*Official* Sri Lanka in Australia 2010

[GotSpin]

Right before, or after, the ton against Pakistan?

Or when he averaged 47 vs Windies?

Would have been tempted to drop him at the beginning of the summer before the Windies.

 

[Ruckus]

Not going to happen.The 5-0 will be in the captains mind and the fact we haven't won in Australia since 87.How can you be complacent when you haven't done all their is to do in the game.

"Complacent" Had a brain freeze, that's the word I was looking for. The reason they could be complacent is as follows:

1.England have had a successful year and are at a peak in confidence.
2. They believed they could seriously challenge the Aus team even when they were at their peak. They probably even thought they were better than the Aus team.
3. Australia suddenly starts losing a lot of matches, and has this aura of a weak team all of a sudden (dropping below England in the rankings etc.)
4. England, who already thought they could challenge Aus before, now become somewhat complacent and underestimate Aus.

Its all just speculative, and probably complete bull****. I have to admit, I tried being a optimist for a while (I didn't really, deep down, believe my own arguments to begin with) and it seems it failed. Back to being a pessimist

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Would have been tempted to drop him at the beginning of the summer before the Windies.

I thought he would have been after the poor ashes he had in 09.Yes he got runs at the end but it was when the match was already virtually lost anyway.Given his age you could have blooded somebody else then or just got Hughes back in and moved Watson down no problem.As it is now finding an opening slot for Hughes is a problem as the openers are just about the only good thing about the top 6 in the last year or so as all have had poor runs.

Can't see the selectors changing it now,think they will go into Brisbane using the experience card instead of doing what they should have done ages ago for the good of the team.

 

[Oscillatingmind]

I have dubious feelings about that ton against Pakistan, the guys averages 37 since the start of 08, thats 65% of his career averaging that much, he's spent more of his career a spent force at this point, be gone.

 

[GotSpin]

"Complacent" Had a brain freeze, that's the word I was looking for. The reason they could be complacent is as follows:

1.England have had a successful year and are at a peak in confidence.
2. They believed they could seriously challenge the Aus team even when they were at their peak. They probably even thought they were better than the Aus team.
3. Australia suddenly starts losing a lot of matches, and has this aura of a weak team all of a sudden (dropping below England in the rankings etc.)
4. England, who already thought they could challenge Aus before, now become somewhat complacent and underestimate Aus.

Its all just speculative, and probably complete bull****. I have to admit, I tried being a optimist for a while (I didn't really, deep down, believe my own arguments to begin with) and it seems it failed. Back to being a pessimist

Welcome back...*hug*

 

[GotSpin]

I thought he would have been after the poor ashes he had in 09.Yes he got runs at the end but it was when the match was already virtually lost anyway.Given his age you could have blooded somebody else then or just got Hughes back in and moved Watson down no problem.As it is now finding an opening slot for Hughes is a problem as the openers are just about the only good thing about the top 6 in the last year or so as all have had poor runs.

Can't see the selectors changing it now,think they will go into Brisbane using the experience card instead of doing what they should have done ages ago for the good of the team.

That's my main angst. The selectors have decided to leave these obvious changes too late so now its become an issue of 'maintaining stability' before a big series

 

[Ruckus]

Welcome back...*hug*

Its good to be back.

So, in conclusion, Australia will lose the Ashes 5-0, and North will become the new Captain.

 

[GotSpin]

I have dubious feelings about that ton against Pakistan, the guys averages 37 since the start of 08, thats 65% of his career averaging that much, he's spent more of his career a spent force at this point, be gone.

Not to mention he was dropped four times. If you drop any decent players that many times of course he'll score runs

 

[GotSpin]

Its good to be back.

So, in conclusion, Australia will lose the Ashes 5-0, and North will become the new Captain.

No, no, no at all. But sometimes the players responsible just need a good thumping.

 

[Faisal1985]

Wow...what a win for SL....looks like it all happened while i was asleep.

There was a time when Aussies used to do this to other teams, win from the jaws of defeat....looks like its there time to taste the medicine.

Feel bad for Clarke.

 

[_Ed_]

Nah, he occasionally gets fired up.

It just has no impact on his bowling, or it becomes even worse because he goes mad and gets even more erratic.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

That's my main angst. The selectors have decided to leave these obvious changes too late so now its become an issue of 'maintaining stability' before a big series

They obviously don't rate the back up players that highly or they would have made the changes.They could make themselves look rather foolish if they lose the series with the old guard and then the kids come in and do really well.

I am a big advocate of if it aint broke don't fix it,trouble is the Aussie batting has had broken parts for far too long and nothing has been done about it apart from dropping the new boy in England as he was the less controversial one to axe.

 

[GotSpin]

They obviously don't rate the back up players that highly or they would have made the changes.They could make themselves look rather foolish if they lose the series with the old guard and then the kids come in and do really well.

I am a big advocate of if it aint broke don't fix it,trouble is the Aussie batting has had broken parts for far too long and nothing has been done about it apart from dropping the new boy in England as he was the less controversial one to axe.

Don't think it's quite that.

Honestly, it reeks of stubbornness. Comes across as as belief that if they preserve with these guys long enough they'll eventually come good and the selectors will look like geniuses no matter what the cost.

 

[vic_orthdox]

More I think about it, the more that I'm annoyed about Doherty being pulled off. He's just taken four wickets, and then gone for runs off one over, and had a number 10 slogging at him who he nearly slid one through.

Put the blokes back straight, let Malinga try and hit the ball square and across the line. Give him a chance to take five on debut!

 

[Flem274*]

He looks ******** in that snap.

 

[Matt79]

I think they're beguiled a bit by Hussey's character and the high regard everyone who deals with him personally seems to have for him. I think Punter relies on him as a person and friend a lot in the time since the mass exodus at the end of 06/07. That, plus his blitzing start, has bought him perhaps more time than he deserved.

North does smell of stubbornness, although in fairness to the selectors, he's always produced just at the time it was necessary to prevent the selectors biting the bullet. I agree they seem to have been happy to have excuses not to reverse themselves on him, but he has scored runs at the right times to stave off dropping.

 

[Jono]

SEN radio was fantastic tonight. Don't often say that when discussing cricket, but some of the callers knew their ****.

One caller pointed directly at Mitch and made some great points.

Radio jockeys were all over Hussey, saying that his ODI form should have no bearing on his test selection. Quoted an interview they did with Greg Chappell who said ODI form should not be taken into account.

Was itstl

 

[Matt79]

He looks ******** in that snap.

Which one of them? They look horny for each other tbh.

 

[vic_orthdox]

SEN radio was fantastic tonight. Don't often say that when discussing cricket, but some of the callers knew their ****.

One caller pointed directly at Mitch and made some great points.

Radio jockeys were all over Hussey, saying that his ODI form should have no bearing on his test selection. Quoted an interview they did with Greg Chappell who said ODI form should not be taken into account.

Was itstl

Heard that interview with Finey (what a knob) and Greg Chappell, was interesting listening.

 

[GotSpin]

I think they're beguiled a bit by Hussey's character and the high regard everyone who deals with him personally seems to have for him. I think Punter relies on him as a person and friend a lot in the time since the mass exodus at the end of 06/07. That, plus his blitzing start, has bought him perhaps more time than he deserved.

North does smell of stubbornness, although in fairness to the selectors, he's always produced just at the time it was necessary to prevent the selectors biting the bullet. I agree they seem to have been happy to have excuses not to reverse themselves on him, but he has scored runs at the right times to stave off dropping.

Well with Hussey, as well as his character, I get the feeling the selectors are just continually praying that he'll find his magical form of the past rather than bite the bullet and find a replacement for the no.5 position.