Boxing Day Test

[mighty_west]

Re: Boxing Day Test

And another wicket falls nearly at the completion of the session. Is the problem with the side more mental than ability?

Very much a mental thing when the team is on fire all day yesterday, always on the attack, then come to the first session this morning and look as flat as a tack, Sth Africa pounced on that, and gave it back to us.....plus Ricky Ponting dropped the series!

Mitch Johnson hit Steyn on the hand, looked to be busted, SHOULD have at least tried to ping him on the same hand again, or a fast yorker, full out attack, he did none of that.

We are playing like a bottom 4 side, we can look great for a session here, a session there, but just can't sustain that, its like the opposition coming out after half time & having a 10 goal quarter after we had their messure for the first half.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Can you believe I got a text yesterday asking me if I'd enforce the follow-on?

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Boxing Day Test

All out for 459, eventually. Top knock by Duminy, complemented by Steyn.

Going to be a hairy 10 or so minutes for Katich & Hayden.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Just back from a dull, dull, dull and frustrating day at the cricket. As good as the Aussies were yesterday, today all their weaknesses were exposed with Duminy and Co batting them out of the series. I don't see Australia winning the 2nd test from here and hence at best they can only draw the series in Sydney.

Have to say Duminy looks like a champ. Didn't play a false stroke today and everything just seemed to flow out of the middle of the bat. Oh well.....sometimes you have to take a fall to climb back to the top!

[ledge]

Re: Boxing Day Test

We should have started rebuilding with young ones for the NZ series at least get games under the belt for Ashes series, now the likeliness is the older players might be retiring before the Ashes or be dropped.

[mighty_west]

Re: Boxing Day Test

We should have started rebuilding with young ones for the NZ series at least get games under the belt for Ashes series, now the likeliness is the older players might be retiring before the Ashes or be dropped.

There lies the problem though, if we had of had a complete clean out and rebuild, like an AFL side, your most likely going to struggle for a few years before getting back up the top, perhaps thats what the selectors thought, with Sth Africa breathing down, and probably sneaked past the Aussies now, do we give ourselves a better chance with a few experienced heads in the team, even though most have struggled - Haydos, Roy & Huss, even Punter until his ton this test, putting faith in those players knowing that they COULD get back to anywhere near their best form.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Boxing Day Test

There lies the problem though, if we had of had a complete clean out and rebuild, like an AFL side, your most likely going to struggle for a few years before getting back up the top, perhaps thats what the selectors thought, with Sth Africa breathing down, and probably sneaked past the Aussies now, do we give ourselves a better chance with a few experienced heads in the team, even though most have struggled - Haydos, Roy & Huss, even Punter until his ton this test, putting faith in those players knowing that they COULD get back to anywhere near their best form.

Hussey averaged 66 in India and made two tons (and made a 70 v NZ in Adelaide)
Ponting made a century in India (averaged 41) and 79 in Adelaide.

Hayden averaged 28 in India and 10.7 v NZ
Symonds averaged 13 in Shield cricket before getting recalled and then 15 v NZ.


Lee averaged 52 with the ball in India before beating up the Kiwis.

If the selectors picked players on FORM rather than reputation Hayden, Lee and Symonds will all be dropped for Sydney. We might get lucky and Lee and Symonds might miss with injuries anyway (or at least that's what they will call it).

Old father time has caught up with Hayden. They'll keep picking him and one day he'll make a score and they'll all say "see, we knew he'd come good" but if the selectors had any balls at all (they don't) they'll say "thanks Haydos, but it's time".

I agree with Ernie. There's enough talent playing Shield cricket to win this series (except for a spinner) but we can't win carrying 4 players (I'm including Hauritz as the 4th but he keeps his spot because there's no-one else).

[mighty_west]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Hussey averaged 66 in India and made two tons (and made a 70 v NZ in Adelaide)
Ponting made a century in India (averaged 41) and 79 in Adelaide.

Hayden averaged 28 in India and 10.7 v NZ
Symonds averaged 13 in Shield cricket before getting recalled and then 15 v NZ.


Lee averaged 52 with the ball in India before beating up the Kiwis.

If the selectors picked players on FORM rather than reputation Hayden, Lee and Symonds will all be dropped for Sydney. We might get lucky and Lee and Symonds might miss with injuries anyway (or at least that's what they will call it).

Old father time has caught up with Hayden. They'll keep picking him and one day he'll make a score and they'll all say "see, we knew he'd come good" but if the selectors had any balls at all (they don't) they'll say "thanks Haydos, but it's time".

I agree with Ernie. There's enough talent playing Shield cricket to win this series (except for a spinner) but we can't win carrying 4 players (I'm including Hauritz as the 4th but he keeps his spot because there's no-one else).

If Hayden fails again tomorrow, i'd be wanting the change, but i just couldn't see it happening, he is struggling because he looks as though that edge has gone from his game, that split second decision making, not quite watching the ball as closely as he once did, and going by experience [not at that level off course], once thats gone, you might as well stick a fork in it.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Boxing Day Test

The change needs to happen asap whether he fails tomorrow or not.

[Twodogs]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Can you believe I got a text yesterday asking me if I'd enforce the follow-on?

It was a valid question at the time...

[GVGjr]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Well Hayden got himself out again and fall to the SA trap of the short cover.

He has been a terrific cricketer but his time has come.

We lost Katich a short time later and Hussey will need to return to some of his old form if we are to escape this.

[GVGjr]

Re: Boxing Day Test

We lost Katich a short time later and Hussey will need to return to some of his old form if we are to escape this.

Well Hussey is very down on form as well and at 3 for not many we could very well be in for an arse kicking.

The pressure will now turn to the selectors and coaches to get this side at least playing to it's ability

[mighty_west]

Re: Boxing Day Test

I'm not into this referral system thing, especially players challenging, but if we keep getting bad decisions like Hussey again [caught off his helmet], well then it should come in.

If they can eliminate mistakes, and let teams win or lose on ability alone, then thats a good thing, it has worked for the 3rd ump decisions with run outs.

Referalls with a 3rd ump - yes
Players challenging - no

[lemmon]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Surely Hayden has to go now. If SA win this one does he have a farewell test in Sydney?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Not big on 'farewell tests'. It's hard enough to carry out-of-form non-contributors in a winning side, when you are struggling you need 11 blokes pulling their weight, not 10 guys playing at 110% to cover for one guy.

If it's time, make the call and send him off with a special tribute match or a presentation before the Test.

Haydos should have taken a leaf out of Anil Kumble's book and retired immediately upon realising he was no longer an asset to the team. That was selfless captaincy and cricket. I know that arrogance and a refusal to recognise one's own weaknesses is a trait valued within the current Australian cricket team, but it sure as hell comes back to bite you on the butt when you start losing. If he's honest with himself, he should retire at the end of this test and give us the chance to farewell and honour a cricketing great.