*Official* Second Test at the Adelaide Oval

[TumTum]

Originally Posted by Blaze 18

Draw is the most likely result here, in my opinion. Australia will not screw up twice, they will bat much better than they did in the first innings.

We will need to post over 500 to save the game, and our top order will most likely collapse early again, with the middle order fighting it till the end.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by Uppercut

Yeah, I've noticed this too. That's the worst example, but they generally just give runs away with a lot of balls on the hips and leg-side deliveries that get flicked for one. Can't tie a batsman down.

Ponting doesn't defend properly, he just puts men on the boundaries. I'm not sure whether that came before or after the inaccurate bowling. Bit chicken-and-egg.

He stuck a fielder out sweeping the offside boundary after Pietersen's first boundary of the over, when a better idea might have been to tell Watson to bowl to his field. Putting the man out didn't help when Watson bowled an even worse delivery next up.

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by robelinda

My inside goss tells me also that David Hussey is next in line. Dont know how much you could bank on it, but ive been informed he is almost pencilled in for the next test.

How has he suddenly leap frogged Khawaja? Don't tell me he's going to come inndue to his 'useful' offies!

[M0rphin3]

Originally Posted by TumTum

We will need to post over 500 to save the game, and our top order will most likely collapse early again, with the middle order fighting it till the end.

awta, north and pup are the weak links, tbh. Unless north is being played purely as a spinner, he's got nothing to do in the XI.

[M0rphin3]

Is O'keefe any worse than X Doe?

[social]

Originally Posted by Uppercut

Yeah, I've noticed this too. That's the worst example, but they generally just give runs away with a lot of balls on the hips and leg-side deliveries that get flicked for one. Can't tie a batsman down.

Ponting doesn't defend properly, he just puts men on the boundaries. I'm not sure whether that came before or after the inaccurate bowling. Bit chicken-and-egg.

Cook's batting charts are a disgraceful indictment of how undisciplined Oz have been in the first 2 tests (virtually nothing down the ground and almost everything square of the wickets)

Virtually everyone in world cricket knows his strengths/weaknesses so I cant believe that Oz dont

The execution has simply been deplorable no matter how flat the decks and how disciplined Cook has been

[social]

Originally Posted by Blaze 18

Draw is the most likely result here, in my opinion. Australia will not screw up twice, they will bat much better than they did in the first innings.

Prediction - a bunch of Oz batsmen to score nice 50s, throw it away when set and lose heavily

Basis - 2 years of this ****

[Jono]

****'s sake Australia. Cook + Trott partnerships are brutal to watch. Twice in a row is far too much.

[Jacknife]

Originally Posted by Spark

The question is whether he can make his technique hold up when he's out of form.

It's whether it holds up when he gets back to England and the ball starts moving in the air.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by social

Cook's batting charts are a disgraceful indictment of how undisciplined Oz have been in the first 2 tests (virtually nothing down the ground and almost everything square of the wickets)

Virtually everyone in world cricket knows his strengths/weaknesses so I cant believe that Oz dont

The execution has simply been deplorable no matter how flat the decks and how disciplined Cook has been

In fairness, Cook's first boundary was a lovely straight drive, although I agree with the rest of the post.

[Jacknife]

Originally Posted by social

Mail is that Dussey is in line to be picked next in place of North

I like Duss and think he's been desperately unlucky not to have won a cap but they should pick Hughes and give the kid an extended run

Yes, to be honest having watched Dussey over in CC, it is amazing he hasn't been given a chance in the test side, considering he averages over 55 in first class cricket and has a similar mental strength to his brother, I bet he wonders what he has to do.

[fredfertang]

Must admit I'd assumed there must be some "non-cricketing" reason why Hussey jr has never made the full side - has always looked in a different class over here - which North hasn't always done by any means - another one that looks a bit special in the confines of the county game is Cosgrove

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by fredfertang

Must admit I'd assumed there must be some "non-cricketing" reason why Hussey jr has never made the full side - has always looked in a different class over here - which North hasn't always done by any means - another one that looks a bit special in the confines of the county game is Cosgrove

I don't know if you read it in the australias 5th and 6th best batsman thread but only 3 batsman have averaged 40 in shield cricket in 08- 09 09-10 and now 10-11. They are Khawaja, Dussey and Cosgrove.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by fredfertang

Must admit I'd assumed there must be some "non-cricketing" reason why Hussey jr has never made the full side - has always looked in a different class over here - which North hasn't always done by any means - another one that looks a bit special in the confines of the county game is Cosgrove

Hasn't really been the room for him has there? Australia seem to like the idea of their number 6 being a servicable bowler, given that the last 3 incumbents have been Symonds, Watson and North.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

I don't know if you read it in the australias 5th and 6th best batsman thread but only 3 batsman have averaged 40 in shield cricket in 08- 09 09-10 and now 10-11. They are Khawaja, Dussey and Cosgrove.

Is it just me or is there a missing generation of Australian batsmen?

In the late 90s/early 00s you had guys like Lehmann, Bevan, Law, and even guys like Hayden to an extent who dominated domestic cricket but couldn't break into the Test side. Even the likes of Hussey and Katich dominated FC cricket for years without getting much of a look in.

Now though, if having a stellar FC record is what you'd be looking for, then you'd have a choice of 3 oldies in Dussey, Jacques or Rodgers, or 3 young guns in Khawaja, Hughes and Smith (admittedly I have no idea how Smith has done this season.)

There doesn't seem to be anyone in the age range inbetween who has a FC record that demands inclusion.