But he doesn't have to be part of a five man attack, share overs between him and Watson depending on conditions and timing.Would just go in with the one spinner in the WC tbh. Smith isn't ready to be a part of a five man attack.
With the dew factor under lights over in the subcontinent, quicks will get some favourable conditions sometimes.
Looks collapsy to me, especially if Marsh and Clarke hold them up in the middle overs and Watto doesn't tee off. We'll see. Having White at 5 is a massive plus, though.Watson
Haddin
Marsh
Clarke
White
Hussey
Smith
Hastings
Johnson
McKay/Siddle
Doherty
Don't really see how Australia's batting is "very suspect" at all, tbh. Mike Hussey's still an absolute gun in ODIs and both Watson and White are class too. Haddin and Clarke definitely aren't mugs either although they admittedly have their faults. Darsh is a bit of a weakness but he just peeled off 200 runs in the Shield game so he should be seeing
Dropping Hopes was probably based around the 'can we get away with 2 spinners' question. And it's a great chance to try Smith & Doherty/Hauritz against an Asian team in a series that means stuff all. Should be a good test of whether Australia can rely on spin for the World Cup.
Unfortunately, the 'series that means stuff all' part might not be accurate due to the panicky, overreacting crap I'm reading from fans and media about how Australia has suddenly lost it and is rubbish now because we've lost 5 matches in a row. A series win might shut a few people up (temporarily,)
I picked Smith based almost purely on his finishing ability as a batsman and his fielding. I reckon he's only the seventh best one day bowler in that team, so he'd only ever come on to break a partnership. I don't see him as a second spinner. A lot depends, of course, on whether Watson can bowl properly.. if he's lumbering in like he did against India in the Test series then they'll probably need a more realistic bowling option at seven in that team. I don't mind the Watson/Clarke combination for ten overs as it is, though.Would just go in with the one spinner in the WC tbh. Smith isn't ready to be a part of a five man attack.
With the dew factor under lights over in the subcontinent, quicks will get some favourable conditions sometimes.
True actually, though I'm not sure his bowling is completely ready for ODIs full stop. Worth a look though.But he doesn't have to be part of a five man attack, share overs between him and Watson depending on conditions and timing.
Agreed with this. Watson's growth into a full-blown allrounder capable of holding his own with both bat and ball has made Hopes's position rather redundant.I picked Smith based almost purely on his finishing ability as a batsman and his fielding. I reckon he's only the seventh best one day bowler in that team, so he'd only ever come on to break a partnership. I don't see him as a second spinner. A lot depends, of course, on whether Watson can bowl properly.. if he's lumbering in like he did against India in the Test series then they'll probably need a more realistic bowling option at seven in that team. I don't mind the Watson/Clarke combination for ten overs as it is, though.
As for Hopes, he was dropped by the selectors for John Wayne Hastings rather than Smith. JWH is basically the same bowler IMO and a worse batsman, although he's more suited to coming in at eight and hitting boundaries than Hopes. I don't really see it as the right call but I wouldn't play either of them in my best eleven, particularly if Watson was able to bowl at something resembling a decent pace.
It's an interesting point. Do you think Doherty's bowling would be more suited? He definitely does get a little bit more overspin than Hauritz, which seems to be a trait shared between a lot of spinners who have been successful over there. Harbhajan and Kumble are the obvious examples but even among Australian spinners, Krejza, Mallett, Matthews and (dare I say) Clarke were more over-spin types than Warne and Hauritz.Personally, still believe that Hauritz's style of bowling isn't well suited to the sub-continent.
Indeed, which makes the "his bowling isn't suited to the conditions" line of defence regarding his Shield record nothing but hot air. At least with someone like Krejza it might actually be true.Hauritz's style of bowling is much more suited to home simply because he doesn't use his topspinner very often at all.
God, it's like Guiliani and 9/11. Put Krejza/Krejzeh in your sig and be done with it, fanboy!Indeed, which makes the "his bowling isn't suited to the conditions" line of defence regarding his Shield record nothing but hot air. At least with someone like Krejza it might actually be true.
Look it up yourself, ****!Hasn't Doherty toured India with youth/A team before and done well?
I know.No Test Match Sofa. ****, now I have to listen to the torture trifecta of Healy, Slater and Greig...
Yeah Clarke was a completely different bowler before his back issues. Had a much higher arm action to start with IIRC.Talking about other spinners: didn't get to watch Clarke 's 6/9 live, and the vision available on youtube is too poor a quality to get a look, but in recent times Clarke pretty much bowls completely with sidespin.