*Official* VB Series Thread

[Rik]

Gilchrist, Maher and Hayden play those shots alot, and even martyn was playing them today, they seem perfectly normal shots to me

I've never seen any of them play a legside flick across the line into the stands off a straight ball, a shot which is a Jayasuria speciallity, and I would count as a bit of a slog.

 

[Rik]

another one that England let slip thru their grasp!!!!!

while it was a good effort, to finish with 3 wickets in hand & 8 runs short is criminal!!!!! They let the Aussies off the hook in each innings!

Irani is a big hitter, so why was he batting so low? Actually, why not just bung him as he's out of form and replace him with Hollioake? Irani might be going to the World Cup, but he's a confidence player and all these bat performances are not helping him keep his confidence up, why not pull him out and let him build it up in a less pressured situation?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I agree with playing Hollioake as he is fine form and Irani...well Irani is not.

 

[Rik]

Also, on the Hayden-Knight argument, Hayden got out early whilst Knight played what should have been a match winning innings but for that collapse. That is why I rate him, he performs under pressure.

 

[Rik]

I agree with playing Hollioake as he is fine form and Irani...well Irani is not.

Just look at Hollioake's stats too...very impressive in ODIs and Domestic OD.

Adam Hollioake

Ronnie Irani

 

[PY]

I've never seen any of them play a legside flick across the line into the stands off a straight ball, a shot which is a Jayasuria speciallity, and I would count as a bit of a slog.

Surely the OD game is all about how people can adapt to give themselves the best chance of winning, I don't count someone using the best of their strengths as slogging. I don't think people having the talent of seeing the ball early, adapting to a good ball and despatching it. It makes the bowlers think because the fast straight delivery is no longer such a potent weapon. They also have to adapt and thats the beauty of the OD game, keep the orthodoxy to Test matches and sit back and watch the best cricketers in the word having to bat and bowl differently to their stock strokes and deliveries. And who cares if it looks ugly which it often does, if its affective. Gilchrist's tennis serve of a shot at a bouncer in the 5th test was just as ugly and "cow-shot"ish but it worked so why the hell not????

 

[Rik]

Surely the OD game is all about how people can adapt to give themselves the best chance of winning, I don't count someone using the best of their strengths as slogging. I don't think people having the talent of seeing the ball early, adapting to a good ball and despatching it. It makes the bowlers think because the fast straight delivery is no longer such a potent weapon. They also have to adapt and thats the beauty of the OD game, keep the orthodoxy to Test matches and sit back and watch the best cricketers in the word having to bat and bowl differently to their stock strokes and deliveries. And who cares if it looks ugly which it often does, if its affective. Gilchrist's tennis serve of a shot at a bouncer in the 5th test was just as ugly and "cow-shot"ish but it worked so why the hell not????

I wasn't saying it was a bad shot, I actually think it's a superb shot, but it is a bit slogesque...

 

[Rik]

Just one other note from the match...if Symond's is counted as an all-rounder by the Aussie Selectors...then why didn't he bowl and Ponting entrusted 6 overs to part time medium pacer Martyn?

 

[Tim]

The fact is, is that Symonds is not an all-rounder.
And it's bizarre to me that they've picked him probably only because he can field well ahead of someone like Harvey who even though struggles with the bat can produce good bowling figures during the middle & end of an innings.

 

[Langeveldt]

So what is Symonds, a batsman or a bowler, or neither?

 

[Tim]

good point, Symonds hasn't really done much with either bat or ball so this really begs the question as to why Australia picked him ahead of someone like Harvey or even Greg Blewett.

 

[Rik]

So what is Symonds, a batsman or a bowler, or neither?

He's a talented batsman but goes on the slog too early in OD Cricket, he thumps the ball so hard but his highest score in all OD Cricket is 95...he's a useful bowler but not someone you would entrust 10 overs with. His Fielding is good though. He's average with both Bat and Ball at international level really, only his fielding stands out and unless your of the Jonty Rhodes class, that's not enough to get a place on it's own. Jonty did develop his batting well but his place in the team was mainly because of his fielding and the buzz it gave to the team.

 

[Tim]

Infact this blatantly points out just how desperate Australia are for a quality all-rounder which is quite strange amidst the rest of the talent bursting at the sides.

I really thought Symonds would never get back into the Aus team after last years VB Series but obviously Australia really are struggling to find one.

I have an idea, maybe if Australia swap us a good legspinner & opening batsman we'll give them 2 all-rounders because we seem to be getting enough as though they are going into fashion.

 

[Eclipse]

I think u guys should give Watson some ceredit after his first 5 games he avraged 141 with the ball and about 9 with the bat now he avrages 35 with the ball and 38 with the bat so he has done pritty well since then.

I think he is a dead certainty to be our allrounder for the next 10 -15 years. so Im not worried.

And the reason Symonds did not bowl was because he was 12th man and just subing for McGrath.

 

[Tim]

Watson's batting average was blown out by the 75* or whatever it was against Kenya his second highest score was the 35 he got a few days back against Sri Lanka. So he still has a few points to prove just yet.

And his bowling has been ok, but yesterday he was extremely lucky not to be facing a Jayasuriya who would have hammered him in that last over.

I guess its just because we're used to seeing so many new players succeed for Australia straight away so some ppl are becoming impatient with Watson.
I'll still give him some time because he look's like a useful all-rounder IMO.

 

[Eclipse]

Actualy Tim his second Highest score was 47* against Pakistan.

He has not had many opertunitys to make big scores but usualy makes as many runs as what you could ask for given the time he usualy has to bat.

And even know that 75* Was against Kenya Australia were actauly in real trouble of losing that match so despite the lesser qulity bowling the pressure was really on him.

 

[Rik]

The fact is, is that Symonds is not an all-rounder.
And it's bizarre to me that they've picked him probably only because he can field well ahead of someone like Harvey who even though struggles with the bat can produce good bowling figures during the middle & end of an innings.

I see your point Tim, but if the Australian Selectors feel that Symonds is an all-rounder and pick him in the ODI team and the World Cup Squad to fill such a role, then why don't they bowl him? It seems quite odd to me.

 

[Rik]

Right, so England go with the same team with a totally out of form Irani again getting wacked around and Harmison going to pot again. Hollioake would have been a much better pick in the place of Irani. One other thing is that I feel Caddick should no longer be a 1st choice pick in the ODI team, he performs but only occasionally. Also another good innings by Knight who's been very consistant this series and Trescothick just run out for 85, he's just missed out on his 2nd potential century this series, quite frustrating really because he's a quality player.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Owais Shah has 7 off 27 balls, this run chase is going up the wall rapidly.

Vaas has just bowled a maiden and we need 117 off 17.3 @ 6.69

I'm not impressed.

 

[Rik]

Owais Shah has 7 off 27 balls, this run chase is going up the wall rapidly.

Vaas has just bowled a maiden and we need 117 off 17.3 @ 6.69

I'm not impressed.

Irani or Blackwell will be batting at either 7 or 8, but that is way too low in my opinion.