5th Test selections

[Remi Moses]

Re: 5th Test selections

Monumental f*ck up this 5th test selection is. I'll be having a punt that it is over by day 3 if we end up batting first.

Every man and his dog, blind or otherwise can see that what we needed was to strengthen the batting. So including Khewaja (sorry sp) is a positive and should have been enough had Ricky played, but with Ricky out surely you would then have chosen another batsmen. Are the selectors really saying that we have nobody better to bat at number 6 than Smith? If so then we are in desparate trouble.

On the bowling side, bringing Bollinger back is a positive, though who gets left out is the real query. Do we go with Beers....who most non-selectors are suggesting is no better than Doherty? Surely we aren't oing to go with 4 quicks again!

Watching this side we might need a lot of Beers!
Apologies for the shit pun

[mjp]

Re: 5th Test selections

It's the approach the selectors have consistently taken and it isn't working for us.
Why not have a look at another quick instead of Hilfenhaus?
Why not have a look at another batsman instead of Smith who's batting hasn't measured up?

In fairness, there isn't another test for 9 months and the ashes are gone...more yo-yo selections are probably not the best idea.

The selectors erred by not making changes sooner - the new captain should not have played in Brisbane (nor should North), non-selection of Hauritz, strange use of Smith (Gilchrist wasn't considered good enough for 6, but Smith is???) etc - but I can't abuse them too much for what they have done now.

[GVGjr]

Re: 5th Test selections

In fairness, there isn't another test for 9 months and the ashes are gone...more yo-yo selections are probably not the best idea.

The selectors erred by not making changes sooner - the new captain should not have played in Brisbane (nor should North), non-selection of Hauritz, strange use of Smith (Gilchrist wasn't considered good enough for 6, but Smith is???) etc - but I can't abuse them too much for what they have done now.

I get what you are saying but we punted on Smith as a number 6 and his technique just doesn't look suitable and his bowling has some work to do so regardless of when the next test match is why not look at someone else?

My gut feel is that we would have dropped Smith for Khawaja if Ponting had been fit anyway.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 5th Test selections

If us Vics took Siddle back and played this Australian team just named we would flog them. Which just tells you who should and shouldn't be in the Test side, who should be captain, and who should be considered 5 years away from a Test spot.

Every batsman in the country must hate Steve Smith -- the kid has done f'all to be a Test bowling choice, much less a batting option, and he has the no.6 Test batting spot sewn up? I could name nigh on 150-200 batting specialists in the country, including some state and park cricketers, who are better bats than Smith.

A guy who can barely bat, and is an unfinished spin bowler -- what is Cam White but a far, far superior version of exactly the same thing, except a far better bat, infinitely better leader, and greater presence on the field? The selectors shit me so badly I can barely bother to write, even from 10,000 miles away in Spain. They'll play Beer and Smith, but keep telling the Vic coaching staff that White and D.Huss are only 'limited over players'?

The biggest problem with Australian Cricket in the last 5 years have been the selectors, Ponting and Clarke. It's amazing that people are still defending them -- everything we've feared from their selections have come true, and the fact that a guy that only ever scores half-centuries (Watson) is their biggest success story I think says it all. M.Hussey opened the batting his entire Shield career -- he has never even been tried at the top of the order in Test cricket, yet far inferior batsmen like Hughes keep getting shoved up there.

I don't know. And like others here, now that our biggest failure has been named our captain (when was the last time Clarke scored any runs when the team was falling apart?) I'll give up cricket for the foreseeable future.

[comrade]

Re: 5th Test selections

If Beer is picked, it'll be his first game at the SCG....ever

You have to love Mike Hussey's comments about Beer at the presser "we really like his ability to perform under pressure". The guy has played 7 first class games and hasn't bowled a competitive ball in weeks!

We're going to get hammered.

[azabob]

Re: 5th Test selections

Continuing Latern's biggest issue with Australian cricket in the last 5 years; how does Tim Neilson get a 3 year contract before this series? It can't be based on our past performance or younger players coming through. Perhaps it has something to do with his tatical research and game plans? I dont think so. Its not as if he will jump ship and coach elsewhere. Then there is the whole Troy Cooley fiasco. Supposed fast bowling whisperer. Remind me which English bolwers he transformed into match winners and where they are now? He has struggled as our fast bowling coach and now he is going to be put in charge of developing the "next generation" of fast bowlers.

[ledge]

Re: 5th Test selections

Why arent newly retired champions coaching in the specialty they were so succesful at?
Mc Grath? Warne ?Healy? The Waughs?
There lies another problem Australia were on top of the world, these players know all the pitfuls and have the experience to teach the up and comers.
None seem to be involved, we have players coaching who were a generation further down teaching old ways.

[Greystache]

Re: 5th Test selections

Why arent newly retired champions coaching in the specialty they were so succesful at?
Mc Grath? Warne ?Healy? The Waughs?
There lies another problem Australia were on top of the world, these players know all the pitfuls and have the experience to teach the up and comers.
None seem to be involved, we have players coaching who were a generation further down teaching old ways.

Justin Langer is the current batting coach, that doesn't seem to be helping however.

[Greystache]

Re: 5th Test selections

Khawaja and Beer to play, Bollinger to be 12th man. How does Hilfenhaus keep his spot? Is Smith being picked as a second spinner? I tell you what, it's difficult to find out the secret handshake, but once you know it you just can't get dropped!!

Just read a description of Beer- doesn't turn it much, but can bowl tightly and hold up and end. Wow, sounds exciting, no wonder we rushed him through.

Blokes like Krezja should look at qualifying for another country, Australia is determined to never produce another attacking spin bowler. Cameron White should be working really hard on bowling flat darts.

[comrade]

Re: 5th Test selections

Blokes like Krezja should look at qualifying for another country, Australia is determined to never produce another attacking spin bowler. Cameron White should be working really hard on bowling flat darts.

I watched him bowl in the Big Bash the other night and it was refreshing to see an Australian spinner genuinely turn the ball. Not to mention it was with a new ball at the WACA.

He'd easily be our most dangerous tweaker at international level, but mustn't get along with Ricky.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 5th Test selections

On the news tonight they announced that Doug the Rug is 12th man, meaning 2 debutants.Official now, see link.

Link

[Greystache]

Re: 5th Test selections

I watched him bowl in the Big Bash the other night and it was refreshing to see an Australian spinner genuinely turn the ball. Not to mention it was with a new ball at the WACA.

He'd easily be our most dangerous tweaker at international level, but mustn't get along with Ricky.

I"m convinced it's not even about not getting along with Ricky anymore, he's just looking to pick the most bland and low-risk team he can, and ensuring no one will challenge him as leader. Only problem is none of them can win matches, hence we lose routinely these days. The only solution to us getting better is for Ponting to be moved on completely, and hiring a new team of selectors who actually watch cricket and have enough character to pick their own team. Hilditch and Co are simply picking up a pay cheque for an honary job title.

[Topdog]

Re: 5th Test selections

2 debutants and 3 players who don't deserve to be anywhere near the test team on form.

Should be an interesting test.....

[dog town]

Re: 5th Test selections

I understand the criticism of the Beer selection but how many of you have seen him bowl? I actually agree that he should never have been selected but now that he is in lets give him a chance. For what its worth he is more of a Vettori type than a big spinning bowler. He is tall and gets good drift on the ball. Draws players out because of his size and is pretty clever. Changes his shape and angles quite a bit. Weakens our batting a bit because generally your spinner will be a number 8 or 9 but I strongly doubt this will be the case with Beer. His lack of bowling of late is a huge concern though.

[GVGjr]

Re: 5th Test selections

I understand the criticism of the Beer selection but how many of you have seen him bowl? I actually agree that he should never have been selected but now that he is in lets give him a chance. For what its worth he is more of a Vettori type than a big spinning bowler. He is tall and gets good drift on the ball. Draws players out because of his size and is pretty clever. Changes his shape and angles quite a bit. Weakens our batting a bit because generally your spinner will be a number 8 or 9 but I strongly doubt this will be the case with Beer. His lack of bowling of late is a huge concern though.

I think most of us want to see him do well because we needs some spin bowlers coming through the ranks. A Vettori type definitely has some appeal