**Official** Australia in West Indies

[Top_Cat]

Are you forgetting that Watson bowls?

Call it what you want.

 

[Manee]

Surely Tait has a whole lot to do before he's "right up there" again.

I am very sceptical of Tait's Test potential in conditions less than very helpful.

 

[sideshowtim]

I am very sceptical of Tait's Test potential in conditions less than very helpful.

In FC cricket he bowls mostly at Adelaide which is less than helpful to anyone. His FC record is pretty damn good so...I dunno. I think he has the ability, it's just a mental game once he makes that step up to Test level.

 

[Steulen]

Given that that seems a sensible side, and it has the normal amount of bowling options for an Aussie ODI team, why are the two spare players in the squad (White, D Hussey) batsmen? You'd think given that Bracken is recovering from injury and yet to prove fitness in any matches, the replacement for Hayden needs to be a bowler!

Is White's bowling so bad these days he's considered a specialist batsman?

 

[Matt79]

Pretty much. Or batsman who can bowl a bit (of ****e...)

 

[Nate]

Matt! Long time.

 

[Laurrz]

IMO they should've played Jagger for Sammy..that would've made their team bowling attack have a lot more variety.. but i think they are afraid of their weakish tail without Sammy

thats still a decent attack though - im slightly worried lol, given our top order.... i strongly suggest we put Hussey as opener... Katich at 4 IMO would help our team greatly as will Huss as opener...

and also they've regained their skipper, a guy who can lift the batting lineup... and their best bowler
while we gain one of the best middle order batsmen, but he is replacing a guy who did well the last test.. and the only place where it will help us is probably fielding and bowling.. not that Hodge can't do both.. either...

scattered showers forecasted, i dont mind that, it would mean that if its a draw we regain the trophy.. ...plus i have exams coming up and cbs caring too much

feel that if a team can rip out a batting for 200 odd they will win - just feel one team will do that... not sure which..

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

If Watson makes it near the Test side soon, which he really shouldn't and probably won't because of injury, it'll be as a batsman who can bowl a bit, definately not as an all-rounder.

My "should" there was as in "he should, given the tendencies of the selectors". Not my beliefs about selection policy, but the likely selection policy. Considering that the Australian search for an allrounder is well publicized, and Symonds has not quite lived up to that role.

Neither are anywhere near. Too fat (and out of form) and too old.

Dighton had a pretty good OD season last time around, and age hasn't usually hindered the selectors in the past. And Cosgrove was pretty decent in OD cricket too. Granted, Watson would be the obvious and best choice in the circumstances.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Have hear dthe argument that Gayle provides offies and since the pitch will be flat Benn will be in for accuracy and generally just keeping it there without much variation.

I don't think Benn will be able to keep it tight against Australian batsmen though. Unlike West Indian domestic batsman, Australian Test players tend to attack the spinners, or at least show some positive intent. No point in picking a spinner to keep things tight anyway.

I am very sceptical of Tait's Test potential in conditions less than very helpful.

Especially considering this mental state.

Is White's bowling so bad these days he's considered a specialist batsman?

White is dire with the ball. Properly dire.

 

[Nate]

My "should" there was as in "he should, given the tendencies of the selectors". Not my beliefs about selection policy, but the likely selection policy. Considering that the Australian search for an allrounder is well publicized, and Symonds has not quite lived up to that role.

On the contrary, if you look at Symonds stats (which have been well publicised in this thread) you'd see that Symonds is filling that role superbly. Not to mention, there has been little if no press about 'the Australian search for an allrounder' in the last twelve months.

Dighton had a pretty good OD season last time around, and age hasn't usually hindered the selectors in the past. And Cosgrove was pretty decent in OD cricket too. Granted, Watson would be the obvious and best choice in the circumstances.

First of all, Dighton is on of my favourite players. But he was dropped in FC Cricket by the back-end of the season and is already 32. Add that to his overall OD average of 33 and the fact that this is really his first decent season of cricket and he doesn't look anywhere near as appealing as perhaps Pomersbach, Voges and co. IIRC, Cosgrove averaged in the high thirties, which is decent, but that probably wouldn't even put him in the Top 30 2007/08 averages.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

On the contrary, if you look at Symonds stats (which have been well publicised in this thread) you'd see that Symonds is filling that role superbly. Not to mention, there has been little if no press about 'the Australian search for an allrounder' in the last twelve months.

When Australia think allrounder, I'm certain they're wanting more than 22 wickets in 20 games. Also not convinced that Ponting has much faith in his bowling, which really is not the qualification of the allrounder. At the moment Symonds is doing the quality batsman who bowls a bit. He's a role player with the ball who picks up the odd wicket.

The publicity has very little to do with the headlines. There seemed a clear indication on the basis of selection policy.

First of all, Dighton is on of my favourite players. But he was dropped in FC Cricket by the back-end of the season and is already 32. Add that to his overall OD average of 33 and the fact that this is really his first decent season of cricket and he doesn't look anywhere near as appealing as perhaps Pomersbach, Voges and co. IIRC, Cosgrove averaged in the high thirties, which is decent, but that probably wouldn't even put him in the Top 30 2007/08 averages.

Cosgrove was 13th highest runscorer tbh. He wasn't in the top averages, but there are a few people there who played precious few games for high averages. I'm not making a case for Cosgrove as I've literally never seen him bat, but I'm just stating that he had a reasonable season in the context of everything.

And Dighton has a poor overall average, but that would only hinder him because of his age (as you've alluded to). Marsh isn't a much better average, and Pomersbach has a poor average, admittedly in only 12 games. Of course, Marsh and Pomersbach have potential, largely showcased in T20 (which is very different from ODI) but Dighton could very well be a better batsman in OD despite his career figures.

 

[vic_orthdox]

The publicity has very little to do with the headlines. There seemed a clear indication on the basis of selection policy.

As soon as Symonds was picked, the selectors were open about the fact that he was being picked as a batsman who could contribute with the ball, not as an allrounder. Specifically remember Merv Hughes saying that before one of the South African Tests.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

As soon as Symonds was picked, the selectors were open about the fact that he was being picked as a batsman who could contribute with the ball, not as an allrounder. Specifically remember Merv Hughes saying that before one of the South African Tests.

Never bought that line. Seemed to be picked because Watson was unavailable. I still believe that the policy speaks louder than the media/official line.

 

[Manee]

In FC cricket he bowls mostly at Adelaide which is less than helpful to anyone. His FC record is pretty damn good so...I dunno. I think he has the ability, it's just a mental game once he makes that step up to Test level.

From what I have seen, he is a two length bowler and so one a slow (short bowling) pitch which doesn't aid swing (full bowling), I can imagine him being quite inconspicuous.

 

[howardj]

The Loss of Dos Would Be One Pillar Too Many

 

[Top_Cat]

From what I have seen, he is a two length bowler and so one a slow (short bowling) pitch which doesn't aid swing (full bowling), I can imagine him being quite inconspicuous.

He's a shock bowler. That's what he does. Of course he's a two-length bowler. As for the above example well, I live in Adelaide and you'll notice if you look back that 500+ scores have been the norm for years in Tests and the weather here is usually sunny and hot in summer with little to no rain. You don't get less swing friendly than that yet Tait's taken wickets. He's only played three Tests so I'd think we'd need a bit more time before evaluating him as a Test match bowler.

 

[howardj]

Agreed - I think, from time to time, we can all be a bit guilty on rushing to judgement about the ability of players.

When you think back to when you start at a new job, not too many folk catch fire early on. It takes time to find your feet and feel comfortable.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah. I read a good article here quoting Dyson or Neilson re. the Windies players, and how a lot of them are coming good now they've played 20-30 tests. Whichever of the two it was noted that players begin to feel they belong at that level once they've played about that many games. I think sometimes we forget that.

 

[roseboy64]

Have to note though the lesser amount of FC games WI players play.

 

[Laurrz]

sorry if this has been posted before

Locals take a shine to Symonds

"Some of the West Indian supporters say that they see me as one of their own," Symonds said. "They sort of go out of their way to say g'day to me. I had one lady say to me that she wants to see me get runs and Australia lose the Test match.

"They seem to have embraced me for some reason. I'd say it's purely just the way I look rather than the way I talk and act, but they're very friendly to me.

"I do have a West Indian heritage of some description. I haven't traced it, so I can't really shed any light on it."