*Official* Third Test at the WACA

[benchmark00]

Here's a radical idea...don't play a specialist spinner.

I've always been a big advocate of playing your best bowlers regardless of styles in most situations, but Australia don't have the fast bowling artillery to justify an all pace attack.

I think variety is important, and you can't rely on a part timer to bowl alot of overs, plus play a role as a specialist bat also.

[benchmark00]

Pretty much this. A bowling attack of Harris, Siddle and Bollinger shouldn't be impotent. These guys are quality bowlers, and hopefully the WACA will give them something more to work with. If the English batsmen continue their domination, then you have to simply yield, and admit sometimes there isn't much you can do.

Sure, there's nothing you can do if you don't try alternatives.

What a defeatist attitude that is. Go down swinging, pull the trigger.

[flibbertyjibber]

That's not the issue though, Australia have to win the series to reagain the Ashes, a drawn series is not good enough. Sooner or later the selectors are going to have to select a team which gives Australia the best chance to secure twenty English wickets.

How do you know that England won't struggle just as much in the 2nd dig to get wickets and the poor performance is more down to the pitch than the bowlers though?

Might be more in it for them at Perth. Needs to be though or England can just bat their way to a drawn series.

[TumTum]

We needed somebody like Ojha, who can keep hitting the exact same spot on the pitch ball after ball. Doherty just bowled too much filth every over, despite bowling darts.

Go down swinging, pull the trigger.

If we try too much, we will fall into England's hands though. We just need to hope our luck turns around.

[benchmark00]

We needed somebody like Ojha, who can keep hitting the exact same spot on the pitch ball after ball. Doherty just bowled too much filth every over, despite bowling darts.



If we try too much, we will fall into England's hands though. We just need to hope our luck turns around.

Changing spinners is definitely not trying too much.

[TumTum]

Needs to be though or England can just bat their way to a drawn series.

Either MCG or SCG Test will definitely end with a result imo. Pitches are not as flat there as the Adelaide and WACA pitches.

Changing spinners is definitely not trying too much.

Was talking generally (like Clarke, Bolly, Siddle etc).

[Redbacks]

Changing spinners is definitely not trying too much.

Especially given how useless Doherty has been.

[howardj]

Hauritz should be the tweaker in Perth. He's just taken a five-for over there and averages 29 in Australia I think.

ABD (anyone but Doherty).

[Ruckus]

Sure, there's nothing you can do if you don't try alternatives.

What a defeatist attitude that is. Go down swinging, pull the trigger.

I'd be all for try some 'radical' selections at the start of the series, but once a few have already been made I'm not keen on the idea of continually changing bowlers. New bowlers often have to work themselves into matches which can result in some poor form. Harris, Bollinger and Siddle are basically the countries best 'safe' option bowlers imo, and so I think they should be persevered with (or perhaps one substituted for Johnson if required). I don't think swapping spinners is a bad idea, but i'm not keen on the Krejza idea. He hasn't played tests for so long, he would be more likely to get seriously owned that have tremendous success. Also he doesn't add much with the bat. Would much rather gamble on O'Keefe tbh.

[Redbacks]

I'd be all for try some 'radical' selections at the start of the series, but once a few have already been made I'm not keen on the idea of continually changing bowlers. New bowlers often have to work themselves into matches which can result in some poor form. Harris, Bollinger and Siddle are basically the countries best 'safe' option bowlers imo, and so I think they should be persevered with (or perhaps one substituted for Johnson if required). I don't think swapping spinners is a bad idea, but i'm not keen on the Krejza idea. He hasn't played tests for so long, he would be more likely to get seriously owned that have tremendous success. Also he doesn't add much with the bat. Would much rather gamble on O'Keefe tbh.

huh?

It's well and truly the deep-end by Perth, leaving Hauritz the only plausible option if we insist on playing a pie-chucker.

[MW1304]

Just realised that, as well as being his initials, XD is the expression an England fan has when watching him bowl.

[Ruckus]

huh?

It's well and truly the deep-end by Perth, leaving Hauritz the only plausible option if we insist on playing a pie-chucker.

My point was if we are going to gamble on playing a new spin bowler, I'd prefer O'keefe. He has a very good FC record so far, and can also bolster our batting line-up. He also had good success against the English batsmen in the Australia A game.

[benchmark00]

I'd be all for try some 'radical' selections at the start of the series, but once a few have already been made I'm not keen on the idea of continually changing bowlers. New bowlers often have to work themselves into matches which can result in some poor form. Harris, Bollinger and Siddle are basically the countries best 'safe' option bowlers imo, and so I think they should be persevered with (or perhaps one substituted for Johnson if required). I don't think swapping spinners is a bad idea, but i'm not keen on the Krejza idea. He hasn't played tests for so long, he would be more likely to get seriously owned that have tremendous success. Also he doesn't add much with the bat. Would much rather gamble on O'Keefe tbh.

Krejza's actually very handy with the bat itbt.

I'm not even a big Krejza fan, but if we're going to pick a team which gives us the best chance of taking 20 wickets, Krejza is the spinner for that.

[Ruckus]

Krejza's actually very handy with the bat itbt.

I'm not even a big Krejza fan, but if we're going to pick a team which gives us the best chance of taking 20 wickets, Krejza is the spinner for that.

Yeah he is handy, but O'Keefe is clearly much better. Already made 4 half centuries (one less than Krejza) in a 1/4 of the matches. I just don't think we should be relying on any spinner to take a substantial amount of wickets. We have to play to our strengths, which should be fast bowling, and hope it turns out better than this game.

[M0rphin3]

Philly
Twatto
Punter
Hussey
Khwaja
Steve Smith
Haddin
North/Hauritz
Harris
Siddle
Bollinger