Prince EWS
Global Moderator
***Official*** Australia in the Land of Shillingford 2012Didn't see it
-
Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
***Official*** Australia in the West Indies 2012
- Thread starter Spark
- Start date
Spikey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Didn't see it
Spikey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Nigel Benjamin
U19 12th Man
i'm a bit surprised the Windies have stuck with Baugh this long. But then again the guy who's likely to replace him, Ramdin, isn't that great either.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Ramdin was injured going into this series as well.
Jager
International Debutant
Hey PEWS, out of curiosity what did you use to select your AI teams in your signature?
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
My ranking formula that takes my standardised averages and longevity values into account, run through a separate program I made to pick the best balanced eleven given a set of players.
Jager
International Debutant
Woah, impressive. What sort of 'balance' is it that you are talking about? I really enjoyed the standardised averages actually, I'm going to find them now- although I personally thought that the longevity stat was a little too heavily weighted, from what I can remember. Very interesting regardless
Cricketismylife
U19 12th Man
Very well deserved win from Australia, they were definitely the tougher team through the series. However, I do feel as if they didn't play in a way that would scare teams like England/ South Africa or India/Pakistan in their own conditions. I think both the openers have a big question mark about whether they will last in the test arena, Warner is talented and hard working but he has some technical issues, Cowan also seems to get his pad in the way of his bat too often by planting.
The middle order is proven class, but Ponting doesnt look anywhere near the same player he was. Hussey is still hungry and dedicated and even though he is 36, I see no reason why he can't play for another 5 years. Wade is obviously a massive positive, and looking at how he gritted it out and fought hard in the first few tests and the start of this test, before making a spectacular hundred, shows how intelligent and skillful he is. From what I've seen he doesnt look a natural on slow turning pitches, so it's all the more impressive that he was able to adapt and perform in these conditions. Lyon confirmed that he is a respectable bowler, but still has a lot to do to prove that he can be a major long term threat; he seems to take a lot of tail end wickets and these conditions were very suited to spin. Shillingford and the part timers Clarke/Deonarine picked up wickets so not sure what Lyon has proved this series.
Clarke's captaincy was superb including the declaration in both the 1st and 2nd test, and the various bowling changes. The quicks bowled well without much assistance, but again barring Chanderpaul and Darren Bravo, they were bowling at batsman who were not test standard, so not sure how much we can use that for judging against stronger teams. Pattinson was disappointing in his 1 test, but I'm sure he will come back.
All in all I think the main issue for Australia is the opening partnership; they deserve some more chances, but personally I'm not sure either of them will last. I have been wrong in the past so we will see what happens. The dropping of Simon Katich was a big mistake imo.
The middle order is proven class, but Ponting doesnt look anywhere near the same player he was. Hussey is still hungry and dedicated and even though he is 36, I see no reason why he can't play for another 5 years. Wade is obviously a massive positive, and looking at how he gritted it out and fought hard in the first few tests and the start of this test, before making a spectacular hundred, shows how intelligent and skillful he is. From what I've seen he doesnt look a natural on slow turning pitches, so it's all the more impressive that he was able to adapt and perform in these conditions. Lyon confirmed that he is a respectable bowler, but still has a lot to do to prove that he can be a major long term threat; he seems to take a lot of tail end wickets and these conditions were very suited to spin. Shillingford and the part timers Clarke/Deonarine picked up wickets so not sure what Lyon has proved this series.
Clarke's captaincy was superb including the declaration in both the 1st and 2nd test, and the various bowling changes. The quicks bowled well without much assistance, but again barring Chanderpaul and Darren Bravo, they were bowling at batsman who were not test standard, so not sure how much we can use that for judging against stronger teams. Pattinson was disappointing in his 1 test, but I'm sure he will come back.
All in all I think the main issue for Australia is the opening partnership; they deserve some more chances, but personally I'm not sure either of them will last. I have been wrong in the past so we will see what happens. The dropping of Simon Katich was a big mistake imo.
Cricketismylife
U19 12th Man
Fair enough, but that was only a 2 test series and SA havent been consistent at finishing sides off at home, I mean they managed to lose a test to SL. I think SA are improving though and are a better side than Aus as it stands, I don't want to read too much into a single 2 test series. In the same way I wouldnt say that NZ are in the same league as Aus, just because they drew 1 all at home with them. I'm just saying I don't think Australia are quite there yet when compared to England and South Africa.
The next Ashes is still some way away, but taking the 2 sides at the moment I would still favour England. I do believe the Aus pace attack will trouble the England batsman, and I dont see the kindof scores in 2010 Ashes that England made happening again, but I still feel England have the better depth with their tailenders, and better spinner with everything else being roughly equal. Contrary to most people I don't see the England pace bowling attack being way ahead of Australia's.
Burgey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
That may be so, but it was a series Australia should have won though.
Look, Australia under Clarke has beaten SL away with a rookie spinner and a new ball bowler bowling at 120kph. They've drawn in SA, lost a test to NZ at home (lol), flogged India at home and beaten WI away. They've done it pretty much non-stop since October and they've done it while almost endlessly losing fast bowlers and having to rotate them into and out of the side.
At the end of last summer, radio commentators were openly saying we likely would not win a test in SL or SA, and would lose to India. I mean, look at England's embarrassing away performances these past few months. A bloke tosses a ball up above their eyeliner* and they're paralyzed.
I really don't know how much more Australia could do except not have the once every two decades loss to the South Sea Island Poms in Hobart.
*deliberate use of the term wrt Cook, Bell, KP, broad and Glanderson.
Last edited:
Cricketismylife
U19 12th Man
I agree with this and think that Aus are on the way up for sure. I still maintain that they arent quite at the level of England and South Africa, in non subcontinental conditions. England are a poor team on the subcontinent, but luckily for them they wont be playing Australia in the subcontinent, so I'd still back them. Beating West Indies with that lineup should be a given for any decent side (the side Eng lost to in 2009 was a much better batting lineup), so that's why I'm sounding a bit harsh in my appraisal of Aus in this series. Let's be honest this West Indies batting lineup is just embarassing; potentially they could have a top 7 of Gayle, Edwards, Sarwan, Bravo, Chanderpaul, Nash and Ramdin.
Instead we got a top 3 who are nowhere near test standard and are being played purely because they are young (I like Barath but he just hasnt done anything at all since his debut), a number 6 who simply isnt test standard, and a wicketkeeper who averages less than Jason Gillespie. Not exactly a big challenge for Australia.
theegyptian
International Vice-Captain
theegyptian
International Vice-Captain
but i agree australia have done well and would most likely beat england in Asia or West Indies.
stephen
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
How is it that Clarke only has 29 wickets in his career? It seems that he should have way more than that given the number of memorable performances he has given with the ball. Nearly every one of those 29 wickets have made a huge contribution to an Australian win.