Cook's batting charts are a disgraceful indictment of how undisciplined Oz have been in the first 2 tests (virtually nothing down the ground and almost everything square of the wickets)
Prediction - a bunch of Oz batsmen to score nice 50s, throw it away when set and lose heavily
It's whether it holds up when he gets back to England and the ball starts moving in the air.
In fairness, Cook's first boundary was a lovely straight drive, although I agree with the rest of the post.
Yes, to be honest having watched Dussey over in CC, it is amazing he hasn't been given a chance in the test side, considering he averages over 55 in first class cricket and has a similar mental strength to his brother, I bet he wonders what he has to do.
I don't know if you read it in the australias 5th and 6th best batsman thread but only 3 batsman have averaged 40 in shield cricket in 08- 09 09-10 and now 10-11. They are Khawaja, Dussey and Cosgrove.
Hasn't really been the room for him has there? Australia seem to like the idea of their number 6 being a servicable bowler, given that the last 3 incumbents have been Symonds, Watson and North.
Is it just me or is there a missing generation of Australian batsmen?
I suppose you must be right, although given he's 33 I'm surprised he's never been given a Test chance through injury or the like at some point - I see he's played more ODI's than I thought, and recently too, so there can't be a sinister reason - which is a shame as I like a good conspiracy theory
No, the fact that Trott has been able to rotate the strike so easily when even Bangladesh have been able to stop him scoring and becalm him is the worst thing about the way Australia are bowling.
Yeah no one absolutely demands it but the likes of Cam White, Mark Cosgrove, Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges, George Bailey, Andrew McDonald are all in that in between age as is Clarke and Watson.
Of that list I am not sure that any are test match standard with the exception of McDonald and perhaps Cosgrove. Certainly none of the others are in a hurry to beat the door down.
I think it's just as worrying that Cook was on the verge of being dropped and we've played him into form of his life via a diet of full balls on middle and short balls outside off
I think Shaun Marsh would do very well if given an opportunity/ I'm sure you'll point to his sub 40 career average and low number of 100s..
That's my point though - UIMM none of the players you've mentioned have records that demand inclusion. For all the moaning about Marcuss North, there's no-one of an equivelantish age who's not already in the team who can point to a superior record and feel hard done by. Dussey has a case, but at 33 he doesn't represent a long term solution. And with the selectors seemingly reluctant to take a punt on young talent, North isn't the most illogical choice.
High quality and big talent that is finally starting to show some consistency
I wouldnt rank North amongst the top 10 bats in Oz plus he's had his chance and, IMO, blown it - his shot in the first innings was nothing short of a disgrace in the terms of the team's and his own predicament
