Australian Prelimanary squad of 30

[Complicated]

Good to see Hauritz made the top 30.. I doubt he has much chance of going to the WC, but then again have any other domestic spin bowlers done well this season?

 

[Richard]

Has Hauritz ever done well in ODIs?

 

[Prince EWS]

Has Hauritz ever done well in ODIs?

Well he's only played seven legitimate games, and he's changed his action about three times since his last one. Oh, and he did actually do well on debut.

I'm far from a Hauritz fan by any means and I wouldn't pick him in the Australian side if my life depended on it, but your criticism of him based on his ODI record is a little harsh IMO.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Has Hauritz ever done well in ODIs?

He's really quite a different bowler today than he was even when he made his test debut, let alone his ODI debut. He was extremely young when first picked, and is reasonably experienced now for a bowler of his age. Not that I think he should make the WC squad, but his performances this year for NSW have been very good indeed.

He deserves to be third in line among specialist spinners for the ODI side right now IMO, after Hogg and Cullen, and on recent performance he'd be ahead of Cullen as well, though perhaps not in terms of potential in the format.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

1. Adam Gilchrist+
2. Shane Watson
3. Ricky Ponting*
4. Michael Clarke
5. Andrew Symonds
6. Michael Hussey
7. Cameron White
8. Brett Lee
9. Mitchell Johnson
10. Nathan Bracken
11. Glenn McGrath

12. Brad Haddin+
13. Brad Hogg
14. Matthew Hayden (though I'd prefer they take someone like Adam Voges)
15. Stuart Clark

That'd be my team, and squad.

 

[Richard]

Well he's only played seven legitimate games, and he's changed his action about three times since his last one. Oh, and he did actually do well on debut.

I'm far from a Hauritz fan by any means and I wouldn't pick him in the Australian side if my life depended on it, but your criticism of him based on his ODI record is a little harsh IMO.

Yes, his debut figures were good... that's 1 good game in 7... good on him.

His ODI record is hardly the only one that's poor.

 

[Richard]

He's really quite a different bowler today than he was even when he made his test debut, let alone his ODI debut. He was extremely young when first picked, and is reasonably experienced now for a bowler of his age. Not that I think he should make the WC squad, but his performances this year for NSW have been very good indeed.

He deserves to be third in line among specialist spinners for the ODI side right now IMO, after Hogg and Cullen, and on recent performance he'd be ahead of Cullen as well, though perhaps not in terms of potential in the format.

What's so different? He's had operations on his fingers to double their length and allow him to spin the ball more?

There's only so much a fingerspinner can do and while it's not exactly hard to improve from where he was in 2001\02, equally I find it impossible to believe he'll ever come close to being international class.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

What's so different? He's had operations on his fingers to double their length and allow him to spin the ball more?

There's only so much a fingerspinner can do and while it's not exactly hard to improve from where he was in 2001\02, equally I find it impossible to believe he'll ever come close to being international class.

He has a different action and is bowling better? I hardly think he'd hit the ceiling for success as a fingerspinner before.

 

[howardj]

Let me have a go:

1. Haddin (mega under-rated)
2. Gilchrist
3. Ponting
4. Hussey (at six if we're chasing)
5. Clarke
6. Symonds
7. Watson (not ideal at 7 but, heaven's to betsy, he's not an opener).
8. Lee
9. Johnson
10. Bracken
11. McGrath

12. White
13. Hodge
14. Clark
15. Hogg

 

[Richard]

He has a different action and is bowling better? I hardly think he'd hit the ceiling for success as a fingerspinner before.

So how has that change of action helped him bowl better? What's he doing now that he wasn't before? Landing the odd ball on a length and using a bit of flight?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

So how has that change of action helped him bowl better? What's he doing now that he wasn't before? Landing the odd ball on a length and using a bit of flight?

Yep. I'm no expert on off-spin bowling actions, but I saw him interviewed pre-season and he talked about working on his action (and that it was "atrocious" when he made his test debut), and he's certainly been bowling much better this year. Other than bowling less four balls, the drift he's been getting has been the most noticable thing. Has a lot more of the shape that offies usually aim for.

Mind you, I've still seen him outbowled by Jason Krezja once in an OD game, but he's definitely bowled better than I've ever seen him bowl before.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Let me have a go:

1. Haddin (mega under-rated)
2. Gilchrist
3. Ponting
4. Hussey (at six if we're chasing)
5. Clarke
6. Symonds
7. Watson (not ideal at 7 but, heaven's to betsy, he's not an opener).
8. Lee
9. Johnson
10. Bracken
11. McGrath

12. White
13. Hodge
14. Clark
15. Hogg

Haddin's not an opener either, right? Watson opening isn't ideal IMO, but I'd definitely have him around four. He's just wasted at 7, especially in comparison to a batsman like Hussey or even White who thrive in that position. He's crucial to the balance of the side at the moment and a must pick, and I think the benefits of having Watson at 4 and Hussey at 7 are greater than the other way around, even if Hussey might make more runs in the middle order than Watson will.

 

[Richard]

Yep. I'm no expert on off-spin bowling actions, but I saw him interviewed pre-season and he talked about working on his action (and that it was "atrocious" when he made his test debut), and he's certainly been bowling much better this year. Other than bowling less four balls, the drift he's been getting has been the most noticable thing. Has a lot more of the shape that offies usually aim for.

Mind you, I've still seen him outbowled by Jason Krezja once in an OD game, but he's definitely bowled better than I've ever seen him bowl before.

I'm sure whichever State he's playing for these days will be delighted.

 

[Robertinho]

There's an article on Cricinfo about the transformation he has undergone at New South Wales. If I recall correctly, the NSW coach said he was bowling more offcutters than offspinners when he first arrived - but as one can see from his performances so far, he's turned that around.

 

[PhoenixFire]

1) Gilchrist
2) Hayden
3) Ponting
4) Clarke
5) Symonds
6) Hussey
7) Watson
8) Hogg
9) Lee
10) McGrath
11) Bracken

No glaring emissions......

 

[age_master]

I would say this will be the squad

1. Adam Gilchrist+
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Ricky Ponting*
4. Michael Clarke
5. Andrew Symonds
6. Michael Hussey
7. Cameron White
8. Brett Lee
9. Mitchell Johnson
10. Nathan Bracken
11. Glenn McGrath

12. Brad Haddin+
13. Brad Hogg
14. Shane Watson
15. Stuart Clark


as for my pick, im not sure on Hayden opening - but im not sure who i would replace him with. I would like to see Haddin get a go but the selectors wont do that unless there is some sort of emergency i dont think. Maybe having Clarke open and Watson at 4 would be better.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Don't know if they'll take Haddin, when Hussey is an OK back up keeper.

 

[Prince EWS]

Don't know if they'll take Haddin, when Hussey is an OK back up keeper.

To be fair though, Haddin is probably the next best batsman available anyway - or at least very close to...

 

[Richard]

Don't know if they'll take Haddin, when Hussey is an OK back up keeper.

As if Maher wasn't bad enough...

 

[Prince EWS]

As if Maher wasn't bad enough...

Maher kept quite adequately in the World Cup IMO...