Should Brett Lee be selected for the Ashes?

[aussie]

5 wickets at 46? I think Hilfenhaus has shown that in helpful conditions he can be ok, at times and in non helpful conditions he's useless. Might be very good in the future, but currently nowhere near good enough.

Well that average in the two test hasn't reflected how impressive he has looked surely?

He has gotten some very impressive conventional & reverse swing in this series.

Look at that spell to Kallis on the 4th day of the last test, that delivery that swung back a la Simon Jones to Michael Clarke that clearly was out.

Plus he hasn't been erratic in any spell. Ben has shown enough raw stuff in the two test so far that once he keeps it up & with some luck in the 3rd test, he should be one of 5 quicks coming to England without a doubt.

 

[Rant0r]

totally agree, mcgrath didn't have that flattering figures after a few tests either, in fact not many did, apart from lee, and he hasn't really continued in that vein

 

[pup11]

I just can't understand what's with all this criticism that Benny Hilfenhaus is getting around here, of course the bloke only got five wickets in the first two games he played, but he wasn't shocking or anything.

At Jo'Burg his figures hardly did justice to how well he bowled, and even at Durban (in considerably unfavourable conditions) could have picked more wickets then he did, if he had some luck going his way.

The thing is despite this, Hilfenhaus has bowled in the right channels, and has kept things really tight by bowling lots of good economical overs, and even when the ball hasn't swung, he has troubled the batsmen by making the climb on them from a good length, and also making the ball seam.

He definitely is a bloke with a lot of potential, and his exploits at the FC level back that claim, and he is someone who I believe with more experience and confidence would a be a very good bowler for Australia in the upcoming years.

Fully fit and in-form Lee and Clark are undoubtedly better bowlers than Hilfenhaus at present, but that doesn't mean Hilfenahus should be discarded from the squad all together.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

He didn't bowl that well at Jo'burg though. He bowled the same delivery 9000 times in a row. Once they figured out it was doing the same thing over and over they just left him well.

 

[pasag]

Well that average in the two test hasn't reflected how impressive he has looked surely?

He has gotten some very impressive conventional & reverse swing in this series.

Look at that spell to Kallis on the 4th day of the last test, that delivery that swung back a la Simon Jones to Michael Clarke that clearly was out.

Plus he hasn't been erratic in any spell. Ben has shown enough raw stuff in the two test so far that once he keeps it up & with some luck in the 3rd test, he should be one of 5 quicks coming to England without a doubt.

As DYCE said, he may have looked good when the conditions where tailor made, but even then, once the batsmen realised he couldn't really do anything other then swing it out they weren't really troubled. I want the bloke to do well more than anyone, but he's not good enough to trouble international batsmen consistently at this stage.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Nah, as others have said, they'll stick with Hilfenhaus over Bollinger because he's consistent and can stick to a plan. Solid third quick.

 

[Trumpers_Ghost]

how can he be the obvious next choice ? he wasn't even the first choice for his state all the time this year.

probably because Croswaite is probably the best 'keeper' in the land and not a bad batsman (played as a specialist a couple of games).

I'd rate Croswaite ahead of Manau and about level with Hartley.

One of the Vics need to move interstate so that we can know which of them will be Haddin's successor.

(so make that 4 Wade lovers)

 

[Top_Cat]

Nah, as others have said, they'll stick with Hilfenhaus over Bollinger because he's consistent and can stick to a plan. Solid third quick.

This.

Amazing the Hilf angst. No-one had a problem when Mic Kasprowicz was doing exactly the same thing. Both he and Hilf are similarly-paced, bowl loopy out-swing, can reverse it and were easy meat when they bowled short. Yet Kasper was praised for fulfilling the 3rd bowler behind Gillespie/McGrath yet Hilf is 'not good enough to consistently trouble test batsmen'? The only serious difference I can see between the two is that one had better bowlers opening for him. Both are sharp, will find movement when there's nothing in the deck and run in all day but probably aren't good enough to lead an attack.

Hilf hasn't had the greatest start but at least he's taken a wicket in his first two Tests. Needs a bit more time before he's written-off. Sucks to be Bolly but, to his credit, he's responded with his usual tactic after being over-looked by getting injured. His consistency on that front cannot be questioned.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Crosthwaite a slightly better keeper than Wade. Wouldn't be comfortable as a bowler with either of them behind the stumps for Australia.

 

[Matt79]

Hilfy probably really needs to develop a variation where he gets one to swing the other way, or even cut back in to a right hander, to put more pressure on the batsman to be prepared to play each ball. Only needs to be able to produce it a few times a spell to sow the seeds of uncertainty.

 

[Furball]

This.

Amazing the Hilf angst. No-one had a problem when Mic Kasprowicz was doing exactly the same thing. Both he and Hilf are similarly-paced, bowl loopy out-swing, can reverse it and were easy meat when they bowled short. Yet Kasper was praised for fulfilling the 3rd bowler behind Gillespie/McGrath yet Hilf is 'not good enough to consistently trouble test batsmen'? The only serious difference I can see between the two is that one had better bowlers opening for him. Both are sharp, will find movement when there's nothing in the deck and run in all day but probably aren't good enough to lead an attack.

Hilf hasn't had the greatest start but at least he's taken a wicket in his first two Tests. Needs a bit more time before he's written-off. Sucks to be Bolly but, to his credit, he's responded with his usual tactic after being over-looked by getting injured. His consistency on that front cannot be questioned.

There's your clue right there.

McGrath/Gillespie is one of, if not the best, new ball pairings of the last 20 years.

No disrespect to Johnson/Siddle, they've been absolute guns in SA thus far, but as of now they're not in the same class. If I was an Aussie, I'd be far happier with one of Lee/Clark, (probably Clark) backing up Mitch and Moobs than Hilfenhaus.

 

[iamdavid]

Hilfy probably really needs to develop a variation where he gets one to swing the other way, or even cut back in to a right hander, to put more pressure on the batsman to be prepared to play each ball. Only needs to be able to produce it a few times a spell to sow the seeds of uncertainty.

He already has such a ball, or atleast one which goes on straight with the arm, which considering how consistently he normally swings it away is just as effective.
From the cricket I've seen him play he seems to get a fair amount of his wickets with it actually...got his first wicket in ODI's against New Zealand with it a couple of years ago and got AB out with it in the second test.
Thing is I dont know whether it's actually intentional or it's just natural variation ie an outswinger gone wrong.

 

[oitoitoi]

Johnson, Lee, Siddle, Clark.

A fifth quick would just be pointless. They could really use a genuine swing bowler, especially in England.

 

[inbox24]

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
Clark

McGain
Hilfenhaus

Hopefully Watto can shoulder the swing bowling responsibilities. Is this team one spinner short?

 

[Top_Cat]

Lee is a born battler - but from here on, he's fighting a lost cause - Cricket

Ouch.

 

[Evermind]

Lee is a born battler - but from here on, he's fighting a lost cause - Cricket

Ouch.

Would love Lee to play in the Ashes and take 35 wickets at 16, just so these idiots would shut up.

 

[Burgey]

Unless Watson proves he's fit to bowl and bowl plenty by playing some County cricket and/ or IPL, why would the selectors go near him with a barge pole, given North is there at 6 as a specialist batsman?

 

[aussie]

Unless Watson proves he's fit to bowl and bowl plenty by playing some County cricket and/ or IPL, why would the selectors go near him with a barge pole, given North is there at 6 as a specialist batsman?

They shouldn't, but they will push for him to play as the main all-rounder. Since having him @ 6 at his best would be a better option for the balance of the side instead of North.

 

[aussie]

The poll should have had an option of "Yes - both McDonald & Bollinger missing out".

 

[Precambrian]

He needs to be selected. One SAwallow doesnt make the entire summer.