**Official** New Zealand in Australia 2015

[Top_Cat]

On Klinger vs Marsh, whatever your viewpoint on their various merits and demerits as players (I'm personally sympathetic to the idea Marsh is more likely to blow an opposition team away with a series defining knock or impose himself on a contest or whatever), the inconsistency of the message being sent to blokes like Klinger is damning. Yeah you're old but keep scoring, the team needs stability so you could be the next Hussey/Rogers/Voges when a spot comes up. Well, Klinger's been scoring for years now for WA and Gloucs in all formats, a spot has come up and still the only chat about him has been coming from the fans, the majority of stuff emanating from RMarsh has been to fob off people demanding his selection and sing the praises of others. Klinger's not an arsehole so you have to wonder who's playing favourites.

Ok I don't believe it was blatantly obvious. He was a leg spin allrounder and yes he didn't come out of nowhere, and we were told he could bat a bit butI don't think anyone including yourself could have predicted this.

It was obvious to everyone who'd been following him in under-age cricket that he was a gun with the bat, though. I advocated him doing more bowling because he's so absurdly talented, I thought he could have made it as an all-rounder and still averaged 50+ with the bat but the chat about Smith being a top player has been around for a really long time.

It's been four years since Pattinson's debut, and he's only played one of his 13 tests in the last year and a half.

It's sad because those first 18 months were full of injuries, but he still played 12 test matches in them.

This injury was different. He's had to re-model his action quite a lot, get used to it, see if he was still getting the same movement and pace, etc. It's shaping up well but he's still adjusting physically so there will be some new injuries too.

 

[Spark]

Yeah it's worth recalling that he was having excellent Shield seasons at age 20, which almost never happens these days.

 

[Black_Warrior]

It was obvious to everyone who'd been following him in under-age cricket that he was a gun with the bat, though. I advocated him doing more bowling because he's so absurdly talented, I thought he could have made it as an all-rounder and still averaged 50+ with the bat but the chat about Smith being a top player has been around for a really long time.

I remember there was a lot of criticism about his selection when he was picked in the 2010 Ashes replacing Marcus North I believe. The consensus around time seemed to be that he isn't quite ready as a test batsman before he scored a 50 in the Sydney test. This not necessarily my opinion, I am just saying what the reaction was to Steve Smith back then. He was not part of the team after that Ashes.


Personally I don't know how many people could have predicted in 2010 that he would be the number 1 test batsman in the world and be Australia's captain. I have no shame in saying that there was no way I could have seen that coming. Yes since making his comeback in 2013, he stepped in as a far far improved batsman and since then his batting has only gone in one direction.

 

[Prince EWS]

Most good judges thought Smith would 'make it' as a batsman eventually. I don't think many expected what has actually unfolded though. Certainly not so quickly anyway.

 

[Spark]

To be fair, his rise has been rapid by historical standards, let alone expectations.

 

[Dan]

Pattinson is a future ATG but right now I'd lean towards Siddle unless they trust Hazlewood to bowl the big spells. We faced 155+ last test and 150 at Brisbane and did ok. It's more the hoop under lights I'm concerned about.

Patto h00ps it more than Siddle.

Either way, I see them both playing. When Hazlewood's workload was already at 'critical' before Perth, I'd be extremely surprised if he could bowl at all by Adelaide.

 

[Spark]

He looks a bit knackered too tbh.

 

[Dan]

Would have seriously considered Can-Do to Funky it up at Radelaide, if the deck is as dry as they're saying. h00p it under lights, tweak 'em during the day.

 

[Zinzan]

So combined team of the series to date.....?

Warner (c)
Burns
Williamson 5
Khawaja
Taylor
Voges
Nevill (wk)
Johnson 3
Starc 1
Southee 2
Lyon 4

Smith (12th man)

Notable mention, Marsh's bowling.

 

[Spark]

Would have seriously considered Can-Do to Funky it up at Radelaide, if the deck is as dry as they're saying. h00p it under lights, tweak 'em during the day.

i have no idea what this means

 

[Prince EWS]

i have no idea what this means

He's saying he would have picked Sandhu because he could've bowled pace in the first dig and offies in the second dig when if it breaks up.

"Can-Do" because "Can-Do Sandhu", and "Funky it up" because Colin Miller.

 

[Prince EWS]

It is an extremely Australian Domestic Cricket Thread post though

 

[Spark]

I thought there was a fringe all-rounder called Newman or something.

 

[Flem274*]

Patto h00ps it more than Siddle.

Either way, I see them both playing. When Hazlewood's workload was already at 'critical' before Perth, I'd be extremely surprised if he could bowl at all by Adelaide.

yeah was referring to Starc there. I drifted a bit. Starc or Pattinson's pace isn't the issue (though it helps them), it's the pink ball swinging everywhere that scares me. Still want Siddle for his classical third seamer role though

i have no idea what this means

dan wants sandhu to bowl offies in the day and pace at night and he's trying to be the Australian Kippax

(there can only be one dan)

 

[Prince EWS]

I reckon I could do a pretty good Kippax impersonation. He'd probably do an even better job at a Cribbage impersonation though.

 

[Flem274*]

torn between henry/doug and wagner. henry looked to be in the corridor a lot more in the second innings and will get the bounce and also hoop under lights, 2011 dougeh would have swung it miles under lights but looks like a corridor man these days which would be good during the day, and then of course we have wagner who could bowl during the day and go for reverse at any time of the game.

 

[Bahnz]

torn between henry/doug and wagner. henry looked to be in the corridor a lot more in the second innings and will get the bounce and also hoop under lights, 2011 dougeh would have swung it miles under lights but looks like a corridor man these days which would be good during the day, and then of course we have wagner who could bowl during the day and go for reverse at any time of the game.

Honestly believe it wouldn't be the worst idea to send Boult home early and play Southee, Henry and Wagner.

 

[Prince EWS]

Honestly believe it wouldn't be the worst idea to send Boult home early and play Southee, Henry and Wagner.

Just the four bowlers then? Santner in?

 

[Bahnz]

Not sure of the point of 4 seamers at Adelaide, even under lights. If Southee is back to full fitness then I don't think Santner is required though given that there's no obvious other batsmen to play at 6 and I can't see Rutherford making runs it might not be the worst idea. Still wish we had Brownlie in the squad.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah I would've picked Brownlie in Perth (instead of Craig) and I would pick Brownlie in Adelaide as well (I'd have brought Craig back here and left out a seamer). But without him I think picking five bowlers makes the most sense. I don't see Ronchi making enough runs to make post-chucking Williamson as the fifth bowler worth it tbh.