***Official*** Top End Series

[Magrat Garlick]

When was the NZ A vs IND A starting? I read that it was starting today in the schedule.

Today.

NZ A 257/4 (91 ovs, Sinclair 76, Papps 69, McMillan 62; Chawla 28-0-56-2, Triivedi 1/59, RP Singh 0/41, TP Singh 0/53)

http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2006/TOP-END/SCORECARDS/IND-A_NZ-A_TOP-END_11-14JUL2006.html

 

[Xuhaib]

Chawla looks impressive.

 

[Tim]

Hmmm I consider this to be the weaker of the two NZ 'A' sides although having said that , I think this side is more suited to the longer form with players like Bell, Papps, Sinclair, Nicol, Orchard & Hopkins in the side.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Watson grabs four boundaries in the first three overs of the second day, and is into the 90s. If these two stay together, a declaration about lunch or so would be fairly likely, I'd say.

 

[andyc]

Watson brings up his century, and Haddin's on 80. Anything over 400 will probably see a declaration.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Scoring at 4 an over or so today. Haddin just got his century, and Watson is 120*. 5/390 with half an hour until lunch.

 

[Great Birtannia]

Watson has a great technique against pace bowling and his first class accomplishments are significant, but Clarke has several years of international experience in both forms of the game, and is a much better batsman than an average of 35 suggests.

If he was better than a 35 average at both test and first class level I would think he might actually average more than 35 at both after a combined tally of 60 matches, he doesn't. You can only pick on potential for so long until he has to go back to state level and prove he is better than an average of 35 for a sustained period, he hasn't.

Watson up to 125

 

[andyc]

They're hitting out now, Hadding just hit two sixes in the last over. 5/411

 

[Great Birtannia]

He had a better Ashes series than a few other Australian batsmen (Gilchrist, Katich, Martyn, and probably Hayden too), and then played well on those few opportunities he got in domestic cricket before his recall.

Funnily enough Katich and Martyn were axed before him. Hayden is an opener where there were no obvious replacements at the time - Jaques while scoring mountains of runs in England only replicated that form in the coming summer in Australian domestic cricket - and Gilchrist obviously keeps on top of his batting so comparing the two when Clarke is in the side for solely his batting is a little silly.

 

[andyc]

Gah Haddin out for 129 after a partnership of 268, Australia A 6/434

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Funnily enough Katich and Martyn were axed before him. Hayden is an opener where there were no obvious replacements at the time - Jaques while scoring mountains of runs in England only replicated that form in the coming summer in Australian domestic cricket - and Gilchrist obviously keeps on top of his batting so comparing the two when Clarke is in the side for solely his batting is a little silly.

Yes, the point is that it's strange to single out Clarke. He wasn't particularly bad by the team's standards in the Ashes, he made plenty of runs in the few Pura Cup chances he had when he wasn't playing in the ODI team last season (178 and then 201*, in two innings), and since returning to the side he's had one bad test and one test where his only contribution was 24 not out, as we won by an innings. And obviously, his rock-solid ODI form counts in his favour as well.

So why should he be dropped again, exactly? If you pick a guy you have to give him a decent run in the side before dropping him again, otherwise the whole process was a waste of time. Clarke's obviously a batsman for the future, and if they pick six specialist batsmen he should be in the team. If they pick Watson as an all-rounder, Clarke will miss out because of the team makeup, but there's no way he should be dropped again right now.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

If he was better than a 35 average at both test and first class level I would think he might actually average more than 35 at both after a combined tally of 60 matches, he doesn't.

Well actually, he does, he averages 40. And for New South Wales, he averages 42.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Lunch now. 6/437 with Watson still there on 138*.

Wouldn't imagine they'd bat on for too long after lunch.

 

[Great Birtannia]

I'm not singling Clarke out. I don't want Martyn in the team either and I sure as hell don't want Katich to be recalled. I explained the others.

Clarke was poor against NZ, he was poor against Pakistan, he was poor in the Ashes, he was poor against the WI and then didn't take his umpteenth chance against Bangladesh when he shouldn't have been recalled.

The point of dropping him is to make him earn his spot for once. I don't particularly care how he goes in the one dayers, it isn't relevant.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

44 runs in 7 overs since lunch, with Johnson getting most of them. Watson past 150 also.

 

[andyc]

Wow, I had no idea Johnson could bat.

 

[Great Birtannia]

The bowling is certainly going to be the interesting aspect of the game.

Poor old Watto is going to have to back up after being at the crease for a full day. He would be hoping Tait's radar is switched on.

 

[andyc]

Johnson brings up his fifty in 56 balls, and has equalled his higest score. It'd be a shame to declare without at least giving Watson a chance of a double.

Edit: Too late, they declare at 6/510.

 

[Sw1fty]

Wouldn't Symonds get in the Ashes side before Watson?

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Wouldn't Symonds get in the Ashes side before Watson?

I certainly hope not.