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

[Top_Cat]

The chase for a leftie as being an essential member of the attack is a long-standing fail. It even jagged Brendan Julian some Tests.... Dark day for Test cricket.

Has to be the right kind of leftie though, of course. Won't remind everyone of the epic spit by Andre and me when Bracken was picked ahead of Inness. We're pillars of the CW community, I tell ya, and we were right!

 

[Burgey]

Obviously not having a left armer was a real weakness of the Windies attack in the 80s, and ours in the 1990s and 2000s.

No, you pick your best bowlers is what I'm getting at. There was a period where they wouldn't pick two lefties because, apparently, they were lefties. It's stupid thinking either way.

 

[vic_orthdox]

No, you pick your best bowlers is what I'm getting at. There was a period where they wouldn't pick two lefties because, apparently, they were lefties. It's stupid thinking either way.

Am agreeing with you ftr. Just making a roughly connected point.

 

[Spikey]

The chase for a leftie as being an essential member of the attack is a long-standing fail. It even jagged Brendan Julian some Tests.... Dark day for Test cricket.

Has to be the right kind of leftie though, of course. Won't remind everyone of the epic spit by Andre and me when Bracken was picked ahead of Inness. We're pillars of the CW community, I tell ya, and we were right!

On the other hand, not being biased towards left handers could have led to Brad Williams playing a couple more tests......

 

[BeeGee]

India in Australia 2011-12: Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ben Hilfenhaus named for Boxing Day | Cricket News | Australia v India | ESPN Cricinfo

Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey remain part of the Test team despite poor displays in Hobart and advancing years, Inverarity speaking of their value to the dressing room as a critical factor in their continued retention.

So being a good bloke to have around the dressing room is now a path to selection?

"They've both been wonderful cricketers, they are wonderful cricketers, and terrific men and provide a lot for the side,"

Except runs.

...he said. "We all on the selection panel are keen for them to do well.

A true insight into the selection process.

...We're hoping they have a breakthrough in the next week or two.

Whatever you say about these selectors, you've got to admire the rock solid confidence they have in their decisions.

...They offer a tremendous amount to the side."

Except runs.

 

[Prince EWS]

No, you pick your best bowlers is what I'm getting at. There was a period where they wouldn't pick two lefties because, apparently, they were lefties. It's stupid thinking either way.

Yeah, that was pretty much the stupidest thing ever. I can *almost* understand going for one left armer instead of having three right armers if the left armer is roughly as good as the third right armer as that *does* give variation, but how is 2 left armers and 1 right armer any less variation than 1 left armer and 2 right armers? It's particularly stupid when half the world's Test top order are left handed bats anyway FFS.

 

[Andre]

Won't remind everyone of the epic spit by Andre and me when Bracken was picked ahead of Inness. We're pillars of the CW community, I tell ya, and we were right!

Fact.

Still burning about it too.

 

[Andre]

Yeah, that was pretty much the stupidest thing ever. I can *almost* understand going for one left armer instead of having three right armers if the left armer is roughly as good as the third right armer as that *does* give variation, but how is 2 left armers and 1 right armer more or less variation than 1 left armer and 2 right armers? It's particularly stupid when half the world's Test top order are left handed bats anyway FFS.

Yeah, this. If 2 bowlers are pretty similar ability/form wise makes some sense to pick the one that offers something slightly different.

But there is still a responsibility to pick the best attack to take 20 wickets, and if every bowler was fit in Australia at the moment I don't think there would be a left armer justifying a spot ahead of Harris, Pattinson, Cummins, Siddle and possibly Mark Cameron.

 

[Spikey]

expect for dougeh, of course

 

[smash84]

India in Australia 2011-12: Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ben Hilfenhaus named for Boxing Day | Cricket News | Australia v India | ESPN Cricinfo



So being a good bloke to have around the dressing room is now a path to selection?



Except runs.



A true insight into the selection process.



Whatever you say about these selectors, you've got to admire the rock solid confidence they have in their decisions.



Except runs.

 

[social]

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.

I can understand the rationale but not the player they've selected

IMO, it's the equivalent of picking a crap spinner because we must have one in the team and we'd never do that

Oh wait ................

 

[stephen]

I can understand the rationale but not the player they've selected

IMO, it's the equivalent of picking a crap spinner because we must have one in the team and we'd never do that

Oh wait ................

A spinner will almost always offer more to a side than a fourth quick. Particularly on the flatter tracks of today. The bad rationale is not picking a second spinner when your second spinner is the second best bowler available for selection (ala Ashes '05).

 

[benchmark00]

I can understand the rationale but not the player they've selected

IMO, it's the equivalent of picking a crap spinner because we must have one in the team and we'd never do that

Oh wait ................

So which batting allrounder would you have ahead of Christian?

 

[Prince EWS]

So which batting allrounder would you have ahead of Christian?

Katich!

 

[stephen]

I actually don't mind the squad. Sure, I think that Ponting should not be playing and Khawaja should be there in his place, but other than that, I'm not sure that there were any better choices really.

There really aren't any batsmen beating down the door at the moment that haven't been picked.

 

[social]

So which batting allrounder would you have ahead of Christian?

If there isnt anyone good enough for selection, then you dont pick one

My argument against Christian is that he simply isnt good enough

He's not good enough to bat 6 and his bowling is rank

He's not even good enough to be picked for the national side in the shorter formats and he is much more suited to those

IMO, they would've been much better off picking someone like Katich who is at least a proven run-scorer and can bowl some handy overs

Unfortunately, it's unlikely that Christian will do either

 

[benchmark00]

If there isnt anyone good enough for selection, then you dont pick one

My argument against Christian is that he simply isnt good enough

He's not good enough to bat 6 and his bowling is rank

He's not even good enough to be picked for the national side in the shorter formats and he is much more suited to those

IMO, they would've been much better off picking someone like Katich who is at least a proven run-scorer and can bowl some handy overs

Unfortunately, it's unlikely that Christian will do either

How much of Christians batting in the Sheffield Shield have you seen this year?

 

[andyc]

Whatever you say about these selectors, you've got to admire the rock solid confidence they have in their decisions.

TBF their mention about Ponting and Hussey coming good 'in a week or two' at least suggests that they have discussed getting rid of them. Kinda suggests that they'll get the first one or two Tests and then be given the boot. Or maybe I'm just doing some wishful thinking.

 

[Sylvester]

So what happens if Cowan, Marsh/Christian perform, Hussey/Ponting fail and Watson is fit?

 

[Spikey]

we drop warner.