here when he's not done anything wrong is really quite amazing.

Yes, Jaques is probably a better ODI batsman than Katich, but you can't drop a guy who is making valuable runs as consistently as anyone else in the side. I was in favour of Katich being ditched six months ago, but he's been in excellent form against all opposition since then, and he deserves to make the World Cup squad based on the way he has played. In fact, Australia's entire batting order has been very productive in recent times, with Gilchrist, Katich, Ponting, Symonds, Clarke and Hussey all averaging over 40 for the year. It's only been the bowling and Martyn that have struggled at times.

If Jaques or Cosgrove is to come into the side, it will be in the middle order, because the openers have been in fine form.

Of course Katich's batting is not going to cost Australia in games like last night, or games where 220-270 is a winning score. He steadily guides Australia along. My problem with The Kat is that he holds Australia back in games like the final ODI in South Africa - games where 300-360 is the winning score. Check out the scorecard.

How is a steady player going to be of benefit to Australia in these types of high scoring encounters - the types of games we're likely to see in the Carribean (given the flat pitches and short boundaries) in WC2007. If he had have scored at a strike rate of 100 in the above game (like everyone else easily did) Australia would have scored another 20 runs. That's quite significant, and costly.

If we're planning for the World Cup, let's consider the types of conditions and totals we are likely to confront, and select our team accordingly.