I dunno i'm not completely sold that Noffke is good enough as a #6 batsman.. i know he's been averaging in the 60s this season.. but ... hasnt he always just been a bowler who is a handy tailender? He must be an allrounder ...but a bowling allrounder rather..Whatever you might think it can't be denied that he would be far more handy compared to Symonds in the current Australian test team.
Given the strength of the Australian top and middle order i think they can afford to take a few risks rather than taking the conservative approach, Symonds batting at 6 is not very likely to play a match-winning knock too often (because he is not a test class batsman and is more than likely to fail when the going gets tough) its the Australian bowling that looks a bit light after Warne and McGrath's retirements meaning it won't be too easy to get those 20 wickets anymore and Noffke is more than likely to strengthen the Australian bowling, so he is certainly an option that should be seriously looked at.I dunno i'm not completely sold that Noffke is good enough as a #6 batsman.. i know he's been averaging in the 60s this season.. but ... hasnt he always just been a bowler who is a handy tailender? He must be an allrounder ...but a bowling allrounder rather..
mayb another season succesfully with the bat and i'll see
true.. but the Aussie top and middle order is prone to fault at timesGiven the strength of the Australian top and middle order i think they can afford to take a few risks rather than taking the conservative approach, Symonds batting at 6 is not very likely to play a match-winning knock too often (because he is not a test class batsman and is more than likely to fail when the going gets tough) its the Australian bowling that looks a bit light after Warne and McGrath's retirements meaning it won't be too easy to get those 20 wickets anymore and Noffke is more than likely to strengthen the Australian bowling, so he is certainly an option that should be seriously looked at.
Plenty. I could tell you Noffke is no more than a decent lower-order bat without even needing to take a second look.
I'm not so convinced with out attack. We are lucky Lee had a fantastic series, hope he can back it up. Stu Clark is always going to take wickets, but I think he is showing signs this year of being just a good bowler rather then his exceptional start to his Test Career.true.. but the Aussie top and middle order is prone to fault at times
and Gilly is a lot less likely to fail than in the past
i think Symo can play a matchwinning knock but.. he's the type of batsman that when gets going, can push the field back.. hasn't had the chance yet this summer of course..
i think if our attack struggles to get 20 wickets then it will be considered..but tbh the 4 did a good job v Lanka .. was only Sangakkara brilliance that thwarted them on a pitch doing very little... (and basically it was 3 bowlers with MacGill bowling about 20 full tosses)
in saying that, the value of a bowling allrounder can be oh so deadly.. it is tempting (Y)
Yeah, I meant a few wickets per innings.Would hope Noffke (say he were to be picked to bat seven) would be aiming for more than "taking a few wickets" TBH.
As he's a genuine bowler, not a Symonds-type batsman who bowls a bit.
yea the more i think about it the more i like the idea of having a bowling allrounder thereI'm not so convinced with out attack. We are lucky Lee had a fantastic series, hope he can back it up. Stu Clark is always going to take wickets, but I think he is showing signs this year of being just a good bowler rather then his exceptional start to his Test Career.
Johnson doesn't appear to be the type of player to run through a batting lineup. He's ok and did quite well, but the jury is still out on him.
MacGill needs to be fit, and I thought it was a pretty interesting move for him to say that he can't get the good players out anymore, that's not a good thing leading into a series against India.
I really like the idea that our number 7 (Gilly at 6) has the potential to take a few wickets. I don't care if one of the bowlers is under utilized if we run through a lineup, who cares? There are more times that are batters are under utilized, because really there isn't any difference in making 6 dec 550 or all out 550.
We still need a spinner to get through the overs and give some variation, particularly on the current MCG wicket. With the order I posted above we have a batting lineup which would easily compare to our current lineup and a bowling attack which is superior.Hogg will get slaughtered against Indian batsmen in form. Pick 4 seamers, one of Tait/Noffke will just have to consider themselves unlucky to miss out afaic.
I agree that Symonds has done no wrong, but sometimes the hard decisions need to be made for the good of the team. I'm a huge Symonds fan, but Australia should be fielding the team most likely to win them the test match, which I feel is the one I posted.Thing is, as much as I'd like to agree with you, Symonds has done nothing wrong his past 3/4 test matches, and won't be dropped barring injury. Meaning, that really only the 4th bowling spot is up for grabs, and afaic having Noffke or Tait as the 4th bowling option makes the team a whole lot better than having Hogg as our 4th.
Symo is still better with the bat i recn... plus in the field too (well im assuming..)I agree that Symonds has done no wrong, but sometimes the hard decisions need to be made for the good of the team. I'm a huge Symonds fan, but Australia should be fielding the team most likely to win them the test match, which I feel is the one I posted.