*Official* Fifth Test at The Oval

[grecian]

ignore.

 

[Prince EWS]

I will say this about Faulkner - which his First Class bowling record greatly flatters him, he is a slightly better bat than his First Class record indicates.

Lots has been said about him being a "bowling allrounder" and while that's what he's performed as so far and that's usually been the role Tasmania have used him in, he's always been thought of as someone who had much more potential with the bat than that. I think he's viewed by the CA hierarchy at the moment as someone roughly as good with the bat as the ball. As a youth cricketer he was seen as someone who could bat six and be the fifth bowler in limited overs matches, for example, and Tasmania did try him at five and six early on before his batting failures and jammy bowling saw him slide down the order. Of late he's really started to show some more of that batting ability though, cementing his place ahead of Butterworth, Gulbis and (when selected) Krejza in the Tasmanian batting lineup, finishing the season with a pretty respectable batting average despite playing on some dog wickets early on and then scoring some runs on this tour.

He's obviously not even near good enough to play as a batsman in this side or even as a batting allrounder but I actually do think his batting ceiling is every bit as high as his bowling ceiling, even though it says as much about how sceptical I am about his bowling as it does about his batting. I wouldn't be that surprised if he scored a 50 here and surprised some people with how neat his technique looked which is partly why I think his selection is actually so dangerous; if he does something like that he could retain his spot for the live matches coming up, which would be disastrous.

 

[MW1304]

This is interesting, although no indication of whether Woakes is in for Bairstow or they're resting Jimmy.

 

[Spikey]

Does Warne rate Faulkner at all? Not really talked about him.

said it before, i'll say it again: Warne will throw Quiney's name out there as an option at some point in this test match.

 

[Pothas]

Creep

Really not sure about these debuts. Yet it's right Woakes get's a go with the red ball I suppose, as that's where his best bowling comes from, not convinced myself though, that he's an International cricketer.

Kerrigan doesn't excite me either, would have rather had Monty, despite all the problems.

Yet we'll see prove me wrong boys.

It is all really strange. Not going a massive problem with it or anything it just odd.

 

[King Pietersen]

Yeah, that's the way I anticipate they'll go. Interesting selection. Prior forced to move up to six might be a bit of a disaster.

Nice to see Twatto batting at 3, been calling for it all series. I'm still convinced that Warner, Rogers, Watson, Hughes, Clarke and Smith is the Australian strongest batting line-up right now.

 

[Maximas]

said it before, i'll say it again: Warne will throw Quiney's name out there as an option at some point in this test match.

ahead of S Marsh?

 

[Spikey]

I wouldn't be that surprised if he scored a 50 here and surprised some people with how neat his technique looked which is partly why I think his selection is actually so dangerous; if he does something like that he could retain his spot for the live matches coming up, which would be disastrous.

this is the major worry I have.

 

[ajdude]

ignore.

legitimately thought you were being facetious with this haha.

 

[benchmark00]

Faulkner's technique is pretty compact. He's like Siddle with a few more shots. As I said, he'd be a decent enough number 8 if he could bowl in white clothed cricket.

 

[Spikey]

Place your bets: James Faulkner v Chris Woakes

Woakes to nab more wickets, Faulkner runs.

 

[benchmark00]

ignore.

Never a problem with your posts ****.

 

[benchmark00]

Will say it now, I've never ever seen Simon Kerrigan bowl a ball in my life. But if Tangy's a fan then he's ok in my book.

 

[NUFAN]

During that final he predominately played against seam bowlers. Hauritz in fact only bowled 14 out of close to 100 overs for the innings.

He batted both innings. I've watched him on the stream too boi. I'm not saying that Faulkner is without doubt up to the task of handling Swann perfectly or any of the English bowlers, especially in his debut Test but I would be disappointed if he doesn't put a high price on his wicket.

 

[grecian]

legitimately thought you were being facetious with this haha.

Nah, I hadn't read back, noticed some had mentioned Woakes for JB. I just thought he'd be like-for-like with Bres when I first read he was making his debut.

I was all excited for these debutants, who surely will bestride World Cricket for decades

 

[MW1304]

Tbh I like this selection simply because it's nice to see new players in the team. We can't assess how good they'll be in one game but it will be interesting to have a look. Also happy Bairstow's been dropped.

 

[Pothas]

Yeah, that's the way I anticipate they'll go. Interesting selection. Prior forced to move up to six might be a bit of a disaster.

Yeah of all the times to put him up to 6 and they go for when he is in no form at all.

I think we can safelty assume this particualr balance of side is a one off and they just want to see how Kerrigan and Woakes go before picking the touring squad.

 

[Maximas]

makes more sense for england to **** around with their line-up than Australia, I feel there is still something on the line here though, 3-1 looks much better than 4-0, plus it's the last test, it's the last thing either side will remember before Brisbane

 

[NUFAN]

Faulkner's technique is pretty compact. He's like Siddle with a few more shots. As I said, he'd be a decent enough number 8 if he could bowl in white clothed cricket.

Is it really any wonder why I rate him? But yeah compact is a good word. I think Faulkner has a game which similar to someone like Adam Voges too, without the execution and talent to bat for long periods so far in his career.

BTW, what a shot against Hauritz :P

 

[theegyptian]

Surprised England thought they could play this team given Priors batting. I know people here are decent fans of Woakes batting but I still don't think he is a 6 or 7.

The oval has been a two spinner wicket the whole season. Nothing in it for the seamers so I'd of gone Anderson, Broad, Swann, Kerrigan if I wanted to play two spinners rather than bringing in the third seamer.