Ashes Form Watch

[FaaipDeOiad]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Haven't seen Rogers bat, but Jaques isn't better than Cook, at least in terms of long-term potential. If Cook can sort out his slight problem with the ball slanted across him (which is more discipline than a technical flaw anyway) he looks like he's got the temprement to be a genuine test opener. Jaques is too bottom-handed in his play so plays his drives slightly inside out. I think he'll always have probs when the ball swings early on. Not an opener for mine, although neither is Hayden really and he's done ok!

No question that Jaques' technique doesn't look great, but it hasn't stopped him from averaging 60 odd in first class cricket. Anyway, looking unorthodox and actually having a major weakness in your batting are different things. If Cook never sorts out his problems outside off stump he could struggle against McGrath/Clark type bowlers his whole career, whereas Jaques could look rubbish when the ball is moving but not get out and make heaps of runs. There are plenty of examples of technical purists struggling.

IMO, it's pretty hard to split Cook and Jaques this early. Jaques has a massive weight of runs in domestic cricket behind him, while Cook is younger and has had a good start in tests. I really like Cook and think he'll go a long way. Having said that, with Jaques and Rogers unable to break into the team at the moment, I disagree with the original assertion that Australia would "kill for someone like Cook". We're spoilt for choice with quality openers at the moment.

[aussie tragic]

Update on the current form (i.e. last 5-tests played) prior to the 5th Ashes Test in Sydney.

Australia

1. Hayden: 386 @ 48.25
2. Langer: 257 runs @ 42.83
3. Ponting: 583 runs @ 83.28
4. Hussey: 603 runs @ 120.60
5. Clarke: 401 runs @ 100.25
6. Symonds: 285 runs @ 40.71 --- 3 wkts @ 55.66
7. Gilchrist: 167 runs @ 41.75 --- 21 dismissals
8. Warne: 125 runs @ 41.66 --- 29 wkts @ 26.41
9. Lee: 60 runs @ 30.00 --- 15 wkts @ 41.40
10. Clark: 50 runs @ 10.00 --- 22 wkts @ 19.50
11. McGrath: 11 runs @ 3.66 --- 18 wkts @ 29.05

England

1. Strauss: 286 runs @ 28.60
2. Cook: 375 runs @ 37.50
3. Bell: 250 runs @ 27.77
4. Pietersen: 516 runs @ 57.33
5. Collingwood: 420 runs @ 52.50
6. Flintoff: 159 runs @ 17.66 --- 14 wkts @ 36.78
7. Read: 171 runs @ 28.50 --- 17 dismissals
8. Mahmood: 77 runs @ 9.62 --- 12 wkts @ 39.41
9. Harmison: 63 runs @ 9.00 --- 12 wkts @ 53.83
10. Panesar: 48 runs @ 12.00 --- 23 wkts @ 28.30
11. Hoggard: 33 runs @ 4.71 --- 16 wkts @ 38.12


No need to say much, I think the stats show it all

[Matteh]

Awful lot of red there for England, key one being the #6.

[aussie tragic]

Actually, this may be a more interesting as I've included all of the 2006 performances:

Australia (10-Tests)

1. Hayden: 10 tests, 789 @ 43.83
2. Langer: 8 tests, 424 runs @ 35.33
3. Ponting: 10 tests, 1333 runs @ 88.86
4. Hussey: 10 tests, 965 runs @ 80.41
5. Clarke: 6 tests, 429 runs @ 71.50
6. Symonds: 6 tests, 297 runs @ 37.12 --- 4 wkts @ 59.00
7. Gilchrist: 10 tests, 459 runs @ 38.25 --- 39 dismissals
8. Warne: 10 tests, 218 runs @ 21.80 --- 49 wkts @ 30.20
9. Lee: 10 tests, 209 runs @ 26.12 --- 37 wkts @ 32.37
10. Clark: 8 tests, 81 runs @ 11.57 --- 42 wkts @ 17.76
11. McGrath: 5 tests, 11 runs @ 3.66 --- 18 wkts @ 29.05

England (14-tests)

1. Strauss: 14 tests, 1031 runs @ 39.65
2. Cook: 13 tests, 1013 runs @ 46.04
3. Bell: 11 tests, 738 runs @ 41.00
4. Pietersen: 14 tests, 1343 runs @ 53.72
5. Collingwood: 14 tests, 1121 runs @ 50.95
6. Flintoff: 10 tests, 469 runs @ 31.26 --- 33 wkts @ 33.78
7. Read: 3 tests, 155 runs @ 38.75 --- 13 dismissals
8. Mahmood: 7 tests, 77 runs @ 9.62 --- 19 wkts @ 36.05
9. Harmison: 10 tests,183 runs @ 13.07 --- 33 wkts @ 38.06
10. Panesar: 12 tests, 86 runs @ 10.75 --- 40 wkts @ 33.15
11. Hoggard: 14 tests, 121 runs @ 6.36 --- 51 wkts @ 30.58

[PhoenixFire]

The averages don't tell the whole story, it's unfair to base the judgement of a player's series on an average. Hoggard, Flintoff, Harmison (in the last two Tests), have averages that don't really do justice to how well they have actually bowled.