A glut of quicks, a dearth of batsmen
The exciting news for Australia heading into the 1st Ashes Test next Wednesday is Brett Lee has got his groove back. In the tour game against the England Lions, Lee took for 5 for 53, narrowly missing out on a hattrick at one point. Most importantly, his second spell found lethal reverse swing. England fans everywhere will be cursing the ECB who in their 2005 triumph couldn't be bothered hanging onto Troy Cooley.
More concerning is the form slump of Marcus North. In the first 3 tour games, he's managed only 13 runs. Why is the woes of a #6 batsman so worrisome? Because we don't have a single batsman to replace him. In their infuriating quest for an all-rounder, the selectors chose THREE ordinary all-rounders in the Australian squad. Not a single back-up batsman in the squad. When will they learn to select quality over mediocrity? We saw this coming back in May when the squad was announced.
I'm not even going to talk about Australia's spin options.
| Posted by JC on Fri 3 Jul |  12 comments |
Hauritz was a gamble and so far it looks like a wrong one. In all likelihood, Hauritz might end up like how Cameron White did in India. Bowling just a few overs with Clarke, North and maybe Katich sharing the spinners responsibility.
But it would be excellent if Hauritz is really one for the future, so hope he stops wasting time on his blog and starts focusing on the game!
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2009-07-03 17:53:44
But it would be excellent if Hauritz is really one for the future, so hope he stops wasting time on his blog and starts focusing on the game!
Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2009-07-03 17:53:44
Yeah been an interesting game so far. Lee was superb, the Cooley magic in evidence once again. The other quicks were strangely subdued - though Johnson's batting on the first day was enough to remind us he's arrived over here.
Hauritz was ineffective, but so too was our young leggie Rashid - who has been widely tipped to start at Cardiff in tandem with Swann. Monty Panesar on the other hand appears to have finally woken up this season, taking three wickets in England's game against Warickshire. Admittedly they were all lower order players, but it may prove just enough to get him in the team ahead of Rashid who would be one hell of a gamble.
Hussey may just have played his way back into form - timely give North's performance. Early doors on this tour I know, but he looked all at sea out in the middle - surprising given his county experience. Out of the current crop, who would you go for at six JC?
In England's warm-up game Anderson took a five-for and Flintoff looked somewhere near his bowling best. Most batsmen have scored some runs, with the exception of KP - but I think he'll find a way of getting himself up for next Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Vaughan's retirement has put to bed a potential summer-long debate about a return to the England fold. Sensible and selfless decision - in past Ashes he has starred with the bat and the captaincy, but an appearance this year would only have blotted his record and held back the development of this young England team.
Over here Simon Katich has written about the prospect of Ponting utilising his part-time spin, saying: "if the ball's thrown to me then we're in trouble." Really? I'd be more worried about facing a three-pronged part-time spin attack of Clarke, Katich and North than I would Hauritz. I thought Katich was quite useful...
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-03 20:19:01
Hauritz was ineffective, but so too was our young leggie Rashid - who has been widely tipped to start at Cardiff in tandem with Swann. Monty Panesar on the other hand appears to have finally woken up this season, taking three wickets in England's game against Warickshire. Admittedly they were all lower order players, but it may prove just enough to get him in the team ahead of Rashid who would be one hell of a gamble.
Hussey may just have played his way back into form - timely give North's performance. Early doors on this tour I know, but he looked all at sea out in the middle - surprising given his county experience. Out of the current crop, who would you go for at six JC?
In England's warm-up game Anderson took a five-for and Flintoff looked somewhere near his bowling best. Most batsmen have scored some runs, with the exception of KP - but I think he'll find a way of getting himself up for next Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Vaughan's retirement has put to bed a potential summer-long debate about a return to the England fold. Sensible and selfless decision - in past Ashes he has starred with the bat and the captaincy, but an appearance this year would only have blotted his record and held back the development of this young England team.
Over here Simon Katich has written about the prospect of Ponting utilising his part-time spin, saying: "if the ball's thrown to me then we're in trouble." Really? I'd be more worried about facing a three-pronged part-time spin attack of Clarke, Katich and North than I would Hauritz. I thought Katich was quite useful...
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-03 20:19:01
Did England have a spinner in 2005? I don't recall one. So if they could win without a spinner then, couldn't we?
Johnson was rusty, but he often is when coming back from a layoff. Let's hope he regains his form next week.
As for spare batsmen - are they counting on David Hussey or Chris Rogers as emergency backups?
Posted by MT on 2009-07-03 23:17:16
Johnson was rusty, but he often is when coming back from a layoff. Let's hope he regains his form next week.
As for spare batsmen - are they counting on David Hussey or Chris Rogers as emergency backups?
Posted by MT on 2009-07-03 23:17:16
To be honest i dont think Johnson will be much this tournament ( i think he will be a punching bag), the person i think who will shine over the rest will be Brett Lee he has gained his form after the long injury.
Ricky Ponting might gain a little bit of confidence but right now he's not much.
I think if England don't put Harmison in the team then they are making a big mistake.
Posted by steyn lover on 2009-07-03 23:57:00
Ricky Ponting might gain a little bit of confidence but right now he's not much.
I think if England don't put Harmison in the team then they are making a big mistake.
Posted by steyn lover on 2009-07-03 23:57:00
Yeah we sort of had a spinner in 05 - Ashley Giles. Never turned it much, took 10 wickets at an unflattering average but was very useful, bowling better than his stats suggested and scoring useful runs - including a Test best on the last day at the Oval. You guys, on the other hand, would be better off with an all-pace attack I think. Better another quality quick than an average spinner.
I'm sure Johnson will come good, and Brett Lee's spell yesterday was exceptional, reverse swing skidding off a surface that the others couldn't get much out of.
I agree, I'd pick Harmison. When fit and firing he's quality, plus he got Hughes cheaply again today - doesn't like the short stuff does he?!
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-04 03:29:42
I'm sure Johnson will come good, and Brett Lee's spell yesterday was exceptional, reverse swing skidding off a surface that the others couldn't get much out of.
I agree, I'd pick Harmison. When fit and firing he's quality, plus he got Hughes cheaply again today - doesn't like the short stuff does he?!
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-04 03:29:42
Anybody else bothered by Katich's tendency to get a start then get out? What is his problem? Lack of concentration or what? If Steve Waugh were still captain, he would have opened a can of woop-ass on Katich by now. Very frustrating to watch him.
Posted by The Vlad on 2009-07-04 08:04:57
Posted by The Vlad on 2009-07-04 08:04:57
Hughes needs to learn to drop his gloves when getting out of the way of the short ball.
Posted by MT on 2009-07-04 09:06:50
Posted by MT on 2009-07-04 09:06:50
Well i wouldn't change anything about Katich i think he's confidence will rise sooner or later.
i think Hughes is usless, he had one good innings against South Africa but after that DALE STEYN just ripped through him in every game with the slow ball.
Like i've said before if Harmison doesn't appear on the team, then England won't be much.
Posted by steyn lover on 2009-07-04 22:53:48
i think Hughes is usless, he had one good innings against South Africa but after that DALE STEYN just ripped through him in every game with the slow ball.
Like i've said before if Harmison doesn't appear on the team, then England won't be much.
Posted by steyn lover on 2009-07-04 22:53:48
Didn't Hughes score two hundreds and a fifty in his first three Tests? that's not bad going...
If I was facing England I'd probably be more worried about Anderson, Broad and Flintoff than Harmison - they're far more consistent these days. That said I'd put Harmy in as well...
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-05 01:44:52
If I was facing England I'd probably be more worried about Anderson, Broad and Flintoff than Harmison - they're far more consistent these days. That said I'd put Harmy in as well...
Posted by Rich on 2009-07-05 01:44:52
Due to all your respect, I’d be more scared to be facing Harmison then the other bowlers mentioned in your text. But yet again if you want to be professional you have to be able to face any kind of bowling whether its pase or spin at that level of cricket you shouldn't be scared for any type of bowling.
Posted by steyn lover on 2009-07-07 00:48:23
Posted by steyn lover on 2009-07-07 00:48:23
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