**Official** Tour Matches

[Jakester1288]

Nice photos mate.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, good snaps mate. Who's that bowling in the last one?

 

[Top_Cat]

Choc just looks weird in a green cap.....

As far as the match goes, McDonald, Clark and Watson getting some middle time (and, in Ronnie's case, some poles) will be the big plusses from the match for mine. Ronnie's wickets and runs might be enough to put him ahead of Watson for a 5-man attack.

Let's face it, McDonald's a winner. He plays in and captains a state side who tends to win a lot so it's no surprise he tends to do well in general, plays like a winner. Have little doubt if picked he'll bowl well and do his bit with the bat too.

 

[The Baconator]

Yeah, good snaps mate. Who's that bowling in the last one?

Cheers, and that'd be Watto.

 

[howardj]

Cheers, and that'd be Watto.

Forgive us.

Didn't recognise an action shot of him.

 

[Burgey]

Forgive us.

Didn't recognise an action shot of him.

Haha - true that. Honestly didn't even think of him. Bit sad really.

Did he walk off under his own steam?

 

[Uppercut]

Choc just looks weird in a green cap.....

As far as the match goes, McDonald, Clark and Watson getting some middle time (and, in Ronnie's case, some poles) will be the big plusses from the match for mine. Ronnie's wickets and runs might be enough to put him ahead of Watson for a 5-man attack.

Let's face it, McDonald's a winner. He plays in and captains a state side who tends to win a lot so it's no surprise he tends to do well in general, plays like a winner. Have little doubt if picked he'll bowl well and do his bit with the bat too.

I'm of the opinion that he's an exceptionally useful cricketer- but in Australia's current side, very difficult to find a place for. I'd seriously consider getting him in there somehow for Edgbaston though.

 

[howardj]

I'm of the opinion that he's an exceptionally useful cricketer- but in Australia's current side, very difficult to find a place for. I'd seriously consider getting him in there somehow for Edgbaston though.

On the contrary, I think in the current side it's far easier to find a place for him that at any time during the last decade. Macca is a known known. You know what you'll get with Macca. Like buying a Honda - she'll run nice, plenty of miles in her, with little fuss.

 

[Top_Cat]

I'm of the opinion that he's an exceptionally useful cricketer- but in Australia's current side, very difficult to find a place for. I'd seriously consider getting him in there somehow for Edgbaston though.

Personally, I'd advocate an unchanged side. Don't think the combination is faring that badly and I'd back Johnson if he's saying/doing the right things at training. The other guys are nice, consistent bowlers but Johnson, when he gets it right, is the knock-out punch the side needs in my view. Like I've said, it probably depends on factors we, as fans, don't get to see.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Yeah, good snaps mate. Who's that bowling in the last one?

 

[andyc]

Still reckon the only change will be Siddle for Clark personally. And probably the right choice, really.

 

[Burgey]

Be honest mate, when's the last time you saw Watto bowl? Also, there was a hair out of place, I couldn't tell it was him.

 

[four_or_six]

Still reckon the only change will be Siddle for Clark personally. And probably the right choice, really.

I know Nielsen says they're similar types of bowlers, but are they really? They don't look that much like it to me, Clark looks tall and metronomic and not that fast, Siddle looks fast and in-your-face and bustly.

 

[Top_Cat]

I know Nielsen says they're similar types of bowlers, but are they really? They don't look that much like it to me, Clark looks tall and metronomic and not that fast, Siddle looks fast and in-your-face and bustly.

Both are hit-the-seam merchants who reverse the old ball which is, I think, what TJ was getting at.

Thing is, I reckon they tend to seam it different ways. Obviously that wasn't enough of a difference to get them both in the same side, though.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Be honest mate, when's the last time you saw Watto bowl? Also, there was a hair out of place, I couldn't tell it was him.

Not sure, did he bowl in the World T20? I didn't see any of it bar a few games here and there. Last time I saw him bowl was probably during the summer.

But honestly, I thought you were taking the piss. Didn't realise you were serious.

 

[Burgey]

Not sure, did he bowl in the World T20? I didn't see any of it bar a few games here and there. Last time I saw him bowl was probably during the summer.

But honestly, I thought you were taking the piss. Didn't realise you were serious.

Says something about my "old man" powers of observation I think. Bloody sad to say, but I honestly didn't eventhink of him as having bowled in the game.

Just wish he'd hold together for long enough to have the chance to make a real impact.

 

[four_or_six]

Both are hit-the-seam merchants who reverse the old ball which is, I think, what TJ was getting at.

Thing is, I reckon they tend to seam it different ways. Obviously that wasn't enough of a difference to get them both in the same side, though.

Does Clark reverse it? I remember watching an interview with him and Cooley in India where he seemed to be saying reverse swing was a load of rubbish and he wasn't interested in trying to learn how to do it.

 

[Burgey]

Does Clark reverse it? I remember watching an interview with him and Cooley in India where he seemed to be saying reverse swing was a load of rubbish and he wasn't interested in trying to learn how to do it.

Not so sure about that, but it's pretty obvious Clark is out of favour with the powers that be. Was never going to play in the first couple of tests, and were it not for Johnson's melt down and Lee's injury, wouldn't even be in the fram now.

 

[Top_Cat]

Does Clark reverse it? I remember watching an interview with him and Cooley in India where he seemed to be saying reverse swing was a load of rubbish and he wasn't interested in trying to learn how to do it.

Don't think he's consistent at it or moves it as much as Siddle but I've definitely seen him do it regularly enough.

EDIT: Not to say that what you say is untrue. I really don't know if he ever said that.

 

[four_or_six]

Not so sure about that, but it's pretty obvious Clark is out of favour with the powers that be. Was never going to play in the first couple of tests, and were it not for Johnson's melt down and Lee's injury, wouldn't even be in the fram now.

He does seem to be quite a character. I liked his interview the other day, saying he was 'surprised' that he wasn't picked for the first test.