***Official** Malaysia Tri-Series

[Johnners]

Watson Gone!!

Katich off to his usual blistering start i see *sighs*

 

[Great Birtannia]

Hmm Martyn in, so we have two useless pr*cks playing for themselves in the final. Greeeeaaaaaaaattttttttt.

 

[Nate]

I`m pretty sure Katich gets told to play the anchor role, so I don`t think he`s playing for himself. It`s just REALLY boring.

 

[kwigibo]

It seems every facet of his technique is ill-suited to one day cricket. His running, his shot selection, his bat swing.

They say it's like he's playing for his spot, but I'm not sure he understands what that entails. A quick 30 would do his place more good than slow as hell 50.

 

[Johnners]

Yargh!!!!!! FFS Katich!!! Man if we lose this game because the other batsmen throw their wickets away trying to go for quick runs there'll be a lynching!!!!

EDIT: *Faints* Katich hit a six :O

 

[Great Birtannia]

Hallelujah a boundary.

 

[Johnners]

Katich gone... Glory Glory to Austrlalia!!!!

Hopefully Symmo can restore some sanity to the runrate!!!

 

[Great Birtannia]

Well they say you can double the score after 30 overs with wickets in hand. That will get us to 200....

So what will be defendable on this pitch? 230ish I suppose we would be looking at from here with a solid finish.

Martyn is batting quite well given the conditions.

 

[oz_fan]

Martyn out for a well made fifty.

Australia should still be able to set the WI at least 220 - 240.

 

[Johnners]

Martyn Gone, 52/77. Well played, he kept rotating the strike and has done his job.

Symonds really getting into the swing of things the last 2 overs, hitting 21 runs, and another four as i speak. 220/230 should be on the cards now with the RR up to 4, 11overs, and Hussey, Haddin & Lee still to come.

 

[aussie]

well its a fighting total once the bowlers bowl the way i know they can i'll back Australia to keep the windies down.

On Katich & Martyn well, don't know what to say. But its clear Katich wont make it to the world cup if he keeps it up. Martyn on the other hand has shown us critics that he still has something left to offer the aussie ODI side i guess.

 

[Prince EWS]

Australia finish on 240/6. Career-saving innings from Damien Martyn, and possible a career-ending one from Katich. He'd seriously be doing himself, and possibly the team, a greater service if he got 8 off 4 balls and then got out.

Watson looked impressive opening the batting, but then did what he has so often done for Queensland in one dayers and looked like like a million dollars before getting himself out. I don't think he would have played that shot if Katich had scored at a decent rate though, as much as I'm not really an anti-Katich person in general.

As for the West Indies, I can understand the logic in batting deep because of their brittle middle order. But it only works if you have a heap of talented yet inconsistent middle order batsmen. What's the point of having Hinds there? He has looked woefully out of his depth all series, and adds nothing to the side whatsoever. Edwards would have been a much, much better selection. I would have even copped Marlon Samuels because he's only had two innings this series I think and was run out in one of them.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

West Indies bowled very well throughout, and fielded well too. Obviously it's not the easiest pitch to bat on, but choosing not to pick Hogg was a shocking error and I think Australia might pay for it. If Lee and McGrath don't run through the top order with the new ball, the West Indies should win. With Hogg, 240 would be quite defendable.

Katich was pretty dire today, though at least he made some runs rather than getting out for 10 off 50. He'll probably still go to the CT, but if he has a bad series there you'd think Jaques or Hayden might get another shot.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

If Katich fails first match of the Champs Trophy, Australia are better off playing both Haddin and Gilchrist.

 

[Great Birtannia]

Obviously Lara is the big wicket and Australia need the Gayle dice to roll in our favour but I think it is defendable.

 

[Prince EWS]

If Katich fails first match of the Champs Trophy, Australia are better off playing both Haddin and Gilchrist.

They'll probably just open with Watson, especially if Martyn continues to score runs.

 

[Johnners]

If Katich scores at the same rate in the CT, as he did today, he won't last long. In that Case, it might be worth bringing clarke up to open, as both Haydos & Jaques won't be there, and playing both Haddin & Gilly.

 

[pasag]

Amazing stuff to hear that we beat India the other day. Couldn't believe it. 240 has proven to be too hard to chase and Australia will win this one without a problem in the world.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Watson isn't a long term opening option I don't think. His best position in the order is replacing Martyn at 4, and that's exactly what I imagine he will do once Gilchrist comes back into the side.

 

[Prince EWS]

Watson isn't a long term opening option I don't think. His best position in the order is replacing Martyn at 4, and that's exactly what I imagine he will do once Gilchrist comes back into the side.

I quite like him opening, actually. He'll probably bat at 4 to start with in the Champions Trophy, but if Katich has an ordinary time of it in the first few matches, it wouldn't at all shock me to see him elevated to opening with Martyn coming back in at 4.