***Official*** Australia in England (The Ashes)

[Mister Wright]

or rather the opposite of everything u said. hehe

Geez, it must feel pretty good to drag up a thread made ages ago before McGrath was injured and FaaipDeOiad could see if Flintoff was World Class or not.

 

[Andre]

indeed - Stuart Clark has been added to the squad - very much in the McGrath mould.

This selection suprised me a little, to be honest.

I'd have thought that Watson (however much I don't think he can handle test cricket yet....) would get the call up, because MacGill to me seems a must-pick for Manchester to expose any mental frailties that the Poms have against wrist spin bowling - he'd certainly have more chance of running through the side than a medium fast bowler like Kasper, as good as he is.

That said, I like the idea that they have brought in another specialist bowler but I thought if selection consistency applied then it would be Mick Lewis getting the call up. He was given a Cricket Australia contract ahead of Clark and is also in England, infact he was called up as a net bowler earlier this week. However, the like-for-like policy seems to have got Clark in the door, even though I don't think either of them would play a part in the series anyway. Apparently Tait has been very, very impressive in the nets and isn't too far away from getting a game.

As for the English, it was a fantastic win but a couple of things stood out. Vaughan's lack of confidence with the bat, his lack of confidence in Hoggard and Jones on the final day and again the poor work of Geraint Jones.

Though Geraint took the catch that won the match, it masks another poor performance and even though they won I'm a believer in strengthening a winning side if possible. You always want the best side against the Aussies. In that case, I'd have axed Hoggard and G. Jones - neither of whom are quite up to the standard of cricket we have seen this series - and brought in Paul Collingwood to bat 6, Freddie to bat 7 and Chris Read at 8. G Jones isn't exactly scoring moutains of runs either, so Read averaging around 20 at 8 with Giles at 9 makes a handy lower order - and crucially, assures the bowlers that most knicks behind will be mopped up.

Bring on Manchester! Come on the Aussies!

 

[Monty]

i would drop hayden for hussey now

 

[Mister Wright]

i would drop hayden for hussey now

That's why you're not a selector.

 

[andyc]

Bring in Bichel excellent bowler, handy batsman, brilliant fielder + his is already in england.

That's what I was thinking too. Would make the most sense to me.

 

[Mister Wright]

That's what I was thinking too. Would make the most sense to me.

He's been marked to 'never play again'.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Is anybody convinced by Watson, aside from the selectors?
If I was Aus I'd rather see Symonds in ahead of him tbh.

 

[Mister Wright]

Is anybody convinced by Watson, aside from the selectors?
If I was Aus I'd rather see Symonds in ahead of him tbh.

Symonds would be a much better option and should be given another chance. Watson will be a fine test cricketer, but he is wasted if he is selected now. The lowest he should bat is 6, he is a genuine 3 or 4. He would be a handy 2nd change, but I doubt his abilities (currently) as a first change.

 

[Kris]

Symonds would be a much better option and should be given another chance. Watson will be a fine test cricketer, but he is wasted if he is selected now. The lowest he should bat is 6, he is a genuine 3 or 4. He would be a handy 2nd change, but I doubt his abilities (currently) as a first change.

Do you really think its worth perserving with playing Watson as an allrounder? I think he's going to be a top grade test batsmen, but his bowler leaves a little to be desired so far. I just think it'd be better for Shane if he concentrated on his batting solely.

 

[Mister Wright]

Do you really think its worth perserving with playing Watson as an allrounder? I think he's going to be a top grade test batsmen, but his bowler leaves a little to be desired so far. I just think it'd be better for Shane if he concentrated on his batting solely.

Yes I do. He should be played as a batting allrounder, not a bowling allrounder. He will be a world class batsman, and will bowl handy overs, but he is far from ready for test cricket atm.

 

[Kris]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I think he's ready for test cricket now, purely as a batsmen. But as a bowler, nup, no way.

 

[Mister Wright]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I think he's ready for test cricket now, purely as a batsmen. But as a bowler, nup, no way.

Like Clarke he doesn't have enough experience or two or three seasons in a row of consistent scores. Once he gets that confidence under his belt and is batting in his correct position we will see different things from him. He should be dropped from the one day side and given another full season with the Bulls.

 

[howardj]

Like Clarke he doesn't have enough experience or two or three seasons in a row of consistent scores. Once he gets that confidence under his belt and is batting in his correct position we will see different things from him. He should be dropped from the one day side and given another full season with the Bulls.

For sure. The best thing to do with the younger guys, is let them bake in the Pura Cup oven for a couple of seasons - uninterrupted. Let them play FC cricket and learn about their games. Didn't do Langer and Hayden etc any harm.

 

[simmy]

Without Tait or Lee... your attack will have no firepower... Just two out of form seamers and a young inexperienced "allrounder".

Im backing England for the next test.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Without Tait or Lee... your attack will have no firepower... Just two out of form seamers and a young inexperienced "allrounder".

Im backing England for the next test.

It's certainly looking like a rum do for Aus, but don't get too confident, we almost lost the last game after out-playing them for most of the match.

 

[tassietiger]

Is anybody convinced by Watson, aside from the selectors?
If I was Aus I'd rather see Symonds in ahead of him tbh.

Watching big fred smash us last test gave me a glimpse of what the other andy (symonds) could've been like if we persisted with him. He deserved a bit more of a go than he got IMO, he's not the first player to have a bad debut (Bradman's was average IIRC). Not only that, but he can bowl pace/spin and he was one of the few players to get a bit of form up from the ODI series.

And it doesn't end there. There is another all-rounder that would be more worthwhile than Watson in the team. Funny thing is, he is actually over there, commentating. Anyone who think that we wouldn't have won that second Test with Boof in our team hasn't thought it through enough.

 

[howardj]

Without Tait or Lee... your attack will have no firepower... Just two out of form seamers and a young inexperienced "allrounder".

.

What do you mean? If you've been watching, Kaspa is our all-rounder....he just needs a few wickets

 

[tassietiger]

Without Tait or Lee... your attack will have no firepower... Just two out of form seamers and a young inexperienced "allrounder".

Im backing England for the next test.

Without Dizzy or Kasper, our attack will lack any 'quality', and that bothers me much more.

 

[King_Ponting]

aussies should pick 11 batsmen and try and draw the test..............

 

[aussie]

I was at the OT this morning when i saw Stuart Clark in the sqaud , i for one would have rathered them call up Bichel instead but i hope to Lee's fit & it seems as if the Aussies are going to pic both Warne & MacGill....

edit: I also had a glimpse of Tait bowling at full trottle & boy he looks faster than Harmison & his action is so weird he deliveres the ball very very low , i reckon if he plays at first sight he will be hard to pick up.