Solving the Watson conundrum

[social]

The only reason I suggest Usman is that he is relatively young and might improve

Watto is 31 and regressing

IMO, its the equivalent of a Johnson vs Starc debate

One could've been a world beater and ****ed it up

The other has his whole career in front of him

Given the state of the Oz test team, I'd go with the youngster every time

[Dan]

Dussey not a good option given his way of playing the bouncer (i.e. getting out to it).
Cosgrove should be there on raw talent, but he won't be.
Bailey and Forrest have had shocking summers.
We ain't going back to Quiney any time soon.

Leaves us with what, Joe Burns, Alex Doolan and Brad Haddin? Or Ferguson, and nobody wants that.

[Debris]

Maddinson.

[morgieb]

Originally Posted by Debris

Maddinson.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Debris

Maddinson.

Talented, but seriously regressed since his debut season.

Injured, so it's moot anyway.

[flibbertyjibber]

Watched an hour or so last night and he doesn't look a number 4. He is fighting his game at present as he has been injured then played no cricket to gain some form so he looks worse at the moment. He is either an opener or a number 6, no way can he be regarded as a long term option at 4 who will churn out big runs and average 45+.

The big thing with him is they have to either decide once and for all if he is a batsman, a bat who bowls the occasional spell ( as Clarke does) or if he is still to be regarded as an all rounder. Until they sort that out and stop shuffling between all 3 (often within the same series) then the guy is in a no win situation.

Personally I am not convinced he is a good enough top 6 player long term (an average of mid 30's after after 38 tests says that) but he has experience and with the year ahead now Ponting has gone that could be very important. Also it isn't as if there are a plethora of exciting young players being kept out of the side at present.

[uvelocity]

**** bois just saw watto pull a calf

[uvelocity]

Teach him to bowl spin imo

Whatever they do this in and out **** needs to stop

[Riggins]

He needs to stop bowling in t20s and odi's and for Nsw and **** for a start.

[Spikey]

Originally Posted by Spark

I'm sure spikey had something useful to say

I don't

I will say watson should be in the top 6 batsman, but I mean this time tomorrow Mitchell Johnson could have scored as many test tons as Watson

[Spikey]

Originally Posted by benchmark00

I love Usman, but he is a long way away from being a test cricketer. If you say Watson gets bogged down and he can get away with it by hitting out in shield cricket and you're advocating Usman, well...

If Watson misses Sydney I would seriously consider Moz or Maxwell. I just see no point picking Usman right now. I thought he hadn't made even any attempt to change his game. He more or less confirmed that in an interview ("He praised working with Lehmann and while the coach had made no technical changes, it was his approach to cricket that had appeal") . He failed once in test cricket because of that stuff. Really what's the point in picking him? if he plays, it's hard to care about any runs he may score anyway. On the flip-side, I think it's a lovely time to punt on an all-rounder.

I'd just pick Doolan though.

[Tangles]

Until we can find a stable bowling unit on the injuries front we need his bowling. On his batting the stats dont lie on where he should bat IMO. Have him open when fit with Warner. If he is injured just roll Cowan back into the team.

[Teja.]

Originally Posted by benchmark00

Watson as a specialist bat alone is in Australia's top six batsmen... However I think that can only be achieved if you tell him he won't bowl and he needs to give it up. I don't think that should happen though, because he's a more valuable package with his bowling, and without this bowling he's by no means a lock, but I'm still confident he's in the best 6 bats.

Originally Posted by benchmark00

He should bat at four.

Yeah, I agree with this.

[Monk]

1. Cowan
2. Warner
3. Hughes
4. Mitchell Johnson (batting all-rounder)
5. Clarke
6. Museey
7. Wade
8. Peter Siddle
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Pattinson
11. Lyon


Sorted.

[sphynx]

Originally Posted by social

The only reason I suggest Usman is that he is relatively young and might improve

Watto is 31 and regressing

IMO, its the equivalent of a Johnson vs Starc debate

One could've been a world beater and ****ed it up

The other has his whole career in front of him

Given the state of the Oz test team, I'd go with the youngster every time

It's not the time to be bring in a top order of Cowan, Warner, Hughes and Khwaja, 6 months out from the Ashes, and his bowling is more than handy, ffs he averages 30 with the ball which is as good as most of our quicks.

Khawaja isn't test standard atm imo....