*Official* First Test at The Gabba

[Spikey]

Nah he really isn't.

I'm writing a piece on this exact topic p so I won't go into it right now, but don't be seduced.

taking your time bud

 

[benchmark00]

eta June 2016.

 

[Spikey]

If you work hard and release it in time for June 2015, it'll coincide with yet another MJ return

 

[Furball]

I don't know where I stand on Mitch.

Looking at the alternatives:

* Pattinson, Bird, Cummins, Starc - all injured. All would also be ahead of Johnson afaic.
* Hastings - no. Trundler.
* Faulkner - not as a specialist bowler. It would say a lot if he got regular Test time.
* Coulter-Nile - his limited international form doesn't inspire confidence. He may prove me wrong, but at this stage I think I'd prefer MJ.
* McKay - ODI specialist. No thanks.
* Hazlewood - too raw? Though it didn't stop Cummins I guess.
* Sayers - if he averages around 20 he has to be good, but he's still very unproven IMO.
* Hilfenhaus - hard to say. If his action is still low I doubt he'd do much though I suppose he won't get hammered on an off-day unlike Mitch. If it's 2012 again then pick him.

That's the ones that have played Test cricket recently or were named in that "fast 8". Few are conclusively better than MJ, so I don't think it's a farce that he looks like being recalled unlike 75% of the Australians on the forum. Still wouldn't pick him mind you.

There are others I would consider (Bollinger, Copeland, Butterworth, etc.) but I don't think the selectors will.

Johnson's got over 200 Test wickets at an average a touch over 30. He's not that bad and there's plenty of sides who'd kill to have a bowler with that sort of record waiting in the wings.

At full strength he'd rightly be nowhere near the Test team, but when Starc, Bird and Pattinson are all out injured, Johnson's far from the worst bloke to have coming into the side.

 

[Crazy Sam]

I'd rather Feldman than Johnson tbh.

 

[morgieb]

Johnson's got over 200 Test wickets at an average a touch over 30. He's not that bad and there's plenty of sides who'd kill to have a bowler with that sort of record waiting in the wings.

At full strength he'd rightly be nowhere near the Test team, but when Starc, Bird and Pattinson are all out injured, Johnson's far from the worst bloke to have coming into the side.

Yeah, that's kinda my views tbh.

 

[morgieb]

1 ton and the papers are going on about Doolan again. On the plus side his runs are SS runs unlike Bailey. I'm liking what Lynn did this match vs the Poms. Saw him at North Sydney and he strikes a clean ball. Would Lynn have the temperament to bat 6 and bat with the tail? Or is he more of a 4?

4 Lynn
5 Clarke
6 People's champ

If all the automatic selections ahead of MJ are crocked then as much as I hate it the selectors will pick him. I can't see them giving someone a debut.

Lynn hasn't done much for a while. He needs a good Shield season to get into consideration, and even when he was scoring runs he didn't seem like he was in contention anyway (bizarrely IMO but it is what it is).

I'd be OK with Doolan. Unlike Bailey (who I suspect they'd pick) his runs are at the Shield level, which is a plus.

 

[Adders]

Johnson's got over 200 Test wickets at an average a touch over 30. He's not that bad and there's plenty of sides who'd kill to have a bowler with that sort of record waiting in the wings.

At full strength he'd rightly be nowhere near the Test team, but when Starc, Bird and Pattinson are all out injured, Johnson's far from the worst bloke to have coming into the side.

I think that would be very true if it were any other series and against any other opposition. As Pews I think it was pointed out, if the hammering he copped last time wasn't severe enough......admitting to how much it got to him will only ensure it is delivered 10 fold should he ever face England and the Barmy Army again.

 

[dermo]

No Cookies | Herald Sun

this was actually going somewhere

 

[Son Of Coco]

Good comeback. Shame it took you 3 weeks to think it up.

2 seconds.

Although replying to your posts is mentally taxing.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Yeah, and Swann will be crying tears of joy when he sees a pitch like that...

Now, now. If anything, England's home series taught us he doesn't need wickets specially prepared for him to be of any use to his team.

 

[Spikey]

I'd rather Feldman than Johnson tbh.

at the very least he passes the good guy test

 

[benchmark00]

Hey hey hey, no need to get the cops involved in this.

 

[Spikey]

arresting MJ is a great way to stop him for playing tbf

 

[Ruckus]

I think that would be very true if it were any other series and against any other opposition. As Pews I think it was pointed out, if the hammering he copped last time wasn't severe enough......admitting to how much it got to him will only ensure it is delivered 10 fold should he ever face England and the Barmy Army again.

Yeah aside from the fact he has proven time and time again he is an unreliable option, I just hate what the selection of Johnson gives to England - it gives the team and supporters someone to target. And when Johnson crumbles under the pressure, he brings the whole team down.

I see no reason why Bollinger shouldn't be picked over Johnson at this stage.

 

[NUFAN]

If there are now 2 spots up for grabs in the top 6 the two Tassue boys Doolan and Bailey are my choices. #noinbred

 

[Spikey]

1 warner
2 rogers
3 doolan
4 clarke
5 smith
6 faulkner
7 haddin
8-11 who cares

 

[uvelocity]

the thing i like about forkers (this is nothing to do with his slaparoo last night) is he is a competitor. some guys like johnsons you just cant trust them to turn up, but forkers even if he isn't the most talented bloke, he's someone you'd go to war with

 

[dermo]

forka's is picked as a bowler or not at all imo

 

[andyc]

the thing i like about forkers (this is nothing to do with his slaparoo last night) is he is a competitor. some guys like johnsons you just cant trust them to turn up, but forkers even if he isn't the most talented bloke, he's someone you'd go to war with

Sorry mate, only room for one big-hearted trier in the team and P. Siddy's got that wrapped up.

He runs in all day, you know.