Who should play ?
So, what about the selection dilemmas facing the Aussies now ? Should they play Kasper and Tait again, should they get in McGill because Warne is their most effective bowler and none of the English players are looking too confident playing spin ?
Dean Jones here suggests a radical approach. Getting Watson in place of Katich, Hussey in place of Hayden, McGill (doesn't name whom he should replace). He also wants McGrath to clear up the confusion regarding his fitness atleast 3 days in advance. Seems like Jones' nerves, like ours, are not able to bear the suspense! I think Ponting won't mind McGrath joining the team at the last minute also.
Hayden sure looks having been sorted out, and his loss of form is not specific to English attack. So there is a possibility of letting him rest, though I don't see that as a permanent move. They will give him a few more chances, even if later.
Katich is the surprise target, IMO. In the second innings at Trent Bridge, when Aussie batsmen were looking to apply themselves, he looked comfortable and in for a long innings. It would be unfair on him, when all around him you see others struggling even when trying hard. Gilchrist and Martyn are case in point. And bringing in Shane Watson to replace him on what grounds ? A double hundred in county, well Rana Naved scored a run-a-ball hundred in county. I think this English attack is a bit more troublesome than Warwickshire. The kind of form that Katich has been right throughout this series, he would have scored loads of run in county, where margin of errors are much higher.
I wonder why he spared Gilchrist ? He looks equally troubled as Hayden at the crease most of the time.
But, I feel, the bigger point that he seems to miss is that this English attack is damn good, and most of the top tier batsmen would struggle against it (on these pitches atleast). Therefore, asking new replacements to face them in a crucial final test, and succeed in their first attempt at it, is asking a bit too much. So the Aussie management would keep the changes to the least. What do you guys think ?
Dean Jones here suggests a radical approach. Getting Watson in place of Katich, Hussey in place of Hayden, McGill (doesn't name whom he should replace). He also wants McGrath to clear up the confusion regarding his fitness atleast 3 days in advance. Seems like Jones' nerves, like ours, are not able to bear the suspense! I think Ponting won't mind McGrath joining the team at the last minute also.
Hayden sure looks having been sorted out, and his loss of form is not specific to English attack. So there is a possibility of letting him rest, though I don't see that as a permanent move. They will give him a few more chances, even if later.
Katich is the surprise target, IMO. In the second innings at Trent Bridge, when Aussie batsmen were looking to apply themselves, he looked comfortable and in for a long innings. It would be unfair on him, when all around him you see others struggling even when trying hard. Gilchrist and Martyn are case in point. And bringing in Shane Watson to replace him on what grounds ? A double hundred in county, well Rana Naved scored a run-a-ball hundred in county. I think this English attack is a bit more troublesome than Warwickshire. The kind of form that Katich has been right throughout this series, he would have scored loads of run in county, where margin of errors are much higher.
I wonder why he spared Gilchrist ? He looks equally troubled as Hayden at the crease most of the time.
But, I feel, the bigger point that he seems to miss is that this English attack is damn good, and most of the top tier batsmen would struggle against it (on these pitches atleast). Therefore, asking new replacements to face them in a crucial final test, and succeed in their first attempt at it, is asking a bit too much. So the Aussie management would keep the changes to the least. What do you guys think ?
posted by worma at
3:15 PM
6 Comments:
Deano is crazy to even suggest replacing Katich with Watson, who ,at best, is ordinary. Katich has looked in decent touch in this series. Hussey should have been selected in the test team after he was declated man of the series in NW ODIs.
I am not too convinced on playing Macgill, I will still go with Mcgrath, Lee, Tait & Warnie as my bowlers, in my batting I will have Hussey for Hayden and that's it.
By
The Random Rambler, at 15:47
My team:
Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Clarke
Martyn
Katich
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Tait (if shoulder is fine, else MacGill)
McG (if fit, dont care if it is at the last second, nothing selfish abt your best player wanting to play/MacGill)
Hussey is not in the sqaud, dont think the Aussies would make such changes as expand a sqaud. Hayden needs a final go and something tells me he will have a good knock.
A fit McGrath is great, else MacGill. And MacGill shouldonly replace an injured bowler, dont see him good enough to replace a fit guy.
PS: Gillespie shouldnt play even if the Aussies field only ten players. I would rather, they take someone from their women's team.
By
Toney, at 16:14
whoami : I also have that question to ask off Prem :-)...lets see if he will do a final ashes roundup maybe then ?
suraj : there is some distraction for the newcomer who doesnt know whether he will play or not. Sure we can say that he should prepare as if he is going to play, but you know the feeling of uncertainty remains at the back of the mind, can't help it. But I agree, I wouldnt care for that problem if it means getting back a matchwinner like McGrath back, even at the last moment. And as I wrote, I dont think Ponting would, either.
toney I think you have the team almost right. I think, though, that Kasper might be preferred over Tait. Not just for experience as Poondu says, but also because I saw Kasper bowling good spells and troubling Eng batsmen all throughout the first innings. Tait was good only in patches. And the chance to replaced hayden was at the start of the series (or after T2). Now is too late...cant expect Hussey to come in and fire, too big a gamble, bigger than expecting Hayden to come good. and LOL about the women's team :-)
By
worma, at 16:35
Worma - Macgill isn't exactly a newcomer as suggested by someone. That said I can possible imagine 2 legspinners playing in the same test.
On Tait - Yes he looked well only in patches but he definately can knock some wickets down with sheer pace if Mcgrath/Warne can create some pressure. Kaspa, to be frank, I have really been dissapointed. I dont expect Hayden to come good at all. He seems lost, If not Hussey I would prefer Hodge.
By
The Random Rambler, at 16:55
oracle guy...that newcomer mention was just an example...as in if Tait is sounded off that he would play in place of McG if he doesnt make it etc. But anyway that was a general mention
And did you see Kasper bowling ? He himself is a pressure bowler, needs other end to do well...and in the first innings Lee, Tait were more often releasing the pressure....i thought he bowled very well from his second spell onwards (he didnt look that pretty with the new ball though) And replacement for hayden, sure they may do it, but I dont expect too much...because it takes while to get used to this pace attack..even hussey hasnt really faced the real pressure...ODIs are different stuff with field restrictions etc
By
worma, at 17:02
rishi yes, that does show that they are working well as a team. But these days most teams work in that way, with active contribution from all etc (remember the Indian team did some ground-breaking work in this regard, during the WC03)
By
worma, at 01:20
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