Australia's Post Ashes Blueprint

[Barney Rubble]

Originally Posted by FaaipDeOiad

Not sure. Like Tait, he's never been clocked in domestic cricket. The fastest bowlers in Australian cricket right now excluding Lee are generally considered to be Tait, Johnson and Bird though (although Bird is currently having his action remodelled because he was chucking it and might come out slower). Tait, as we've seen is certainly Lee pace and maybe capable of being even quicker. I would say at a guess that Johnson is more in the Harmison spectrum, but it's quite hard to say, and he's a bit injury prone so might slow down anyway.

I wouldn't say he's much like Tait really, he's more like a young left-arm Lee, except he is probably a bit slower and has better height (in terms of release point) because of his big jump and action. His problem is definately accuracy right now anyway. Once he starts playing regularly for Queensland we'll get a better idea of how good he is.

It sounds like with a bit of luck, by the time the next Ashes in England 2009 comes around, Australia could be fielding a side containing three 95mph bowlers - Lee, Tait, and Johnson. If Johnson is in the Harmison spectrum, let us not forget Harmy sent one down at 96.7mph in the Champions Trophy, so even quick bowlers can get quicker. If Matthew Hoggard wasn't crapping himself on Monday evening, he will be in four years' time!

[FaaipDeOiad]

Originally Posted by Barney Rubble

It sounds like with a bit of luck, by the time the next Ashes in England 2009 comes around, Australia could be fielding a side containing three 95mph bowlers - Lee, Tait, and Johnson. If Johnson is in the Harmison spectrum, let us not forget Harmy sent one down at 96.7mph in the Champions Trophy, so even quick bowlers can get quicker. If Matthew Hoggard wasn't crapping himself on Monday evening, he will be in four years' time!

Well that's what's been mentioned a bit, yeah - the idea of an express four-prong in the future for Australia. Bird's been mentioned in the same vein as well - he's the guy who at junior level bowled to Michael Slater in some sort of friendly match and concussed him.

I think really Tait and Johnson need to find some sort of accuracy though. There's no point in picking 3 lightning quick bowlers in a team if they're not also capable of moving the ball and putting it in the right areas, and right now Tait is certainly developing well but Johnson has really stalled quite a bit with injuries and other problems. If he does come good though, it's a good prospect for an attack.

[Barney Rubble]

Originally Posted by FaaipDeOiad

If he does come good though, it's a good prospect for an attack.

Well I certainly wouldn't want to face it! But then again, I struggle against bowlers of Aftab Ahmed's pace, so........

[aussie]

i wish people would stop calling for Punters head has skipper , yea he not the greatest tactican but he isn't all that bad. I have seen almost all of his games as skipper since he took over in 2002& at times he has made some magnificent decisions & some poor ones. The only way i can see him being axed has captain is if Australia play unbelivably poorly at home (which is unlikely to happen).

[aussie]

Originally Posted by chaminda_00

I think Australia have to find a way to get Jaques and Watson in the side, they have to look towards the future. Guys like Hayden, Katich, Hussey, or Hodge are no longer long term options for Australia. These guys might be good enough to play for Australia for 2-4 years, but they need to look at building a side around guys like Clarke, Tait, Watson and Jaques, and get them into the side while Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist are still around.

agreed but other than Hayden, Hodge, Katich & especially Hussey baring their age will be very important in the coming years along with the younger blokes & the 3 legends, it should all be a good mixture, we shouldn't just discount them......

[honestbharani]

Originally Posted by FaaipDeOiad

That was Ponting's team. Gilchrist did well in that series, but Warne is a cricketing genius and has worked wonders with Hampshire since he took over there. There's no doubt that if the captain was picked on pure tactical merit alone (which it would be if Ponting was dismissed, surely), it has to be Warne.

But he doesn't play ODIs. And I think it is better to have one captain than two.

[Nnanden]

Bracken will be there. I`m serious, he`ll play in the next Ashes IMO.

[chris.hinton]

Mitchell Johnson is 24 and averages 36 in Pura Cup Career, yep i am really scared that he going to win the ashes back from us

[Barney Rubble]

Originally Posted by honestbharani

But he doesn't play ODIs. And I think it is better to have one captain than two.

Methinks that can be arranged. A lot of talk around here from those who usually know their stuff that Warne is in line for an ODI comeback, with a view to retirement after WC 2007.

[Top_Cat]

Like Tait, he's never been clocked in domestic cricket.

Sorry but he has. Not in a Pura Cup match but I remember hearing from a few mates (which subsequently got a mention in Inside Edge) that when he was recovering from his first back injury, off 4 paces, he was clocked at 138km/h. In an academy match, he was in the high 140's but wasn't bowling full-out. I've heard rumours that before his current run of injuries, Johnson was likely to beat Brett Lee for consistent all-out pace.

Sounds a little like another Tait to me.

And how quick are we talking? Harmison-quick, Lee-quick, or what-the-hell-was-that quick?

You don't consider Harmi and Lee to be 'what the hell was that' quick?!??!

Johnson, at his quickest, is right up there. I don't know if he'll reach that again, though.

He bends the ball around quite a bit too. He has one of those sorts of actions where he's up with the bat and swinging it rather than trying to hit the seam. Big hooping in-swingers are his thing.

It sounds like with a bit of luck, by the time the next Ashes in England 2009 comes around, Australia could be fielding a side containing three 95mph bowlers - Lee, Tait, and Johnson.

I'd be extremely surprised if Lee is bowling even 90mph+ in 4 years time. He'll be 32, after all.

As for changes to the Aussie team, I don't think many are required. Replacing the captain is just panic-stations and unless there is serious team unrest, it would be foolish to change right now. Ponting made some mistakes, yes, but he should definitely remain captain.

Hayden probably prolonged his career a bit with that ton but he really struggled to get it. I think another home series is in order.

Langer was one of the few to enhance his reputation in the series. Had he not faced 400+ scores and been under pressure right away in three Tests, he'd probably have scored more.

Ponting had one of two really good knocks but the pressure of captaining and being the team's lynchpin with the bat took it's toll I think. He was undone by excellent bowling, I reckon.

Martyn had two shocking decisions, two soft dismissals, a couple of great balls and the rest. The bowling was probably mostly to blame but he'll come back from this. Certainly shouldn't be dropped or even considered when his record in the last two years is taken into account. Have faith.

Katich was undone by good bowling but also had a couple of his technical deficiencies outside off-stump laid-bare. That and I don't think he had any idea of which way the ball was going to swing when Flintoff was bowling.

Clarke batted quite well I thought. In several tight circumstances, he held the batting together but only temporarily. Tough cricket like what he faced will probably change him as a player. A key step in his development as Australia's future batting leader.

Gilchrist was Gilchrist. He played the same way he's played for his entire career and was figured out by Flintoff. Too bad. Next time he does it, he'll probably hit a run-a-ball ton.

Warne was Warne. 'nuff said.

Lee will hopefully go onto better things after this series. Occasionally in the series he looked like he'd but then he'd do what he did during Pietersen's ton and get smacked with ease. A bowler bowling 95+mph should NOT be hit with such ease.

McGrath was McGrath. Bowled tightly but without penetration in the 5th Test but that was lack of match-practice and a still-sore elbow and foot I reckon.

Tait was good. Solid start to his Test career. He'll only get better. He has the right attitude after-all.

Personally, I don't think the side should change for the Super Test. Bringing in Jacques is insanity whilst dropping Katich for Watson is a possibility. I don't knw if it would be entirely fair to put such pressure on Watson just yet, though.

[PY]

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

Lee will hopefully go onto better things after this series. Occasionally in the series he looked like he'd but then he'd do what he did during Pietersen's ton and get smacked with ease. A bowler bowling 95+mph should NOT be hit with such ease.

When I met up with Andre and watched the morning session when Lee was bruising Pietersen up pretty bad, he said that the bouncer that struck KP on the glove and went over the slips was one of the best he'd ever seen and I'm inclined to agree.

He's got a great bouncer, great yorker but doesn't seem to have much in between. What would you say is Lee's stock delivery or does he not have one? I agree, considering how dangerous he looked at some stages, he shouldn't have gone for so many runs like he did.

[Pedro Delgado]

He should bowl on or just outside off, aiming to hit the top of off, interceded with the odd yorker, bouncer and slower ball.

Easier said than done though.

[greg]

Originally Posted by PY

When I met up with Andre and watched the morning session when Lee was bruising Pietersen up pretty bad, he said that the bouncer that struck KP on the glove and went over the slips was one of the best he'd ever seen and I'm inclined to agree.

He's got a great bouncer, great yorker but doesn't seem to have much in between. What would you say is Lee's stock delivery or does he not have one? I agree, considering how dangerous he looked at some stages, he shouldn't have gone for so many runs like he did.

KP was a genius! I was listening to Sky highlights the other day and it was very funny to hear Mikey Holding in the commentary box saying that it was inevitable that Pietersen got the bouncer barrage before and after lunch after the meal he made of being hit in the ribs.

The bouncer barrage is now being credited as the period which ultimately cost the match for Australia

[Top_Cat]

What would you say is Lee's stock delivery or does he not have one? I agree, considering how dangerous he looked at some stages, he shouldn't have gone for so many runs like he did.

When he's reverted to 'old Lee' he's been pumelled. Witness Lee's post-lunch spell in the most recent Test. When he's bowled just outside off-stump, short-of-a-length, he's looked very dangerous. Witness Lee's spell in the second Test when he clean-bowled Vaughan in the midst of his best spell of the series. Sometimes when he bowls yorkers and bouncers, he's successful but against confident, attacking batsmen who are in form such as Pietersen and Flintoff, he's an expensive team-member.

That was a damn fine bumper, yes, but did you see how much it lifted?!? That was the deck as much as it was well-pitched.

The bouncer barrage is now being credited as the period which ultimately cost the match for Australia

Some will say it cost the series too but in reality, they didn't deserve to retain the Ashes.

[FaaipDeOiad]

Originally Posted by chris.hinton

Mitchell Johnson is 24 and averages 36 in Pura Cup Career, yep i am really scared that he going to win the ashes back from us

Simon Jones averages in the 30s in the CC too. Anyway, Mitchell Johnson hasn't even played 10 games, so I don't know why you're bringing up his average, as it's totally irrelevant.