Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Lem, Which batsman would you have next in line for test considerations?

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Lem, Which batsman would you have next in line for test considerations?

If we are talking about number 3 the cupboard is terribly bare, I actually think if Doolan made himself unpickable with another poor test they'd go back to Watson at 3. A few other candidates would be:

I'm a big believer in the talent of Joe Burns, averaged close to 50 last year but needs another season of run-getting to put his name up in lights...he does have the best pull shot of any Australian bat since Ponting though. A year too early for it to be ideal.

I still believe Khawaja has the talent to thrive on Australian pitches and has been the best batsman in the Matador Cup after a consistent year last year (averaged 50 in the Shield). He was ordinary in his county stint this year though (averaged about 30) so my concerns remain about him being successful anywhere else. His footwork is simply too stilted for him to combat the spinning or swinging ball.

Tom Cooper is starting to put up numbers as consistent as anyone but a career average sub 40 while batting most of the time in Adelaide isn't good enough. Has always seemed too flighty and loose for me anyway. More suited to the middle order.

Peter Forrest is a selector's favourite and averaged 70 in the Shield last year. I see nothing but a moderate Shield player so think it's a step backwards.

I think the selectors would go back to Watson at 3 but will be looking at Forrest and Khawaja closely and it will be about who posts better numbers in the early days of the Shield. If I were selecting I'd be getting Joe Burns in for a nice initiation against India's popgun attack, otherwise I think Steve Smith has the game if not the technique for 3 and could do be worth a shot meaning someone like Cam White/Adam Voges comes under consideration at 5.

I wouldn't be touching Phil Hughes even though he is the most talented batsman outside of the XI (and has substantially more talent than some in it). I would only select him as an opener, give him a defined role and 5 or 6 tests to really cement his spot when Rogers retires. He really has to stop being shuttled around the order and given a consistent crack at it if we are going to reverse the damage the selectors have already done.

Travis Head is the other guy to watch as the young talented tyro that Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting were. I really like his potential and could envisage Rod Marsh rushing him in if he hits an exceptional run of form.

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

I heard a lot of Khawaja's innings during the county season. He played a few really good ones and was in and out pretty quickly in others. He seemed a bit hit and miss to me.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Really hurts that every time a new specialist bat comes into the side, they have to come in at number 3. Bit like us playing young KP forward with no support. Developing a place in the side in the hardest role in the game.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

We could look at first class cricket.
Oh hang on, they've got to squeeze in the one dayers

[ledge]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

5/92

[Greystache]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Despite a brief run in the recent Ashes series is there a player who fails as often in a crisis as Brad Haddin? He so often meekly surrenders his wicket when the going is tough.

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Total disaster this test, haven't handled spin at all.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Total disaster this test, haven't handled spin at all.

It's good in a way, it might give the selectors a reason to make a couple of hard selections

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

It's good in a way, it might give the selectors a reason to make a couple of hard selections

Isn't that what India 2012/2013 was meant to do though? Who goes out of the side that really makes much of a difference? Warner, Rogers, Clarke and Smith all deserve their spots. Marsh is only playing because of injury, even though we shouldn't be playing an all-rounder unless they are one the best 6 batsman in the country anyway and of the bowlers the only one under any modicum of pressure after the last 18 months is Lyon...and his only competition is in the playing XI anyway.

It really only leaves Doolan and Haddin to be looked at. Doolan needs runs or the number 3 merry-go-round spins again, that's not a tough decision for the selectors to make while Haddin is probably the player we could most easily replace. Peter Nevill from New South Wales is ready to go as a very good gloveman and solid bat, Hartley is tried, tested and could play a role for a few years while Sam Whiteman from WA is along with Travis Head the most talented under 23 in the country, a year of Shield runs and he's ready to go for a decade as extremely dependable with the gloves, a batsman of excellent raw talent and a very composed young man.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Number 8 in the batting order (9 in this innings) has a far better batting technique than the number 6. He might have a better technique than the number 3. I'd also think he has Haddin covered

[whythelongface]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Gee Johnson was stiff with that call. Surely benefit of the doubt should have been applied.

[Greystache]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

How can they give Johnson out based on that vision?

I'm getting a bit sick of being on the receiving end of dodgy 3rd umpire reviews.

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Once more we have Clarke who makes a 2 and 3 and probably similar in the next test then makes 200 and his average for the series looks good.

We really need the number 3 to make a decent score and Clark to contribute more consistently with the bat.

Nathan Lyons spin was not much chop and the bowlers overall struggled.

I wonder if any changes will be made for the next test starting Thursday.

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Congrats to the Pakistan cricket team. Much too good for us.