***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Furball]

Can't see how Siddle won't get the nod. Siddle has previously been successful in South Africa, was perhaps unlucky to be the one shelved for Sri Lanka, a series in which Copeland was decent if not outstanding (and in which Siddle performed well in the only Test he played) and out performed Copeland in the tour game. Plus Copeland has to deal with the ingrained "not fast enough for this level" prejudice.

I think Harris/Copeland/Johnson is the way to go; but at the same time picking Siddle isn't exactly unjustifiable.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

Warne's a legend but what he's done to the team in his wake is make it so we "have" to have a full time spinner in the team, lyon isn't up to it, should drop him put the four quicks in and go with clarke off spin as an option or if they hadn't been so dumb to drop kat, ah well i'll live in my fantasy of idiots not being in charge of the australian side, harris, johnson siddle, lyon, i wish copeland

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm as big an advocate as anyone of not picking a spinner just for the sake of it if you don't have a good one, but while Watson exists four quicks becomes five and it just never really makes much sense. I'd sooner pick another batsman than go with five quicks tbh, but I think while Watson's in the team it allows the selectors to pick a promising, potentially game-turning spinner in all conditions.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yep, keep Watson bowling. A run-a-ball 30 is all they need from him anyway since the problem of opening stands has been solved, right?

EDIT: Probably won't be the only time I say this in the coming weeks/months.

 

[uvelocity]

I think Harris/Copeland/Johnson is the way to go; but at the same time picking Siddle isn't exactly unjustifiable.

Your post is completely sensible, for me the past doesn't equal the future though, and that balance in the attack we have keeping copes there could be invaluable. Plus surely he will grab a few scalps soon.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yep, keep Watson bowling. A run-a-ball 30 is all they need from him anyway since the problem of opening stands has been solved, right?

EDIT: Probably won't be the only time I say this in the coming weeks/months.

I don't really buy the theory that his conversion problem is linked to his bowling, tbh.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeah but it can't help and he's struggled to get to 50 of late too. Coincidentally, he's been bowling more.

Been throwing hands more often at wide ones and getting nabbed in the cordon more often too. [WILDCONJECTURE] Sign of a bloke who's tired either mentally or physically.[/WILDCONJECTURE]

 

[Furball]

I'm as big an advocate as anyone of not picking a spinner just for the sake of it if you don't have a good one, but while Watson exists four quicks becomes five and it just never really makes much sense. I'd sooner pick another batsman than go with five quicks tbh, but I think while Watson's in the team it allows the selectors to pick a promising, potentially game-turning spinner in all conditions.

On the other hand, while he's being picked as an opening bat Watson's primary job is surely to score runs, picking 4 quicks lessens the need for him to bowl. It might just be a coincidence, but Watson's only decent Test with the bat in the Ashes came off the back of him not bowling a single ball at Perth.

 

[Ruckus]

On the other hand, while he's being picked as an opening bat Watson's primary job is surely to score runs, picking 4 quicks lessens the need for him to bowl. It might just be a coincidence, but Watson's only decent Test with the bat in the Ashes came off the back of him not bowling a single ball at Perth.

Yeah I agree. Even without Watson bowling though, I still wouldn't pick 4 other quicks over 3 and a spinner. Think we'll need Lyon.

Despite Siddle's good tour match returns, I'd still go with Johnson, Harris, Copeland and Lyon. Definately wouldn't bring Cummins into the equation yet. I'd have faith in Johnson and Harris being penetrative enough alone, without the need for Siddle. Johnson, Harris and Siddle looks too single faceted for mine.

 

[Ruckus]

Huh this is kind of interesting...

Cricket Australia > Latest News > News

Would be quite (pleasantly) suprised if Copeland does get the nod over Siddle.

 

[Furball]

I don't really buy the theory that his conversion problem is linked to his bowling, tbh.

Watson's innings since returning to the Test side:

126 vs India at Mohali - 1st innings of match
120* vs Pakistan at Melbourne - scored 93 in 1st innings, bowled 13 overs
97 vs Pakistan at Sydney - scored 6 in 1st innings, bowled 17 overs
96 vs West Indies at Adelaide - bowled 12 overs in 1st innings
95 vs England at Perth - did not bowl in match
93 vs Pakistan at Melbourne - 1st innings of match
89 vs West Indies at Perth - 1st innings of match
65 vs New Zealand at Hamilton - scored 12 in 1st innings, bowled 5 overs
62 vs England at Edgbaston - 1st innings of match
57 vs India at Bangalore - 1st innings of match
57 vs England at Adelaide - scored 51 in 1st innings, bowled 19 overs
56 vs India at Mohali - scored 126 in 1st innings, bowled 6 overs
54 vs England at Melbourne - scored 5 in 1st innings, bowled 10 overs
53 vs England at Edgbaston - scored 62 in 1st innings, bowled 3 overs
51 vs England at Headingley - did not bowl in 1st innings
51 vs England at Adelaide - 1st innings of match
48 vs West Indies at Adelaide - scored 96 in 1st innings, bowled 12 and 11 overs
45 vs England at Sydney - 1st innings of match
41* vs England at Brisbane - scored 36 in 1st innings, bowled 12 and 15 overs
40 vs England at The Oval - scored 34 in 1st innings, bowled 5 overs, did not bowl in 2nd innings
38 vs England at Sydney - scored 45 in 1st innings, bowled 20 overs
36 vs England at Brisbane - bowled 12 overs
36 vs Sri Lanka at Pallekele - bowled 10 overs
34 vs England at The Oval - bowled 5 overs
32 vs India at Bangalore - scored 57 in 1st innings, bowled 12 overs
31 vs Pakistan at Lord's - scored 4 in first innings, bowled 7.5 overs
30 vs West Indies at Perth - scored 89 in first innings, bowled 12 overs
29 vs Pakistan at Hobart - 1st innings of match
24 vs Pakistan at Headingley - scored 5 in 1st innings, bowled 11 overs
22 vs Sri Lanka at Galle - 1st innings of match
21 vs Sri Lanka at Colombo - scored 8 in 1st innings, bowled 26 overs
13 vs England at Perth - 1st innings of match
12 vs New Zealand at Hamilton - 1st innings
8 vs Sri Lanka at Colombo - 1st innings
6 vs Pakistan at Sydney - 1st innings
5 vs Pakistan at Headingley - 1st innings
5 vs England at Melbourne - 1st innings
4 vs Pakistan at Lord's - 1st innings
1 vs Pakistan at Hobart - scored 29, bowled 7 overs
0 vs West Indies at Brisbane - 1st innings
0 vs Sri Lanka at Galle - scored 22, bowled 6 overs

Make of that what you will.

 

[adub]

Yep I was resigned to Copes getting the axe (and comfortable enough with it seeing as he's only taken one wicket since SL), but maybe he'll hang on. I don't think either decision will be disastrous (which is something we haven't been able to say for quite some time).

 

[Ruckus]

Yep I was resigned to Copes getting the axe (and comfortable enough with it seeing as he's only taken one wicket since SL), but maybe he'll hang on. I don't think either decision will be disastrous (which is something we haven't been able to say for quite some time).

Yeah very true. With Johnson looking very dangerous again, and Harris in superb form, we should be able to have a pretty threatening attack regardless of who makes up the other spot/s.

 

[howardj]

Copes will play in my opinion.

The pitch is apparently slowish, he was part of a winning combination in SL, and Michael Clarke loves his accuracy and economy. (Aussie Test skippers have a huge say in selection in overseas matches, even more so post-Argus).

 

[Spark]

I just had a look at the overs bowled vs. runs and scored thing and there doesn't seem to be any relationship at all.

 

[Furball]

I just had a look at the overs bowled vs. runs and scored thing and there doesn't seem to be any relationship at all.

I think there's a slight tendency for him to score bigger in the first innings/when he hasn't bowled much. It's a lol sample size though, and the 1st innings thing is tempered quite a lot by a series of low scores as well, probably 1st hour syndrome.

 

[GotSpin]

What time is kick off?

 

[uvelocity]

pens where you're at. 8:30 GMT

 

[Spark]

7:30pm aest then?

 

[uvelocity]

7:30pm aest then?

yeah, on another note, god i ****ing hate peter **** roe****