*Official* First Test at the Gabba

[howardj]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

However, to say that he's a good bowler at home because he took cheap wickets against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand flies in the face of the excuse usually trotted out to defend his First Class record - that the pitches here don't suit him and he'd do better abroad.

To be honest, Bollinger's cheap wickets against those exact same teams are used by people on here to paint him as a real force.

[howardj]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

I don't think it'll happen, and if it does, it'll only be because they're not completely confident in Bollinger's fitness. Wait until we see the eleven before slamming the selectors for doing something they haven't done yet.

Regardless, Siddle has not done enough to be in the squad. As I say, he was on the verge of getting dropped last SUmmer before injury. I think he needs some hauls and to show improvement, before he gets back.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by howardj

To be honest, Bollinger's cheap wickets against those exact same teams are used by people on here to paint him as a real force.

Missing the point tbh. People don't say Bollinger's First Class record is inflated by unsuited home pitches.. because he averaged in the teens for two seasons running before getting picked and topped the Shield wicket tally.

When Hauritz first came into the team, all the talk was about how Australian pitches were terrible for spinners and that his First Class average wasn't representative of how he'd do around the world, and now that he's cleaned up lower orders after the opening bowlers have run through weak batting lineups at home, he's suddenly unsuited to conditions abroad but a good bowler at home. What people are saying is that the pitches at home don't suit him, and that the pitches abroad don't suit him. Doesn't seem like a very good bowler based on that, does he?

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by howardj

Regardless, Siddle has not done enough to be in the squad. As I say, he was on the verge of getting dropped last SUmmer before injury. I think he needs some hauls and to show improvement, before he gets back.

So given Harris himself admitted he probably isn't fit enough, who the **** would you have in the squad?

[Woodster]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Krejza did okay...

Fact is, Hauritz's bowling was completely unsuited to Indian conditions and he was always going to struggle. However, to say that he's a good bowler at home because he took cheap wickets against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand flies in the face of the excuse usually trotted out to defend his First Class record - that the pitches here don't suit him and he'd do better abroad.

Yes, he did ok.

Think most Aussie spinners are unsuited to Indian conditions, because they're not good enough to trouble such accomlished players of spin.

Not sure where you're going with the rest of your comment, have I said he is a particularly good bowler at home ?

[Spikey]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

So given Harris himself admitted he probably isn't fit enough, who the **** would you have in the squad?

pretty confdient that any of these four would do better than Siddle

- Trent Copeland
- Clint McKay
- vic_orthdox
- Mark Cameron

[Johnners]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

So given Harris himself admitted he probably isn't fit enough, who the **** would you have in the squad?

Bollinger Jnr iirc.

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by Spikey

pretty confdient that any of these four would do better than Siddle

- Trent Copeland
- Clint McKay
- vic_orthdox
- Mark Cameron

What are you basing this on? McKay and Cameron had a perfect chance to apply some pressure on the FAB FOUR of Johnson, Bolly, Siddle, Hilf (I hope by Boxing Day that's what they are called) but they failed to do so.

Sure they both bowled quite well, but they didn't take the wickets. Copeland has been taking big wickets lately so perhaps he would do well, while vic_orthdox is really fighting for Doherty's spot.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Spikey

pretty confdient that any of these four would do better than Siddle

- Trent Copeland
- Clint McKay
- vic_orthdox
- Mark Cameron

Well I love Copeland and Cameron but I tend to write that off as bias, particularly as Cameron didn't bowl his best in the Australia A game despite showing his obvious talent. Disagree with McKay.

[morgieb]

I doubt people hate Siddle - rather they don't think he's as good as Bollinger, whereas the Aussie selectors might think that way.

[Son Of Coco]

Originally Posted by Woodster

Think most Aussie spinners are unsuited to Indian conditions, because they're not good enough to trouble such accomplished players of spin.

Think you can add most spinners from any country to that list.

[Marcuss]

Originally Posted by social

No

Is the Gabba likely to be a good surface for spin?

No

Is Doherty likely to perform as well as any of the seamers?

Not a snowflake's chance in hell

In summary: Go with our strengths and let North bowl a few overs if needed

Is what I'd do

[Marcuss]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Well what if Watson's one of our best four bowlers for the conditions?

Pick a batsman. If Watson's genuinely one of your 4 best bowlers and he can be trusted to bowl a few substantial spells and get through a fair amount of overs, go with 3 seamers, Watto and then part time spin. If Katich can chuck down a few then, as a package, North and Katich are better packages as spinners then anything else you can choose.
Besides O'Keefe, arguably.

[Spark]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Missing the point tbh. People don't say Bollinger's First Class record is inflated by unsuited home pitches.. because he averaged in the teens for two seasons running before getting picked and topped the Shield wicket tally.

When Hauritz first came into the team, all the talk was about how Australian pitches were terrible for spinners and that his First Class average wasn't representative of how he'd do around the world, and now that he's cleaned up lower orders after the opening bowlers have run through weak batting lineups at home, he's suddenly unsuited to conditions abroad but a good bowler at home. What people are saying is that the pitches at home don't suit him, and that the pitches abroad don't suit him. Doesn't seem like a very good bowler based on that, does he?

Well tbh the pitches at home do suit him. He gets roughly zero overspin unless he bowls his toppie (which he doesn't, inexplicably) which means he needs the bounce and pace in the pitch to really trouble the batsmen.

Let's not kid ourselves though - he did actually bowl quite well last summer.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Marcuss

Pick a batsman.

Was my point tbh. The next best batsman in the squad is Smith.