Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Not according to the papers this morning. He wanted Doolan to remain at 1st drop.

I was talking more about the 11 that have been selected. He was pretty clear the other day he didn't really want Smith at 3 which probably supports he didn't want Doolan dropped.

It was a strange team selection. On a docile track we have 3 quick bowlers with support from a fast medium all-rounder. One spin bowler with support from 2 part timers.

I would have kept Doolan and if I wasn't going to play O'Keeffe and intended to go in with 3 quicks then it would have been Maxwell for Marsh.

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Clarke's field settings have been questioned by Border and others:

Azhar said he had never seen the straight-hit fielding position used."I didn't have an idea that you could have one behind the bowler," he said.

"So I was a little distracted but the umpire told me if he doesn't move then there
Azhar said Pakistan's coaching staff had told him to focus on the next ball and nothing else.

"Don't worry about the field change," Azhar said.
"Our guys have done that really well in this and the last Test that they haven't worried about this."

Clarke has admitted he has run out of ideas to get the Pakistani batsman out.

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

[Sedat]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

It was a strange team selection. On a docile track we have 3 quick bowlers with support from a fast medium all-rounder. One spin bowler with support from 2 part timers.

Agreed. IMO the smart ploy on this track would have been to go with 2 quicks (Johnson, Siddle), keep Marsh in as the 3rd seamer to give the openers a chop-out, and play all of Lyon, O'Keefe and Maxwell. No Starc and no Doolan (play Maxwell first drop - he couldn't do any worse than everyone else trialled there). The pitch is already turning significantly and there is absolutely nothing for the fast bowlers to work with. We should have backed the selected spinners for the tour.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

I'm more intrigued as to what a shithole they're playing at is opposed to field placements. I've only left the airport once for a few days in Abu Dhabi and promised myself I would never return. It is a shocking place, stinking hot, humid, dirty, shit food, expensive (alcohol especially), did I mention hot? Really is the pits.

Obviously love their cricket too.

The lads will probably go out on purpose when they finally get a bat, to get out of the joint quicker.

[Topdog]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

the keeper is way too far back there. Oh wait.....

Good to see 3 slips and a gully too.....

seriously WTF?

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

the keeper is way too far back there. Oh wait.....

Good to see 3 slips and a gully too.....

seriously WTF?

I watched most of it and to me it was a good tactical captain having a seriously awful day. He was changing the field every second ball and was far too funky for his own good, it's not the way to treat cricket on the subcontinent. I like Clarke as a tactical captain but he needs to take a page out of Gilly's book, learn some patience, set a 7-2 field, bowl tight lines and wait for the mistake as we did in India in 2003, it's the only way to win on these docile pitches and it's how India/Pakistan have done it for years. He was trying everything to grab a wicket but there's a line between imagination and stupidity which was crossed last night as there is a line between patience and letting the game drift. It's why Alastair Cook's squeezing and run slowing tactics worked in India last year where as we continually try to blast teams out or come out with kooky strategies as Clarke did last night.

I fully agree with Border too, he lowered his colours stationing the fielder directly behind the bowler for the sole purpose of distraction...that's just not cricket.

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Good crowd in today to watch a double century.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

It looks like a net session and Johnson's umpiring .
Sportsman on massive contracts and they still can't play spin bowling ?
Just totally unacceptable

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

North, Cowan and Hughes and others have showed more than Rogers, yet he still gets picked...

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

North, Cowan and Hughes and others have showed more than Rogers, yet he still gets picked...

North has retired and Cowan is struggling for form. Hughes would be the closest to taking his spot.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

North has retired and Cowan is struggling for form. Hughes would be the closest to taking his spot.

Sorry I was not clear. Those players were dropped from the National team despite in my opinion showing more than Rogers. Rogers for some reason has more opportunities than those got.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Sorry I was not clear. Those players were dropped from the National team despite in my opinion showing more than Rogers. Rogers for some reason has more opportunities than those got.

Not sure what 'showing more' means. Rogers averages 38 at test level, compared to North 35, Hughes 32 and Cowan 31. Perhaps Hughes shows more potential but I think Rogers is also seen as complimenting Warner (who is carrying our batting at the moment).

Rogers is not world beater but far from our biggest issue at the moment.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Not sure what 'showing more' means. Rogers averages 38 at test level, compared to North 35, Hughes 32 and Cowan 31. Perhaps Hughes shows more potential but I think Rogers is also seen as complimenting Warner (who is carrying our batting at the moment).

Rogers is not world beater but far from our biggest issue at the moment.

Interesting question posed, what is our biggest issue?