Anyone for cricket?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

first test in BrizzieAustralia 0/28watto gets hit on pads and given not outbowler asks for replay and 3rd ump reverses decision and gives him outwatto doesn't accept that and calls a review of the decisionAustralia 1/28 and only 1 review leftand for the unbeleivers ponting this morning apologised about his criticism of you know who

That is the unresolved risk with Watson. If that indeed happens then the monkey on his back starts itching.

This is his last Test series to make a name for himself. If he fails in this series his International career will involve coloured clothing and a white ball.

[Nasher 33,607]

Amazing that we're short of quality bowlers given our stocks of talent. What a disastrous run of injuries, almost unbelievable really.

Alex Doolan pressing his claim for a place with a match winning century in the fourth innings against a strong NSW side. Also scored a 50 in the first innings, and his century was the only one scored in a match where no team managed to reach 300 in any of the four innings. I didn't see a ball of the game, but it sounds good in the context.

[Apocalypse XXXI 243]

Rohit Sharma closing in on a double century in Bangalore.

Aussies chucking pies.

[Apocalypse XXXI 243]

Brought up the double ton with a 6 on the first ball of the last over.

Followed that up with another 6.

[Apocalypse XXXI 243]

Then caught at fine leg. Out for 209.

Aussies will be chasing a big target.

[titan_uranus 24,631]

Rohit Sharma - wow.

Australian bowling - not so wow.

Titan - Anderson's swing may worry in Brisbane but not so much in other Tests. More worried about Broad Tremlett who hit the pitch harder.......and Swann.

Brisbane and Melbourne.

You're right, though. These pitches are made for Tremlett, who dominated when he played last time, and Broad. Tough for us all round.

Amazing that we're short of quality bowlers given our stocks of talent. What a disastrous run of injuries, almost unbelievable really.

Alex Doolan pressing his claim for a place with a match winning century in the fourth innings against a strong NSW side. Also scored a 50 in the first innings, and his century was the only one scored in a match where no team managed to reach 300 in any of the four innings. I didn't see a ball of the game, but it sounds good in the context.

Timely from Doolan, with Shane Watson injuring his hamstring - no surprise with that one. If we rate Watson as highly as we appear to, he shouldn't be bowling meaningless overs in an ODI in India three weeks before the Ashes starts.

In other scores, Cowan made just 4, Lyon took three wickets but it wasn't enough to stop Tasmania, Marcus North took WA to a draw by batting out the fourth day for 118* off 314, Marsh made just 4, Cameron White backed up his 83 and 61 with the bat by taking 4 fourth-innings wickets, Ahmed couldn't get a single one, Trott and (surprise surprise) Bell made 100s too.

White a sneaky chance for a Test spot this summer if he keeps it up. Domestic form right now has him right up there, and if he's taking wickets too, you never know, what with Australia's penchant for 'all-rounders'.

[Demon Jack 6,741]

James Faulkner for first test?..Anyone?..

[jazza 1,323]

That is the unresolved risk with Watson. If that indeed happens then the monkey on his back starts itching.

This is his last Test series to make a name for himself. If he fails in this series his International career will involve coloured clothing and a white ball.

its ok

he did his hammy

maybe the gods are smiling on us after all

[Biffen 12,841]

its ok

he did his hammy

maybe the gods are smiling on us after all

When doesn't the fat bastard pull a hammy or do his back.

I find it hard to like any Aussie cricketers at the moment except for perhaps Chris Rogers who has earned it.

[dee-luded 2,959]

James Faulkner for first test?..Anyone?..

like faulkner. he's a part of our future.

[titan_uranus 24,631]

If Watson misses the first Test due to his hamstring, you have to wonder whether sending him out to bat was the right thing.

Regardless, Indian cricket hit a new low when Dhawan mocked Watson's limp. India's young crickets are, without exception, a bunch of petulant brats (Dhawan, Kohli, Raina). Puts the wonderful attitudes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman to shame.

James Faulkner for first test?..Anyone?..

No.

Six batsmen. One keeper. Four bowlers.

Great innings from him (fastest Australian ODI century I think) but that was a small ground where most batsmen were finding the fence with ease.

[Little Richard 6,216]

Cameron White a smokey for the first test? Probably not but putting his name back out there as a serious candidate.

[titan_uranus 24,631]

Cameron White a smokey for the first test? Probably not but putting his name back out there as a serious candidate.

I've always been a fan of his. He's doing everything right. With Watson potentially out, that's two spots in the top six we need to fill. Bailey takes one, but the other one is up for grabs. Doolan's century helps him, as does Faulkner's ODI form. White needs to keep making runs, maybe with a wicket or two here or there, to ensure he stays in selectors' minds. At some point this Ashes questions are going to be asked about most of our top 6, spots may appear.

[jazza 1,323]

smokey might be robby quiney

I also wrote that to start some talkback marathon

Edited November 5, 2013 by jazza

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I've always been a fan of his. He's doing everything right. With Watson potentially out, that's two spots in the top six we need to fill. Bailey takes one, but the other one is up for grabs. Doolan's century helps him, as does Faulkner's ODI form. White needs to keep making runs, maybe with a wicket or two here or there, to ensure he stays in selectors' minds. At some point this Ashes questions are going to be asked about most of our top 6, spots may appear.

Can he bat at No 3? Wickets are not an issue. Just the runs. if they want leg spin they will use Smith.

Rogers

Warner

???

Smith

Clarke

Bailey

smokey might be robby quiney

I also wrote that to start some talkback marathon

Its a smokey but would need loads of runs to rub out the failures of last year.

And by the time he does that, Watson might be fit again.......then he might not also...

[jazza 1,323]

watto only will stay fit long enough to use every review allowed and then pull another heart muscle

quiney has good technique to survive at top level

watto is simply a nitwit that cant sustain continued concentration at the top level

[titan_uranus 24,631]

Can he bat at No 3? Wickets are not an issue. Just the runs. if they want leg spin they will use Smith.

Rogers

Warner

???

Smith

Clarke

Bailey

Its a smokey but would need loads of runs to rub out the failures of last year.

And by the time he does that, Watson might be fit again.......then he might not also...

Is there anyone in Australia who can actually bat at 3? Watson can't. Smith can't. Khawaja cant. Clarke can, but shouldn't (back). I don't think Bailey can either.

Maybe Doolan gets a game for this reason. 28 years old, so not as young as we might have hoped for, but still could get a decent few years out of him, and he is made for 3.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

You left out Philip Hughes in the cant group.

I have a terrible feeling he might get the nod if Watson is not fit.

[Whispering_Jack 29,240]

I think it's time for the selectors to show a bit of imagination and give Doolan his chance but somehow, I think they'll remain true to form and go conservative for the first test.

[Rogue 585]

Hussey was 30 when he started, so debuting Doolan at 28 is not necessarily a short-term fix.

Bailey has been an excellent ODI find for us but his first-class record is nowhere near as good. If he plays, I'll be interested to see how he performs in Tests. He might be one of thsoe guys who steps up when they play at a higher level.

[jazza 1,323]

Is there anyone in Australia who can actually bat at 3? Watson can't. Smith can't. Khawaja cant. Clarke can, but shouldn't (back). I don't think Bailey can either.

Maybe Doolan gets a game for this reason. 28 years old, so not as young as we might have hoped for, but still could get a decent few years out of him, and he is made for 3.

cant believe your saying Clarke can bat at 3 but shouldn't because of a bad back

if his back is that bad he wouldn't be making doubles at 5

not bowling with a bad back is understandable

making runs at 5 and not at 3 because of a bad back is piffle

[titan_uranus 24,631]

cant believe your saying Clarke can bat at 3 but shouldn't because of a bad back

if his back is that bad he wouldn't be making doubles at 5

not bowling with a bad back is understandable

making runs at 5 and not at 3 because of a bad back is piffle

What I meant is that, if his back is playing up, the extra rest he'd get by batting at 5 would do him good.

[Nasher 33,607]

What I meant is that, if his back is playing up, the extra rest he'd get by batting at 5 would do him good.

With the way we've been batting in recent years, the "extra rest" he gets at batting at 5 instead of 3 is about 15 minutes.

[Little Richard 6,216]

Is there anyone in Australia who can actually bat at 3? Watson can't. Smith can't. Khawaja cant. Clarke can, but shouldn't (back). I don't think Bailey can either.

Maybe Doolan gets a game for this reason. 28 years old, so not as young as we might have hoped for, but still could get a decent few years out of him, and he is made for 3.

I reckon Cosgrove could if he got serious.

[Nasher 33,607]

I reckon Cosgrove could if he got serious.

Opening the batting now (2 not out) in his first Shield game of the year. Apparently has shed 16 kilos in a couple of months. He's 29 now, it's not too late to knuckle down and make something of his undoubted talent. I'd love to see him extract a digit, get fit and get himself picked. Not holding my breath though - and quite happy to have him help Tassie to another Shield if he can't.

His batting partner is Jordan Silk, who already has two centuries to his name in 6 first class matches. Doolan, Hilfy and Ed Cowan also playing, though you'd think the latter is finished at Test level. Plenty of interest in this game.