***Official*** India in Australia 2011/12

[uvelocity]

did anyone see roy symonds on indian big brother? don't know how he didn't win it tbh

 

[Andre]

With a fraction of Symonds' ability

How the **** can a guy who's career ave is 30 whilst playing home games on the world's biggest road suddenly be considered one of our 7 best batsmen?

The reasons behind his selection must have been misinterpreted

If they said, "we want an all-rounder and, with Watson injured, we were unwilling to risk far more talented but less experienced guys like Mitchell Marsh and Faulkner", I'd get it

But to have him in competition with Shaun Marsh for a batting spot is surely a joke

Yes, because numbers are everything.

Selectors should be sacked for picking anyone outside the top 6 highest career averages.

 

[Prince EWS]

With a fraction of Symonds' ability

How the **** can a guy who's career ave is 30 whilst playing home games on the world's biggest road suddenly be considered one of our 7 best batsmen?

The reasons behind his selection must have been misinterpreted

If they said, "we want an all-rounder and, with Watson injured, we were unwilling to risk far more talented but less experienced guys like Mitchell Marsh and Faulkner", I'd get it

But to have him in competition with Shaun Marsh for a batting spot is surely a joke

I definitely wouldn't say Faulkner was more talented than Christian. He's probably made a little more out of what he's got so far but he's a pretty limited players when you compare him to Christian whose problem is application and consistency more than talent.

The Christian selection is a lot of things, but conservative it's not.

 

[social]

Yes, because numbers are everything.

Selectors should be sacked for picking anyone outside the top 6 highest career averages.

No-one in their right mind would consider Christian to be SA's best batsman and I dont see the names of Klinger, Cooper or Ferguson in the Oz team

As I said, if he is supposed to be a straight replacement for Shaun Marsh then this is surely the one of the biggest joke selections in Oz test history

 

[social]

I definitely wouldn't say Faulkner was more talented than Christian. He's probably made a little more out of what he's got so far but he's a pretty limited players when you compare him to Christian whose problem is application and consistency more than talent.

The Christian selection is a lot of things, but conservative it's not.

Faulkner is miles ahead in terms of bowling talent

Christian's bowling reminds me a bit of Glenn Trimble - he's an athlete so he can get it down there with a pretty ****ty action but that's about it

 

[Prince EWS]

Faulkner is miles ahead in terms of bowling talent

Christian's bowling reminds me a bit of Glenn Trimble - he's an athlete so he can get it down there with a pretty ****ty action but that's about it

Yeah but he's been picked as a batting allrounder. Christian is even further ahead in terms of batting talent IMO, and likelihood of actually scoring any runs at Test level right now too I might add.

 

[Spikey]

well if Christian is only gonna play if Marsh is out we have to judge his selection on his batting....

 

[howardj]

No-one in their right mind would consider Christian to be SA's best batsman and I dont see the names of Klinger, Cooper or Ferguson in the Oz team

As I said, if he is supposed to be a straight replacement for Shaun Marsh then this is surely the one of the biggest joke selections in Oz test history

I agree.

Moreover, not enough is made of such utter incompetence

Out of 19 million people, these five selectors have been picked out as the experts...and then (as the experts) they come up with Christian as a straight swap specialist bat for Marsh?.

As a stop gap allrounder until Watson gets back maybe, and if he does well at six, then he applies pressure on the underperforming incumbents.

But as a straight swap for a specialist bat? Not a chance.

 

[honestbharani]

I am not sure what your point is, Howard.. You just seem to be angry at the selectors no matter what. I understand Christian may not be the best batsman going around but they are taking a punt on a guy who seems to be making some runs and bowling regularly whenever I see any scoresheet with his name... He may not be a Flintoff or whatever but at least give the guy a chance to fail. It seems obvious that he is the only batting allrounder in form over there right now and as such, they are giving him a chance. He hasn't even debuted yet, FFS.

 

[Spikey]

Out of 19 million people, these five selectors have been picked out as the experts...and then (as the experts) they come up with Christian as a straight swap specialist bat for Marsh?..

this is why you don't pick former players as selectors. if I had been picked as a selector over Rod Marsh I can ensure you Christian would not be there

 

[Top_Cat]

It's mainly because he's only come good in the back end of last season and this season. Before that, his record was abysmal.

Despite his ability to tonk, he is still a technically proficient batsman. Only thing holding him back is his temprament imo.

He is a sensational fielder, and bizarre bowler.

EDIT: I'm happy he's in the side ftr.

Yeah, Christian can bat, was the basis upon which he was recruited by SA. Clean striker, straight bat even when lofting. Always said he reminds me of Dean Jones, especially off his legs. Hasn't, until recently, been a key bat because he concentrated on his bowling mainly but he's been highly rated with the willow for ages, this year I'd wager more a fulfillment of promise than playing above himself.

He's not the most credentialled bat in the SA lineup but he's been, by miles, the best bat this year. Bowling will likely be nothing more than handy at Test level, though. Is the most likely of the allrounders going around to make an impact against Test players, I reckon.

 

[Andre]

I agree.

Moreover, not enough is made of such utter incompetence

Out of 19 million people, these five selectors have been picked out as the experts...and then (as the experts) they come up with Christian as a straight swap specialist bat for Marsh?.

As a stop gap allrounder until Watson gets back maybe, and if he does well at six, then he applies pressure on the underperforming incumbents.

But as a straight swap for a specialist bat? Not a chance.

I'm not saying its a great call, but I can see the logic if:

Hilfenhaus and Marsh play - Hilf will bowl longer and more consistent spells than Starc, lessening the need for a 5th bowler.

But, if Christian plays I'd say that Starc plays too - they'll want Starc as a strike option and Christian as a stock, balancing out the attack.

It's not outstanding logic but there is logic there.

 

[benchmark00]

I agree.

Moreover, not enough is made of such utter incompetence

Out of 19 million people, these five selectors have been picked out as the experts...and then (as the experts) they come up with Christian as a straight swap specialist bat for Marsh?.

As a stop gap allrounder until Watson gets back maybe, and if he does well at six, then he applies pressure on the underperforming incumbents.

But as a straight swap for a specialist bat? Not a chance.

Surely the thinking is easy enough to see mate?

They're unsure what the best make up of the team is. Clearly India's batting is their strength, so they are trying to cover their bases in the case that they get going and have to bowl for a long period.

They have two options: Go with Marsh in the all out hope that he's 100% fit and he makes alot of runs, OR;

They go with DC because they think they will need that extra bowler, which is the trade off of him probably not making as many runs as a specialist bat.

It's not a like-for-like replacement. If it was, they'd have Usman in the squad as cover for Marsh.

 

[howardj]

I am not sure what your point is, Howard.. You just seem to be angry at the selectors no matter what. I understand Christian may not be the best batsman going around but they are taking a punt on a guy who seems to be making some runs and bowling regularly whenever I see any scoresheet with his name... He may not be a Flintoff or whatever but at least give the guy a chance to fail. It seems obvious that he is the only batting allrounder in form over there right now and as such, they are giving him a chance. He hasn't even debuted yet, FFS.

No, I actually don't mind Christian as a swap for Watson if Christian bats at six or seven. But it's the idea that he's a straight swap for a specialist bat that I don't agree with. FWIW I think the selectors have made some good calls (bearing in mind that it was mainly the old panel that identified and first picked Cummins, Lyon and Warner) but make too many howlers for a bunch of purported experts.

 

[Spikey]

they're not experts. They're former players, who have been dropped at times, and who probably have a bit of a strong opinion re what type of cricketers are likely to succeed at test level, which may or may not be right.

 

[Sylvester]

Well given Watson hasn't been picked Christian would essentially be a straight away if Marsh is ruled out. Still don't know about picking all rounders for the sake of picking one or picking a guy that has half a season worth of good form. But good luck to him if he makes his debut, hopefully he does well as we could do with some ready made replacements for Ponting and Hussey.

 

[benchmark00]

Well given Watson hasn't been picked Christian would essentially be a straight away if Marsh is ruled out. Still don't know about picking all rounders for the sake of picking one or picking a guy that has half a season worth of good form. But good luck to him if he makes his debut, hopefully he does well as we could do with some ready made replacements for Ponting and Hussey.

Well that's the thing, the selectors obviously think that there's not another batsman in Australia at the moment who can score enough runs that it would negate the advantage DC has in terms of his ability to bowl some overs.

 

[uvelocity]

cheeqs injured?

 

[benchmark00]

cheeqs injured?

Too full from Christmas lunch iirc.

 

[Hurricane]

I am not sure what your point is, Howard.. You just seem to be angry at the selectors no matter what. I understand Christian may not be the best batsman going around but they are taking a punt on a guy who seems to be making some runs and bowling regularly whenever I see any scoresheet with his name... He may not be a Flintoff or whatever but at least give the guy a chance to fail. It seems obvious that he is the only batting allrounder in form over there right now and as such, they are giving him a chance. He hasn't even debuted yet, FFS.