Questioning the selectors

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Questioning the selectors

Hilfenhaus/Bollinger is a classic example in fact...why bring Hilfenaus in to the squad for Melbourne and then add Bollinger as well for Sydney? Is Hilfenhaus the decision or is it 50cents each way? Or what is it?

I suspect Bollingers addition is again partially what Ricky wants, Ricky gets

But that could just be Victorian cynicism at the frequency with which NSW state players have found themselves also playing for australia over the past 20 years

[Sedat]

Re: Questioning the selectors

Australia's batting tail saved the top 6's collective arse in all 4 innings in this series to date. To say that Lee's injury is the key deflecting point for the loss is to give the top 6 an undeserved get-out clause. Imagine if the last 4 wickets did not add 100+ runs in each innings (200+ in Perth) - the series would have been even more lopsided.

The bowlers have borne the brunt of the criticism but the top 6 have been equally as culpable, both in poor shot selection and general lack of runs (which is their primary job in the team). Makes it difficult when 3 of the top 6 have contributed virtually nothing to the runs column and are being carried by the rest of the team.

[ledge]

Re: Questioning the selectors

Sack all the selectors and bring back Border and co.
I think its also quite obvious the selectors arent even thinking of the grounds the team is playing on for each test.
India and didnt take a spinner???
Its still horses for courses with Test cricket you cant have the same team for every ground, climate and conditions have a say but Hilditch and the rest dont seem to factor that in at all.
As much as i like Merv Hughes, he is a nuff nuff, how the hell did he become a selector?
Hayden must be getting embarrassed about his selection, seriously its not his fault he got picked but he must know he doesnt deserve it deep down.

[Topdog]

Re: Questioning the selectors

Australia's batting tail saved the top 6's collective arse in all 4 innings in this series to date. To say that Lee's injury is the key deflecting point for the loss is to give the top 6 an undeserved get-out clause. Imagine if the last 4 wickets did not add 100+ runs in each innings (200+ in Perth) - the series would have been even more lopsided.

The bowlers have borne the brunt of the criticism but the top 6 have been equally as culpable, both in poor shot selection and general lack of runs (which is their primary job in the team). Makes it difficult when 3 of the top 6 have contributed virtually nothing to the runs column and are being carried by the rest of the team.

Imagine if South Africa's didn't add almost 300 in the 1st innings.

The part that frustrated me most with the selectors was the following.

"He was picked to bat at No. 6 and he was fully fit to do that," Hilditch said.

"The reality is we got exposed because Brett Lee came down with injury. That made people think it would be nice if Andrew Symonds could bowl medium pace."

So Symonds was apparently picked purely as a batsman and not an all-rounder.

[dog town]

Re: Questioning the selectors

They certainly have a lot to answer for but its hard to know who is pulling the strings. Everything points to Ponting getting his way which is the way I would want it if I was captain. Even Lee opening the bowling in the second innings with an injury while Johnson sat in the field to me was an attempt by Ponting to help out a mate. Ponting has played alot of cricket with these guys and its only natural he would put alot of faith in guys like Hayden, Symonds and Lee. The selectors need to pull rank.

Obviously we are in a transition phase but we need to be careful we dont go over the top with changes. The bowling is going to have the most drastic changes with what is basically a new attack. Johnson is obviously the soear head now but how will the rest of the attack take shape in the next year or so?

For mine Siddle is a very big talent who must be retained. He will have off days but he has most of the tools already and has only played less than 20 first class games. Guys who can do what he has done by the age of 24 with 2 shoulder reco's in between are pretty rare. Look out if he gets a green top in South Africa because he will clean up. I like his aggression and the lines he bowls.

I think we have plenty of other quality bowlers coming in behind these 2. Realistically Bollinger and Hilfenhaus are on the same level as Siddle and of a similar talent. All 3 could be quality international bowlers IMO.

Bollinger is the most rounded of the bowlers and has been very stiff not to get a go by now. He can bowl well with the new and old ball and works a batsmen out very quickly. Matter of time for him.

Hilfy- I really want this guy to convert his game to Test level but I am not as confident with him. It would be awesome to have a guy who can swing the ball both ways at pace but I have seen him bowl some ordinary spells. He certainly has the ability its just a matter of how he handles the step up. Cant wait to see him in the side.

The most unlucky bowler in world cricket is Nathan Bracken. He is a 10 times better bowler than the last time he played test cricket and to be honest he was stiff to be dropped then. He has since become the number 1 ODI bowler in the world and when fit tears teams apart at Shield level. He gives brilliant variety because not only can he swing the ball both ways but he has lately developed a series of cutters that make him a threat with the old ball.

What we need to figure out is whether we have a spinner worth playing and whether we need an all rounder. I have never been a fan of playing an all rounder for the sake of it. I like Andrew McDonald but while he is a good player I would be surprised if he is up to Test level.

To me we are forcing ourselves into playing an all rounder by playing spinners who cannot be relied upon. They feel we need the bowling cover because 3 quicks and either an expensive (Kreija) or defensive (Hauritz) spinner leaves us short a bowler. They are probably right and it leaves us vulnerable with that attack. Thats why I think its worth considering playing 4 quicks (Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus and Bollinger/Bracken) and picking 6 batsmen.

If your going to play a defensive spinner then you might as well use guys like Clarke as its largely a containment role. Obviously there are grounds where you need a genuine spinner but most of the time I think you can do without. I like spinners particularly late in the match but there is no point playing one for the sake of it. It has to be quality or nothing. The same goes for all rounders. We have to stop trying to force it by picking these bits and pieces all rounders.

A test level all rounder has to be able to hold his spot in the team with one of bat or ball and be above average with the other skill. We are that hell bent on getting a Flintoff or Kallis that we are shooting ourselves in the foot. A good all rounder is amazing for team balance but a bad one murders a teams balance. I will be hoping like hell Mcdonald makes the grade but long term I think we need to pick 6 batsmen and the best 4 bowlers in the country regardless of whether they bowl swing, spin or fast. If an all rounder comes through who can hold his spot as a batsmen alone then fantastic but until then stop trying to force it.

The added bonus of playing 4 quicks is it gives more exposure to the young bowlers in a quicker time frame. They all need experience and it gives us a chance to blood them quicker. From this respect the SA tour will come at a good time. They have the most fast bowler friendly pitches in the world so you can pretty much guaratee the odd green top.

With the batting I think we have numerous optons. Hussey to take Haydens spot is an option. Hussey looks stale and I think this would refresh him. The only reason I dont think we should do it is that we dont really have middle order batsmen knocking down the door at the moment. On the other hand we have 2 openers putting there hands up with a mountain of runs in Rogers and Hughes. Rogers deserves that spot but I think they wil go with Hughes.

Our middle order back up has been dissapointing this year particularly from proven guys at international level. Hodge is down on form at the moment which will cost him. Marsh and Pommersbach have had bad years. Klinger and North have had good years but I have question marks over them at the next level. If we play a batsmen at number 6 then I think he needs to be a counter attacker or someone who can take the game away from the opposition. You get in some pretty hairy situations at 6 and you need to be able to take the pressure off by scoring. Hussey would be my preferred option at 6 but I dont think it will work that way. Marsh needs to get out of opening for WA and try and slot into the middle order.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Questioning the selectors

Imagine if South Africa's didn't add almost 300 in the 1st innings.

So in 1 innings the opposition tail wagged, how many times has Australia's tail wagged recently? It seem to be a regular occurance.

[Mantis]

Re: Questioning the selectors

If your going to play a defensive spinner then you might as well use guys like Clarke as its largely a containment role. Obviously there are grounds where you need a genuine spinner but most of the time I think you can do without. I like spinners particularly late in the match but there is no point playing one for the sake of it. It has to be quality or nothing. The same goes for all rounders. We have to stop trying to force it by picking these bits and pieces all rounders.

Clarke is bowling a big pile of crap at present. Either his back is worrying him or he isn't putting enough time into his bowling during practice sessions.

I would have severe doubts of him bowling 10-15 over's of spin per day at a quality that would test decent quality batsman on unfavourable pitches for spin bowling.

As I have explained in another thread Hauritz bowled fairly well in this game and was not helped by the positioning of the field while he was bowling and the lack of confidence shown in him by his captain.

[dog town]

Re: Questioning the selectors

Clarke is bowling a big pile of crap at present. Either his back is worrying him or he isn't putting enough time into his bowling during practice sessions.

.

I could bowl at a standard good enough to be a defensive spinner. He really doesnt need to bowl that well. Its as much about pace and field positioning as it is about guile and skill. He wouldnt have to bowl us to victory just hold up an end. If you have 4 quicks then he doesnt need to bowl many overs. Katich can chip in as well.

As I have explained in another thread Hauritz bowled fairly well in this game and was not helped by the positioning of the field while he was bowling and the lack of confidence shown in him by his captain.

Couldnt agree more about Horry's performance. He did exactly what he is in the team for. Unfortunately it kills our balance because it gives us just 3 bowlers who are attacking and trying to get wickets. I certainly dont rate Clarky with the ball but being a defensive spinner would be one of the easier roles to play in cricket.

Dont think Ponting lacked confidence in him. In fact I think he bowled him for too long against the tail in the first innings. He let Steyn just tie up an end and it meant Siddle and Johnson were always bowling at Duminy who Ponting was not even trying to get out. Duminy scored the easiest 100 in the history of the game. We gave up trying to get him out before he was 30.

[mjp]

Re: Questioning the selectors

A test level all rounder has to be able to hold his spot in the team with one of bat or ball and be above average with the other skill. We are that hell bent on getting a Flintoff or Kallis that we are shooting ourselves in the foot. A good all rounder is amazing for team balance but a bad one murders a teams balance. I will be hoping like hell Mcdonald makes the grade but long term I think we need to pick 6 batsmen and the best 4 bowlers in the country regardless of whether they bowl swing, spin or fast. If an all rounder comes through who can hold his spot as a batsmen alone then fantastic but until then stop trying to force it.

Agree 100% with this.