Now for a detailed critique of the Aus A vs England game. First the Aus A side
Elliott was unfortunate to get a lifter on the first ball of the game and then didn't really take any further part except to drop 3 catches. The one I loved was when he turned away before the ball got to him and it hit him on the thigh on the full.
Maher will be kicking himself for missing out but got a good one from Tudor. His captaincy in the field was excellent.
Love is the next in line to make the side. he just has to stay in form so that he's ready when the time comes. I suspect that if Steve Waugh is not successful before the end of the 3rd test then he may go.
Clarke and North looked very promising and batted well. Clarke looked better though North played an excellent reverse sweep.
Blewett is gone as a test player and shouldn't be picked for these games any more. Sorry GB. The English bowlers quickly exploited the major weakness in his game and bowled him.
Haddin showed that if he isn't a test wicket keepers armpit by having an untidy performance with the gloves. Thank god he can bat. I know it was a hard pitch but he should have come up closer to better negotiate the low bounce.
Noffke was pure class with the ball and will play for Australia down the track.
Clark may be the guy to take over from McGrath. I was impressed with his accurate line especially in the first innings.
Williams was good but lucky to get a couple of those lbws which looked to be sliding down the leg side. he's certainly the next in line after Lee and Bichel.
Hauritz was fair on a pitch that didn't suit him. Look for him in 2-3 years. He's still very young.
The English side was good and bad.
Trescothick and Vaughan didn't get amongst the runs but have shown their class before. Trescothick though seems to be too tense and worried about his form. the pressure might be getting to him.
Butcher needs to concentrate better once he gets in that 20-30-40 area and get bigger scores. Still impressive.
Key was a surprise. Lucky to get his score in the first innings after being dropped on 5 and caught behind off a no ball but really went on in the second innings. Must be picked at the top of his form for the 2nd test. I don't care who they drop. I like the idea above where teh all rounder goes.
Crawley lacks the technique to be a great test batsman but makes up for it with ticker. Showed plenty of fighting spirit in both innings but needs someone to stay with him. A sad statement considering he bats at 5.
White, not a good enough batsman or bowler to be a good all rounder. Bowled very badly on Friday.
Flintoff - not fit enough to consider. Bowling was particularly poor and didn't hang around long enough to rate him as a batsman.
Dawson - wasn't too bad, showed good flight, wasn't a spinning pitch so tried hard.
Tudor - will probably play in teh 2nd test as he was the best bowler for England on Friday. Certainly has lost pace and thus needs to put the ball in the right spot more.
Harmison - still hampered by injury as he didn't appear to be as quick as Hussain suggested he would be at the beginning of the tour. Bowled too short outside off stump and got hammered. Unless he is fully fit and bowls flat out, it's not much use picking him.
Foster - tidy work behind the stumps, not that he got to take many. Batting not his strong point but we all knew that.
I was lucky to see most of the match and England has its problems. My side for the 2nd test would be
Trescothick, Vaughan, Butcher, Hussain, key, Crawley, Stewart, Giles, Tudor, Caddick, Hoggard
