*Official* Second Test at the Adelaide Oval

[andyc]

Andy - did you watch North bat? Didn't look out of touch at all actually. Hit some good shots.

Comes a time where you can't tolerate his low scores, but definitely didn't look out of form this match.

Saw a bit of him and yes, he did play some nice shots, but at the end of the day it's how many runs you score, and 1171 at 35.48 after 21 Tests is simply not good enough.


Anywho, as shamelessly stolen from a mate's Facebook: The joke's on you, England. What are you going to do with a full extra day in Adelaide?

[ripper868]

Anywho, as shamelessly stolen from a mate's Facebook: The joke's on you, England. What are you going to do with a full extra day in Adelaide?

Half day

[Ruckus]

Saw a bit of him and yes, he did play some nice shots, but at the end of the day it's how many runs you score, and 1171 at 35.48 after 21 Tests is simply not good enough.

Depending on how much influence Ponting will exert, it sounds as though North is going to be retained AGAIN:

"He'll be a bit disappointed with his week's work here," Ponting said of North. "I still believe that he's got great value to the team."

[Howe_zat]

Depending on how much influence Ponting will exert, it sounds as though North is going to be retained AGAIN:

"He'll be a bit disappointed with his week's work here," Ponting said of North. "I still believe that he's got great value to the team."

Don't understand.

What does Ricky want him there for? Is he a master tactician or something? If it's his bowling that's useful, why not play another batting allrounder rather than a batsman?

Is North blackmailing him?

[Aussie_Rules]

congrats to the pomms they played better than us and deserved this test there is no doubt about that, we will have to raise our game to win back the Ashes now

[Evermind]

It's not "random" though - the players being replaced do really need to go.

I think this only works if you have proven and significant bench strength.

What're they gonna do now? Bring in 2 more bowlers to replace Harris and Bollinger and Johnson and Hilfenhaus? And what if they don't perform?

Sometimes, when you know that you don't have good bench strength, you just gotta grit your teeth and go with what you have. Especially when it's Johnson, who you know can run through any lineup in the world on his day. Hell, go back to Brett Lee and Stuart Clark - they're light years ahead of this lot. I don't think it's time to experiment and mix and match in the middle of your most important series.

I still can't believe people want Ponting to be dropped - reminds me of the time people were calling for Tendulkar's head. Australia are behaving like India in terms of selection now.

[Ruckus]

Don't understand.

What does Ricky want him there for? Is he a master tactician or something? If it's his bowling that's useful, why not play another batting allrounder rather than a batsman?

Is North blackmailing him?

Yeah I honestly have no idea, but it is clear that there is some bias towards North for whatever reason, be it personal or otherwise. Maybe Hilditch is dating North's mum, who knows...

[Jayzamann]

Pretty compelling post made about North being in the top of an especially short stack of domestic cricketers within his age range, and that maintaining his spot in the side will pay dividends when the mid-30s players all retire or are squeezed out eventually.

Forget who made it, but I was browsing on my phone and cbf'd replying when I read it.

[Son Of Coco]

What're they gonna do now? Bring in 2 more bowlers to replace Harris and Bollinger and Johnson and Hilfenhaus? And what if they don't perform?

Sometimes, when you know that you don't have good bench strength, you just gotta grit your teeth and go with what you have. Especially when it's Johnson, who you know can run through any lineup in the world on his day. Hell, go back to Brett Lee and Stuart Clark - they're light years ahead of this lot. I don't think it's time to experiment and mix and match in the middle of your most important series.

Why would we need to replace Harris?

Our bench strength is very limited when our bench only has 3 or 4 seats on it.

[Ruckus]

Pretty compelling post made about North being in the top of an especially short stack of domestic cricketers within his age range, and that maintaining his spot in the side will pay dividends when the mid-30s players all retire or are squeezed out eventually.

I don't get that at all though, because North is 31, and Watson and Clarke are both 29. Those guys have been playing test cricket (especially Clarke) longer than North anyway, so what would 2 years of pure 'age experience' actually provide? Furthermore, seeing as though the older guys like Ponting and Hussey will still be around probably for another year at least, wouldn't it be better to bring in some new players now so they can learn from those guys?

[Evermind]

Why would we need to replace Harris?

Our bench strength is very limited when our bench only has 3 or 4 seats on it.

Because he has done just as poorly as Hilfenhaus and Johnson. So have Siddle and Bollinger. Why does Harris keep his spot, when H and J had to lose it?

That's not my logic, that's Aussie selector logic, if they are to be consistent.

[andyc]

Yeah, with Haddin and Watson cementing their places alongside Clarke, the experience North provides isn't really needed, especially as Johnson will (hopefully) also be there for the future.

[Howe_zat]

Yeah, with Haddin and Watson cementing their places alongside Clarke, the experience North provides isn't really needed, especially as Johnson will (hopefully) also be there for the future.

Among the fringe players, Hilfenhaus, Hauritz, Harris, Siddle are all 26-30 too.

[Redbacks]

Because he has done just as poorly as Hilfenhaus and Johnson. So have Siddle and Bollinger. Why does Harris keep his spot, when H and J had to lose it?

That's not my logic, that's Aussie selector logic, if they are to be consistent.

Harris bowled well.

Similarly Anderson bowled well in Brisbane without reward, but a selector would still have realised the quality of his effort.

[Ruckus]

Among the fringe players, Hilfenhaus, Hauritz, Harris, Siddle are all 26-30 too.

And Dougeh.

@evermind, how has Harris done as badly as Johnson and Hilfenhaus? He has been the pick of all the bowlers so far, and actually got some decent figures considering it was a road.