Ricky Ponting

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Ricky Ponting

I just read the article on Watson so he is as good as finished until the ashes.

Looking at some guys who might potentially hold down the number 6 spot and bowls some decent overs and I see the following players:

Hopes - Probably isn't up to holding down the number 6 spot. Handy bowler.
Henriques- Potentially very good but his batting hasn't been good enough
Smith - Batting has been OK and his bowling is interesting but he is still a fair way off.
North - Missing at the moment but is an experienced batter and very handy off-spinner.
White - He could hold down the number 6 spot but his bowling isn't strong enough. Might be the front runner though.
Noffke - A bowler (injured at the moment) who can bat very well but he couldn't hold the number 6 spot. Perhaps Haddin at 6 and Noffke at 7 might work.
McDonald and Thornley aren't strong enough with bat or ball.

Any others?

David Hussey or Marcus North.

Both decent bats, Dhuss moreso, but both their bowling is underrated I think.

That list is too thin to play them as an all rounder. I'd prefer the two above or play a batsman. I love a Victorian, but Cam Wight shouldn't be playing as he can not bowl to save himself. That said, he would be a front runner. But if i'm the selector, it's David Hussey.

[Twodogs]

Re: Ricky Ponting

McDonald and Thornley aren't strong enough with bat or ball.

Any others?

Disagree strongly. McDonald is a bloke who loves a challenge and rarely lets anyone down when presented with one. Need another 300 runs and you're already 5 wickets down-Macca is your man. Need a wicket to break a partnership-Macca is your man. Need someone to look a little less half arsed than Symonds or Watson-well, you get the picture.


We already have 2 or 3 fast bowlers who can consistantly send it down at 140+ kms. We dont really need another bowler who does the same. A bit of variety, a bit of grunt and a new face with some enthusiasm is just what Australia needs ATM.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Disagree strongly. McDonald is a bloke who loves a challenge and rarely lets anyone down when presented with one. Need another 300 runs and you're already 5 wickets down-Macca is your man. Need a wicket to break a partnership-Macca is your man. Need someone to look a little less half arsed than Symonds or Watson-well, you get the picture.


We already have 2 or 3 fast bowlers who can consistantly send it down at 140+ kms. We dont really need another bowler who does the same. A bit of variety, a bit of grunt and a new face with some enthusiasm is just what Australia needs ATM.

Sockeye argued very well against my judgement on McDonald as a shield cricketer and his averages were a lot better than I thought but unless he has slipped under the radar again, he strike me as a guy who could never make a century as a test cricketer and would average something like 25 to 30 with the bat and 45 to 60 with the ball.
That being said, a trip to Sydney might be on the cards if we intend to play two spinners.

He would have to bat after Haddin wouldn't he?

[Mantis]

Re: Ricky Ponting

I just read the article on Watson so he is as good as finished until the ashes.

Looking at some guys who might potentially hold down the number 6 spot and bowls some decent overs and I see the following players:

Hopes - Probably isn't up to holding down the number 6 spot. Handy bowler.
Henriques- Potentially very good but his batting hasn't been good enough
Smith - Batting has been OK and his bowling is interesting but he is still a fair way off.
North - Missing at the moment but is an experienced batter and very handy off-spinner.
White - He could hold down the number 6 spot but his bowling isn't strong enough. Might be the front runner though.
Noffke - A bowler (injured at the moment) who can bat very well but he couldn't hold the number 6 spot. Perhaps Haddin at 6 and Noffke at 7 might work.
McDonald and Thornley aren't strong enough with bat or ball.

Any others?

I think that's being very harsh. On stats alone he is easily the best performed all-rounder in shield cricket over the past couple of seasons.

[Twodogs]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Sockeye argued very well against my judgement on McDonald as a shield cricketer and his averages were a lot better than I thought but unless he has slipped under the radar again, he strike me as a guy who could never make a century as a test cricketer and would average something like 25 to 30 with the bat and 45 to 60 with the ball.
That being said, a trip to Sydney might be on the cards if we intend to play two spinners.

He would have to bat after Haddin wouldn't he?

No I wouldnt think so. He is a genuine #6 batsman from what I've seen.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Be it Hughes or Rogers to take Hayden's spot then form and ability to take the next step should be the only factors taken into consideration. Whether that player is 20, 30 or even 40 shouldnt enter into it.

Well it is and shoud be. I don't see many 40yo playing test cricket.
There is no doubt the older we get, we get slower, we lose our eye, are more prone to injury and same of the desire goes. Form can drop off as well.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Can't pick McDonald, he is a ginger.

[Twodogs]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Well it is and shoud be. I don't see many 40yo playing test cricket.
There is no doubt the older we get, we get slower, we lose our eye, are more prone to injury and same of the desire goes. Form can drop off as well.

For some people that's true but not in every, or even most, cases.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ricky Ponting

I think that's being very harsh. On stats alone he is easily the best performed all-rounder in shield cricket over the past couple of seasons.

Isn't he more of a NZ type of all-rounder though? A fighter with the bat and steady with the ball. I actually see a lot of similarities between him and James Hopes but at least Hopes bats up the order a lot more.

Steve Waugh was a handy bowler but outside of one day cricket he wouldn't have played for Australia as a bowler in test cricket.
McDonald must have 15 batsman in front of him in shield cricket averages and I'd argue that he isn't being tested enough at number 6 for the Vics much like White the last couple of years. Most number 6's in the test side were batting at 4 and 5 for their shield side and then worked their way into the top 5 in the test side. I just can't see McDonald doing that. As I previously said, he is probably right in the mix for Sydney though.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

For some people that's true but not in every, or even most, cases.

Where are these cases?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Ricky Ponting

David Hussey or Marcus North.

Both decent bats, Dhuss moreso, but both their bowling is underrated I think.

That list is too thin to play them as an all rounder. I'd prefer the two above or play a batsman. I love a Victorian, but Cam Wight shouldn't be playing as he can not bowl to save himself. That said, he would be a front runner. But if i'm the selector, it's David Hussey.

Hussey has made 298 runs this year at 37 in the Shield. Not good enough for me.

McDonald has made 324 @ 46 and is a far better bowler. McDonald could bowl first change and allow us to play two specialist spinners.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Just listened to Ian Healy and Ian Chappell give their Sydney sides and view.
Healy was conservative(understandable as he played with many of these), the only change was Boillinger for Lee.
Ian Chappell picked Hughes(?), North(allrounder that can spin), Krezya(spins the ball) and Bollinger or Hilfhenhus. He also went on saying its stupid to debut bowlers over 28. I like Ian Chappell.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Just listened to Ian Healy and Ian Chappell give their Sydney sides and view.
Healy was conservative(understandable as he played with many of these), the only change was Boillinger for Lee.
Ian Chappell picked Hughes(?), North(allrounder that can spin), Krezya(spins the ball) and Bollinger or Hilfhenhus. He also went on saying its stupid to debut bowlers over 28. I like Ian Chappell.

Chappeli was always one I liked and respected his opinion. If only we had personalities or even a captain like him at the moment.

I don't understand Bolliner, other than he is from NSW...

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Isn't he more of a NZ type of all-rounder though? A fighter with the bat and steady with the ball. I actually see a lot of similarities between him and James Hopes but at least Hopes bats up the order a lot more.

Steve Waugh was a handy bowler but outside of one day cricket he wouldn't have played for Australia as a bowler in test cricket.
McDonald must have 15 batsman in front of him in shield cricket averages and I'd argue that he isn't being tested enough at number 6 for the Vics much like White the last couple of years. Most number 6's in the test side were batting at 4 and 5 for their shield side and then worked their way into the top 5 in the test side. I just can't see McDonald doing that. As I previously said, he is probably right in the mix for Sydney though.

Until Waugh did his back he was very much a batting all-rounder in both forms of the game. Certainly early in his career he was a handy option you coudl throw the ball to an know that he would a) break a partnership and b) not leak too many runs.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Ricky Ponting

Just listened to Ian Healy and Ian Chappell give their Sydney sides and view.
Healy was conservative(understandable as he played with many of these), the only change was Boillinger for Lee.
Ian Chappell picked Hughes(?), North(allrounder that can spin), Krezya(spins the ball) and Bollinger or Hilfhenhus. He also went on saying its stupid to debut bowlers over 28. I like Ian Chappell.

Ian Chappell is a c*ck! He wasn't complaining about debuting guys at 28 when Ausrtalia were winning. Now however its a bad decision. Debuting guys at 20 or 25 before they have developed the frame to bowl consistently long spells at shield cricket level is equally stupid.

For every McGrath or Johnson you bring into the side there are always guys like Chris Matthews or Scott Muller who just don't and can't cut it.

I don't think you can have a hrd and fast "youth" policy or a hard and fast "pensioner" policy its got to be based on individual player abilities. Johnson was obviously ready for test cricket. Siddle....possibly ready and will benefit from the experience. Is Bollinger ready? Maybe, but unless he can move the ball through the air or off the seam then I wouldn't bother!