Who should be the third Aussie quick?

[Malleeboy]

I'd back Johnson - a lefty would add the variety and he is a very handy bat.

But since McGill seems to have lost it and Hogg is over the hill. Why not go for a five man pace attack with Clarke to do part time spin.

Clark -accuracy and patience
Lee - Pace with tall action
Tait - Pace with sling
Johnson -Left arm
Watson -Chips in with a few overs (and bats at 6)

Lee and Tait can have short spells and throw everything at'em.

Batting order FC av: Watson 50, Gillie 45 , Johnson 24, Lee 18, Clark 14 , Tait 12.

 

[mark_waugh]

What about Stuart Clark, how has been going? Is he in with a chance?

 

[Malleeboy]

What about Stuart Clark, how has been going? Is he in with a chance?

Is that a joke or have I missed something? Clark is the number one bowler in the team.
Gillespie has to be one bowler not on the list that the selectors "might" consider.

 

[mark_waugh]

Is that a joke or have I missed something? Clark is the number one bowler in the team.
Gillespie has to be one bowler not on the list that the selectors "might" consider.

Just wondering how he was going. Havn't been paying much attention to the cricket lately and wasn't too sure where he was at. Thats all. Well glad hear hes doing well.

 

[Johnners]

I want to see a Lee - Tait opening partnership. That would probably be one of the fastest opening partnerships ever. Obviously, that alone by itself is not enough, but it can be such a huge bonus if they both come off. I mean Dhoni looked almost clueless vs. Flintoff at 91mph. I can't imagine facing 96mph at both ends, especially with the action Tait has.

I think they would complement each other nicely.

Under no circumstances should Tait & Lee be in the same test team imo. An attack containing both of them, Macgill & Watson/Symonds looks dangerously fragile, as all of them are likely at any stage to cop some stick. If the opposition batsmen do get going, its going to leave really only Clark (who is also untested when the pressure is on) as the man to reign them in, and quite frankly that scares me.

 

[Johnners]

What about Stuart Clark, how has been going? Is he in with a chance?

Clark will most definitely be there, as will Brett Lee (barring injury for both of them).

Mark Waugh should come out of retirement for mine, his off-spinners would come in handy

 

[Richard]

I say Tait, he has the pace and reverse swing which England showed can be used effectively (2005 Ashes) against even the best of opposition. His fantastic FC strike rate of 45 is promising too and I believe can be converted somewhat into international level too considering the level of Australian domestic cricket. Like Waqar hunted of Wasim (see: Warne top 50 cricketers thread), Tait can hunt off Lee and with the two of them bowling 150kph, they will strike fears into the hearts of many batsman around the world. I think a Lee/Tait partnership is too good to miss out on in both tests and ODIs.

Or they could, and it's certainly not impossible, be a batsman's dream and offer more freebees than any opening bowlers in history.

In any case, surely Clark will be the first bowler to take the new-ball? (If not the one given the first over)

 

[Richard]

Fixed

Haha aussome.

Johnson for mine. Still not sure how Tait leap-frogged him at the World Cup.

Spot the Queenslander.









KIDDING!

 

[iamdavid]

Based on what I have seen (given it has only been ODIs for Johnson), Tait looks the more threatening bowler. There is also talk of Johnson being quick but I have seen him in several matches and never did he hit 90mph, maybe he was returning from injury but he was not quick. Tait also has the better domestic record which just about confirmed my choice for me.

Johnson is more than a handy batsman though and may be eyeing up a bowling all rounder slot?

Is Johnsons batting really any better than Brett Lee's ?....I havent seen alot of it but it looked to be of about Warne/Lee quality, which although handy isnt upto 'bowling allrounder' status.
Johnson is 'quick', but not 'very quick'...last summer he never really dipped below about 138 and was regularly around 143-144...he isnt in the same pace bracket as Tait/Lee but clearly quicker than Clark, Bracken, McGrath, Hilfenhaus. And he's one of those bowlers who seems quicker than he is due to fast arm action (ala Wasim Akram).
Long term I'm just as excited about Johnson as Tait, his control is certainly better and when he gets his seam position right and everything he has a knack of bowling unplayable deliveries, has already shown he can get the best players out.

 

[shortpitched713]

Yeah, I'd take Johnson over Tait for the Test XI right now for many of the same reasons you've mentioned. Plus, he does bring more variety to the attack and I think hes much less of a long term injury risk than Tait. However, many people seem to be swayed by Tait's performance in the World Cup, although that strictly speaking shouldn't have any bearing on who is in the Test lineup.

 

[NUFAN]

I say Tait, he has the pace and reverse swing which England showed can be used effectively (2005 Ashes) against even the best of opposition. His fantastic FC strike rate of 45 is promising too and I believe can be converted somewhat into international level too considering the level of Australian domestic cricket. Like Waqar hunted of Wasim (see: Warne top 50 cricketers thread), Tait can hunt off Lee and with the two of them bowling 150kph, they will strike fears into the hearts of many batsman around the world. I think a Lee/Tait partnership is too good to miss out on in both tests and ODIs.

Only problem is that Lee has an average over 30 he's not that good..

I would love to see Hilfenhaus play. It just seems perfect, Clark and Lee with the new ball and Hilfenhaus as the 3rd seamer is such an exciting option.

Hilfenhaus will take over 150 test wickets at an average less then 28.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Johnson is 'quick', but not 'very quick'...last summer he never really dipped below about 138 and was regularly around 143-144...he isnt in the same pace bracket as Tait/Lee but clearly quicker than Clark, Bracken, McGrath, Hilfenhaus. And he's one of those bowlers who seems quicker than he is due to fast arm action (ala Wasim Akram).

Hilfenhaus is in that range too. From what I've seen, people calling him a genuine swing bowler isn't exactly right. He has good wheels, and has the ability to bowl outswing, and obviously to keep one on its natural line. He's not really a throwback to a Fleming or Alderman type at all.

 

[Zimdan]

We'll see how the bowlers do in the Australia A tour. Bowlers who bowl well there will get a shot in the main team in the summer.

Hence why Australia are sending the A team to the sub continent. Hardened players will do well there.

 

[age_master]

Hilfy would be the best pick for mine, but Tait will have the first bite at the cherry after the WC.

Gillespie might get a chance if he starts to perform well again. He has been selected to cover an injury on the A tour.

 

[Mister Wright]

Hilfy would be the best pick for mine, but Tait will have the first bite at the cherry after the WC.

Gillespie might get a chance if he starts to perform well again. He has been selected to cover an injury on the A tour.

Gillespie's the 3rd choice though. However, he does now have a chance.

 

[Richard]

What do we reckon if Tait is indeed ruled-out at the start, and Johnson and Hilfenhaus both start their Pura seasons terribly, while Gillespie continues his recent excellent form?

Still in with a shot?

 

[Pup Clarke]

Not sure, me I doubt the selectors will have him ahead of the likes of Edmondson, Magoffin, Bollinger and even Noffke. Would be extremely surprised if Jason Gillespie plays another test match, there would have to be 4 or 5 bowlers injured for it to even be a possibility.

 

[Richard]

Edmondson and Magoffin!

 

[Pup Clarke]

Yeah, I'd imagine they'd be ahead of him...

Edit : It's Edmondson btw

 

[Richard]

If either of those 2 are ever seriously considered for selection ahead of Gillespie - Bollinger too TBH - then we'll know that Australian selection truly has lost its mind.