***Official*** West Indies in Australia

[Mister Wright]

I'm not blindly supporting him. I'm saying it's too early to just drop the guy and he'll need some time and that there are few other alternatives to bat 4 right now. All of the alternatives put forward have far fewer years left at top-level cricket than Clarke has so I don't really see the point in just dropping him, particularly since he was far from the worst batsman during the Ashes series and today got a great ball.

Well, I consider you one of the more inteligent posters on cricketweb, and I just don't understand that you can't see anything wrong with Clarke's technique especially. A player, no matter their age, promise or potential cannot be kept in the side when he is averaging mid-20s for a calander year. I agree he shouldn't be dropped immediately, but should he go through the Windies series without a 50 do you think he should still be in the side? There is only so long you should be kept in the side waiting for you to reach your promise. I hate to keep repeating myself, but the guy has a first class average of under 40, now unless there were no other options for the test side, give him a go, but there were/are others.

No other alternatives for number 4? I don't believe that for a second. There are 2 in the team at present who would be better options at 4, Katich and Watson. Oustide of the team there is Love (deserves a run in the top 4), Hodge and Symonds.

 

[Mister Wright]

I watched the match till lunch, then switched over to the India game. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at the West Indian fight back. I watched the game till lunch and I was thinking, here we go again. 100s for Ponting, Hayden and Clarke, quick 50s from the next three in the order, 600+ score for Australia, West Indies getting bowled out for less than 200 in both innings, McGrath and Warne picking up the lion's share of wickets. While some of them may yet come true, I am glad that the West Indies bowlers have shown good spirit and kept at it even after that demoralizing opening session. But I still think Lawson should have been kept out for Bravo. Anyone agree with me on that?

Lawson was stuggling to reach 135 and didn't have any rythum. I agree, if he isn't going to be destructive with the ball then Bravo is a much better option, considering how long the tail is and how inexperience their keeper is (but who knows? maybe Liam, he might be a gun bat). Bravo was fairly impressive with the ball against Qld. With the tail as it is, there is a lot of pressure on the batsman.

On another note, I was surprised Collymore wasn't given the new ball with Edwards/Lawson.

 

[Mister Wright]

*coughwimpymiddleordercough*

IMO the side is one of the worst selected in yonkers. There is no stability in the middle order, an "I only bowl well when the conditions suit" bowler and another bowler who has struggled for half a decade, while Australia's 3rd best bowler heads on a flight for a Pura Cup game.

 

[Mister Wright]

Speaking of the West Indian keeper. It was hard to pick up at the ground, but did he drop a catch off Gayle when Warne was batting?

 

[Jdz]

Well, I consider you one of the more inteligent posters on cricketweb, and I just don't understand that you can't see anything wrong with Clarke's technique especially. A player, no matter their age, promise or potential cannot be kept in the side when he is averaging mid-20s for a calander year. I agree he shouldn't be dropped immediately, but should he go through the Windies series without a 50 do you think he should still be in the side? There is only so long you should be kept in the side waiting for you to reach your promise. I hate to keep repeating myself, but the guy has a first class average of under 40, now unless there were no other options for the test side, give him a go, but there were/are others.

No other alternatives for number 4? I don't believe that for a second. There are 2 in the team at present who would be better options at 4, Katich and Watson. Oustide of the team there is Love (deserves a run in the top 4), Hodge and Symonds.

Katich at four, please god no. If anything, he should be dropped, he's in the same boat as Clarke, not consistantly scoring runs.

 

[luckyeddie]

Well, I consider you one of the more inteligent posters on cricketweb, and I just don't understand that you can't see anything wrong with Clarke's technique especially. A player, no matter their age, promise or potential cannot be kept in the side when he is averaging mid-20s for a calander year.

We did - twice - and there's one or two pundits who thought that we were hasty to despatch Rampers and Hick to the nether regions of history too.

Clarke is secure in this Aussie test side for a few games yet, but patience will run out if he doesn't convert a couple of starts into hundreds soon.

 

[Top_Cat]

Well, I consider you one of the more inteligent posters on cricketweb, and I just don't understand that you can't see anything wrong with Clarke's technique especially. A player, no matter their age, promise or potential cannot be kept in the side when he is averaging mid-20s for a calander year. I agree he shouldn't be dropped immediately, but should he go through the Windies series without a 50 do you think he should still be in the side? There is only so long you should be kept in the side waiting for you to reach your promise. I hate to keep repeating myself, but the guy has a first class average of under 40, now unless there were no other options for the test side, give him a go, but there were/are others.

Actually I do agree there. If he doesn't have a decent home summer, his place should definitely be under review or at least bring someone in for the last Test. I'm just saying right now is too early but he's definitely under a cloud.

As for his technique, well I don't think I said there was nothing wrong with it. But I do think he's good enough to get past that.

No other alternatives for number 4? I don't believe that for a second. There are 2 in the team at present who would be better options at 4, Katich and Watson. Oustide of the team there is Love (deserves a run in the top 4), Hodge and Symonds.

Love, like Martyn, should never have been dropped in the first place. Now, however, it's time to move on. Which sucks because as I've said to you before, I've been a huge fan of Love since his ton against SA in the Shield final years ago.

I'm also a fan of the Kat but he's in the midst of a rougher trot than Clarke right now.

Hodge, certainly a good player. Suffers from the same affliction as Hussey, though; excellent start to a season, suddenly gets talked about as a Test player, mid-30's average for the rest of the season. That's the only level I have my doubts about Hodge on. If he's finally overcome that, geezus, PICK HIM!

 

[Mister Wright]

Katich at four, please god no. If anything, he should be dropped, he's in the same boat as Clarke, not consistantly scoring runs.

Agreed the Katich should be about as close to the fire exit as Clarke. However, I find it impossible to fathom that someone who was good enough to replace Ponting at 3 in India is not good enough to nail down a permanent spot at 4 in the test side ahead of Clarke.

 

[Slow Love™]

Speaking of the West Indian keeper. It was hard to pick up at the ground, but did he drop a catch off Gayle when Warne was batting?

I think he might have messed up a stumping chance off Warne quite late in the day.

 

[Mister Wright]

Actually I do agree there. If he doesn't have a decent home summer, his place should definitely be under review or at least bring someone in for the last Test. I'm just saying right now is too early but he's definitely under a cloud.

My critisisms of Clarke are of his elevation into the test side and his form over the last 12 months, as much as I think he should be dropped immediately, it isn't going to happen. However, if his trend continues it should be curtains, at least temporarily.

Love, like Martyn, should never have been dropped in the first place. Now, however, it's time to move on. Which sucks because as I've said to you before, I've been a huge fan of Love since his ton against SA in the Shield final years ago.

Love aint exactly on the waiting list for the nursing home. Agreed, his not next in line, but things change quickly in cricket, he's coming off a 50 and a hundred against the Windies (no surprise he performed against higher quality opposition AGAIN!). Another couple of big scores early in the summre, he could be in consideration.

I'm also a fan of the Kat but he's in the midst of a rougher trot than Clarke right now.

Katich is a top order batsman, and should be in the top 4, especially ahead of Clarke.

Hodge, certainly a good player. Suffers from the same affliction as Hussey, though; excellent start to a season, suddenly gets talked about as a Test player, mid-30's average for the rest of the season. That's the only level I have my doubts about Hodge on. If he's finally overcome that, geezus, PICK HIM!

I'm no fan of Hodge, believe me, and believe he is too inconsistent to make it at test level, but the selectors consider him next in line, and I haven't looked lately, but I'm sure his figures are better than Clarke's.

 

[Mister Wright]

I think he might have messed up a stumping chance off Warne quite late in the day.

Ah ok, thanks. Thought there might have been a dropped catch in there off the outside edge. Must have missed the stumping incident.

 

[Barney Rubble]

"We won't have every state side to pick from and fly someone in to field for us. We'll just pick up one of the local club cricketers in Brisbane to do the fielding."
Ricky Ponting makes it clear that Australia won't require any fielder to replace Stuart MacGill during the Gabba Test

Nice to see he's still a bitter little something or other. Wouldn't want to show any maturity, now, would we Ricky?

And incidentally I don't believe him for a second - as if Australia are going to pick up any random club cricketer and send him on to field for them. What if they did and he dropped a catch? How much of an idiot would Ponting look then? Silly little midget-man.

On a brighter note, a good performance from Australia today, and a bit of fight from the Windies too - looks late on like Warne has continued his good touch with the bat, and by all accounts Ponting's innings was superb. Hopefully the Windies will keep battling and the match won't end up as the walkover it might have been.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I think you'll find Kyle that everyone agrees that if Clarke has a poor summer he should be put on notice or dropped outright.

The point is that he was a long way from the worst batsman in the Ashes, is generally getting starts and looks pretty good, and dropping him right now would be a stupid move. Give him the series against the Windies and see how he goes, and how the middle order goes. I'd support dropping Katich first of all the batsmen right now, and I'm a big fan of his, but I'm more worried about his performance than Clarke's right at this minute.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Lawson was stuggling to reach 135 and didn't have any rythum. I agree, if he isn't going to be destructive with the ball then Bravo is a much better option, considering how long the tail is and how inexperience their keeper is (but who knows? maybe Liam, he might be a gun bat). Bravo was fairly impressive with the ball against Qld. With the tail as it is, there is a lot of pressure on the batsman.

Lawson wasn't match fit. He was injured since Sri Lanka, and had ankle (?) surgery. He then returned and participated in the training camp, but didn't play the KFC Cup. He also missed the warmup match, so he was really in no shape to even be in Australia, let alone playing the first Test. That said, I stand by my comments that I'd have a fit Lawson ahead of Edwards and Best.

Denesh Ramdin is a very gutsy batsman. Sort of a Taibu type of player. Good technique and all the heart in the world.

On another note, I was surprised Collymore wasn't given the new ball with Edwards/Lawson.

Daren Powell has bowled quite well with the new ball this year, so I think that was the consideration. Then Edwards shared it with him due to his raw pace and aggression.

 

[parttimer]

Nice to see he's still a bitter little something or other. Wouldn't want to show any maturity, now, would we Ricky?

And incidentally I don't believe him for a second - as if Australia are going to pick up any random club cricketer and send him on to field for them. What if they did and he dropped a catch? How much of an idiot would Ponting look then? Silly little midget-man.

On a brighter note, a good performance from Australia today, and a bit of fight from the Windies too - looks late on like Warne has continued his good touch with the bat, and by all accounts Ponting's innings was superb. Hopefully the Windies will keep battling and the match won't end up as the walkover it might have been.

We should have just played Symonds as our 'sub' fielder. I'm sure noone would have had a problem..

 

[luckyeddie]

We should have just played Symonds as our 'sub' fielder. I'm sure noone would have had a problem..

You wouldn't have found me objecting.

 

[PY]

You wouldn't have found me objecting.

He'd probably have been on the amber nectar all morning anyway so would amount to a club standard cricketer.

 

[greg]

Ah ok, thanks. Thought there might have been a dropped catch in there off the outside edge. Must have missed the stumping incident.

Yes there was a dropped catch.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Saw the highlights earlier & a few things struck me:

- Brain freeze from Hussey. Shame, because I like him a lot.
- Great spell from Collymore to Clarke. He really set him up a treat.
- Superb innings from Punter. Lots of runs from the little chimpy fella this winter I think.
- Lawson has lost pace, but his action doesn't seem to be any less, er, ragged. Big old kink in that there elbow.
- Gayle's hair: WTF?!? Poor call, young man, poor call.

If I didn't have to work tomorrow I'd stay up & watch it tonight.

 

[age_master]

at least you got to see some of it, i saw about the last hour and a half and it will be about the same today