***Official*** Australian Domestic Season 2008/09

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Looks like dual centuries from Hughes

You'd think NSW will declare overnight tbh, going into the last day with a massive lead. He might get, say, 5 overs to go for it, but you'd doubt Katman would put Hughes ahead of the team.

If he's in form, then take him to England with Hughes, let Jaques and Katich open, and Hughes bat at 6.

Katich would move down (probably to 6, but I reckon he should bat #4) in that situation obviously. Hughes, who's batted for all of his career at the top against Katich who's batted for most of his career in the middle.

 

[inbox24]

You'd think NSW will declare overnight tbh, going into the last day with a massive lead. He might get, say, 5 overs to go for it, but you'd doubt Katman would put Hughes ahead of the team.



Katich would move down (probably to 6, but I reckon he should bat #4) in that situation obviously. Hughes, who's batted for all of his career at the top against Katich who's batted for most of his career in the middle.

That's what I would've done originally, but since Katich's good streak at the top and considering he's even come out and said that he'd rather bat at 1 than 6, I'd be inclined to have him there. Also the fact that he's more experienced against the new ball with such a big series on the line, 6 might be an easier induction for Hughes.

 

[Spikey]

You'd think NSW will declare overnight tbh, going into the last day with a massive lead. He might get, say, 5 overs to go for it, but you'd doubt Katman would put Hughes ahead of the team.

Think Kat wil try to get the lead to 400 before declaring

 

[vic_orthdox]

That's what I would've done originally, but since Katich's good streak at the top and considering he's even come out and said that he'd rather bat at 1 than 6, I'd be inclined to have him there. Also the fact that he's more experienced against the new ball with such a big series on the line, 6 might be an easier induction for Hughes.

"Greg...Blewett"

 

[chaminda_00]

By the Ashes Warner will be scoring too many runs at six to be overlooked anyway.

 

[Nate]

"Greg...Blewett"

Haha yeah, was thinking the same thing.

 

[inbox24]

What does Greg Blewett have to do with this?

 

[vic_orthdox]

Greg Blewett battered the door down with runs opening the batting for South Australia, and then got a game at 6 for Australia. Got found out; couldn't play spin well early in his innings.

 

[chaminda_00]

What does Greg Blewett have to do with this?

He was an opening batsmen who they batted at six and it stuffed up his whole career. Even though he had a solid start. He had to change his game a lot to be successful at six. Then when he got pushed up to open and No 3, he couldn't find his old game.

 

[Redbacks]

11 wickets for Dorey, great performance, WA a real shot at making the final now.

 

[inbox24]

Well if there is a weakness, I guess it's better to be found out early so that he can work on it, instead of discovering it a couple of years down the track.

 

[vic_orthdox]

It's not really a weakness if you are opening the batting...you know, like he's done for his whole career?

 

[Kylez]

He was an opening batsmen who they batted at six and it stuffed up his whole career. Even though he had a solid start. He had to change his game a lot to be successful at six. Then when he got pushed up to open and No 3, he couldn't find his old game.

Was still a good player though. Remember he got a 200.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Better player than an average of low to mid 30s.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Well if there is a weakness, I guess it's better to be found out early so that he can work on it, instead of discovering it a couple of years down the track.

Yeah hey, not many sides in world cricket open the bowling with spinners.

 

[oldmancraigy]

Looks like dual centuries from Hughes, what a guy, can't remember the last time Australia produced such an exciting talent, we definitely should take a risk and pick him. At the beginning of the summer I'd have had Jaques in, but now not so considering he's just back, still a bit stiff and needs form. Probably give him the winter to get some solid domestic cricket in during last few months of the Australian season and beginning of the English season. If he's in form, then take him to England with Hughes, let Jaques and Katich open, and Hughes bat at 6.

Do you reckon it's a risk to pick the top batsman at the domestic level when there's an vacant position in the test team?

I always thought of that as a no-brainer.

It'd be a risk if Hughes had made some good scores and some really sketchy scores, and if his first class career was only just coming to fruition this year. But the fact is that the kid has an outstanding career FC average, he's produced at every level he's played at, and when the selectors go to a game in Newcastle to have a look at him, he pounds 150 and 82*.

At the beginning of the summer it might have been a risk, but if he gets the chance to make that 82* into 100* then he's got 5 first class centuries in 7 shield games

No risk involved - even if he plays all 3 tests and fails in all of them, it wasn't a risk to pick him - it's just unfortunate that the best batsman at domestic level didn't produce at test level.

They should take Jaques on tour too - see if he can score some runs in the lead-up game and bat Kat at 4 in that game (rest Clarke or Ponting). See how it all works out...

 

[inbox24]

Well, in terms of what the selectors have done since the big retirements, it can be considered a relative risk, because they've always stuck with names they've known especially Symonds, Lee and Johnson, even when the former two were injured and the latter was out of form against the Windies (when Bollinger was fit and ready). They've been afraid to take a risk and break the "A champion team always needs an allrounder mentality" with the selection of McDonald. So it's like they've been afraid to break the mould and take the team in a fresh direction.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

It's well worth noting that pretty much all of Hughes's FC Runs have came against the one attack this season.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Also, told ya's Katman would declare overnight.

 

[NUFAN]

Also, told ya's Katman would declare overnight.

I knew this would happen too but felt I better not write it also.