***Official*** Top End Series

[andyc]

Watson has two wickets before tea on the second day against India A. He's had a massive Top End Series, and has been among the top wicket takers or runscorers in every match so far. Australia A declared at 4/461, and India A are 3/109 in reply.

7/217 now, with Watson taking another one, and Tait and Johnson with two each, Tait taking his two in consecutive balls.

 

[Nate]

Great to see Johson and Watson doing a great job, with Tait in support. Jaques was great and I feel so relieved for Birt after a series of low scores.

Ryder`s innings. Wow.

 

[Tim]

Yeah Jesse Ryder, it seems he has gotten over a few personal issues and he's putting the effort in.

Honestly, I don't think i've seen any batsman more gifted than Ryder to come out of New Zealand, I think Ross Taylor is up there but the way Ryder plays reminds me a bit of Kevin Pietersen. Throw in Jamie How, Peter Fulton, Brendon McCullum and a rejuvenated Lou Vincent and I think we have the basis of a good top order in the future..particularly in ODI's.

 

[chooka_nick]

Yeah Jesse Ryder, it seems he has gotten over a few personal issues and he's putting the effort in.

Honestly, I don't think i've seen any batsman more gifted than Ryder to come out of New Zealand, I think Ross Taylor is up there but the way Ryder plays reminds me a bit of Kevin Pietersen. Throw in Jamie How, Peter Fulton, Brendon McCullum and a rejuvenated Lou Vincent and I think we have the basis of a good top order in the future..particularly in ODI's.

With all this pimping, I'm honestly looking forward to seeing him
And good onya, Watson. He's a genuinely good cricketer, and I hope these performances boost his confidence a bit (especially in his bowling).
But even so... I cant help but lament Cameron White's absence from the Top End Series.

 

[Goughy]

I don't know anything about Jesse Ryder and cricinfo does not have a profile on his player page. Anyone want to give me a brief bio and breakdown?

Also his Cricinfo player page states he has only 1 List A hundred. Do these games not count as List A or is Cricinfo slow to update?

Thanks

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

I don't know anything about Jesse Ryder and cricinfo does not have a profile on his player page. Anyone want to give me a brief bio and breakdown?

Also his Cricinfo player page states he has only 1 List A hundred. Do these games not count as List A or is Cricinfo slow to update?

Thanks

I think the Top End Series has full List A/FC status, but the Emerging Players Series doesn't. Cricket Archive certainly lists it as 'miscellaneous'.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I think the Top End Series has full List A/FC status, but the Emerging Players Series doesn't. Cricket Archive certainly lists it as 'miscellaneous'.

That'd be right, I imagine. The Top End Series is fully fledged "A" sides, whereas the EMT is youth and academy sides.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Furthermore, he averages 24 for Somerset this season.

Make that 141 now.

 

[Tim]

It is true that he has struggled in OD's in NZ. He has had success for NZ Academy sides overseas though particularly in Australia where he scored 144 the other day and a few years back scored 180 against another Australian Academy side.
I'm gathering with his style of batting that he loves the Australian pitches.

He's got a pretty decent FC record though so hopefully he'll be able to play both forms for New Zealand. 45.90 4 centuries ,10 fifties with a high score of 236.

 

[andyc]

Just read this in an article about the game

Tait had a chance for a rare hat-trick late in the day after dismissing Subramaniam Badrinath and Piyush Chawla in successive balls. His attempt at a third straight wicket, though, flew down the leg side.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Another century for Jaques today, and a couple more wickets for Mitchell Johnson, who is also having a good series.

Johnson has perhaps moved past Tait in realistic consideration for the test side now, particularly if he starts the Pura Cup season well. He bowled really well at times in Bangladesh, with both conventional and reverse swing and decent accuracy, and the fact that he's been the best seamer in the Top End Series might mean that he's now 5th after McGrath, Lee, Clark and Gillespie.

 

[andyc]

Jaques' 117 off only 103 balls, with 5 sixes

 

[Clarence]

JOhnson > Tait

 

[Nate]

Another century for Jaques today, and a couple more wickets for Mitchell Johnson, who is also having a good series.

Johnson has perhaps moved past Tait in realistic consideration for the test side now, particularly if he starts the Pura Cup season well. He bowled really well at times in Bangladesh, with both conventional and reverse swing and decent accuracy, and the fact that he's been the best seamer in the Top End Series might mean that he's now 5th after McGrath, Lee, Clark and Gillespie.

Bracken?

All our bowlers have been smoked so far in the second innings, though some more than others. Jaques deserves a spot down the order for Australia I reckon.

 

[andyc]

Bracken?

All our bowlers have been smoked so far in the second innings, though some more than others. Jaques deserves a spot down the order for Australia I reckon.

My word he does

Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Jaques
Hussey
Sixth bat (Hodge, Martyn, Clarke)/Watson
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Clark/MacGill
McGrath

There's no way Martyn or Clarke deserve to be picked over Jaques IMO. Watson's done enough to practically guarantee a berth in the squad as allrounder for Sydney at least.

 

[Nate]

You`re a good man Nady. That`s exactly what I`d have.

 

[Nate]

I'll say it now - Phil Jacques (as Steve Waugh recently stated) should be playing in this summer's Ashes series. I'd have him in place of Justin Langer. It's romantic to have the old guard trying to regain the Ashes, but I think sentiment should give way to current ability.

Langer approaching his highest ever FC score. Eat my thing.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

There's no way Martyn or Clarke deserve to be picked over Jaques IMO. Watson's done enough to practically guarantee a berth in the squad as allrounder for Sydney at least.

Martyn averaged 50+ against South Africa in his comeback series, including a match-winning century, and Clarke's had one bad test since his recall as well. It's very easy to select based on the most recent display of form all the time, but the fact is that you can't drop a guy from the team for no reason, just because there's somebody else whose good performances are more fresh in the mind. Jaques had a couple of tests to make his case last summer and didn't do so, so he's on the outer until a spot opens up for him. Let's not forget also that Hodge's form for the A side prior to his injury was just as good as Jaques'.

Jaques should be the third choice opener, but that's it.


Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Martyn/Hodge
Hussey
Watson/Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
McGrath
MacGill/Clark/Gillespie

Next choice batsman is Jaques, and next choice bowler is Johnson, or, as Nath suggested, Bracken.

 

[Nate]

I might be wrong Fuller, but I`m pretty sure Jaques has only had a few innings. With at least one good score. A bit harsh?

 

[andyc]

I might be wrong Fuller, but I`m pretty sure Jaques has only had a few innings. With at least one good score. A bit harsh?

Yep, only 3 innings. And, let's not forget that Jaques averages almost 57 in FC, while Clarke is only just over 40, and his scores (admittedly in two different stints) since the Ashes read: 39, 5, 5, 14*, 5, 19, 9, 23*. It's just a bit harsh to pick him over Jaques, when Clarke's had 20+ tests, in which he's only averaged 36, while Jaques has played just the three innings (2, 28, 66). If anything, it's Clarke who's had his chance in the side and failed to make his case.