The Ashes - 3rd Test

[lemmon]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

We could put any of a number of players at the top of the order but I would think Khawaja's best chance is to bat 4 , 5 or 6 until he establishes himself in the side.

Long term I think he should be a middle order player but if we were to replace Hughes with one of Marsh, Klinger or Khawaja then I dont see why we wouldnt pick the guy most in form which is still Khawaja. All three have relatively little opening experience so that really doesnt come in as a factor is selection.

[DOG GOD]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

Australia will win this pretty easily i feel...and the ashes.

[boydogs]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

Hussey to open, drop Ponting to 6.

This

[Remi Moses]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

That is an extremely short sighted and IMO silly way to look at it. it's like saying if you bet on west coast to beat Collingwood in Melbourne and WC win it was a smart decision. It wasn't smart but you got lucky and won. you should be happy that you won but you should also realise deep down that you made the wrong decision and got bailed out. Or in poker playing J2 against AA and winning. again stupid thing to do but if you win you get the money / result, still not the smart/correct option.

Thinking that form can be turned around in the nets is laughable. How many players "train the house down" but then come out and can't perform because the nets / training track is a different kettle of fish?

further more if it is simply the mechanics of his action, what exactly happened in the past 2 weeks that didn't happen in the past year and a bit? Did we previously think his action was OK despite him bowling crap for a year?

They rested or worked on his actions whatever!
He got lucky! No,he pitched it up got his inswinger working at pace and bowled the best he has for quite a while.
Don't see the relevance of an ordinary football team bet and a game I've never played to a talented underperforming cricketer.

[Greystache]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

Can't understand why Ryan Harris isn't batting at 11, he is terrible at best.

[Mantis]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

Can't understand why Ryan Harris isn't batting at 11, he is terrible at best.

At least 10.

Siddle was the perfect player to go in after the fall of a couple of wickets ahead of Harris.

[Greystache]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

Dissapointing in the end to only get 390 lead, couldn't find someone to hang around and support Hussey. Outside of Watson and Hussey no one was prepared to apply themselves and really grind out a score. Need one of the bowlers to get a bagful, will be interesting to see if Johnson takes the new pill.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

What a session by the Aussies, Poms reeling at 5-81. Good to see our bowlers really exploit the conditions, and hopefully put some jitters in the English batsmen that continue for the rest of the series.
I'd like to say that a big win here would be momentum changer for the series, however the Poms usually get rolled at Perth, and our top order still looks very brittle.
It will be interesting to see how our top 4 batsmen handle a Boxing day MCG wicket.
Great for the context of the series though that we level it going into the Boxing Day Test.

[Remi Moses]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

Great to see a sporting wicket withboth bowlers and Batsmen in the contest.
Very good fightback after Adelaide and hopefully finish the job tomorrow
We must be going okay,as there's not many more pages of hysteria on here!

[lemmon]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

Ponting is suspected to have broken a finger when he parried that ball and may be in doubt for Melbourne and/or the rest of the series.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/current/story/493219.html

Even with his form slump it leaves us in a fair dilemma if hes out, I guess Clarke has to take over the reigns as captain, they're are simply no other options and I would be bring Khawaja in to bat at 5 and move Hussey up to the number 3 spot.

[chef]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

Ponting is suspected to have broken a finger when he parried that ball and may be in doubt for Melbourne and/or the rest of the series.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/current/story/493219.html

Even with his form slump it leaves us in a fair dilemma if hes out, I guess Clarke has to take over the reigns as captain, they're are simply no other options and I would be bring Khawaja in to bat at 5 and move Hussey up to the number 3 spot.

I'd rather Watson, but that's not going to happen. I don't like the idea of moving Hussey as he is really holding this team together from where he is. Khawaja to bat 3 for me(but I have the feeling Clarke will move himself into this position)..

[Mantis]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

Some pretty horrible batting by the Poms have us in a very strong position after some great batting by Hussey & Watson.

KP in particular should be hung & drawn for the way he got out.

[lemmon]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

I'd rather Watson, but that's not going to happen. I don't like the idea of moving Hussey as he is really holding this team together from where he is. Khawaja to bat 3 for me(but I have the feeling Clarke will move himself into this position)..

I think batting a debutant at 3, especially one as young as Khawaja would be feeding him to the wolves in such a high pressure situation. Hughes is already shakey at the top, you couldnt send in a 22 year old debutant at 1/10 on boxing day surely?
Clarke would probably been seen as needing to take the spot as captain but he's hardly a number 4, would go down like a house of cards at 3, at least with Hussey you are getting a mature, experienced player who excels in a pressure environment and is in great form.

[Topdog]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

They rested or worked on his actions whatever!
He got lucky! No,he pitched it up got his inswinger working at pace and bowled the best he has for quite a while.
Don't see the relevance of an ordinary football team bet and a game I've never played to a talented underperforming cricketer.

So they didn't do that in the past year?
No he didnt get lucky, he played well. The selectors got lucky though as on the weight of evidence he wasn't going to play well this test.
Well the selectors gambled with this selection so betting becomes relevant.

[Topdog]

Re: The Ashes - 3rd Test

I'd rather Watson, but that's not going to happen. I don't like the idea of moving Hussey as he is really holding this team together from where he is. Khawaja to bat 3 for me(but I have the feeling Clarke will move himself into this position)..

If he is moved up the order the hope (from my point of view) is that the batting collapse wouldn't occur or at least not as frequently. Lets face it we are absolutely carrying spots 2, 3 and 4 in this batting line up.