Australia vs England

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs England

What we are seeing now with Mitch is what I'd imagine Fot was seeing with him in his early days labeling Johnson as a once in a generation bowler, or words to that affect.

That's high praise from DK. He understands the technical side and mechanics of fast bowling tester than anyone.

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs England

he'll get another go in Perth I would think so long as he can bowl.

I've never understood why he has always been played at the top of the order. His technique is not good enough. He's a number 7, or 6 at best and really only worthy of a spot if fully fit and in form with the ball

Agree completely. I've never understood the reason we need Watson in the team. He's physically and mentally soft and has none of the tools to be a successful test match cricketer.

[hujsh]

Re: Australia vs England

The British, really..........they've crapped their way around the globe for hundreds of years with their fancy clothes and nice manners. I'm sick of it.

You'd be a fan of 'The Bugle'. The British Museum is regularly described as an active crime scene by John Oliver and the British Empire is lampooned as being 'cartoon villains'.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs England

Just had a look at Watsons Test batting performances this year

He has had 21 innings in 2013 and has only made one duck in that time
Only four other innings where he has failed to get to double figures
Just one century this year where he made 176
Only two other scores over 50
Eight innings where he made more than 20

He is getting to double figures frequently but just fails to turn 20's and 30's into 50's.

His bowling is handy but it isn't a good enough strength to compensate for his batting average in any one of the top 6 spots. Even moving him to 6 is risky because he is playing lazy strokes and getting caught way too often.

His batting is of a number 7 and he still wouldn't be regarded as not a strong number 7.

In comparison Faulkner who is a bowler who bats is more likely to have a stronger batting average at 6 or 7 than Watson.

We have to make a move on him and try an establish batsman from the Shield. Maddison, Burns, Hughes and Ferguson are all more than capable of producing better batting performances than Watson. I think Watson has the talent but not the concentration to build enough good innings against teams like England

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs England

Just had a look at Watsons Test batting performances this year

He has had 21 innings in 2013 and has only made one duck in that time
Only four other innings where he has failed to get to double figures
Just one century this year where he made 176
Only two other scores over 50
Eight innings where he made more than 20

He is getting to double figures frequently but just fails to turn 20's and 30's into 50's.

His bowling is handy but it isn't a good enough strength to compensate for his batting average in any one of the top 6 spots. Even moving him to 6 is risky because he is playing lazy strokes and getting caught way too often.

His batting is of a number 7 and he still wouldn't be regarded as not a strong number 7.

In comparison Faulkner who is a bowler who bats is more likely to have a stronger batting average at 6 or 7 than Watson.

We have to make a move on him and try an establish batsman from the Shield. Maddison, Burns, Hughes and Ferguson are all more than capable of producing better batting performances than Watson. I think Watson has the talent but not the concentration to build enough good innings against teams like England

I'm hearing you G. but he has explicit photos of CA executives doing bad things. That's the only explanation of him not even being talked about as having question marks over his spot. Surely (say a) Doolan could make 2 50's and 1 tons in a calendar year...

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs England

I'm hearing you G. but he has explicit photos of CA executives doing bad things. That's the only explanation of him not even being talked about as having question marks over his spot. Surely (say a) Doolan could make 2 50's and 1 tons in a calendar year...

Doolan wouldn't dismiss Alastair Cook though. For me we still need a genuine bowling option in the top 6 and Watson is a better batsman than Faulkner and better bowler than Henriques. In saying that Watson isn't dynamic enough to be a 3 but I have no problem with him at 6. My order would be:
Rogers, Warner, Doolan, Clarke, Smith, Watson, Haddin

Bailey has too many holes to be a test cricketer in my mind, he fishes outside off-stump far too regularly and looks at sea on bounding tracks

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs England

Doolan wouldn't dismiss Alastair Cook though. For me we still need a genuine bowling option in the top 6 and Watson is a better batsman than Faulkner and better bowler than Henriques. In saying that Watson isn't dynamic enough to be a 3 but I have no problem with him at 6. My order would be:
Rogers, Warner, Doolan, Clarke, Smith, Watson, Haddin

The problem though is he is 32 with a batting average that is noticeably declining. It's not as though it's great bowling that is getting him out or batting partners that are running him out. In the vast majority of instances it's simply poor shot selection after poor shot selection. He just isn't prepared to graft his runs when the occasion dictates that he should. He doesn't do the team orientated things.

Based on what I have seen I'm not sure why Faulkner couldn't average 30 plus batting at 6 if he was given a quarter of the chances Watson has received and his bowling is certainly better.
Faulkner would likely put more value on his wicket than Watson has demonstrated this year.

I also think the bowling Henriques is almost around the mark of Watson and I think he is a better all-round fieldsman. Once again, given an extended run I think he could average around 35 with the bat.

Batsman at the number 5 or 6 mark need to be capable of getting their runs off singles when required. Watson at 6 would be the classic block, leave, block, chase, hit a four type before eventually getting himself out straight after hitting consecutive 4's.

I've stuck up for him for years but until he gets a couple of centuries with the bat to answer the challenge we should be looking at the bigger picture and getting an inform batsman to replace him.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs England

That's fair enough and I cant rebut that because results say its all true. I do think you are underrating Watsons bowling, he is in my mind the perfect fourth seamer; bowls tight lines, good on all surfaces, swings the ball and has a handy knack of taking key wickets.

Henriques and Faulkner both average about 30 in first class cricket, Faulkner hasn't hit a ton, Henriques has two, Watson averages 43, has 18 first class tons and his test match averages is still 4 runs higher than what Faulkner or Henriques have averaged in domestic cricket. Even with how frustrating Watson is I think he still has both comfortably covered.

Its not even that I'm a Watson fan, the alternatives just look like bits and pieces cricketers, I'm a believer in the old adage that your primary skill must be good enough to get into the team on its own merit and considering the batting stocks in this country, on his day Watson is still top 6. If Mcdonald was fit and firing I think we'd have the perfect replacement but Id like more runs from Henriques or Faulkner before theyre considered.

[Topdog]

Re: Australia vs England

Watson is IMO the best 4th seemer in cricket. However he rarely is able to bowl more than 10 overs in an innings so at some point you have to ask how useful it is. His 2nd?? spell today was absolutely sensational.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Australia vs England

From The Guardian -

There are few flat-track bullies as compelling and devastating as "Davey" Warner - that's a compliment - and he hurtles to his century, off just 132 deliveries, by shmicing Swann through point and to the fence. The celebrations are as you'd expect, leaping, loud, aggressive and ostentatious, directed principally at pus of Prior.

Flat track bully - not sure that really is a compliment. In the long form of the game however, they might be right.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs England

Needs to prove he can do it in the South African series coming up. Will be tough batting over there

[westdog54]

Re: Australia vs England

From The Guardian -

There are few flat-track bullies as compelling and devastating as "Davey" Warner - that's a compliment - and he hurtles to his century, off just 132 deliveries, by shmicing Swann through point and to the fence. The celebrations are as you'd expect, leaping, loud, aggressive and ostentatious, directed principally at pus of Prior.

Flat track bully - not sure that really is a compliment. In the long form of the game however, they might be right.

Found this a bit further down the page:


"Why are you hitting yourself?" Words to shiver the temper of anyone bullied by them, haunted by memories of their wrists clasped tightly by an older relative and their own hands used to batter their own selves about face and head. That is this series.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Australia vs England

Warner's an idiot, but really coming from a team who peed on the pitch and the corny sprinkler rubbish a few years back? Cricketers behaving badly seems to be inflicting both sides.

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs England

Boy that's a piss we*k team.

But yes, probably the best we can muster. Looooooong summer ahead.

hehehe

PS: Sorry BT, infact we all felt that way at the start of the series.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs England

Can someone kick Mark Taylor and the cameras out of the rooms and let these boys enjoy it