***Official*** South Africa in Australia

[Buddhmaster]

I don't rate Watson at all. Actually, don't really rate Symonds either, would rather Martyn be in the team. Hussey and Marto to bowl a few overs if needed....

 

[marc71178]

Symonds is deffinatelly good enough to play test cricket

In what role?

Because I don't believe he's the all-rounder by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Prince EWS]

Long term, only one of the 2 has any chance of being a Test allrounder, but he's injured at the moment, so they should pick a proper batsman instead.

Thats the first time Ive managed to find someone to agree with me on this since Symonds' "wonder match." Glad to see not everyone jumps to conclusions after one match...

 

[marc71178]

I'm going by the fact that Watson's shown far more bowling talent in Domestic Cricket (and arguably more batting talent as well), is a lot younger, and was the man in possession before injury.

Given the right training, he could be the one.

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm going by the fact that Watson's shown far more bowling talent in Domestic Cricket (and arguably more batting talent as well), is a lot younger, and was the man in possession before injury.

Given the right training, he could be the one.

I completely agree with that. Its refreshing to hear someone else say it though - I thought I was running a one-man campaign.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I'm another Watson fan, and always have been. The fact is, he's got a solid technique with the bat and he can bowl at pace, and he's young. Add that to a great deal of success in domestic cricket and that's plenty of reasons to rate him, at least on potential.

 

[honestbharani]

I reckon Watson has potential, but his bowling looked too one dimensional to me. Would be more useful in ODIs than in tests as a bowler, I reckon.

 

[Prince EWS]

I reckon Watson has potential, but his bowling looked too one dimensional to me. Would be more useful in ODIs than in tests as a bowler, I reckon.

Would be more useful in ODIs than in tests as a bowler, I reckon.

Annoyingly though, his batting will be far more useful in tests, especially if the selectors insist on batting him at #7 or #8 in ODIs.

 

[marc71178]

I completely agree with that. Its refreshing to hear someone else say it though - I thought I was running a one-man campaign.

Oh, I've never said I'm a fan, just I think he's a far better bet than Symonds.

 

[Prince EWS]

Oh, I've never said I'm a fan, just I think he's a far better bet than Symonds.

I understand that, but thats all I wanted to here really. It actually means more from someone that isnt a Watson fan, as I know its an objective comment.

 

[aussie]

It would be great to have both of them in the side, but unless Hodge has a shocking run I can't see them both in the same team.

well even if Hodge fails i wont want both in the side, just one & another batsman.

 

[aussie]

I don't rate Watson at all. Actually, don't really rate Symonds either, would rather Martyn be in the team. Hussey and Marto to bowl a few overs if needed....

oh not at all, that wont be too wise.

 

[Tom Halsey]

oh not at all, that wont be too wise.

Wouldn't be a bad idea at all really. Martyn should still be in the team and you don't really need any more than 4 bowlers when one of them is Warne and one of them is McGrath. That said, Symonds looks on ok bowling form atm.

 

[aussie]

Wouldn't be a bad idea at all really. Martyn should still be in the team and you don't really need any more than 4 bowlers when one of them is Warne and one of them is McGrath. That said, Symonds looks on ok bowling form atm.

well i think he was refering to Hussey & Martyo doing an all-rounder role, but then again i dunno...

 

[Tom Halsey]

well i think he was refering to Hussey & Martyo doing an all-rounder role, but then again i dunno...

Well that I wouldn't agree with but they don't really need to bowl, you've already got 4 (and 2 all time greats).

 

[Ming]

Hussey's a pretty good medium pacer. Same if not faster than Symonds and can get it to nibble in the air.

Steve Waugh said in the Ashes series that Katich is actually quite a decent medium pacer?

 

[Tom Halsey]

Steve Waugh said in the Ashes series that Katich is actually quite a decent medium pacer?

Katich is a decent Chinamen bowler (got a 6-fer in a Test, albeit against Zimbabwe). Underused IMO, can give it quite a rip.

 

[Top_Cat]

Drop Gilchrist? Need anyone be reminded it was only 9 months ago that He was Aus's best batsman in NZ and saved them from embarrassment in one match?

http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/AUS_IN_NZ/SCORECARDS/AUS_NZ_T1_10-14MAR2005.html

And how about this in the next match?

http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/AUS_IN_NZ/SCORECARDS/AUS_NZ_T2_18-22MAR2005.html

Anyway just to indulge in the ridiculous a bit, who else could do the job? Haddin? Puh-freakin'-lease. He's a decent hitter at FC level but he's nowhere near as good with the gloves.

Personally, I reckon a combination of extra workload in meaningless ODI tourneys (like going to NZ) as well as really condensed touring means he may well be a tad weary. Warnie's also been bowling a lot more in the last two years again increasing the pressure on him. If the current schedule is to be maintained, maybe it's time to give him Tests only.

Gillie may be suffering from the same thing WSC cricketers complained about; if you're out of form, because he's kept under wraps and doesn't play anything other than Tests or ODI's because of his workload, he has no opportunity for a break or a match for WA to middle a few and get some time in the middle. Every time he bats these days, it's against a Test bowling attack and if he's not hitting them well, it'd be a tough ask to maintain his average like he has for 6 years now.

 

[sqwerty]

Drop Gilchrist? Need anyone be reminded it was only 9 months ago that He was Aus's best batsman in NZ and saved them from embarrassment in one match?

http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/AUS_IN_NZ/SCORECARDS/AUS_NZ_T1_10-14MAR2005.html

And how about this in the next match?

http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/AUS_IN_NZ/SCORECARDS/AUS_NZ_T2_18-22MAR2005.html

Anyway just to indulge in the ridiculous a bit, who else could do the job? Haddin? Puh-freakin'-lease. He's a decent hitter at FC level but he's nowhere near as good with the gloves.

Personally, I reckon a combination of extra workload in meaningless ODI tourneys (like going to NZ) as well as really condensed touring means he may well be a tad weary. Warnie's also been bowling a lot more in the last two years again increasing the pressure on him. If the current schedule is to be maintained, maybe it's time to give him Tests only.

Gillie may be suffering from the same thing WSC cricketers complained about; if you're out of form, because he's kept under wraps and doesn't play anything other than Tests or ODI's because of his workload, he has no opportunity for a break or a match for WA to middle a few and get some time in the middle. Every time he bats these days, it's against a Test bowling attack and if he's not hitting them well, it'd be a tough ask to maintain his average like he has for 6 years now.

I'd never drop Gilly but I reckon Haddin will be a decent successor when he gets the chance.

 

[Josh]

I'd never drop Gilly but I reckon Haddin will be a decent successor when he gets the chance.

Problem is Cricket Australia has stated the next keeper will not come from the older ranks (e.g. Haddin), but the new blooded players (Crosthwaite, Hartley, Ronchi, etc.)