*Official* Second Test at Lord's

[Cabinet96]

Yeah, not good enough to be a specialist bat anyway so probably needs to become an all rounder to justify his place long term.

On the other hand, it's probably more useful for Australia for him to become a good test batsman than a handy bits and pieces cricketer.

 

[social]

left arm legspin, just as difficult

More difficult if anything

 

[Magrat Garlick]

England's session then?

 

[Manee]

On the other hand, it's probably more useful for Australia for him to become a good test batsman than a handy bits and pieces cricketer.

Surely it is not necessary to trade off batting and bowling ability like one has a finite amount of skill points he has to assign?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

On the other hand, it's probably more useful for Australia for him to become a good test batsman than a handy bits and pieces cricketer.

Flintoff was never good enough as a test top 6 bat and in his early days was nowhere near good enough as a bowler. Being an all rounder gave him time to develop into the top bowler he became. No reason why Smith can't do the same but obviously as a spinner. The basics are there he just needs to believe in himself as a bowler.

 

[Manee]

well this game and series are basically over as a contest. oh well

Unless Australia call-up some people and drastically change the side, I agree. I'm not even sure there is anyone who has been left out who can bring changes. I think Bird and Lyon should play, but how much can they add? There are not sheer quality batsmen who have been left out.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Surely it is not necessary to trade off batting and bowling ability like one has a finite amount of skill points he has to assign?

Various video games have taught me that is how sporting ability works.

 

[Ruckus]

well this game and series are basically over as a contest. oh well

how important does that first game result look now. We'd be laughing if we had won it...1-1 going into the third, who cares! Think we'll still prob pull out a win somewhere (probably a dead rubber), but 5-0 actually doesn't look all too unlikely now.

 

[Ruckus]

Unless Australia call-up some people and drastically change the side, I agree. I'm not even sure there is anyone who has been left out who can bring changes. I think Bird and Lyon should play, but how much can they add? There are not sheer quality batsmen who have been left out.

Selection issues are pretty much a non-issue now for me. This is pretty much the best we can put on the table. It's now just time to accept we aren't a good team. It happens.

 

[Cabinet96]

Surely it is not necessary to trade off batting and bowling ability like one has a finite amount of skill points he has to assign?

No, but you do have a certain amount of training time you can devot to working on your game. By simply focusing all his attention on his batting, he's far more likely to improve it than if he's only giving it half of his attention because of the leg breaks.

 

[social]

Panesar has his moments

He is averaging 40 this year whilst the third choice is averaging 85 in second division

Pretty bare cupboard after Swann

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Have to say the one Aussie player I feel sorry for is Harris. Gave his all in that first innings and looks totally out on his feet now. Can't be easy after so many injuries to be back in the field so quickly with no proper rest and be expected to do it all again. Clearly he will only play one of the back to back 3rd and 4th tests as he isn't fit enough to play both but which one do they play him in?

 

[social]

Selection issues are pretty much a non-issue now for me. This is pretty much the best we can put on the table. It's now just time to accept we aren't a good team. It happens.

Our batting is Bangladesh plus Clarke and that wont change for a while

 

[Ruckus]

I feel sorry for most of the bowlers tbh (well maybe not Patto cause he hasn't been himself this test). Have done the hard work only to be let down monumentally by the batsmen again.

 

[Pothas]

He is averaging 40 this year whilst the third choice is averaging 85 in second division

Pretty bare cupboard after Swann

If Kerrigan was Australian you would probably be saying what a fantastic bowler he is going to be.

 

[Manee]

Selection issues are pretty much a non-issue now for me. This is pretty much the best we can put on the table. It's now just time to accept we aren't a good team. It happens.

I don't agree with this. I think Pattinson and Agar have left room for improvement in the bowling department. Perhaps they were right selections via correct procedure, but this game could have been a lot different if Australia had a good bowler in place of Pattinson to add pressure after Harris' spell.

No, but you do have a certain amount of training time you can devot to working on your game. By simply focusing all his attention on his batting, he's far more likely to improve it than if he's only giving it half of his attention because of the leg breaks.

Disagree. I think your logic devolves into saying that training time = improvement in quality. I think if you train smart and are committed, you can work on both aspects of the game.

 

[ajdude]

He is averaging 40 this year whilst the third choice is averaging 85 in second division

Pretty bare cupboard after Swann

kerrigan?

 

[ajdude]

also not all is lost. just won a signed shane warne shirt #nonipplesplease

 

[Ruckus]

Our batting is Bangladesh plus Clarke and that wont change for a while

yeah i dont think it will either. There's hardly any new talent coming through, so I guess the best chance is for these current batsmen to improve into something decent, but who even knows whether that's gonna happen. It's pretty 50/50 for me atm.

 

[marc71178]

He is averaging 40 this year whilst the third choice is averaging 85 in second division

Pretty bare cupboard after Swann

Who's this 3rd choice then?