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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
Oh, forgot the option of Hussey moving up and Hodge and Clarke at 4 and 5
That works nicely
Oh, forgot the option of Hussey moving up and Hodge and Clarke at 4 and 5
That works nicely
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
As a strategy I agree and hopefully Marsh is the answer but when only two genuine opening batsman are picked for the tour and one pulls out a day or so before the test then the selection comes down to Hodge or Kat. Kat was touted as the backup opener when the squad was picked so he gets the nod. Hodge was only added to the squad once GClarke as not available for the first test.
We have a few gaps, spinners and opening batsman stand out as the main ones so the selectors need to show a bit of vision. In hindsight neither Hodge or Katich should have been selected.Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
Katich has played a lot more tests and failed miserably in nearly all of them.
Hodge has a better technique that is more likely to stand up to test cricket - oh, and he scored a heap more runs than Katich in the first test so he's in better nick as well.Comment
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
Jacques appears to have gone under the radar
He did not finish the Australian summer well and played an awful shot in the second innings of this last test. The site of an opener hanging the bat outside off stump and being drawn into an edge does not fill me with confidence.
At least in their defence, both Hussey and Katich copped scorchers in the second dig.Comment
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
It was time to blood someone young.Comment
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
We're talking about our test team, there is never any reason to blood youth.
It's not like footy where you have a draft and limited players on the list. Players are blooded playing Sheffield Shield and the best 11 get a baggy green cap. Age has nothing to do with it.
If the selectors think a 37yo will preform better than a 23 yo, the 37 yo should be picked. A test only lasts 5 days, he's not going to die before the end.
When the 23 yo performs at State level, pick him then.Comment
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
Well said Sir.Comment
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
I disagree. Players like Clarke, Waugh, Warne were all blooded before they were ready. You had 2 places up for grabs, both went to 30+ yo that had been given chances earlier and failed or their technique was suspect.Comment
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
When you have 7 players of the age 32+ it would be unwise to not consider younger players.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Comment
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
Ernie
I understand where you are coming from but Katich's performances in State cricket beat every record in the book since the competition began. There was a time when Sponsors gave major finanical rewards to any batsman scoring 800 runs in a season - Katich scored 1500
If the Selectors were to have any credibility they had to pick him. Otherwise what message does it send to others striving for a spot?
Yes he had been tried before but Hayden got a scond chance too - thankfully.
As Sockeye said - age is irrelevant.Comment
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Re: Australia vs the West Indies
Was Katich even striving for a spot? I thought he'd given up on that like Gillespie had.
And screw what message we send, they have to make runs for their state anyway because that's what they're being paid for.
I thought his role was to be a former test batsman who would test young bowlers. Taking the mantle held by Lehmen and Bevan before him[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Comment
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