with the exception of one innings in India, he's barely laid bat on ball for 12 months
The guy is a walking wicket these days and Australia is in deep **** if we're relying on him to score runs
As i already articluated in that post. Johnson's average year with the blade has been down to mainly him getting out to poor shots, rather than a sign of him losing his batting ability.
I fully expect him to contribue in a few innings over the course of Ashes, once he bats more responsibly. If you dont, i'm not going to try to convince you otherwise ATM. Performances in the Ashes shall prove this.
Once a proper strong top 6 is picked with North dropped. Then AUS should & woudl not be relying on him to score runs at all. Just for example if he comes it with AUS 400/6, TO score a good quick-wire 30-50.
social said:
Firstly, you're assuming that a fit to bowl Watson will turn up in Brisbane
That wasnt the case in India so I hope a miracle cure has been discovered in the meantime
Secondly, you've weakened Australia's already dodgy batting lineup by ensuring our tail starts at 8. Sorry but that prospect doesnt exactly fill me with joy
Thirdly, you've taken ONE McDonald bowling performance (in a match where he scored 68 btw) and somehow drawn the conclusion that it's representative of his career.
He averages 33 with the ball in test cricket not 103 and for the most part, SA couldnt hit him off the square i.e. he'll do the job
As I've said earlier, IF the weather forecast for Brisbane is correct then McDonald would be a good bet because you know what you'll get
BTW< Harris is highly unlikely to be fit so talk of him is wishful thinking in the extreme.
Even if Watson is 100 % fiit as he was in India (he has looked this lazy & latargic since the NZ series earlier this year & took those 5 wicket hauls vs PAK). If Brisbane conditions do turn out to be as you suggest. He would be far more effective than McDonald in such a line-up, if needeed to bowl as the 5th bowling option behind the 4-main quicks. So no need to pick McDonald.
I've already articulated my position on Johnson above. By no means in the XI i chosen would that tail start from # 8 with him. The likes of Hilfenahaus & Harris/Siddle are no joke tailedners, they certainly can contribute.
McDonald scored that 68 with AUS basically having no hope of winning, with no pressure to perform. His batting is not good enought to give consistent runs @ # 6/7 @ test level for AUS.
As i laready said, it wasn't as if the SA batsmen
couildn't hit him off the square. They where rather never in a position to in the first two test TO HIT him him off the square, because of how superb Johnson/Hifly/Siddle bowled in the 1st two test. Especially Johnson who shocked them with amount of inswing he got in SA - they certainly wouldn't have expected that based on what they faced from him in AUS. The SA batsmen where never in a position to be able to take of advantage of McDonald since he was an obvious weaklink, until the final test @ Capetown when they got accustomed to the AUS pace trio on flat pitch & absolutely slaughtered McDonald. So McDonald bowling tight in those 1st two test in SA was him feeding of the pressure Johnson/Siddle/Hilfy created.
If conditions are correct as you suggest. I would pick Harris, Siddle or George (form & fitness permitting) over McDonald without a doubt. Since they would clearly provide a more wicket-taking threat in such conditions.
We shall see what happens with Harris between now & the 1st test. Even if he isn't fit, the likes of Siddle or George should be next in line.
