***Official*** Australian Domestic Season 2007/08

[Prince EWS]

Given current form, surely you must be joking!?

I don't think he's talking about form; all players will go through the form cycle. What he's talking about is batting competency at this stage of their respective careers. By "at the moment", he doesn't mean right at this very second, but in general at this period of time, negating any potential improvement in Clarke given his age.

That's how I took it anyway. Although I disagree really. I'd back Clarke to score more runs than Hodge regularly at test level, even current form aside.

 

[howardj]

Although I disagree really. I'd back Clarke to score more runs than Hodge regularly at test level, even current form aside.

Totally agree.

Pup is gun.

 

[Nate]

I know that age is a major factor in team selections, but surely at Test match level they should be picking the absolute best players regardless of age or hypothetical captaincy potential. At the moment, Hodge > Clarke imo.

Reckon age should have a little bit of input, but yeah, pretty much agree you pick your best XI. Can't see any evidence suggesting Hodge is better than Clarke, but if that's what you think -

 

[cameeel]

Hodge has no form. Clarke bowls better, is younger and a better fielder too. I also think he is a better bat too.

Clarke is one of the certainties in the Test side.

Neither is selected as an all-rounder, so in a Test match who's the better bowler is largely an irrelevant argument. With regards to fielding, Hodge is no slouch in the field, and the difference certainly isn't great enough to justify any sort of selection pressure against Hodge being in the team.

Both Clarke and Hodge's last two international OD innings have resulted in failures (Clarke with consecutive golden ducks, and Hodge with bugger all as well) so neither could be said to be in great form at the moment.

At the time of Hodge's omission from the team, there was no doubt that Hodge was in the better form of the two.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I don't think he's talking about form; all players will go through the form cycle. What he's talking about is batting competency at this stage of their respective careers. By "at the moment", he doesn't mean right at this very second, but in general at this period of time, negating any potential improvement in Clarke given his age.

That's how I took it anyway. Although I disagree really. I'd back Clarke to score more runs than Hodge regularly at test level, even current form aside.

Ok, well, in general at this point in time...he must be joking

 

[Craig]

I think the numbers of runs scored in the game would be enough evidence to say that the wicket is a batsmens paradise. That said, it's no excuse for Lee or Johnson, but i'd still back them to perform much better in fortnights time.

Well assuming Johnson is picked.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Neither is selected as an all-rounder, so in a Test match who's the better bowler is largely an irrelevant argument. With regards to fielding, Hodge is no slouch in the field, and the difference certainly isn't great enough to justify any sort of selection pressure against Hodge being in the team.

Both Clarke and Hodge's last two international OD innings have resulted in failures (Clarke with consecutive golden ducks, and Hodge with bugger all as well) so neither could be said to be in great form at the moment.

At the time of Hodge's omission from the team, there was no doubt that Hodge was in the better form of the two.

Form isn't one innings though. You may be right as far as the period when Hodge was dropped, but unfortunately they're not picking the current team based on each player's best score.

 

[Nate]

Love Noffke. Has improved out-of-sight.

 

[Nate]

Bracken doesn't get the new-pill. Lame.

EDIT: Hogg has two quick wickets, including White. Making it very hard for the selectors.

 

[Mister Wright]

Today has changed my thinking. Katich is now a big chance and Jaques would have been very uncomfortable watching it all. I also think Noffke is now a massive bolter. Considering Johnson, Lee, etc all struggled to take wickets on a batsman friendly pitch he picks up 5 and was economical, has to go someway towards increasing his chances, add to that his two digs with the bat this season have been 100-odd not out and 50. He's obviously in good form, so why not pick him. Johnson hasn't helped his chances at all.

The Courier Mail said that selectors often don't rate his wickets at the 'Gabba as they are seam friendly, can't say that about this performance.

It probably won't change the team, but they are both are big chances now.

 

[Prince EWS]

Bracken doesn't get the new-pill. Lame.

EDIT: Hogg has two quick wickets, including White. Making it very hard for the selectors.

He scored a few runs too. Could always drop Symonds and play Hogg as the allrounder plus four quicks.

 

[sideshowtim]

Today has changed my thinking. Katich is now a big chance and Jaques would have been very uncomfortable watching it all. I also think Noffke is now a massive bolter. Considering Johnson, Lee, etc all struggled to take wickets on a batsman friendly pitch he picks up 5 and was economical, has to go someway towards increasing his chances, add to that his two digs with the bat this season have been 100-odd not out and 50. He's obviously in good form, so why not pick him. Johnson hasn't helped his chances at all.

The Courier Mail said that selectors often don't rate his wickets at the 'Gabba as they are seam friendly, can't say that about this performance.

It probably won't change the team, but they are both are big chances now.

Noffke? No way. That 5fer changes nothing. 4 of the wickets came after all the damage had been done and NSW were just going the tonk. Katich was caught in the deep and 2 more of his wickets were tailenders. Noffke is no chance.

 

[mikeW]

We would be making a disgraceful choice if we went back to Katich who has been tried at test level.

 

[pup11]

But what Katich did in this game is something extraordinary and something which won't go unnoticed.

 

[mikeW]

But what Katich did in this game is something extraordinary and something which won't go unnoticed.

It was on an absolute road, it was a good performance but it shouldn't get him a birth in the test team.

 

[sideshowtim]

Katich has played some incredibly vital digs for the Aussie test team in the past. I think he was unfairly booted.

 

[mikeW]

Katich has played some incredibly vital digs for the Aussie test team in the past. I think he was unfairly booted.

Surely your not serious? He had 23 test matches and averaged just 36.

 

[howardj]

The idea is insane that a guy who has never opened, to my knowledge, in a FC game before (Katich) is going to leapfrog a guy who is a specialist (prolific) opener, and who has already scored three centuries this season (Jaques). Opening is a specialist position - just ask Hodgey.

 

[NUFAN]

Katich is an interesting case.

I've never felt like he belonged at Test Level, but clearly he doesn't belong playing in Domestic Cricket either..

 

[Speersy]

The idea is insane that a guy who has never opened, to my knowledge, in a FC game before (Katich) is going to leapfrog a guy who is a specialist (prolific) opener, and who has already scored three centuries this season (Jaques). Opening is a specialist position - just ask Hodgey.

I agree, however he did open in ODI's. Needs to score some big runs to be considered for the Indian tests, definately not the Sri Lankan ones.