four_or_six
Cricketer Of The Year
That sounds crazy given their records. Is it because Ferguson has at least had some ODI experience so they're more confident how he will react to the pressure?
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*Official* First Test at the Gabba
- Thread starter James
- Start date
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
They wouldn't have if Ferguson was fit. Add Ferguson's recent ton, and that he's a right hander (with the selectors concerned about the number of left handers with Swann bowling) will put him at the top of the list.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
I'd say Ponting's lost the fear factor in the last couple of years - he's far more vulnerable once he's passed 50 than he was at his peak. 5 years ago if you let Ponting get a start he'd murder you - now the bowling side seems to have a chance no matter what he's on.
Oscillatingmind
U19 Cricketer
Ruckus
International Captain
I reckon they should go for a 4 pace attack. I think, given the circumstances, the best team would be:
Watson
Katich (if he can't play, Hughes)
Ponting
Clarke
Khawaja
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
***
Bollinger
***Not sure about who would make the 4th pace bowler. There are so many potential options so its a pretty difficult choice to make. Harris was impressive before, and Siddle looks in very good form as well. Then there are the new guys like George (who I frankly wasn't that impressed with) and Hazlewood (don't know if he'll be fit, plus I wasn't that impressed with him either in the ODI). But then you've also got other domestic players like Copeland and Cameron who look mightily impressive. I'd almost be inclined to pick one of the latter, just as an x-factor for the English, who would know nothing much of their style. Also, if they got smashed around, then there are always the three more experienced guys to rely on, plus Shane Watson if needed.
Cricket_God
U19 Cricketer
Against decent Sides its better to have a frontline spinner ,I would give hauritz a chance.Also if it seams in brisbane it may spin also.
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Flem274*
123/5
I'd stick with Hauritz. For Australian conditions he's a good spinner. I reckon he'll be fine playing non-subcontinental teams.
I'll recant my previous side a bit and recall Cameron White in place of Khawaja.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
This is an interesting defence of his bowling as his terrible First Class bowling record was always explained away with the fact that it's hard to bowl spin here and that his bowling didn't suit the conditions.
He bowled okay when he first came into the team but I think what we've seen of him of late is more indicative of his ability. Unless we're going to play four quicks there's no point dropping him as none of the other spinners have maintained sustained Shield performances anyway (bar McGain who's in really poor form at the moment) but he's certainly not a home-track specialist, as his Shield record indicates.
TumTum
Banned
Gabba will be a seamer's paradise.
Ruckus
International Captain
That's pretty debatable though. He has had reasonable success in Aus (avg. 29.95) but that's only because the teams he has faced here were WI and Pak. Plus, I just looked over his performances against those teams and most of his wickets were tailenders. If his FC average is anything to go by, he will prove to be very mediocre in Aus (avg. 43.39).
I think given Hauritz isn't the greatest spinner, plus the Gabba looks like could really assist pace bowling (just look at the recent domestic game, NSW vs QLD), a 4 pace attack would be the most potent. If spin is needed at any point in the game North, Katich (if he plays) and Clarke are good enough resources imo.
zaremba
Cricketer Of The Year
Is there any point in picking 5 seamers including Watson? I'd have thought that if it's a seamer's paradise, you'd be ok with 4 including Watson, and pick another batsman (or spinning all-rounder) and if it's flat or a turner you'd want Hauritz or, again, a spinning all-rounder. Either way, I doubt that adding a 5th quick would add that much to the team, and it would certainly look unbalanced.
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sifter132
School Boy/Girl Cricketer
You know who should move up? Marcus North. Here's why...
*He bat's at 4 for WA
*He's a 'boom or bust' batsman. You don't want a guy like that coming in at #6 IMO. You want him coming in earlier because if he does fail then you've got 2 proper batsmen in to halt any collapse, and your #6 to come. Batting him at #6, means the keeper has to halt any potential collapses and if it's due to a good spell of bowling he may not be able to resist with his inferior technique.
*And thinking more positively, North is the most likely of Clarke/Hussey/North to score a big hundred right now. So get him in there first. Clarke might be just as likely to score a ton, but Clarke rarely scores big centuries.
*It would let him partner Clarke more often, and that might give the Poms some bad memories of 2009.
*It would be a good confidence booster for him if Ricky comes and says, hey Marcus you're in at 4.
*It fits well with the other 2 guys as well, since we know Clarke is a good #5, and if Hussey is retained he's potentially a very good #6 too. He bats there in ODIs and even in Test cricket many of his better knocks have come with the lower order.
So my middle order for Brisbane would be:
4 North
5 Clarke
6 Hussey/Ferguson/Usman
Hussey needs at LEAST 2 50+ scores in the next 2 weeks to keep his spot in my mind. He's a broken man at present, badly needs some runs. And I have Ferguson just shading Usman at present if Hussey can't find some confidence. Main reasons being that Ferguson's been with the Aussie setup a bit longer than Usman, he'd be a more natural #6 I think and he's a right hander which will annoy Swann.
Ruckus
International Captain
Yeh but Watson isn't one of the main bowlers. He is usually just used as a partnership breaker, which is the way it should stay imo. Watson shouldn't be used too much as a main bowler, because he should have most of his focus on batting (which is more important to Aus right now) and could get injuries again if he is overused.
If a spinner was picked instead of a 4th fast bowler, I think it should be Smith. Even though he isn't as 'good' as Hauritz, his batting would be very useful. I don't think the Gabba will require a spearhead spinner, so the fact that Smith isn't that good shouldn't even matter. Most of the wickets should come from the fast bowlers anyway.
So my preference would be 4 fast bowlers (not including Watson), followed by 3 fast bowlers and Smith.
Spark
Global Moderator
Agreed, actually.
Last two tons have been 150+ tbh.
It is quite ridiculous how reliant he is on Clarke. Amazed that he managed to score a century without him at the other end for a good part of his innings.
Perhaps, yes.
He also averages below 40 in FC cricket. Sorry, but left-hander or not, Usman's gotta be in front.
Ruckus
International Captain
Yeh exactly. But I think the worse thing about selecting Ferguson would be that if he happens to perform well, he will probably be retained in the team for a long time (like Marcus North). And I don't see Ferguson ever averaging much more than 40. Where as someone like Khawaja probably has a lot more potential in the long term.
Oscillatingmind
U19 Cricketer
If Ferguson tons up against England in the tour match then I'd suggest he'd be ahead, but I just don't accept the idea that he is ahead of Khawaja at the moment in the selectors eyes. But who knows there all bat**** crazy.
Matt79
Global Moderator
Don't get the logic of dropping Hauritz for a fourth quick when as you've acknowledged here, there isn't really anyone who's demanding selection. George and Hazelwood are unproven rookies. Harris is injured/coming back from injury, and given the difference between him fully fit and only thereabouts, you'd want to see that he's recovered properly. Siddle is really the only one, and I don't know whether he's going to be any better than Hauritz in general. Whichever fourth specialist quick you bring in is going to be the fifth best quick in the team, after the current three and Watson, so what do we think they'll do that four better quicks won't get done? This isn't India that's about to land, and some of the Poms definitely don't know what they're doing with spin.
Also disagree with TumTum that the Gabba is a seamer's paradise which offers nothing for spin. For a long time, its test tracks have been some of the best pitches in Australia to bowl spin on - if Haury is going to do much, it will be here.
Also disagree with the idea that we drop him here because the conditions don't suit - presumably with the rider that we recall him for Adelaide and Sydney when we think we do need a spinner. He's definitely a guy who's bowled his best when he's felt confident in his place and in what his captain wants from him - yoyo-ing in and out will destroy him IMO. And then we're playing Jason Krejza when we think we need some spin.