Boxing Day Test

[mighty_west]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Andrew Symonds, you are the weakest link - GOODBYE!

Lee [injured], Hayden [too old], Symonds [epic fail since going fishing] - OUT

Who comes in?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Boxing Day Test

So who's still saying Andrew Symonds is in the best 6 batsmen in this country? Absolutely ridiculous assertion found out easily enough by the Kiwis of all people and brutally exposed in this series.

The guy hasn't scored runs in an entire calendar year yet is keeping a glut of players out of the side.

Good riddance.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Andrew Symonds, you are the weakest link - GOODBYE!

Lee [injured], Hayden [too old], Symonds [epic fail since going fishing] - OUT

Who comes in?

M. Hussey in trouble too?

I would move him up the order to open, actually (still listed in Cricket Australia's bio as an opening batsman). Let him dictate the tone of the innings a bit. Everytime he's come in this series he's been under pressure because of the failure of previous batsmen (Hayden in particular, but Ponting has been out cheaply a couple of times too).

If Hussey moves up the order, bring Watson, Noffke and Hodge/D. Hussey (into the middle order) in for Hayden, Symonds and Lee . Two high-quality bowling all-rounders who can bat quite a bit to shore up the bowling attack and still make runs + a solid, run-making middle-order batsman. Can't go wrong.

Alternatively, Jacques to come back in for Hayden (with Watson and Noffke in for Symonds and Lee).

I'm not including anyone without a Cricket Australia contract -- the guys on contract should be next in line otherwise the contracts are just worthless.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Really poor effort by the Australian team. Thankfully after this belting the selectors will be 'able' to make the hard decisions.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Boxing Day Test

ps. Just heard McGain on the wireless. He's back playing, and will be suiting up for state honours in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully that means he'll be available for Test honours soon.. was a mile ahead of anyone else in line when originally selected and such bad timing for the bloke getting the injury when he did. Will hold the fort for a few years yet if he can force his way back in.

pps. Anyone see Warnie rip a few recently? Still the best leggie in the country by any stretch of the imagination.

[mighty_west]

Re: Boxing Day Test

M. Hussey in trouble too?

I would move him up the order to open, actually (still listed in Cricket Australia's bio as an opening batsman). Let him dictate the tone of the innings a bit. Everytime he's come in this series he's been under pressure because of the failure of previous batsmen (Hayden in particular, but Ponting has been out cheaply a couple of times too).

If Hussey moves up the order, bring Watson, Noffke and Hodge/D. Hussey (into the middle order) in for Hayden, Symonds and Lee . Two high-quality bowling all-rounders who can bat quite a bit to shore up the bowling attack and still make runs + a solid, run-making middle-order batsman. Can't go wrong.

Alternatively, Jacques to come back in for Hayden (with Watson and Noffke in for Symonds and Lee).

I'm not including anyone without a Cricket Australia contract -- the guys on contract should be next in line otherwise the contracts are just worthless.

Huss is in trouble, but, how many changes can the team make? Lee won't play again for at least 12 months [if at all if he has stress fractures], Symonds is in the team as a batsman, surely the likes of Hodge, D Huss, North, Rogers etc are better BATSMEN than Symonds, if he's in as an all rounder, Watson is in MUCH better form with both bat & ball, plus he can be used as a first change, can also reverse swing the ball...MOST of us can see this, why can't the selectors?

They have rolled the dice, and have failed, time to make a few changes, make Symonds work his backside off in the lower levels, make him find that hunger back, he is awesome when on fire, yet shocking when not, there doesn't seem to be an in between with Roy, he was given his spot back without proving himself, and it showed.

Maybe putting Hussey up to opening could help him out, he is quality, his average speaks for itself, and whilst he has been out of form, he has also been the most unlucky with poor umpiring decisions.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Lead is 115 at tea with just 3 wickets remaining.

[The Underdog]

Re: Boxing Day Test

So who's still saying Andrew Symonds is in the best 6 batsmen in this country?

Not me, he shouldn't have played against NZ, shouldn't have played as an all rounder in this test when he can't really bowl and if he's not replaced by Watson who is a far better bowler and currently couldn't be worse with the bat something is really wrong.
Oh hang on something IS really wrong.

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Great effort by Ponting....but "ouch" for going out on 99. He would be a tad dissapointed to not get to 100.

[Mantis]

Re: Boxing Day Test

That's about how good we are going.

Terrible shot mind you.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Yeah BB. Can't take a trick this past couple of days. Out for 99 is just rubbing salt into the wound...

[LostDoggy]

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.

The beauty of test match cricket is what does around comes around. I'm all for getting the right decisions made but complaining you keep getting bad decision is a bias view. The opposition seem to get as many bad decisions and you get just as many good decisions over time.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Boxing Day Test

Lee [injured],

We know thats a lie as well as he bowled tonight. He is just crap.

[azabob]

Re: Boxing Day Test

The beauty of test match cricket is what does around comes around. I'm all for getting the right decisions made but complaining you keep getting bad decision is a bias view. The opposition seem to get as many bad decisions and you get just as many good decisions over time.

Agree when you are in form it seems the luck is with you and when you are not, things go against you, just like Husseys dismissal.

[ledge]

Re: Boxing Day Test

I am confused, Lee is injured and will miss a month so Ponting opens the bowling with him?
If i was Johnson or any other player in the test team i would be asking what the #### is going on?
Ponting is now proving more and more he cannot captain, great player but captaincy is horrid.

At this rate its not only the supporters who are asking questions it should be his own teamates as well.
Surely the choice of players, Symonds more than any other must be creating some sort of pressure in the dressing room.