2013 Tour of India

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

I think we are so desperate to find our saviour all rounder we are prepared to wear rose coloured glasses on anyone who can remotely bat or bowl ie: Smith and Maxwell. I think we should not follow false prophets and wait for a genuine player to put their hand up. Wait for Mitch Marsh or Henriques to knock the door down. With regard to the Smiths and Maxwells I feel like dressing up as an old woman and screaming to the masses " he is not the messiah...... ". Then wait for Invererity to say he is he messiah, I should know, I've followed a few...

[Rocco Jones]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Just to be clear, I am not saying I want an all-rounder, just that I think the selectors do.

On Watson's durability as an allrounder. We rotate our pace bowlers, why didn't we rest Watson for boxing day. IMO there's no tougher task then being an allrounder who bowls fast-medium. He had just finished bowling the most overs he has bowled in a test and apparently had a niggle. I know it's easy in hindsight but if the powers that be want him to be an allrounder, we must rest him when he is sore. I know it will mean he will miss a few games but he will do so anyway and this way we get his best.

[lemmon]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Just to be clear, I am not saying I want an all-rounder, just that I think the selectors do.

On Watson's durability as an allrounder. We rotate our pace bowlers, why didn't we rest Watson for boxing day. IMO there's no tougher task then being an allrounder who bowls fast-medium. He had just finished bowling the most overs he has bowled in a test and apparently had a niggle. I know it's easy in hindsight but if the powers that be want him to be an allrounder, we must rest him when he is sore. I know it will mean he will miss a few games but he will do so anyway and this way we get his best.

I think the query over Clarke's fitness played a role as well, was touch and go right up until the toss and if he hadn't have come up Watson was needed as skipper.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Having watched the recent India v England series it was apparent the Indians struggled to play the orthodox finger spin of Monty Panesar. I reckon this will influence the selectors into picking a left handed finger spinner. Beer probably the best that we have.

[lemmon]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Having watched the recent India v England series it was apparent the Indians struggled to play the orthodox finger spin of Monty Panesar. I reckon this will influence the selectors into picking a left handed finger spinner. Beer probably the best that we have.

Agree with that, the subcontinent is the place where you can afford to be a bit quicker through the air and not turn it massively, Beer would be my choice as well

[Bornadog]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Listening to Watson tonight on Inside Cricket (Fox Sports), he says he will be concentrating on batting from now on so that he can try and get some consistence with games. He sees bowling as contributing to his injuries.

Asked where he would like to bat and he did say he prefers to open.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Listening to Watson tonight on Inside Cricket (Fox Sports), he says he will be concentrating on batting from now on so that he can try and get some consistence with games. He sees bowling as contributing to his injuries.

Asked where he would like to bat and he did say he prefers to open.

If he gets to open in Shield cricket and is semi-decent than I like Cowan is cooked.

[jeemak]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Cowan's in a bit of strife, if Watson as you say can get some time in the middle and perform as an opener at Shield level.

He has the technique, though to this point he hasn't had the continuity to become the test batsman he's shown he can be.

I think it was RJ earlier in the thread that stated bowling medium fast or vice versa as an all rounder is bloody hard. Post 30 years of age, I'm not surprised someone as large as Watson (albeit having trimmed down) is struggling to do it.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

I think it was RJ earlier in the thread that stated bowling medium fast or vice versa as an all rounder is bloody hard. Post 30 years of age, I'm not surprised someone as large as Watson (albeit having trimmed down) is struggling to do it.

It's why I rate Kallis so highly. The guy is 37 and still an amazing allrounder at test level.

[jeemak]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

It's why I rate Kallis so highly. The guy is 37 and still an amazing allrounder at test level.

Kallis is one of the modern wonders of the world. Can you imagine how good our best sides throughout the 1999 to 2007 period would have been with a bowling and batting all-rounder (I know Gilly was a gun all-rounder) of his calibre?

When he retires, it'll be a very sad day for cricket. The guy's an absolute gun.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Kallis is one of the modern wonders of the world. Can you imagine how good our best sides throughout the 1999 to 2007 period would have been with a bowling and batting all-rounder (I know Gilly was a gun all-rounder) of his calibre?

When he retires, it'll be a very sad day for cricket. The guy's an absolute gun.

Yep, would have made the side as close to perfect as it gets.

I am 32 and even though there have been bigger names, there is no test cricketer I have rated more than Kallis in my time.

[jeemak]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Yep, would have made the side as close to perfect as it gets.

I am 32 and even though there have been bigger names, there is no test cricketer I have rated more than Kallis in my time.

I'm just about the same age, and while it's a pretty big call, it's one that's probably fair enough in a lot of ways and I tend to agree with you.

Warne for me is about as good as it gets, just mainly because he dominated in circumstances or environments that weren't specifically suited to his craft, most of the time.

Kallis was able to get fantastic results with the bat, ball and in the field consistently. Complete player.

[lemmon]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

O'Keefe just about bowling himself into a tour after picking up 4 yesterday

[GVGjr]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

O'Keefe just about bowling himself into a tour after picking up 4 yesterday

More importantly he has 8 for the match.

Which spin bowlers are likely to tour?

Lyon?
Doherty
O'Keefe?
Beer?
Hauritz
Boyce?
Maxwell? As an all-rounder
Smith? As an all-rounder

[lemmon]

Re: 2013 Tour of India

Beer has an AC joint injury and is probably out. Lyon would be the lock and I'd have though Doherty (for his limited overs form) and O'Keefe (for his first class form and career stats) are vying for the second spinners spot. I'd be taking O'Keefe, don't need to flight it in India which is his fault. Skiddy left armer should be fine