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***Official Australia in South Africa***

mikeW

International Vice-Captain
andyc said:
Oh bugger. I completely forgot about MacGill.

My ideal first test team:

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Hodge/Jaques
Hussey
Symonds/Watson
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Bracken
MacGill

Both Symonds and Hodge will probably make the first test, but depending on how Watson and Jaques perform in the one dayers, and if Symonds and Hodge both fail, it could be interesting when it comes to the second test.
Hodge will be given the whole series at least if not the Bangladeshi one as well, so far in his test career hes averaging over 50 so i find it hard to believe ghe'll be dropped after 1 test.
 

Nate

You'll Never Walk Alone
aussie said:
Gillespie bowled crap in the ashes yes & for the entire natwest OD series except for the Oval game, he may not have took wickets in the 2004/05 home summer vs NZ & PAK nor in NZ but he was economical & on one or 2 occassions bowled well, in the VB series he complimented Lee & McGrath well same goes for the ODI's in NZ..

maybe Tait one good season where he broke the domestic record didn't make him a hero but it certainly did show his great potential especially looking at the fact that he plays at adelaide where its one of the flatest domestic pitches in australia, plus if he can take 6 wickets not even in top form showd tell you something.

We all have our views if you think Clark could possibly bowl better in the test than Dizzy or Tait if given the chance fair enough i'll just cant see how, so we will leave it as that
1) Just because you bowl well in ODIs doesn`t mean you`ll go well in Tests. Sound familiar?

2) That`s my point, I don`t think Tait is quite yet ready for the big arena.

3) Whatever, just come up with some facts and basis for your reasoning.
 

howardj

International Coach
Nnanden said:
2) That`s my point, I don`t think Tait is quite yet ready for the big arena.

.
I can see what you're getting at mate, but I don't quite agree about Tait. I think his main assets are always going to be pace and swing. To that end, I can't see him bowling faster or swinging the ball more than he does now. He'll never have great control or consistency - and, paradoxically, that's one of his assets. Once he loses his pace, he'll be cannon fodder. He's one of the few bowlers who can just blast batsmen out, without the assistance of fieldsmen. There may not be a vacancy for him now, but I do think that he is ready.
 

Linda

International Vice-Captain
mikeW said:
Hodge will be given the whole series at least if not the Bangladeshi one as well, so far in his test career hes averaging over 50 so i find it hard to believe ghe'll be dropped after 1 test.
Youll note that Brad Hodge would be averaging like 30 if it werent for that 200 on a flat deck...
 

Francis

State Vice-Captain
All this reading I've done at cricinfo has got me curious about Australia's future. Sounds like Shaun Tait's been having a good time... and in a shock suprise to me, Jason Gillespie says he should be picked ahead of him! That's a huge endorsement.

Which seamers does one pick? Lee of course, Bracken? Maybe. If Tait's as good as they say he is, why not put him ahead of Bracken. For me, the biggest question is does one let Lee lead the attack, or do you get somebody experienced ahead of him. Lee will lead the Aussie attack one day.

Lots of interesting scenarios.
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
Nnanden said:
1) Just because you bowl well in ODIs doesn`t mean you`ll go well in Tests. Sound familiar?

2) That`s my point, I don`t think Tait is quite yet ready for the big arena.

3) Whatever, just come up with some facts and basis for your reasoning.
1. Stay ont track mate, you said that Dizzy bowled like crap vs NZ & PAK before the ashes & those facts proven what you have said has untrue.

2. Well i cant see hwy not, his asset is pace & he is one of the few bowlers that can blast batsmen out, he would offer the test side MUCH more than Clark for sure.

3. I dont need to, you have your views i am not going to force you think otherwise..
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
Linda said:
Youll note that Brad Hodge would be averaging like 30 if it werent for that 200 on a flat deck...
yea thats true, this upcoming series is very important for Hodge's future as australia's #4.
 

mikeW

International Vice-Captain
Linda said:
Youll note that Brad Hodge would be averaging like 30 if it werent for that 200 on a flat deck...
yet no other Australian made a century that innings, why do people want him to fail?
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
well has i have said before with Ponting out, this would be my team for tommorow, it might not play but i think it would be the best option with Ponting out for games 2 & 3.

Gilchrist
Katich
Martyn
Symonds/Jaques - depends on if Symo recovers in time
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
Clark

I would have Watson in the top 5 or 6, becausehe is really wasted batting lower since he not yor Razzaq, freddie type all-rounder who can bat that low. By letting him bat in the top order where he normally bats for the bulls we may get the best out of Watson IMO.
 

Linda

International Vice-Captain
mikeW said:
yet no other Australian made a century that innings, why do people want him to fail?
Since when do people want him to fail? He's just unlucky that Hussey is going good guns and so he looks poor in comparison. The selectors arent showing much mercy, so dont expect him to get a free ride to next summer for one double ton.
 

Nate

You'll Never Walk Alone
aussie said:
1. Stay ont track mate, you said that Dizzy bowled like crap vs NZ & PAK before the ashes & those facts proven what you have said has untrue.

2. Well i cant see hwy not, his asset is pace & he is one of the few bowlers that can blast batsmen out, he would offer the test side MUCH more than Clark for sure.

3. I dont need to, you have your views i am not going to force you think otherwise..
1) Apart from that sentence making little-to-no sense...
http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/PAK_IN_AUS/STATS/PAK_IN_AUS_DEC2004-FEB2005_TEST_AVS.html
http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/AUS_IN_NZ/STATS/AUS_IN_NZ_FEB-MAR2005_TEST_AVS.html

2) Stop just making comments and back it up with something!

3) Anyone can convince me of anything, but you just type with your head.
 
Last edited:

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Linda said:
Youll note that Brad Hodge would be averaging like 30 if it werent for that 200 on a flat deck...
I'm not really a Hodge fan and I definitely am not a fan of his because he's a Victorian, but flat deck or not, why didn't anyone else score a double ton? (Or hell, even a ton. No other Australian player got triple figures, with the next highest score in both of their innings being 71). And if it was so incredibly easy to bat on (not denying it was flat though) why did Australia only make 258 in the first innings and SA 296 in the 2nd. I'll tell you what, there have been easier tracks to bat on, and I think the flatness of the track is often exaggerated simply because its the WACA, and its renowned bouncyness was non-existent.

His average is inflated by that double ton, but that's because he scored it and didn't go out. :dry: I agree he's not in Australia's best XI, and I don't think he'll make it through the Ashes, but I think its fair to credit a good knock when its done.
 

howardj

International Coach
Australia are likely to overlook Phil Jacques again tonight. This is our team:

1 Gilchrist
2 Katich
3 Martyn
4 Clarke
5 Hussey
6 Watson
7 Hogg
8 Lee
9 Bracken
10 Lewis
11 Clark

Am I the only person who think that team looks a little light on batting talent? This article indicates that Jacques may not get a game unless yet another batsman is injured, besides Symonds and Ponting! I mean, really, this is just getting ridiculous. It's like, having unreasonably (in my view) not selected Jacques all summer, the selectors/hierarchy are too stubborn/obstinant to put the guy in the team.

There's a clamour for the guy to play, so it makes them more determined not to give the guy a game! Maybe I'm going a little OTT, however I do think there is an element of that in it. I just think if you're two batsmen down, then surely the reserve batsman that you've flown over, should be selected. I mean, have a look at that team. There is no way it is balanced.
 

Langeveldt

Soutie
Theres a lot of batting talent sitting on the sidelines (Jacques)!

It's like Australia are now bored of winning everything, I would far rather South Africa had the likes of Katich and Lewis to face, than Jacques and Gillespie.. Funny funny selectors.. Maybe they have some big masterplan we don't know about :D
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
Nnanden said:
1) Apart from that sentence making little-to-no sense...
http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/PAK_IN_AUS/STATS/PAK_IN_AUS_DEC2004-FEB2005_TEST_AVS.html
http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2004-05/AUS_IN_NZ/STATS/AUS_IN_NZ_FEB-MAR2005_TEST_AVS.html

2) Stop just making comments and back it up with something!

3) Anyone can convince me of anything, but you just type with your head.
1. Gosh i'm not denying that his stats during the 2004/05 summer wasn't great but he wasn't rubbish like he was in the ashes, but he did show signs if we look back at it now that he was in trouble if he didn't start wickets, because at that time NOBODY would have though Dizzy would be so abismal in the ashes after hall he had come of a superb series in India. If you remember he was pretty economical for the majority of all the test (which is shown by these links you ahve here) & had one or 2 good occassions with the ball i.e his 2nd innings bowling in the 1st test vs NZ comes to mind. I cant see how you can say makes no sense when it an actual fact, get it straight mate..

2. Yo want me to back this up cool, Tait is a genuine quick bowler & even though at this stage of his career will be expensive has the great ability to run through sides on a good day, a ability that any captain would love to have in his armory & a worry for opposition batsmen, his 6 for the other day, his 8 wicket haul in the ING cup , also last year, the fact that he broke the domestic record last season taking 65 wickets @ 20 in 10 (better than any season Clark has had for NSW) bowling on the predominantly batsman friendly Adelaide ptich in normally hot conditions.

Clark has been doing well in recent seasons for NSW & possibly if given the chance may be accurate at test level, but when you got such a talented bowler like Tait you cant overlook him. So i hope that little paragraph will help you understand why IMO Tait will offer australia much more as a Test bowler.

3. you aint making sense here dawg..
 

aussie

Hall of Fame Member
howardj said:
Australia are likely to overlook Phil Jacques again tonight. This is our team:

1 Gilchrist
2 Katich
3 Martyn
4 Clarke
5 Hussey
6 Watson
7 Hogg
8 Lee
9 Bracken
10 Lewis
11 Clark
the selectors have to be crazy to pick this team & don't shore up the batting. If Jaques to play in the middle order i'll be seriously ****ed.
 

Top_Cat

Request Your Custom Title Now!
There's a clamour for the guy to play, so it makes them more determined not to give the guy a game! Maybe I'm going a little OTT, however I do think there is an element of that in it. I just think if you're two batsmen down, then surely the reserve batsman that you've flown over, should be selected. I mean, have a look at that team. There is no way it is balanced.
Maybe so but have a look at the top 8 and ask yourself what they all do better than Jacques; fielding. Also, it seems pretty clear that the selectors want to give Shane Watson the top-6 batting spot his supporters (and people here) have been clamoring for. And Hussey deserves a spot higher than his usual number 7 too. If that's the case, the only spot really up for grabs for Jacques is Kat's spot and they're not about to drop him right now. Ergo, no room for Jacques. He'll have to bide his time and improve his ground-fielding while he's at it.
 

howardj

International Coach
Top_Cat said:
Maybe so but have a look at the top 8 and ask yourself what they all do better than Jacques; fielding. Also, it seems pretty clear that the selectors want to give Shane Watson the top-6 batting spot his supporters (and people here) have been clamoring for. And Hussey deserves a spot higher than his usual number 7 too. If that's the case, the only spot really up for grabs for Jacques is Kat's spot and they're not about to drop him right now. Ergo, no room for Jacques. He'll have to bide his time and improve his ground-fielding while he's at it.
I just think they've ridiculously (considering why we lost the first game) gone away from their own formula, tonight. Usually, it's seven specialist batsmen (with one or two of those guys making up ten overs), and then four specialist bowlers (at least two of whom can handle a bat). Having seven specialist batsmen in the team allows us to go hard early on, and also cushions us against the loss of a few early wickets.

Tonight - even though we lost the first game because of our batting - they've got five specialist bowlers (two of whom can handle a bat) and only six specialist batsmen (and one of those I don't think is good enough to be one of just six ODI specialists - Watson). Why not make like-for-like replacements: Watson for Symonds (with Watson to bat at seven, and to bowl some overs like Symonds); and Jacques at three for Ponting.

By the way, I don't think Katich exactly has it all over Jacques in the fielding stakes. In both cases their fielding is serviceable, without being above par.
 

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