*Official* Third Test at the WACA

[DragonPunk]

So once Beer fails who is next in line? Aaron O'Brien? Jon Holland? QLD spinner (I forget his name)

 

[andyc]

So will Beer actually be getting a game? The selectors obviously view Smith as a genuine bowler given that he was selected as one vs. Pakistan, so I'm holding out hope that they bat him at 7 and then have Johnson, Harris, Bollinger and Hilf as the bowlers. Definitely not what I would've wanted but it's better than playing Beer.

 

[iamdavid]

Give that, surely they wouldn't want to play Beer as well as Smith? Really don't see why the WACA needs 2 spinners...

Maybe by their logic two mediocre spinners = 1 good one ??

Can't think of any other explanation....If they'd picked O'Keefe instead of Beer then at least if he doesn't get alot of overs he can still contribute with the bat and in the field...

 

[flibbertyjibber]

That's such an English type selection policy, Giles anyone ?

Well having seen him (not seen Beer) he bowled very well and is better than Doherty. Don't know anything about this lad Beer so will wait and see if he plays first but he has only played 5 games and averages 40, hardly a record to be scared of.

 

[Rant0r]

I would have picked O'Keefe in Brisbane ahead of Doherty, given a lot of factors, mainly he bowled rather strongly in the tour game.

Jaques and Rogers anyone ? I think Rogers must be injured though. Hughes is clearly the great white hope, he's the next in line regardless of form.

 

[four_or_six]

So will Beer actually be getting a game? The selectors obviously view Smith as a genuine bowler given that he was selected as one vs. Pakistan, so I'm holding out hope that they bat him at 7 and then have Johnson, Harris, Bollinger and Hilf as the bowlers. Definitely not what I would've wanted but it's better than playing Beer.

If the spinner isn't going to play, then why not just keep Doherty? It would be much less disruptive.

 

[Rant0r]

Or dare I say it, Hussey to open.

Just seen on the news they are saying both Beer and Smith are in the 11, one of the seamers will drop out :O

 

[Rant0r]

Well having seen him (not seen Beer) he bowled very well and is better than Doherty. Don't know anything about this lad Beer so will wait and see if he plays first but he has only played 5 games and averages 40, hardly a record to be scared of.

Clearly different to the original point I disputed, picking bowlers on batting ability

 

[Howe_zat]

If Hilfenhaus is 12th man, Hilditch deserves to get sectioned.

 

[Rant0r]

For an educated man, Hilditch is clearly a moron. Couldn't play cricket either

 

[Ruckus]

Maybe by their logic two mediocre spinners = 1 good one ??

Can't think of any other explanation....If they'd picked O'Keefe instead of Beer then at least if he doesn't get alot of overs he can still contribute with the bat and in the field...

I think the most likely explanation is that they think Smith as a batsmen is just as good a choice as the other options like Khawaja. However, Smith can also bowl, just like North could. I'm sure they will also play Beer, otherwise why would they have made such a left-of-field selection? Hilditch specifically mentioned it being a "gamble" as well, which I'm sure he wouldn't say if there were no intentions of playing him.

 

[Rant0r]

Fox news says both spinners will play.

I still find it amusing, regardless of his batting shortcomings recently, that North was chosen partially for his bowling then rarely bowled. When he did he often outbowled the specialist.

 

[Ruckus]

I have no idea what Beer is like as a bowler, but don't you just get the feeling that with so many changes in spin bowlers, one will by chance put up a good first performance? Then it will mean the selectors will be patting themselves on the back and they will be retained, even if they suck in the long-term. Can just see it happening a la Marcus North...century on debut, and then retained for ****ing two years.

 

[four_or_six]

Just thought with all this 'home advantage' stuff it'd be good to see Hauritz's first class record at Perth. 5 matches, 15 wickets @ 33.8, 179 runs @ 35.8.

 

[aussie tragic]

O'Keefe has played 10 FC ganes (twice as many as beer), was selected for Australia A recently and Australia for a T20I and has 462 runs @ 51.33 and 37 wkts @ 24.83

Why would Beer jump ahead of him....madness...

...they probably did it to keep the North sacking quieter

 

[DragonPunk]

I think I summed up how most of us feel with this blog: You’re making it hard to love you NSP | The Randwick End

 

[DragonPunk]

O'Keefe has played 10 FC ganes (twice as many as beer), was selected for Australia A recently and Australia for a T20I and has 462 runs @ 51.33 and 37 wkts @ 24.83

Why would Beer jump ahead of him....madness...

...they probably did it to keep the North sacking quieter

Madness? This is Australia!

 

[Ausage]

Madness? This is Australia!

 

[TumTum]

With all this criticism, Siddle's bound to get a 5-fer

This Test is bound to produce a result now.

England should be scared, Beer is coming to get you

 

[aussie tragic]

Ok, time to get this positive...

Team actually looks much better than the first 2 Tests...

1. Watson
2. Hughes
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. Hussey
6. Haddin
7. Smith
8. Johnson
9. Harris
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Siddle

That gives 6 bowlers to get the 20 wkts and the batting is not weakened (just needs Ponting to fire)