dee-luded
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Posts posted by dee-luded
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Edited by dee-luded
Rogers has been playing county cricket prior to joining the squad and he has a couple of big scores to his name this season. There's 2 schools of thought - they've put him in the squad to play him immediately to shore up the top order ... or as a back-up if our top order doesn't measure up. He's made a lot of 1st class runs in his career. I just looked up rogers earlier to see what he is & he could pinch hit for a missing Warner,,, (@ 3 ???)
It's looking more likely that Clarke will bat at no.4 with Hughes to possibly bat in the late middle order (no.5?) I edited my previous post mentioning this. I agree with you re the no.3 spot. Traditionally it's the most vital spot in the order and often the best batsmen bat in that spot. Khawaja has spent a large part of his cricket batting there so he's the more logical choice however, Rogers or Cowan could bat there at a pinch. I don't see Cowan as a stroke maker, so I think he's a one dimensional player, however he's sturdy & usually reliable.... so I think he's an opener solely. his danger I think, is he could lose his spot to Rogers after the first test (Rogers/Watson)... I hope Rogers bats @ 3 in the first test, to see where we are at after the last 12 months.
Much will depend on what happens in the current warm up game and the next one. In the past, these games were used as practice for our 'established' batting order. Right now it's more about who can do well enough to get a game in the Tests. Pattinson and Starc look like they've done enough to get into the team for the 1st Test. Match totals of 7 wickets for Patto and 6 for Starc. Yep, I like starc over there as he moves the ball about, Pattinson is a must, as is Siddle... but we also need {to find} a medium pacer, like a Terry Alderman.
(a Viv Richards would be handy)
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Hughes' best spot is as an opener (like Watson, Rogers, Cowan and Warner) A lot is going to depend on where Clarke bats. If 'Pup' bats at no.4 (as he did in the 1st innings of this warm up match) then there may not be room for Hughes or Khawaja in the top 4. Hughes really worries me in the top order, as IMO he's too impetuous, without the true skills & decision making to not get out
I think we could book Watson in to open and you'd reckon Cowan will play. That only leaves one spot left in the top 4 (either another opener or a no.3) Rogers may not play - although it seems like he should. I don't know anything about rogers? whats he like?
Just would look a bit odd having Hughes and Khawaja batting at 5 and 6. Khawaja could adapt but Hughes' ability against spin (Swann) would surely be tested (along with a couple of others) He did make 76 batting at 5 in this game so maybe the decision has been made with that effort. It doesn't worry me about looks (perception),,, I'd like to see khawaja eased in from the middle order then work his way to the top.
The concern with Clarke batting at 4 is that if he has to go in early, we may lose out on the impact he can have at 5. The counter argument is that if we can get a reasonable start, we've got our best player in to take advantage of the situation. My concern is both this Ashes tour, but also a view to the future without Clarke.. so Now I'd like to keep him where he is, & place an interim No 4 (even punter if avail) or a young rising star? I think our No 3 is the key to this batting lineup, & we need to find a goodUn... lets not shuffle the deck too much. leave Clarke in his spot, because I think his End is nearing, with his injury. keep it settled.
Khawaja has a chance tonight to get himself a good score - he opened the batting in the 2nd innings (of this warm up game) and is 18 not out. Cowan is 14 not out - if he gets a score he may book his spot. The positive is that Hughes and Watson have both spent good time at the crease in the current game. Clarke batted for nearly 2 hours in the 1st innings as well (he made 45)
Regardless, we could expect Swann to be brought into the attack very early on in the Test matches. They've got a very good bowling attack but Swann could be our biggest worry - especially if the wickets presented are dry and take spin.
Edit: ... McDermott warms to an Ashes return ... Warnie could be helping out as well. Billy worked well with the bowlers in his previous stint.
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I reckon if Faulkner plays, he'll be one of the 3 quicks. Can't see it now after Starc's 4 wickets. Reckon Clarke will bat 5 so if we assume Watson, Rogers and Cowan fill the top 3 spots then that leaves no.4 and no.6 to be filled.
Khawaja or Hughes could bat at 4 and Wade, Warner or Smith could bat at 6. If Clarke bats at no.4 then Hughes or Khawaja can bat at no.5. Watson did bowl a bit in the Champions Trophy so we've probably got the 5th bowler covered.
But who would know with the way they've picked sides of late? Nothing would surprise me ...
Macca, I hope Hughes doesn't bat early.
If 4 & 6 are open,,, & Hughes plays, please don't play him in the top 4... play him at 6 then? I'd like to see as much grit & reliability in the top 4, rather than hit & miss fast runs.
nothing against quick runs but not at the expence of instability. I'm sorry Warner is out, as I think he could bat at anything from 1st drop, down to the middle order.
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I should apologise for my emotional outburst yesterday afternoon, just staggering to see the whole team turn to shambles from what it once was.
Anyone out there think that boof can turn this sinking ship around in such a short amount of time?
Yes, I think they were trying to turn the Aussie Cricket Culture into something foreign... a smile & laughter is the best remedy for stress & confidence.
I expect much improvement. Win???
I also wonder if BOOF will be good for Mitchell Johnston's career down the track.
I reckon the way CA was trying to turn the Round Aussie peg, into a square keyway'd precision tool. It's not us.
.... In a way they've been trying to turn the Aussie team into something like Melbourne.
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Edited by dee-luded
Personally I think it was time for punter. Mike Hussey still had good cricket left in him.
I agree on Warner. When he does come back I think the number 6 role maybe his go.
We need the likes of Cowan, Rogers, Khawaja and going forward any of Hughes, Maddinson, Burns, Handscomb, Doolan, Klinger to hold up the top 3 spots
I think they need some maturity to help with the teams mental stability both off & onfield.. I agree Punter looked tired & I called for him to step down 12 months before he finally did... I went too soon..
However they are going thru a leadership vacuum, like we at Melbourne have.
IMO, the exodus of AA grade players from our national team, was too quick & without a successful succession plan... So I think punter can add value, after having a rest from the side.. I reckon he's got one tour in him. especially on crumbling wickets against spin.
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Left field replacement for Warner in the squad = Michael Klinger who is in England playing county cricket. A little while ago he scored back to back to tons. Also is a Demon supporter which makes him a chance
How about one from the bleachers?
I'd like to see Punter have a crack...
... & warner can come back after his penance, to the mid order?
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both these guys are in my world X1 Demonland team.
Serious problem when a bearded Root is on the [censored] and then my opener tries to get a bearded Root with his fist.but misses.
... seriously a concern if he's chasing roots with beards... & then gets angry anderson at them...to boot.
does the boy need glasses, or is he a bit ter wisted?
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Well it's not too good to see Warner having a late night altercation with Root of England and being stood down from the Black Caps game. Will he be sent home? That would be extreme one would suggest but it apparently by reports remains an option.
Nice to see the boys are having such a great time over there........
Culture anyone? Or just another case closed "one-off"?
Anyway on a good note, it's good to see my earlier good mail on Fawad Ahmed coming to fruition. He's just about rubber stamped for citizenship and already in England.
I'm hoping he can turn it around a few Poms, it will make the liquid amber and intake of northern hemisphere Vitamin D rays all the more satisfying whilst I'm over there.
last chance saloon... beers & blows = $10,000.00
go over your budget, & turn the lights out on your way home !!!
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WJ summed it up well in the above post, 'dl'
Swann is going to be a handful regardless of the conditions. He looked in great form in those 2 tests.
The English commentators were also not exactly complimentary towards Nathan Lyon. I was quite surprised with that attitude because I believe he's quite a decent bowler and their batsmen won't want to underestimate him. Whilst not in Swann's class he's quite capable and can turn the ball.
Anyway it's looking almost certain that Fawad Ahmed will join the Ashes squad after being called up for the Australia 'A' squad (currently in England) ... Ahmed's call-up a 'dream come true'
nothin' worse than Cocky Poms... accept maybe a cocky & crowing Kennett, in a crimson & satin dinner jacket...
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Edited by dee-luded
I agree. It's at least healthy competition for Nathan Lyon.
The commentators in the 2 England/New Zealand tests were of the opinion that the wickets were quite dry for that time of year. They went on to say that Swann would really trouble the Australians if the wickets presented during the Ashes series were just as dry (or drier) Another good reason why Fawad could be added to the squad.
Apart from anything else, we need some sort of X factor in order to compete well in the series. Of course, if our batting doesn't improve substantially, we're in a bit of strife.
In other news ... Taylor calls for Watson to be Ashes opener
g'day Macca.
Taylor calls for Watson to be Ashes opener ,,, this is what, (sort of) I was saying ages back, to have Watson open, & drop Warner down to 3, or middle order.
I imagine Warner playing a Boon type role @ 3,,, or to bolster the middle order for quick runs, or a steadying hand.
... do you know what the English wickets are like when they're dry? do they bounce? or do they still seam?
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Looking towards the Ashes, this is my preferred squad...
M Clarke
S Watson*
E Cowan
D Warner
P Hughes
M Wade
T Paine
U Khawaja
J Faulkner
N Lyon
J Pattinson
P Siddle
F Ahmed
G Maxwell / M Henriques - one of and I'd lean towards Henriques as I could see his seamers being useful in the English conditions.
P Cummins / J Bird - preferably Bird, subject to fitness (both)
R Harris
A real smokey for me could be Chadd Sayers of South Australia. Is 25 and has 59 wickets from his 12 shield matches. Not the quickest and I haven't seen a whole lot of him but he moves it in the air and off the seam which could be valuable on the English wickets.
*I'm not convinced that Watson will provide much for the team if he isn't bowling. If he can't bowl personally someone like Rogers or Bailey would be much preferred.
No stark Django?
Interesting about this Chadd Sayers, I think that type of bowler is a must control & moving thru the air & off the track.
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There's been some strange goings on, that's for sure. A month long training camp to help with team bonding could help fix things. (a training camp doesn't necessarily have to be a hard slog) Trouble is, many of our available players will be otherwise occupied in the IPL. Straight after that, the 'Champions Trophy' will be held in June (in England) There literally isn't any time for many of our players to draw breath. Not enough time to freshen up.
The England players don't have the same problem as many or most of them aren't playing in the IPL. Our players have a whole host of distractions to deal with. There is a huge change going on in the sport as a whole and I'm not sure how it can be addressed. The money on offer is enormous (in t20)
Lyon picks up a career best 7/94 ... bowled beautifully.
Look, our main target is to get to England in as good a shape as we can be.
Once we started to see those cattle tracks over there it wasn't going to help us in anyway, but may infact do us great damage.
It looks to me like the new frontier has arrived into crickets selection processes, re the mental games between selectors & players, & the leadership vacuum has IMO caused some frictions, which I think they've tried to arrest.
But as they say it takes 2 to argue. wrong is invariably on both sides.
but at least some fight has returned, even if its on an unplayable track.
They have to unite now & none have broken down, cross fingers Siddle stays fit.
# IPL... I think its no coincidence that we have had problems since the 20/20 etc. I don't watch it or listen to it. the subcontinent has done a lot of damage to the game we knew.
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Fair enough, there's possibly a bit in what you're saying.
By the way, I have heard that story about the yacht ... I reckon I'd be straight on it. The choice between a smelly, dank, darkened change rooms with some semi warm beer and some pretzels at the SCG, or a fully laid on spread of crayfish, champers and with lots of nice ladies is an easy one in my eyes.
Yes James, we'll see you there ... just give us 10 minutes or so !
I think they gave up on the series back just before they played that game, with suspending the players,,,, or just prior, to protect Lyon from the conditions in the past tests.
Possibly to shield him, to keep him in one mental piece before the Ashes. where I think he'll be much needed.
Everyone has had a rest thru this series in one (name-term) or another. whether suspended for 1 game or just rested????? Watson for the birth, then back to capitarn...
lots of mental games going on between team management & team in the last 6 months.
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Why not?
there ya go,,, heres the Blue Cod,,,, served cold...
... the smokes been wafting around in everyones eyes for the last few months since RP went.
and a small helping desert of Humble AppleIsle Pie...
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Losing a Test after making 400 in the first innings is bad. Losing that Test in 4 days is pathetic. Our fight to the end masks that.
David Warner's series has been terrible. The manner in which he has gotten out belies his bad attitude and inability to change his game to the conditions. Swiping at a half-volley without moving his feet in the opening over was just despicable; in previous Tests he's gotten out sweeping hastily, too. I know he's made a couple of half centuries, but these batting tracks are roads and we should be getting runs out of everyone. His attitude is a problem.
Hughes got a rough deal, but I doubt he'd have gone much further with that innings, he looked bogged down against spin. He's still a problem.
Henriques is terrible, shouldn't be playing. He's riding on credits earned from his batting in the first Test, but that's not fair. He has to be able to bat in the top 6 or be a frontline bowler. He's neither. Get him out of there.
Smith did his best, but Smith showed how bad his bowling is, meaning he has to be a top batsman to hold his spot. His 92 was good, but if he holds his spot, he needs to lift his average and score runs heavily, as he's not close to an all-rounder. If he can't average 40+, he can't stay. I don't hold high hopes for him doing this.
I thought Siddle's effort was fantastic; Starc bowls well at times, but goes missing for far too long. Doherty is pathetic, Lyon tried much harder but just isn't good enough to get Indians out in India.
We will be able to take 20 wickets in England. Pattinson, Siddle, Starc, Johnson, Bird, Hilfenhaus, Cummins, Hazlewood, Harris. Lyon will also bowl better with the bounce he should get from English pitches. I'm confident we can bowl them out, we just need to be able to score more than them (highly unlikely, at this stage).
To me, Clarke and Siddle are the only two members of the current XI who are certainties for the first Ashes Test.
I think all the things you've stated are likely all from unfocused players.
I think there has been a major rift in the team, & it seems to me, to have arrived since around the time Punter retired. Maybe something to do with the leadership & the off field administration. And the way Punter & Hussey were handled toward the close of their careers.
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Edited by dee-luded
The bit I've highlighted is our major point of difference 'dl' . I've never had a problem with Clarke apart from a few years ago when he went through a bit of a form slump. I have no real issue with him and you might have - that's why we disagree. You may well be right, by the way. Mine is just an opinion. It is however, ok to agree to disagree.
We're not privy to the inner sanctum so we can only really make judgements by what we see on the field. I read Clarke's piece in the paper the other day and was impressed. If other, factual information to the contrary comes to hand (with regards to Clarke) then I'm happy to change my mind.
I still believe that the suspensions to the 4 players was too heavy handed. From what we can gather, that was more of a coach/player issue. Clarke may have been put into an uncompromising position on that issue, for all we know.
see to me the coach wouldn't have the power alone to suspend them without the rest of the hierarchy.
i think their playing games with them to try to unsettle them. to shake up something the hierarchy doesn't like.
my point is that I wonder if its Clarkes ways, 'that cause' the original conflicts. he has some history of fallouts,,,, & Watson hasn't that I've heard.
...... this is why I wonder, because we have never had this sort of fallout that I can remember since WSC...
When you hear of some players going onboard a Yaught, while one of our best has retired & wants some lowkey beers with close mates to close his innings, I wonder strongly.
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Put it this way dl, if I was representing my Country at Test level, I would want to do the very best that I could possibly do. Couldn't give a rats toss bag about the backroom stuff - zero interest. At this level you need to just get on with it.
I've seen many a player lose focus at suburban sport level. But I've seen many who never lose focus. People of character will always shine through. Those looking for excuses should be disregarded.
You and I saw a fair bit of the Demons in the 70's. Even though we were a poor team, we could nearly always rely on Alves, Wells, Flower and Hardeman to play well and put in. Those 4 never gave it in, at least not in my eyes. Laurie Fowler was another who gave his all. I expect the same from all our Test representatives.
It's the Country's best XI. It's an enormous honour just to play one game. We should at least expect absolute commitment - every time. This also extends to prep work but I'm specifically talking about the match situation in this instance. A professional sportsperson at this level should have the ability to block out all distractions all of the time. If he or she doesn't have this quality then they're not cut out for big time sport.
I just hate excuses and always will do. Reasons make more sense to me. Our Test team needs to unearth some stars. We're clearly not a great team and those who think that this particular team can reach no.1 status in the World need to reassess their appraisal.
I agree Macca, but batting in a cricket match seems like a cross between skill & gambling.. you make a mistake you leave the field of battle.
If Flower or Alves, Hardeman or Fowler make a mistake they vcan use desperation to nullify the impact.
But when the stumps rattle, there is no scope for nullifying the result. Just the long walk back.
On the dust tracks & if the leadership has no confidence in you & vica versa & the dressingroom is a horrid place, form falls. its just a fact. Happens in all sport.
I want to believe that Clarke has changed & is a good bloke & a inspirational skipper, but to me I've never felt that about him. A highly talented cricketer, but not a true leader.
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Well it's all said and done dl, these blokes are playing for their Country and are professional sportsmen. Regardless of whether our players are happy, sad or whatever, they've got a job to do.
The bloke who is holding the bat or bowling the ball has a responsibility to himself to perform well for the Team. Same goes for fielding and catching. A captain or a coach can't make you play better once the heat is on. Prep work is vital of course but they'd be doing plenty of that.
To me cricket is in a lot of ways a game of technique - like baseball, golf and tennis. Our blokes are simply lacking in that area. They're 'ok' or 'alright' but this is Test cricket. To be a great team you need great players. Role players can fit into a great team.
I know it sounds harsh, but I was dissatisfied that Warner or Cowan didn't go on and make a big hundred. We may well have been 5/320 at stumps instead of 7/273. At this level you are expected to go on and make a hundred once you're well set and past 60. The blokes who failed don't get off the hook either, but there are usually one or two 'failures' even when a team posts a big score. The best players go on with it.
It's interesting that the last time we had major issues with our batting (on an ongoing basis) was the mid to late 1980's. Our line-up in those days included quite a few young players in Marsh, Boon, Jones and Steve Waugh alongside the captain (Border). Taylor joined up with this crew later on, and then we turned it all around in 1989 with a 4-0 drubbing of England.
We also won the World cup in '87 with a lot of these players. (looking back, that World Cup win could be viewed as a precurser) Ponting, Mark Waugh and quite a few other young batsmen kept being added and the end result was that we were no.1 in the world from 1994 to 2008/09. This is aside from the bowling, of course (which went along a similar path)
Who amongst Warner, Cowan, Khawaja, Smith, Maxwell, Hughes, Watson and Henriques are going to take us back to the top (alongside Clarke). Or are there other young players who are yet to emerge who will help take us back to the top. Doolan? Maddinson? Burns? Keath?
People may make complaints about the Sheffield Shield in that the competition isn't producing young star batsmen but I believe that will happen with time. The Shield is still a tried and true method and even though it can't pull a crowd, the Shield competition is still very competitive and will continue to be the life blood of our Test team.
Macca. Life isn't like that. You can't turn on & off your elite talent on a whim.
But an unfriendly environment within your own team environment, will quell the talents of most.
I put it to you, that seems to be whats happening.
Its not a low skill game like 'tug of war', where all you need to do is crack a whip & shoot a start gun, where all can perform near they're maximum.
Confidence is reliant on a cohesive and supportive team structure where players get along. This is how Australian teams have traditionally been selected & if you don't fit you miss out.
... the whispers seem to say that pretentiousness has snuck into the dressing room.
* with regard to the players relevent skill levels, the players we have is what we have. You can't demand talent out of them in the dressing-room thru threats. This sort of pressure in cricket might work in a t20 game, but in tests on spinning dust bowls, I don't think so.
A calm mind focused on doing what the player is hoping for, is imo the best way forward. Only a happy dressingroom will accommodate this.
I don't believe our dressing-room is harmonious since punter left, & then Hussey pulled the pin unexpectedly. coincidence?
... the rumour above said Clarke wouldn't celebrate Husses retirement unless they went onto the Super Yaught.
Huss refused, why? I put it to you that he was unhappy with Clarkes ways....
And I suspect he retired because of it, just a couple of months prior to a Ashes series.
How much did Clarke have to do with Pontings retirement?
We all thought Clarke had grown up & changed, now I suspect he hasn't, but is putting out a different imagary, but is the same petulant self.
... just a bit up himself... this isn't the type to skipper an Aussie side, its the old pommie criteria.
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Good start but then we struggling again. Going from 0/139 to a stumps score of 7/273 is just not good enough. We've won the toss 3 times now but it hasn't helped us. It doesn't seem that any of our batsmen can consistently get set on these tracks. We don't play spin well at all (apart from Clarke) Some of our batsmen look good for a while and then get caught at the crease. One of Cowan or Warner should have gone on and made a big one.
Smith has looked ok on his return and has batted with good intent and has hit the ball well. If the tail can hang around with him he might get a decent score. The way they've talked about this track, we've missed out. At least 400+ could have been expected. It will be interesting to see how we bowl on this wicket.
seems like the only happy players are clarkes pets. warner & cowan. could it be that all the others are Unhappy?
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Edited by dee-luded
Macca, what was the Aussie batting order for this game? where was hughes picked to bat?
# ... was hughes promoted in the order in the 2nd dig?