***Official*** NatWest Series/Challenge

[FaaipDeOiad]

Watson playing and a few other selections are not the answer.

Don't know what fault anyone could really find with Watson based on last night. He batted decently after a rusty start, and bowled pretty well I thought. If he hadn't taken some stick from Pietersen at the end his figures would have been very nice indeed. He's clearly being groomed as a death bowler, and has been working on his slower ball and his yorkers a lot.

 

[marc71178]

i dont think his bowling is that bad looking at what he did in SA, i'm not saying it was fantastic but in my opinion it was good enough for him to warrant a place instead of Wasting Solanki at 8

He's a tendency to deliver a 15-20 run over - I'd rather go with the better fielder and batsman in that case.

 

[marc71178]

come on not that Hogg has been a horrible player for Australia since coming into the team. He has had his days in ODI his good WC, 5 Fors vs SRI, WI, performances vs NZ last season and yesterday come to mind.

He hasn't carried his good Domestic batting ability into ODI cricket but his 71 vs ENG and 64 vs WI are innings that were played under pressure. All adds up to his worth in the aussie ODI team.

If he were English he would be picked infront of Gilo without doubt

You reckon, because I disagree - Giles has a lot more control.

Besides, all I was doing was saying why he isn't world class.

 

[andyc]

when symonds comes back from suspension, who do you think he will replace? hogg, or watson? watson, surely...

 

[marc71178]

Right on the money.

Funnily enough, having watched the game last night, I awoke this morning confident that Australia would win the Ashes comfortably. Despite losing a few games, they are improving and should have won last nights' game comfortably despite Kaspa and Gillespie being woefully out of form.

England, on the other hand, are winning but have problems IMO.

Trescothick and Strauss were comprehensively done over by McGrath on a very flat wicket. Whilst there's no disgrace in that, the fact that he'd revealed his game plan to all and sundry and then carried it out to the letter should be cause for concern.

Vaughan played a gutsy knock but is a shadow of the player that last toured Aus. He should have been dismissed in single figures last night.

Collingwood and Solanki are magnificent fieldsmen but barely serviceable batsmen. If either of them play a test, England's in real trouble.

Flintoff and KP are magnificent strikers but are incredibly average players of spin. If Brad Hogg can confound them, imagine what Warne will do.

Jones is simply not test class as keeper/batsman.

The spin cupboard is bare apart from Giles who is no great threat anyway.

Jon Lewis is not test class.

Simon Jones is average.

Australia does have its problems (Ponting's captaincy was diabolical as was the form of Kaspa and Gillespie) but, as a team, they gave a much better effort.

Collingwood, Solanki and Lewis are very unlikely to get near the Test side.

Not sure what you're basing your talk of Simon Jones on, but it's fine for everyone to keep ignoring him IMO - he's potentially the surprise key to the series.

 

[marc71178]

Long term i would go for Anderson

No shock there, from a Lancashire fan.

 

[marc71178]

Only the Pom selectors would deny Pietersen a Test place. He was astonishing last night.

Go on then, who do you drop from the side to fit him in?

Yes, he's scored runs in ODIs, but his 4 day form this season is decidedly patchy, hence he's not in the Test side yet.

 

[andyc]

Won`t somebody think of the children?

Well played England, deserved winners. Ponting as captain, Watson playing and a few other selections are not the answer. With Brett back however, we`ll be in business. Can`t really gather myself to say much. Hogg came back awesomely.

your prediction of a hogg four-for wasn't far off at all mate

 

[marc71178]

With Gough, Harmison, Tremlett/Jones, Flintoff and Giles though, that's 50 quality overs, something every team in ODIs should be striving for. Picking a mediocre specialist batsman like Solanki as a number 8 makes no sense at all.

The thing is, in the absense of Giles, (and with Swann injured I believe) - it's a better option to have him then any other player - he adds batting and fielding.

 

[chaminda_00]

Go on then, who do you drop from the side to fit him in?

Yes, he's scored runs in ODIs, but his 4 day form this season is decidedly patchy, hence he's not in the Test side yet.

Probably Bell, cus KP has a better FC Class record overall. But in saying that by the time the Test comes around he could be out of form anf Bell could have scored a century to win the NatWest Challenge. Bell in the ODI sqaud isn't he?

 

[Adamc]

Probably Bell, cus KP has a better FC Class record overall. But in saying that by the time the Test comes around he could be out of form anf Bell could have scored a century to win the NatWest Challenge. Bell in the ODI sqaud isn't he?

No.

 

[marc71178]

Bell isn't in the squad no.

I can't see the selectors dropping him for Pietersen, it's not as if he's done anything wrong since being called up.

 

[chaminda_00]

Bell isn't in the squad no.

I can't see the selectors dropping him for Pietersen, it's not as if he's done anything wrong since being called up.

Well the situation looks similar to Katich, he did nothing wrong when in the Test side, but the selectors went for Symonds on the back of his ODI form. But the England selectors have a different mindset to the Australia, their loyal to their players.

 

[andyc]

Well the situation looks similar to Katich, he did nothing wrong when in the Test side, but the selectors went for Symonds on the back of his ODI form. But the England selectors have a different mindset to the Australia, their loyal to their players.

hey! you make it sound like the australian selectors are stupid b*****ds! oh wait...

 

[Adamc]

hey! you make it sound like the australian selectors are stupid b*****ds! oh wait...

Don't worry, we've got Merv now! Oh dear....

 

[chaminda_00]

Don't worry, we've got Merv now! Oh dear....

Atleast that gives you a fast bowler on the panel, you might get rid of the stupid rotation policy

 

[Nate]

your prediction of a hogg four-for wasn't far off at all mate

Still wrong, mind.

I just love watching him bowl. Some excellent deliveries.

 

[Nate]

Atleast that gives you a fast bowler on the panel, you might get rid of the stupid rotation policy

It won`t be stupid when they get rid of it and our players get injured.

 

[howardj]

Go on then, who do you drop from the side to fit him in?

Yes, he's scored runs in ODIs, but his 4 day form this season is decidedly patchy, hence he's not in the Test side yet.

Oh for God's sake, you're a troll. He's proven what he can do in FC cricket - isn't an average of over 50 good enough for you? Big deal if, in a few FC matches this year, he hasn't excelled. HE HAS PROVEN HIMSELF IN FC CRICKET. Every time he has been tested, he has excelled. Tested on the County circuit - averages over 50. Tested in International cricket - absolutely excelled and dominated.

As for how he gets in the side....as Ian Chappell (who knows a little about cricket) suggested, drop Trescothick- a man who will not succeed against Australia. Vaughan gets promoted to opener (a position where he flayed Australia) and Pietersen slots into the middle order. For goodness sake, be bold and acknowledge the absolutely outstanding performances of this man, with a place in Test squad.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

As for how he gets in the side....as Ian Chappell (who knows a little about cricket) suggested, drop Trescothick- a man who will not succeed against Australia. Vaughan gets promoted to opener (a position where he flayed Australia) and Pietersen slots into the middle order. For goodness sake, be bold and acknowledge the absolutely outstanding performances of this man, with a place in Test squad.

So...breaking up the Tresco & Strauss opening partnership yet to fail in Test cricket? No thanks.