*Official* Australia in West Indies Thread

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Venkat continues where Asoka left off.

Lara given out LBW to Bichel with a huge inside edge. That's incredible.

The ball was at least 3 inches on line to miss the off stump and Lara came down with a very big inside edge onto his back foot. You could clearly hear it over the TV, but Aso....I mean Venkat gave it out without a thought. Shocking!

Jeff Thompson was absolutely shocked and Michael Holding made the call immediately - bat before pad.

CricInfo report:

107.6 Bichel to Lara, OUT: looks to been dealt with harshly

West Indies 281/7, Partnership of 36
BC Lara lbw b Bichel 14 (55b 1x4 0x6)

That was a shocker dealt to Waugh, Bichel bowling from over the wicket gets a ball to pitch on leg and angle towards off, Lara chops the ball back onto his pad, HUGE inside edge and onto the back pad! Umpire Venkat decides that's out

 

[marc71178]

Sarwan and Banks out and the world's greatest no. 8 batsman has come to the crease- Brian Charles Lara.

How can he be the greatest when there's the likes of Brett Lee and Andy Bichel who have batted at 8 in recent times?

 

[Hoggy]

How can he be the greatest when there's the likes of Brett Lee and Andy Bichel who have batted at 8 in recent times?

Andy Bichel is a #7 now.

 

[marc71178]

If Andy Bichel is going to regularly come in at number 7 in Test Cricket, then I fear for the Australians - he's a useful number 8, and a good number 9, but number 7?

 

[Eclipse]

Give Him a chance marc he has been working really hard in the nets over the last 10 monthes and it is decidedly noticable how much he has improved in the last few monthes he is now much better than his 20 odd FC avrage suggests his techneque looks alot more solid.

Waugh beleves he is good enougbh to bat at number 7 in test cricket and Bix himself publicly said he is working very hard on trying to acheve that.

Obviously he is not going to be the best number 7 batsman going around but all he has to do is avrage about 25 when you look at the strength off our top order.

 

[Tim]

Well Bichel seems to be more consistent than most other #7's going around at the moment. I guess he's just going to enjoy batting there until it ends which is good for him.

 

[Eclipse]

Well he actualy looks like a genuine batsman when he bats now the shots he plays are well executed with the proper techneque and his natrual timing and power is very good. His deffense is alot better than it used to be as well.

 

[Rik]

I thought Gilchrist was the Australian number 7

 

[Eclipse]

I thought Gilchrist was the Australian number 7

He has been batting at six this series and Australia have been playing 5 bowlers.

With Warne not avalabe it will probably stay this way for a while.

 

[Rik]

He has been batting at six this series and Australia have been playing 5 bowlers.

With Warne not avalabe it will probably stay this way for a while.

That's understandable

 

[marc71178]

He has been batting at six this series and Australia have been playing 5 bowlers.

With Warne not avalabe it will probably stay this way for a while.

Is it the lack of Warne or is it the lack of Martyn?

I'd expect long term for Aus to play 6 batsmen then Gilchrist, it does look very weak seeing Bichel in at 7!

 

[Eclipse]

Bichel is better than you are giving him credit for marc.

Hayden 52
Langer 46
Ponting 51
Lhemann 41
Waugh 49
Gilly 61
Bichel 20
Lee 21
Gillespie 15
McGill 7
McGrath 6

Thats pritty good hardly "week" when you consider every one apart from McGill & McGrath can bat.

I think You are probably righ tho when Martyn comes back Australia will probably play six batsman again but I think they will rotate more between 5-4 bowlers depending on the pitch.

 

[marc71178]

Sorry, but an average of 20 is just about good enough for a number 8 batsman, definitely not a number 7!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Sorry, but an average of 20 is just about good enough for a number 8 batsman, definitely not a number 7!

For the Aussie lineup it is.

 

[Top_Cat]

Sorry, but an average of 20 is just about good enough for a number 8 batsman, definitely not a number 7!

And this coming from the guy who jumps on Rik for exclusively using stats all the time! Is it possible that Waugh has seen something in Bichel that you haven't?

I think we say with some certainty that Steve Waugh has never been one to rush into things or take stuff like this lightly. He would surely have been tempted to kep Brad Hogg at 7 or bring in Maher/Love into the top 6 and push Gilchrist back to 6 so for him to insist that Bichel bat at 7, well there's got to have been a reason.

 

[Tim]

So then Marc...what do you think of Craig White at #7 for England who averages 24. And he's supposedly meant to be a much better batsman than Bichel.

 

[Eclipse]

Sorry, but an average of 20 is just about good enough for a number 8 batsman, definitely not a number 7!

What so Why dont you slag of Craig White ? Bix is better than you are giving him credit for he is alot better than he was even 3 monthes ago.

Only time will tell of couse but I think you should at least be prepared to accept the fact it might work & that you might be wrong. If he fails he fails it's no loss to me but why are you just dismising the possibility that Bichel might be good enough.

Look at M. Richardson of NZ for example he used to bat at number 11 and he is now one of NZ best batsman. If he can improve his batting so much who's to say Bichel cant.

 

[marc71178]

So then Marc...what do you think of Craig White at #7 for England who averages 24. And he's supposedly meant to be a much better batsman than Bichel.

If you'd care to look, you'd probably notice that I have often criticsed batting him at 7, and said he should be going in at number 8.

 

[krkode]

Would you look at that! Hattrick for Lawson!! :wow:

Wickets off of the last two balls of the first innings and wicket in the first ball of the second innings :duh:

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Well done by the young man! A hattrick against any team is special...far more against Australia.