*Official* Third Test at the WACA

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Spark

You're not seriously suggesting playing North as a specialist spinner are you? Geez, I at least was just having a bit of a laugh, but...

Yeah? He has proved he is as good as any of our 'specialist spinners'. His FC average is the same as Hauritz's...

[GotSpin]

Originally Posted by DeusEx

How bout this line-up for the WACA:

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja
North (spinner)
Haddin
Johnson (in for Siddle because of his extra pace)
Harris
Bollinger

Is johnson going to play any FC matches beforehand? Otherwise I don't see the point of bringing him back

[Spark]

Originally Posted by DeusEx

Yeah? He has proved he is as good as any of our 'specialist spinners'. His FC average is the same as Hauritz's...

Hauritz is a better spinner than North. North's not bad, but Hauritz is better.

In any case, if you must pick a spinner... O'Keefe.

And I don't see the logic in dropping the one bowler who has actually performed in this series.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Got_Spin

Is johnson going to play any FC matches beforehand? Otherwise I don't see the point of bringing him back

No idea, but I just feel he would be more potent at the WACA than Siddle.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Spark

Hauritz is a better spinner than North. North's not bad, but Hauritz is better.

In any case, if you must pick a spinner... O'Keefe.

And I don't see the logic in dropping the one bowler who has actually performed in this series.

Wasn't talking about O'Keefe, because I know he isn't in contention. Out of Hauritz and North though it is pretty debatable who is better tbh. There really isn't that much in it, and because North is obviously the far better batsmen that gives him the advantage. Also, yes Siddle performed in the first innings at the Gabba but he hasn't done much since. Scored a century though.

Feel Johnson's pace would go well at the WACA.

[Spark]

No, I don't think it's debatable. North's bowling is good but Hauritz's is simply better. North has the advantage of being able to not have to bowl when he knows he isn't bowling well, Hauritz doesn't.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Spark

No, I don't think it's debatable. North's bowling is good but Hauritz's is simply better. North has the advantage of being able to not have to bowl when he knows he isn't bowling well, Hauritz doesn't.

Given that neither of them are particularly good anyway, and North is most likely going to be retained in the team irrespective of how he performs this match, his involvement in the team might as well be put to better use by allowing another batsmen to come in. Don't think you could really argue that Hauritz's spin would provide any advantage over North's spin + his batting + another batsmen in the team.

[Spark]

I'm saying that Hauritz would be a more useful specialist spinner than North.

Sorry, but retaining North as a specialist spinner is just plain stupid. It was a joke, you're taking it way too seriously.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Spark

I'm saying that Hauritz would be a more useful specialist spinner than North.

Sorry, but retaining North as a specialist spinner is just plain stupid. It was a joke, you're taking it way too seriously.

I didn't even see your post??? I thought it was a good idea myself. "Plain stupid" is your opinion, and I disagree. Seeing as though we don't have an exceptional specialist spinner, their role in the team is not that important. North can cover the 'lesser' aspects of spin bowling. The attack of this team at this stage will always be dependant on our quicks, and shouldn't rely on a spinner.

[NUFAN]

Word on the street is that S Marsh will debut at his home ground in the 3rd Test.

[stephen]

Originally Posted by DeusEx

I didn't even see your post??? I thought it was a good idea myself. "Plain stupid" is your opinion, and I disagree. Seeing as though we don't have an exceptional specialist spinner, their role in the team is not that important. North can cover the 'lesser' aspects of spin bowling. The attack of this team at this stage will always be dependant on our quicks, and shouldn't rely on a spinner.

It might be an idea, but not a very good one.

Did we learn nothing from Cameron White's inclusion in the Australian team.

You pick 4 specialist bowlers, including one specialist spinner. That man has to be one of Hauritz or O'Keefe.

[Spark]

Originally Posted by stephen

It might be an idea, but not a very good one.

Did we learn nothing from Cameron White's inclusion in the Australian team.

You pick 4 specialist bowlers, including one specialist spinner. That man has to be one of Hauritz or O'Keefe.

Nothing more to add than this. AWTA.

[iamdavid]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

Word on the street is that S Marsh will debut at his home ground in the 3rd Test.

God I hope not...

I think the best team Australia could pick for Perth would be -

Watson
Katich (Hughes if he's unfit)
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Hussey
Haddin
O'Keefe/Hauritz
Harris
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

I know Siddle was great in the first dig in Brisbane, but he's been pedestrian since, and I just feel that Hilf compliments Doug and Harris better and that he's got more to fall back on as a test bowler at this stage.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by stephen

It might be an idea, but not a very good one.

Did we learn nothing from Cameron White's inclusion in the Australian team.

You pick 4 specialist bowlers, including one specialist spinner. That man has to be one of Hauritz or O'Keefe.

I would be all for picking O'Keefe, because he looks promising with the ball and the bat. But I wasn't talking about him because it seems at this stage very unlikely he will even come under consideration. Furthermore, the whole premise of having North as the 'main' spinner is because it is assumed he will be retained in the team. As this test has shown, it is our batting which is the main problem atm, hence making North the main spinner allows his position to be of better value, and allows another batsmen into the middle order. Once again, you cannot possibly argue that having Hauritz as the main spinner and North as the no. 6 would be better than having North as the main spinner and an extra proper batsmen (e.g. Khawaja).

Compare the line-ups, which one do you think would be more likely to succeed:


1.

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja
North (spinner)
Haddin
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
Fast bowler

2.

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Hauritz
Fast bowler
Fast bowler
Fast bowler

[benchmark00]

Should sucker punch them with David Warner and Watson opening the batting imo.