Test Selection

[hujsh]

Re: Test Selection

Agree, his record in Australia is extremly poor. He only took something like 18 wickets @ 37 last season in Pura Cup games.

His record in India was worse.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Test Selection

Agree, his record in Australia is extremly poor. He only took something like 18 wickets @ 37 last season in Pura Cup games.

Given your history I am left wondering whether you consider this good or bad for his Test selection prospects

[Mantis]

Re: Test Selection

Given your history I am left wondering whether you consider this good or bad for his Test selection prospects

I think his record in Australia is poor, but he in my opinion is the best finger spinner in the country so on that he has to be selected. We simply have to play a spin bowler.

In saying that the cupboard is extremely bare when it come's to our spinning stocks... Bryce picked the wrong time to get injured.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Test Selection

The conditions in India are unlike anything in Australia. Finger spinners have a picnic there and struggle badly here. Does the name Gavin Robertson come to mind?

Unless they are of the elite type eg May/Mallett, they are pedestrian. Look at all the pommy failures over the years. Even the great Derek Underwood struggled here.

I can't see the point in playing a marginal spinner just for the sake of having a spinner. Clarke and Symons can make do if required

Where is Casson?

What about Doherty? At least he ois a leftie but unfortunately he is in the marginal field as well

[GVGjr]

Re: Test Selection

Unless they are of the elite type eg May/Mallett, they are pedestrian. Look at all the pommy failures over the years. Even the great Derek Underwood struggled here.

I can't see the point in playing a marginal spinner just for the sake of having a spinner. Clarke and Symons can make do if required

Where is Casson?

What about Doherty? At least he ois a leftie but unfortunately he is in the marginal field as well

Just on the Poms for a minute, I seem to recall Embury and even Edmonds giving us a hard time here, but I really rated Embers as a bowler. I wonder how good Underwood would have performed on the protected pitches that are the norm now? Nobody exploited the conditions like Underwood but he wasn't a big turner of the ball.

I agree that it's no use playing a spinner just for the sake of it but a 2 test series against the Kiwi's probably isn't a bad time to break that rule and just see if Krejza has a bit more to offer.

Casson was dropped from the WI squad because it was deemed he was too slow through the air to worry the Indians.

[lemmon]

Re: Test Selection

Cant see us only playing 3 bowlers and the 2 allrounders, Im not sold on Krejza or Johnson and Lee and Clarks indian tours raised doubts. I would think we have to play 4
If we did decide to play the 3 bowlers who would they be, Lee, Krejza and Johnson or Clark. Fairly tough to drop Clark 1 bad tour after an exceptional career to date.

[mighty_west]

Re: Test Selection

Cant see us only playing 3 bowlers and the 2 allrounders, Im not sold on Krejza or Johnson and Lee and Clarks indian tours raised doubts. I would think we have to play 4
If we did decide to play the 3 bowlers who would they be, Lee, Krejza and Johnson or Clark. Fairly tough to drop Clark 1 bad tour after an exceptional career to date.

You wearn't impressed, not even in the slightest with Mitch Johnson's performance over in India, given the flat tracks they all had to bowl on?

The difference between the pitches here & over in India are like chalk & cheese, watch out New Zealand, they won't know what hit them!

[lemmon]

Re: Test Selection

You wearn't impressed, not even in the slightest with Mitch Johnson's performance over in India, given the flat tracks they all had to bowl on?

The difference between the pitches here & over in India are like chalk & cheese, watch out New Zealand, they won't know what hit them!

He averaged around the 40 mark and bowls outside off stump without a hint of swing. Good batsmen wont be troubled

[GVGjr]

Re: Test Selection

You wearn't impressed, not even in the slightest with Mitch Johnson's performance over in India, given the flat tracks they all had to bowl on?

The difference between the pitches here & over in India are like chalk & cheese, watch out New Zealand, they won't know what hit them!

Before the Indian tour I had significant doubt on Johnson but he won me over with his display there. I'm still not 100% convinced about his long term worth but he is at least on the improve.

As you say Lee and Clark were far from convincing.

[hujsh]

Re: Test Selection

He averaged around the 40 mark and bowls outside off stump without a hint of swing. Good batsmen wont be troubled

40 mark was good for that tour.

Find better batsmen then the ones he faced. I challenge you.

[Bornadog]

Re: Test Selection

Cant see us only playing 3 bowlers and the 2 allrounders, Im not sold on Krejza or Johnson and Lee and Clarks indian tours raised doubts. I would think we have to play 4
If we did decide to play the 3 bowlers who would they be, Lee, Krejza and Johnson or Clark. Fairly tough to drop Clark 1 bad tour after an exceptional career to date.

I know we keep calling Simons an all rounder, but I am not convinced his bowling is at test standard. His bowling hasn't been that good in the past 2 years. He can almost consider himself a specialist batsman as that is where he has excelled.

[hujsh]

Re: Test Selection

I know we keep calling Simons an all rounder, but I am not convinced his bowling is at test standard. His bowling hasn't been that good in the past 2 years. He can almost consider himself a specialist batsman as that is where he has excelled.

His seamers were surprisingly good and he had more bowling success than batting at one stage but he was certainly lightyears ahead with his bating

His bowling was useful when we wanted two spinners which is a long way away from happening again.

[GVGjr]

Re: Test Selection

As far as I am concerned to be classed as an true all-rounder you need to be in the best 8 batsman and 6 bowlers in the country.

[lemmon]

Re: Test Selection

I know we keep calling Simons an all rounder, but I am not convinced his bowling is at test standard. His bowling hasn't been that good in the past 2 years. He can almost consider himself a specialist batsman as that is where he has excelled.

I agree with that, for me he was the guy you tossed the ball to, to break a partnership. A batsmen who could fill in a few overs, but Symonds isnt an allrounder.

He is a modern day batting all-rounder not a genuine all-rounder like we used to see.

[hujsh]

Re: Test Selection

As far as I am concerned to be classed as an true all-rounder you need to be in the best 8 batsman and 6 bowlers in the country.

So Kallis would not be classified as an all-rounder even with almost 250 wickets at about 30 a-piece? Fair enough if you don't but i think it's somewhat harsh on all-rounders. Flintoff may be he only one left.