**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka

[age_master]

interesting that Lehmann ended up bowling ore overs than Williams. maybe Symonds should have played instead of Williams

 

[Mister Wright]

interesting that Lehmann ended up bowling ore overs than Williams. maybe Symonds should have played instead of Williams

Agreed!

Williams is nothing more than a waste of space in the Australian tour party. Indeed, Symonds or Tait would have been better options than the 'living, breathing, bowling machine himself'.

 

[Mister Wright]

haha im sure he would have duly taken him apart after Brett Lee had broken a couple more of his fingers

he might also have been able to take better care of the sirlanka tail on a couple of occasions...


Full credit to Kaspa ofcourse, he has taken his opotunity and bowled very well and secured his spot for the next couple of series, hopefully alongside Gillespie and McGrath

Once again we agree...that must be a first - twice in one day.

Yes, of course McGrath will return and take a bag against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka at home, and then struggle against the stronger batting line ups. Brett Lee will return after taking 3-187 in a 4th grade game, and his selection will be waranted with the usual tag - "He may not have taken a bag of wickets, he was unlucky, but his pace is what we are really after in the Australian team."

Meanwhile Kaspa will have wholeheartedly served his time in the Australian team, probably picking up a few 12th man duties along the way, then fade off into the International wilderness while the old-man continues to play on reputation and the over-rated one will continue to play because he has pace.

It must be great to play for N.S.W.

 

[Mister Wright]

It has been revealed that Lee has been playing with a fractured ankle.

And this is a good excuse...why?

So what, big deal! Doesn't change the fact he wasn't performing and shouldn't have been in the team.

 

[The 3rd Umpire]

Williams is nothing more than a waste of space in the Australian tour party. Indeed, Symonds or Tait would have been better options than the 'living, breathing, bowling machine himself'.

Williams has shown that he needs certain conditions to bowl effectively, particularly a wicket with some grass and bounce. Obviously, he was next to useless in SL.

I would have given Tait a chance, as his reverse swinging ability would have been suited to Sri Lankan conditions where the ball wears quickly. Plus it was a dead rubber.....

 

[PY]

Plus it was a dead rubber.....

Which may well have been the reason.

Aren't selectors notorious for not handing out Baggy Greens on dead rubbers?

 

[Gaijin-san]

And this is a good excuse...why?

So what, big deal! Doesn't change the fact he wasn't performing and shouldn't have been in the team.

Wholeheartedly agree. If you can't cut it you shouldn't be playing. I could play for Australia and take 0/900 and blame it on the fact that I'm fat and unfit.

 

[Gaijin-san]

Which may well have been the reason.

Aren't selectors notorious for not handing out Baggy Greens on dead rubbers?

That's right. Many a time the selectors have said they are not in the business of handing out baggy greens to just anyone. You have to be good enough to play.

Incidentally, this is my 1000th post.

 

[Andre]

Williams has shown that he needs certain conditions to bowl effectively, particularly a wicket with some grass and bounce. Obviously, he was next to useless in SL.

That's unfair. He was clearly underbowled in both innings - 5 overs only in the second innings begs the question why he was selected at all.

Plus, he was denied a wicket or 2 in the first innings with some dubious LBW shouts. Certainly not the worst performance.

 

[luckyeddie]

That's right. Many a time the selectors have said they are not in the business of handing out baggy greens to just anyone. You have to be good enough to play.

Incidentally, this is my 1000th post.

Well done on 4 figures (claps)

As far as being 'good enough to play' - what on earth would the selectors be doing putting someone in the squad in the first place if they didn't have confidence that the player concerned was good enough fo a place in the side?

 

[Gaijin-san]

Touring experience. It happened to Clarke, it happened to Tait.

 

[Linda]

It seemed to be the case Sri Lanka didnt seem they werent keen on victory or really want to push Australia.

No, no, no. They had to contend with the enourmous power and class that is Damien Martyn, thats all.

I feel for them, I really do. Poor souls.

 

[Craig]

That's right. Many a time the selectors have said they are not in the business of handing out baggy greens to just anyone. You have to be good enough to play.

You could agrue that point with the selection of Nathan Bracken.

 

[Andre]

You could agrue that point with the selection of Nathan Bracken.

No you couldn't. He was picked because the selectors felt he was good enough, not because they were in the mood to give away a baggy green.

What people don't realise is that for every correct move from the NSP - and there have been many - there are always one or two that don't come off, and Bracken was one of them.

 

[Craig]

So they took a punt on him?

More likely he was picked because of his success in ODIS in one tournament.

 

[mavric41]

I just hope that the selectors have realised that good ODI doesn't equal good Test player. Picking players like Bracken, Williams and Symonds because of good OD form has not proved successful. Only Michael Kasprowicz who had good first class form has been a success. Hopefully they will perserve with him for a while.