***Official*** Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series

[SirBloody Idiot]

This game has really made it tough for a fifteen man squad for the World Cup, with Tait and Hodge performing well.

I'd have to say White may just miss out if Watson and Symonds are fit.

Gilchrist
Hayden
Ponting
Clarke
Hodge
Hussey
Symonds
Watson
Lee
Johnson
McGrath
Bracken
Tait
Clark
Hogg

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

One of the stranger segues into a pop at Nicholas, but, speaking for my nation, I apologise. Now if you could just have Ian Healy humanely destroyed we'd be all sqaure.

After all the thoughts that entered my mind when Heals commentated this summer, I think I am a worse person.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

There's no way they'll pick 7 bowlers plus Watson. Massive overkill. From the above side, one of Clark or Tait will miss out in favour of White. And of course Symonds may miss out if he's not fit. Otherwise it's exactly right IMO.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

I'd probably have Clark miss out because I still think he doesn't do enough with the ball. Tait has the ability to cause trouble on a flat pitch, while Clark doesn't.

I'm still not sold on White, but if he is in the squad, he wouldn't be starting for mine.

 

[Prince EWS]

Hodge leaves the ground to massive cheers. He had scores of 0 and 1 in the series before this and has put his hand up with an outstanding hundred at his home ground.

Haha, professional stuff that...

 

[Johnners]

Tait shouldn't be going imo, he's played well in 1 game, and looked ordinary in the other. Hilfenhaus can count himself as ridiculously unlucky if Tait is selected ahead of him. Hilfenhaus has been magnificent all year in both forms. Tait on the other hand, was bowling well before his injury, and has bowled well after it, but afaic has NOT exceeded the performances of Hilfy, and it seems hugely unfair on him that Tait has suddenly jumped well ahead of him in terms of selection without really doing all that much to deserve it.

 

[Nemesis27]

Tait would have to perform well in one more international game to get the nod from me, if he doesn't then its very even indeed.

Hodge has probably sealed his place in the squad, but like Tait, I would like to see one more good performance, to be certain.

Assuming that players are in the squad because of one good performance isn't right IMO. Consistency is what its all about.

 

[Bahnz]

Have to agree. Henry, his team and the players all come across as good fellas. Do you hate the game because of the players or the players because of the game Bahnz?

Sorry this took a little while to reply with. I used to like rugby, particularly when good blokes like Andrew Merhtens and Taine Randell were playing. But a combination of the country's obssession with the sport, and the behaviour of certain individuals (especially the recent event of performing the Haka in doors in the match against Whales), has really put me off them. Oh and acting all sooky about Tuqiri's spear tackle on McCaw after what happened on the Lion's tour last year was hilariously hypocritical as well.

 

[marc71178]

Bowling attack has gone for 290+ for the 3rd time in 3 games though, a worrying sign, although i'd expect them to pull through with the goods when it really matters.

Have any of the 3 attacks been full strength though?

 

[Prince EWS]

Have any of the 3 attacks been full strength though?

I think the first one was, or was very close to.

 

[Laurrz]

awesome awesome awesome.. i love u hodgey u victorian !!!!!!!

 

[pasag]

That really would push me over the edge...

One more day till freedom

 

[Sir Redman]

**** ****ety **** it. Talk about wasting a golden opportunity. From about the 30 over mark our bowling was absolule rubbish. At least one gentle half-volley or long hop every over (usually on the first ball as well) with every other ball going for singles or twos as well.

I know it's already been mentioned, but Bond is bowling rubbish at the moment, and to be honest has been bowling poorly for the last year or so, with only cheap wickets during the slog overs propping his figures up. Off the top of my head, the last time he got a wicket in his opening spell was in the 3rd ODI vs Sri Lanka. Before that, I think he only took one in an opening spell at the Champions Trophy as well. He's not swinging the ball, the only bouncers he's bowling are those slower bouncers - which he's overdoing as well -, he's bowling no yorkers at all, he's bowling far too many balls down leg side and he's bowling no good length balls either - it's all either short of a length or its a half volley. Looks to me like he's reverted to his 'old' action a bit as well, which could make him more injury prone.



EDIT: Oh, and I've got a feeling we're going to lose on Tuesday as well, which will piss me off greatly.

 

[Laurrz]

yea the 290+ thing is the only bad thing.. our bowling attack recently... just need to go back to the good ol ways... McGrath Lee Bracken Johnson Clarke/White i think will be the attack for the finals

 

[aussie]

Tait shouldn't be going imo, he's played well in 1 game, and looked ordinary in the other.

Thats the thing with Tait though the unpredictabilty element of his bowling which is what makes the bloke so special.

Hilfenhaus can count himself as ridiculously unlucky if Tait is selected ahead of him. Hilfenhaus has been magnificent all year in both forms. Tait on the other hand, was bowling well before his injury, and has bowled well after it, but afaic has NOT exceeded the performances of Hilfy, and it seems hugely unfair on him that Tait has suddenly jumped well ahead of him in terms of selection without really doing all that much to deserve it.

All true, but Tait offers something very different & unique to the Australian attack in that he can blast blokes out & potentially & specialist death bowler, Hilfenhaus on the other hand is a swing bowler & wouldn't really add much variety to the attack if picked since Lee & Bracken especially are the main exponents of swing in the ODI side.

 

[pup11]

I think tait is being prefered over hilfenhaus because of lots of reasons. The main reason is hilfenhaus depends on swing to be effective and conditions in west indies are far from ideal for that, and hilfenhaus is at his best with the new ball which he won't get at the moment. Tait can hurry any batsman with pace and reverse the ball in the middle overs on rough tracks in WI, he is also perfect for death bowling.

 

[pup11]

I think aussies really need to have a look at their bowling three games in a row we have been hammered. Even the likes of bracken,clark and McGrath(to a lesser extent) who are expected to be economical are being too expensive. The bowling at the death has been poor and bracken and McGrath who did the job at the death to perfection are also struggling at the death now. Aussies have to bring hogg to balance things up.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think aussies really need to have a look at their bowling three games in a row we have been hammered. Even the likes of bracken,clark and McGrath(to a lesser extent) who are expected to be economical are being too expensive. The bowling at the death has been poor and bracken and McGrath who did the job at the death to perfection are also struggling at the death now. Aussies have to bring hogg to balance things up.

You Whinge about the death bowling and then suggest Hogg? Yeah, he'll bowl great at the death...

Your solution to everything is bringing in Hogg. You'd think the man batted like Bradman and bowled like Warne.

 

[Pup Clarke]

You'd think the man batted like Bradman and bowled like Warne.

No need for that.

 

[howardj]

I think Tait went a long way towards the World Cup today. I think Ponting will tell him to not even worry about swinging the ball. If he can bowl as fast, as full and as straight as he did today, he'll be a massive weapon. It wasn't just his figures, but the way he bowled. I think it now may fall to Clark to produce something special to dislodge a slightly fading Johnson for the fifth quick spot for the World Cup.