Or pick Crosswaite who can sock a few dingers!You know it's funny; I've felt Paine to be over-rated ever since he played those Tests in India and everyone jumped on the bandwagon (I was actually always a big fan of him before then, more just as a cricketer with potential though), but over the last couple of weeks I've started to think that it might not be such a bad idea to have him in the side over Wade once Haddin goes if he's fit. He's not as good an overall batsman as Haddin or Wade but I've been coming more and more around to the idea that Australia don't need someone who can score big runs from #7, but more someone who can score consistent runs at #7. Paine gets a lot of starts due to his tight technique but doesn't convert due to only God knows why but having consistent 30s from the position would probably be more beneficial in preventing collapses than having a North-like creature there. And as soon as I start entertaining those thoughts, the news of his injury complication hits; can't take a trick.
Or we could just pick Nev who does both.
Was going to mention Nev until you brought his name up. There really is no reason why Paine should be a shoe in for the spot. In Nevill and Wade we have any excuses the selectors can come up with covered well apart from the captaincy thing but that is for another thread.You know it's funny; I've felt Paine to be over-rated ever since he played those Tests in India and everyone jumped on the bandwagon (I was actually always a big fan of him before then, more just as a cricketer with potential though), but over the last couple of weeks I've started to think that it might not be such a bad idea to have him in the side over Wade once Haddin goes if he's fit. He's not as good an overall batsman as Haddin or Wade but I've been coming more and more around to the idea that Australia don't need someone who can score big runs from #7, but more someone who can score consistent runs at #7. Paine gets a lot of starts due to his tight technique but doesn't convert due to only God knows why but having consistent 30s from the position would probably be more beneficial in preventing collapses than having a North-like creature there. And as soon as I start entertaining those thoughts, the news of his injury complication hits; can't take a trick.
Or we could just pick Nev who does both.
well ponting used to have an amazing conversion rate and now he has a dire, dire one.Ponting will play because he has a godly record against India at home and absolutely nothing in his batting has changed since 2003 except his form.
He's made 2 fifties in the last few tests! he's back in form.......Doesn't even have a conversion rate any more. Need to get to 50 before talking about what happens after.
If some **** doesn't tap Ponting on the shoulder this week I'll post plenty more.Post more FFS
Eh, start now. We all know what's coming.If some **** doesn't tap Ponting on the shoulder this week I'll post plenty more.
^ This is all good & well, of course the only problem is barring Clarke, none of the Aussie batsmen have really fired a shot in the last month or so.The State versus Ricky Ponting
My closing addresss....
Of his past 17 innings, 11 have been 16 or under.
His past seven series averages have been 24, 24, 56, 16, 31, 17 and 33 – so that’s one series where he has averaged over 33
This calendar year he is averaging 24
The two calendar years before this, he averaged in the 30s.
So they are picking Ponting on a memory of what he was like three years ago…they’re certainly not picking him based on his performance during that period.
He is 37 years of age – do you get better at that age?
It beggars belief - considering guys like Border, Healy, SWaugh and even McGrath were given ‘the tap’ from the selectors – that they haven’t ‘called time’ on Ponting.
We keep picking the same failed batsmen – Ponting, Hussey (averaging 12 in the last two series) and Haddin – and keep getting the same results; the same batting collapses.
Look what’s happened when we’ve gone young with guys like Cummins, Pattinson and Warner…those guys have been man of the match in our last three Tests.
Moreover, young guys have scope for improvement in a way that guys in their mid 30s simply do not. At that age, bar Tendulkar, you generally decline or at best stagnate.
He's been a great servant, but Ponting (and at least one of Hussey and Haddin) has to go… right now!
The selectors have to be cut-throat, they have to be strong and put the team first.
You should make some posts about it then IMO; haven't seen that stat mentioned by you at all...still think the most damning stat is the 50's v 100's.
I don't necessarily agree. You could say it proves he's not just "not hitting them well" but poor form can be more than that; I think it's often more psychological than anything (not saying that's the case with Ponting ftr).cause i mean for it proves he's not in bad form, he's in a decline.
running with it until everyone else picks it up ala Siddle and MJ can't play in the same team tbhYou should make some posts about it then IMO; haven't seen that stat mentioned by you at all...
That was so frustrating. It could have been Mitch and Clarke can't be in the same team, or anyone else. It was all Johnson's fault.running with it until everyone else picks it up ala Siddle and MJ can't play in the same team tbh
Nev:You know it's funny; I've felt Paine to be over-rated ever since he played those Tests in India and everyone jumped on the bandwagon (I was actually always a big fan of him before then, more just as a cricketer with potential though), but over the last couple of weeks I've started to think that it might not be such a bad idea to have him in the side over Wade once Haddin goes if he's fit. He's not as good an overall batsman as Haddin or Wade but I've been coming more and more around to the idea that Australia don't need someone who can score big runs from #7, but more someone who can score consistent runs at #7. Paine gets a lot of starts due to his tight technique but doesn't convert due to only God knows why but having consistent 30s from the position would probably be more beneficial in preventing collapses than having a North-like creature there. And as soon as I start entertaining those thoughts, the news of his injury complication hits; can't take a trick.
Or we could just pick Nev who does both.