FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
Am I missing something? Wouldn't Starc be in the team anyway? I'd consider Pattinson, Siddle, Starc, Lyon to be the incumbent lineup. If we went with option 2, what would the team be?
-
Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
Australia - should they field four quicks?
- Thread starter LongHopCassidy
- Start date
Maximas
Cricketer Of The Year
Especially now that I've said it...
But with Lyon bowling well currently you would think for this series at least Aus will continue to play him.
Spikey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Harris.
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
Ah right, forgot about him. I could see him not being in the first test team too though, if Starc bowled well again in the next game.
Last edited:
adub
International Captain
Has Starc bowled well?
Again in this game he took until the 81st over to take his first wicket in the first dig after opening the bowling. In the second dig he took until the 50th over to bag a pole although at least then he was first change. He took 6 wickets in the game but only once got a top 5 bat. Patto took 7 wickets and 5 of those were top 5 bats.
That's my beef with Starc. He doesn't ever seem to trouble good bats early in an innings and probably explains why his average is way above the guys he's competing for spots with. No one would say Pattinson or Harris or Bird or Siddle or Lyon can't take tail end wickets so there's no need for a specialist tail destroyer. So long as he is incapable of regularly getting early wickets he has no place in the test side for mine. Hope he comes good, because he could be a real weapon, but it'll take more than hope to knock over Cook, Trott, KP et al.
Again in this game he took until the 81st over to take his first wicket in the first dig after opening the bowling. In the second dig he took until the 50th over to bag a pole although at least then he was first change. He took 6 wickets in the game but only once got a top 5 bat. Patto took 7 wickets and 5 of those were top 5 bats.
That's my beef with Starc. He doesn't ever seem to trouble good bats early in an innings and probably explains why his average is way above the guys he's competing for spots with. No one would say Pattinson or Harris or Bird or Siddle or Lyon can't take tail end wickets so there's no need for a specialist tail destroyer. So long as he is incapable of regularly getting early wickets he has no place in the test side for mine. Hope he comes good, because he could be a real weapon, but it'll take more than hope to knock over Cook, Trott, KP et al.
hendrix
Hall of Fame Member
I would think that both Harris and perhaps Bird are above Starc in the pecking order.
Cabinet96
Global Moderator
I agree completely. All the radio commentators for the Somerset game are in unanimous agreement that Starc hasn't been that brilliant in the match and has certainly been out bowled by Pattinson. Yeah, he ran through a weak Somerset middle and lower order with a new cherry, but if Harris can't do that either, then really he's not worth persisting with because of his injuries. I've just never been that convinced about Starc.
uvelocity
International Coach
i think it's way too early to pigeonhole starc as having difficulty taking top order wickets, or even up front wickets. he's only played 9 tests. plus he's only 23. pattinson has managed 10 more wickets in their 288 overs (they are only 2 balls apart to date) and starc's strike rate is almost the same as siddle's and not far behind harris. with that scant evidence it's hard to be too critical, but I think starc's biggest issue really is his economy and lack of ability or willingness to change plans when something isn't working (ala perth v saffers)
i don't have knowledge of his 1st class stats, and they're pretty painful to try to examine but i'd hazard a guess early poles and top order poles have not been an issue at that level anyway. having said all that, he still is behind pattinson and harris and i'd be having a siddle or bird to run in all day in my attack too, so he'd not play the 1st test.
and yes play the spinner.
i don't have knowledge of his 1st class stats, and they're pretty painful to try to examine but i'd hazard a guess early poles and top order poles have not been an issue at that level anyway. having said all that, he still is behind pattinson and harris and i'd be having a siddle or bird to run in all day in my attack too, so he'd not play the 1st test.
and yes play the spinner.
flibbertyjibber
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Daft thing is even now nobody has a clue what the order is for the Aussie pace attack. Pattinson to lead it and then any combination could be selected. Siddle has had a good run since the last ashes yet some of you say he shouldn't be in the side. God help you lot if they pick an attack that fails to produce on day 1 as the coach will get loads of stick for leaving out x and y.
Ruckus
International Captain
Fitness in the clear, Harris and Pattinson are two absolute lock-ins for me. If those two **** up then there isn't much else the coach or whoever could have done, because they are the best two bowlers we have. The third spot is less consequential, but I still would be picking Bird, because I wouldn't even be that surprised if he managed to outshine the other two. I doubt Siddle would do that though.
Julian87
State Captain
Is it just me or does there not appear a real chance that Faulkner will play as an all rounder in the first test anyway?
I realise this game atm is just a tour game and they're giving plenty of blokes a hit out but there aren't really any logical choices for the #6 position (barring Smith who isn't playing and was only a late addition to the squad).
I don't really agree with such a bowling heavy side at all but it does seem a chance of happening and would make this thread a tad irrelevant.
I realise this game atm is just a tour game and they're giving plenty of blokes a hit out but there aren't really any logical choices for the #6 position (barring Smith who isn't playing and was only a late addition to the squad).
I don't really agree with such a bowling heavy side at all but it does seem a chance of happening and would make this thread a tad irrelevant.
flibbertyjibber
Request Your Custom Title Now!
I would think Wade has more chance of playing the first test than Faulkner. I'd be very surprised if Faulkner was to play any of the upcoming 10 tests between the sides.
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
Yeah I don't really think #6 is a specialist position, realistically anyone should be able to bat there, but Faulkner there or at 7 would a big surprise. The batting is definitely tough to pick since there's quite a few guys who you wouldn't say are locked into a position, basically just Rogers, Clarke and Watson who are 100% to play in the first test, fitness permitting. But I think the most likely option is that some combination of Hughes, Cowan, Khawaja and Warner fills the rest of the top 6, with the three that haven't punched anyone in the face lately being the easy picks. The fact that everyone made some runs against Somerset just makes it more likely they'll stick with that group.
Spark
Global Moderator
It's not a specialist position but there are certain types of players who do better there than others IMO (I've harped on about this for ages though)
Top_Cat
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Nah, no way is Bird above Starc. Bird's latest injury was ill-timed but it's reality that the selectors clearly put Starc ahead at the moment. They certainly have been giving him a ton of chances in all forms.
Harris not a lock for the first Test yet either but if he pulls up well in the next FC game, that should see him through with a few wickets a bonus. Lehmann being the coach does nothing but help his chances but, at this stage, Pattinson/Siddle/Starc a huge chance as the first Test line-up.
Spikey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Faulkner wouldn't bat 6, it'd be Haddin, and my god it would be stupid as ****
MrPrez
International Debutant
Simple stuff really.
Basic Test format should be
6 batsmen
1 keeper
4 bowlers.
In the assumption that one of the top 6 can bowl a bit. Even if it's just a few overs of offspin or dibblies.
If you don't have anyone at all bowleable, then you maaay get away with selecting a slightly worse batsman at 6 who can bowl part-time.
If you've got Watson in your top 6 there is absolutely no reason to play someone like Faulkner unless he's in as one of the four specialist bowlers.
Basic Test format should be
6 batsmen
1 keeper
4 bowlers.
In the assumption that one of the top 6 can bowl a bit. Even if it's just a few overs of offspin or dibblies.
If you don't have anyone at all bowleable, then you maaay get away with selecting a slightly worse batsman at 6 who can bowl part-time.
If you've got Watson in your top 6 there is absolutely no reason to play someone like Faulkner unless he's in as one of the four specialist bowlers.