TumTum
Banned
That's just what I was thinking. Also I don't like the idea of a 4 man pace attack, sounds very risky to me, might as well have all the bases covered in case of any surprises.
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*Official* First Test at the Gabba
- Thread starter James
- Start date
That's just what I was thinking. Also I don't like the idea of a 4 man pace attack, sounds very risky to me, might as well have all the bases covered in case of any surprises.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
To be fair to Doherty and his awful First Class bowling record, he's improved a lot. He didn't play at all in 2007/08 and only played a couple of games in 2008/09. Since his recall at the end of last season as Tasmania's number one Sheffield Shield spinner he's taken 21 FC wickets for Tasmania @ 25.76 - which is honestly a lot more than Hauritz was picked on. In the same time period (last two seasons of the Shield) O'Keefe's taken 22 FC wickets for NSW @ 26.31. There's very little in it. His action has visibly improved too.
I'd pick O'Keefe too for several other reasons (batting, fielding, Australia A performances, decreased likelihood of it being a purple patch) but in the time period O'Keefe's made a name for himself, Doherty's been good too and he's been awesome in one day cricket for a while (which I don't care about but the selectors always have).
I'd pick O'Keefe too for several other reasons (batting, fielding, Australia A performances, decreased likelihood of it being a purple patch) but in the time period O'Keefe's made a name for himself, Doherty's been good too and he's been awesome in one day cricket for a while (which I don't care about but the selectors always have).
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social
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Trouble is our spin options are **** and the Gabba has literally only suited a couple of spinners in history, let alone in a wet summer like this one
Pick the 4 best bowlers and be done with it
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Well at this point I'd almost be in favour of the absolute cop-out pick. Pick Smith as "the spinner" but realistically only pick him for his batting, use Watson as the fourth bowler and turn to Smith/North only if Plan A doesn't work.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Well what if Watson's one of our best four bowlers for the conditions?
Ruckus
International Captain
Most fast bowlers can get seam movement, but generally he doesn't get enough to cause many problems. Obviously just have to agree to disagree about Watson. If he is given a fair share of overs, there is no reason he couldn't take the most wickets at the Gabba given his current good form with the ball (took a 5-for the other day), his overall FC average (better than any of the otheres in the squad) and the fact that last time he played at the Gabba he was causing plenty of problems.
If Doherty is playing though, then I doubt Watson will get bowled very much...
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
I actually think Watson's a lot more likely to get a proper bowl if Doherty's playing than if Siddle plays instead. Obviously he'd get through the most overs if Smith was playing, though.
Ruckus
International Captain
AWTA. Listening to the commentary team, that's clearly what the popular strategy is as well. Unfortunately it won't happen lol...
TumTum
Banned
Unless it starts reversing, then he will be our biggest weapon. And I think Ponting knows this too.
social
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
He may well be but cant be relied upon (nor should he be btw) to bowl 20 overs a day
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
I thought that too, but if he was willing to play as a third seamer for NSW and bowl those sort of overs I don't see why Australia can't use him in a similar role. He wouldn't have been used as he was for NSW if the staff weren't confident in his fitness and ability to back up.
Ruckus
International Captain
Yeah I agree, but if either Siddle or Doherty is playing I don't think he will be called upon any more than usual (unless of course Doherty is destroyed and taken off indefinately, but I doubt that will happen).
social
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Why would you doubt that?
After all, spinners have taken the grand total of ONE wicket in fc cricket in Queensland this year (and that was by the renowned club bowler, Nathan Michael Hauritz
) and if you were going to attack anybody, it would be a debutant with no record to speak of rather than any of 3 85+ mph bowlers operating in favourable conditions
GotSpin
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
howardj
International Coach
At the risk of having the broken record jpeg inserted after this post, I am concerned as a lover of Australian cricket that we are now ranked 5th in the world and yet continue to pick the same team. Especially when the reason for many of our loses over the course of the last 18 months has been a recurring one, namely our frail batting. It's distressing to draw with Pakistan for example, and I don't think things like this are really clicking with the inner sanctum, really stinging like I hoped they would.