***Official*** VB Series 2006

[marc71178]

The man is getting on in terms of his age and he certainly suffered a form Slump . How else do you explain his consistent poor scores in India .( In 6 ODIs )
To add to this he hid from the selectors his shoulder dislocation or lack of recovery until they found out.

What I was questioning was whether the form slump actually coincided with some problem with injury that we weren't fully aware of at the time, and that this break from the national side has allowed to clear up.

 

[Prince EWS]

No, it's because he hasn't got a stupid nickname.

I was thinking the same thing to be honest, but I didnt think I should say it. It appears you saved me the time.

Interesting to see that Watson is being selected by Aussie in that side in a role that he's often been selected in, has seldom if ever worked in and has often been mentioned on here as not being the right role for him.

Exactly. If you cant find a spot for Watson in the top 7, he shouldnt be playing at all.

 

[marc71178]

That's a fair point, but considering the selectors tried Lewis, and he is in fact older than Gillespie, it starts to lose significance...

If they selected Lewis, does that not suggest they don't think there's better options coming through though?

 

[Prince EWS]

If they selected Lewis, does that not suggest they don't think there's better options coming through though?

Indeed, in which case they should have picked Gillespie, Bichel or Kasprowicz.

You cant have it both ways.

 

[marc71178]

It still shows that 12-18 months down the line, there's a potentially huge hole.

 

[Prince EWS]

It still shows that 12-18 months down the line, there's a potentially huge hole.

It clearly does, but you cant blame this fact for the selectors leaving out Gillespie etc, because they picked Lewis instead...

 

[Scweej]

It still shows that 12-18 months down the line, there's a potentially huge hole.

thats stating the obvious . .. When Glenn McGrath retires the Aussie pace attack will be severely weakened, there is no bowler in Australia who could replicate the accuracy and consistency of McGrath. Lee is awesome form, and has improved significantly over the last year, but he needs support.

There's a lot said about Brett Dorey, but he seems to be a lazy bowler, just ambles up and drops it from the skies .. but more often than not they are half-volleys on the legs. ..He needs to use his height a bit more and increase accuracy. Bracken has been bowling well, but if the conditions are conducive to swing, his wicket-taking ability drops markedly. . .

Stuart Clark looks to be one of the more complete bowlers going around, but he is over 30 and may not have a long future in cricket.

 

[dinu23]

This was not a full strength Aussie line-up (without McGrath) and the strange Captaincy of Ricky Ponting in failing to take Dorey or Hopes off - even as they were getting carted over after over by Sanath and Sanga - leaves a lot of questions in my mind. Likewise the failure to have Brad Hogg the only genuine spinner in the original XI was very odd.

These to me cast a real shadow over the SL win over Australia. **Damn should be happy we have won , without getting so damn petty **

I suspect Aussies will come back in Full strength for the Australia day clash in Adelaide to celebrate the day with a thumping win over SL.

I agree that australia played with a weak bowling attack. but it's not sri lankas fault ponting failing to take Dorey or Hopes off and not including Hogg in the original eleven, thery're stupid decitions made my the australians.
the Sri lankans capitalized on this stupidity and showed how weak the aus bowling reserves are.

 

[dinu23]

Taking the lead from the Aussies, I think SL should rest Sanath J against SA . I would also rest Mahela or Arnold with a view to playing the new Middle order batsman Chamara Kapugedera against SA.

naa, SL should go with their best team because the only chance for them to make the finals is to beat SA in every single match. maybe Kapugedara could come in for arnold.

 

[Nate]

Exactly. If you cant find a spot for Watson in the top 7, he shouldnt be playing at all.

Andy and I were discussing this a few days ago. But in short, there wasn`t really room for him anywhere, and at one stage I had Gilly at 8.

I agree though.

If I had to pick a side that I was almsot 100% sure would win I`d go.

Gilchrist
Hayden
Ponting
Bevan
Symonds
Clarke
Hussey
Lee
Warne
Bracken
McGrath
-
Lehmann

Or something to that effect.

 

[Nate]

thats stating the obvious . .. When Glenn McGrath retires the Aussie pace attack will be severely weakened, there is no bowler in Australia who could replicate the accuracy and consistency of McGrath. Lee is awesome form, and has improved significantly over the last year, but he needs support.

There's a lot said about Brett Dorey, but he seems to be a lazy bowler, just ambles up and drops it from the skies .. but more often than not they are half-volleys on the legs. ..He needs to use his height a bit more and increase accuracy. Bracken has been bowling well, but if the conditions are conducive to swing, his wicket-taking ability drops markedly. . .

Stuart Clark looks to be one of the more complete bowlers going around, but he is over 30 and may not have a long future in cricket.

Haha, Bracken more than holds his own in ODI cricket without the swing, it just helps him more if there is movement.

Dorey is a lot better than he has bowled, hopefully he can step it up.

Clark is awesome, but as you said, is oldish.

There are some young Tasmanians and Victorians that certainly have some talent and there`s Cullen, White and Bailey for spin.

I`m not worried.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Haha, Bracken more than holds his own in ODI cricket without the swing, it just helps him more if there is movement.

Dorey is a lot better than he has bowled, hopefully he can step it up.

Clark is awesome, but as you said, is oldish.

There are some young Tasmanians and Victorians that certainly have some talent and there`s Cullen, White and Bailey for spin.

I`m not worried.

And Casson, better spinner than White or Bailey.

 

[andyc]

And Casson, better spinner than White or Bailey.

Woo!! Casson!!

Andy and I were discussing this a few days ago. But in short, there wasn`t really room for him anywhere, and at one stage I had Gilly at 8.

In the current team, a direct swap for Hopes would be ideal in my mind

 

[Prince EWS]

Andy and I were discussing this a few days ago. But in short, there wasn`t really room for him anywhere, and at one stage I had Gilly at 8.

It would make more sense than having Watson there...

 

[Nate]

I still don`t think Casson has got it together yet.

And yes EWS, that`s why I laughed.

 

[aussie]

Why exactly do you insist on naming your lineups with the players' nicknames?

and the problem with that is?

 

[aussie]

He thinks he is mates with them.

or maybe its easier than writing out their whole name?, no i cant be that

 

[aussie]

Don't tell me that's the only change, and that Katich is still opening instead of Phil Jacques? How farcical. The world has gone mad.

these bloody selectors are getting me mad, Jaques has to be oprning their geez, it doesn't take a genius to realise that he will make a much better option at the top that Katich...

 

[aussie]

Interesting to see that Watson is being selected by Aussie in that side in a role that he's often been selected in, has seldom if ever worked in and has often been mentioned on here as not being the right role for him.

thats true, but thats just for now, he will come up the other eventually.

 

[Hondo]

I am unsure if he should be brought straight back into this Team . If anything I would be tempted to make him just a Super sub only.

I would play the same team that played SA and drop Bandara and replace Sanath as Super sub.

I know Aussies have not played Bandara before, but the Aussies have no problems facing spinners like SA and therefore I would be not tempted to play Bandara against the Aussies yet , even though it is at the SCG.

Otherwise retain the same team, but it will be a shame to not use Sanath J to see if he has recovered some or any of his batting form or whether he should spend more of this series on the sidelines.

Well Jason I'm glad that you aren't one of the SL selectors. If you had your way, Sanath wouldn’t have played and Bandara would have been taken out of the line up cause you think the Aussies can play Bandara well. In fact quiet the opposite happened. Sanath played one of the best 100 ever scored at the SCG and Bandara walked away with the best bowling figures on the night. It seems like you don't have any faith in the team at all.

But ever since SL has been winning it seems like you have gotten quiet vocal on the forums. You might want to take a look at your earlier comments on this from page 2!

Even a few on their current form is an extreme over expectation !!

If SL win anything more than 1 they should be extremely thankful .

If they win any more , I suspect ICC will have to investigate to see if Match fixing was involved in their wins !!

Hmm match Fixing ay!!! Ok let's say that Pointing a Smith take did take a bribe and threw those games away. But it hasn't stop you getting on the band wagon now has it.

think SL will be mighty pleased if they don't get walloped by big margins (over 100 runs or over 5 wickets, or wins with over 5 or more overs to spare etc.) in most of their ODIs. I doubt any Lankans living in Aus should even bother to turning up to these likely pitiful performances !! They could save themselves some unnecessary heartache and pain

All I'm saying dude, think before making any comments, You have a brain don't you! People like you really do make me sick, Only support the team when they are doing well and when they are not come up crappy comments like above. Those guys what ever you think of them do their best for the fans when ever they go on the field. We might not be consistant like the Aussies winning a huge percentage of the games, but I would never stop supporting them even if current team get wiped out and school boy team toured Australia instead. Maybe you should sleep on it and reflect one some of the things I have said.