Ashes - First Test

[hujsh]

Re: Ashes - First Test

Anyway, well done to Hussey today in standing up and taking control of the match to put Australia in a goodish position

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes - First Test

Anyway, well done to Hussey today in standing up and taking control of the match to put Australia in a goodish position

Agreed.

I think if Clarke can't come up for the next test then we should resist the urge to play Khawaja and go for White because I don't think Swann is as effective against the right handers.
That might also mean Ferguson replacing North.

Bollinger in for Johnson should be right on the cards as well.

[chef]

Re: Ashes - First Test

Agreed.

I think if Clarke can't come up for the next test then we should resist the urge to play Khawaja and go for White because I don't think Swann is as effective against the right handers.
That might also mean Ferguson replacing North.

Bollinger in for Johnson should be right on the cards as well.

I like those changes Gary, too bad it's not going to happen just yet.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Ashes - First Test

I'll bow to the better judgement of Ian Chappell who thinks White isn't good enough a batsmen for Test Cricket.I tend to agree.
North has to go he's just to inconsistent at this level

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes - First Test

I'll bow to the better judgement of Ian Chappell who thinks White isn't good enough a batsmen for Test Cricket.I tend to agree.
North has to go he's just to inconsistent at this level

I get the criticism, or more correctly Chappell's assessment, of White but I also feel that with question marks over Ponting (age and if we lose the Ashes he can't be maintained) Clarke (his captaincy credentials and his back) then who would be the next captain of Australia if Ponting and Clarke don't measure up?
Katich would be a stop gap measure, albeit a good one, but to me White needs to be given his chance.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Ashes - First Test

Agreed.

I think if Clarke can't come up for the next test then we should resist the urge to play Khawaja and go for White because I don't think Swann is as effective against the right handers.
That might also mean Ferguson replacing North.

Bollinger in for Johnson should be right on the cards as well.

This has to happen surely. I love Johnson when he is on song, but at the moment he is bowling pies and other than giving Hilfy and Sid's a break.....

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Ashes - First Test

I get the criticism, or more correctly Chappell's assessment, of White but I also feel that with question marks over Ponting (age and if we lose the Ashes he can't be maintained) Clarke (his captaincy credentials and his back) then who would be the next captain of Australia if Ponting and Clarke don't measure up?
Katich would be a stop gap measure, albeit a good one, but to me White needs to be given his chance.

Ian Chappel was also a big, big, big, big critic of one Mr S Waugh.......we all know how right he was on that.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ashes - First Test

And what the hell does 'up to Test standard' mean anyway? Is North up to Test standard? Was Mark Taylor when he was going through his lean spell? Was Andrew Hilditch? Was Brad Hodge?

You pick 1st class cricketers on form, and they'll hit runs wherever they're playing. You pick players out of form, and they'll make ducks, regardless of where they're playing. This supposed mystical gap between 'test players' and 'non-test players' is a furphy -- in a middling team, the bottom 3 to 5 players will just be made up of good players on form, not necessarily future legends. The sooner the selectors accept that, the more consistent we'll become.

If White in form isn't a better 'test' player than a shithouse North or an injured Clarke, the selectors have their heads in their arses. (and I know Cam isn't exactly 'in form' at the moment, but he IS the only Australian player so far with a century against the English attack this summer...)

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ashes - First Test

Ian Chappel was also a big, big, big, big critic of one Mr S Waugh.......we all know how right he was on that.

I hadn't heard about that one.

I believe Chappell gets things more right than wrong. He was a M.North fans and may be wrong there.

I like Warne's insight too but he is a Hauritz fan.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Ashes - First Test

Interestng stat I just heard on the radio re Marcus North. When he comes out to bat with Australia less than 150, his average is only 6, but when he comes out to bat with the score over 150 his average is 55.

[Greystache]

Re: Ashes - First Test

Very interesting TCD, doesn't surprise me.

Conversely I'd be interested to know what Brad Haddin's average is in the same situation, I think it would be the opposite.

[hujsh]

Re: Ashes - First Test

I'd forgotten how well Hussey can hit a cover drive. It feels like i haven't seen it in ages

[Remi Moses]

Re: Ashes - First Test

Great performance from Hussey and Haddin the poms look pedestrian.
Big tick for the selectors with Hussey

[mjp]

Re: Ashes - First Test

Haddon/Hussey have made me remember the Gilchrist/Langer stand vs Pakistan in Tassie all those years ago. Langer under pressure to keep his spot in the side (he was a number 3 back then) and Gilchrist hadn't been batting well...

Amazing stuff.

[MrMahatma]

Re: Ashes - First Test

My only fear is that we bowled them out off the back of a freak spell from Siddle. We need more from Johnson this time around. I'd hate to see a Cardiff like display again.

Having said that - we're looking good and our tails are up. They'll be tired. Hopefully we get a few out tonight (if we declare/lose one more...).

XD is doing OK at the crease.