That article is brilliant, spot on as you say,
MERGED - The 2010/2011 ASHES tour thread...all Ashes related chat here please!
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That article is brilliant, spot on as you say,
Yeah I don't think he's a cert to be a hit, just I have a good vibe about him
. Put it this way I was never a fan of Harmison, never thought he'd be a consistent top notch bowler for England despite him always being in general very highly rated.. whereas Finn whilst not possessing any raw pace.. is a very accurate possible McGrath like player for England if he can keep adding new aspects to his bowling, i.e. moving the ball both ways, and try to master swinging the ball too. He is very young, so hopefully he has big scope for development.. if he can be our new Hoggard in terms of wicket-taking, I'd be more than happy.
I never really understood Harmison to be honest. Shame Freddy is crocked or else we could have brought back a Goliath Aussie batsman slayer and also reintroduced comedy to the series.
I watched him play in the 20/20 club tournament in South Africa last month and he was the best bowler in the tournament by far. Seriously fast and kin deadly. He looked pretty fit to me.
I hope they'll play Shazad but I suspect they'll play Tremlett. Both bowl faster than Broad btw.
There's too much of him that reminds me of Harmison, elements of great potential but will he have the consistency. Weirdly Finn has strike figures, after 10 tests, that put him in the top 3 of all time of bowlers who've played the same amount of tests.
Hapless Bangladesh and Pakistan to thank for that.
Took 14 wickets against Bangladesh in 2 matches, and 13 against Pakistan.
27 wickets right there, at an average of 14 or something.
I was having a look through the recent winners of the ICC emerging player of the year awards, an award Finn has recently won.. Pietersen apart in 2005, most of the winners of this award have been cursed and fallen by the wayside or were overrated in the first place. Doesn't bode well for my good vibe lol.
Ian Bell has done pretty well.
Hapless Bangladesh and Pakistan to thank for that.
Took 14 wickets against Bangladesh in 2 matches, and 13 against Pakistan.
27 wickets right there, at an average of 14 or something.
On bowler friendly wickets. He's okayish. But who knows? he could end up being a brilliant bowler for England but I suspect he'll be nothing more than average.
And 'Swan will tear you apart'???!! Love Joy Division and Giggs is fantastic but that chant doesn't suit Swann.
Anyway, nothing pleases me more than seeing Australia struggle, I don't think they'll get anything in this series and I can see them confined in the cricketing abyss for the the next few years at the very least.
Having seen allot of Finn I think he is a very good prospect for England still only 21.
Finn is the leading wicket taker in the series so far, on featherbed wickets by all accounts, that straight away takes out the 'he only gets wickets against poor players on helpful pitches' rubbish.
Hes a great prospect, he was reverse swinging the ball on the 4th afternoon so much so Hussey couldn't get a bat on him, hes also got Hussey out twice already Australia's form bastmen as well as taking a career best 6 for in the first innings at the Gabba.
Dont see where the criticism comes from myself, at 21 years old hes already shown hes better than any Australian seamer we've seen in this series and hes Englands first change at that.
Great prospect.
Hes a great prospect, he was reverse swinging the ball on the 4th afternoon so much so Hussey couldn't get a bat on him, hes also got Hussey out twice already Australia's form bastmen as well as taking a career best 6 for in the first innings at the Gabba.
Dont see where the criticism comes from myself, at 21 years old hes already shown hes better than any Australian seamer we've seen in this series and hes Englands first change at that.
Great prospect.
There are calls for Ponting to step down as captain in favor of Warne.
Kinell
Kinell
There are calls for Ponting to step down as captain in favor of Warne.
Kinell
Never going to happen but the logic in there is plain to see. Warne is an intelligent captain with a real cricketing brain, whereas Ponting is an outstanding batsman and fielder who relied on a generation of superstars for success during his captaincy.
This. Ponting pretty much got the captaincy based on his ability to deal with the press. Gilchrist has always been a better captain then Ponting as was Warne, Langer, Hayden and McGrath.
Langer's had strong reviews captaining first class teams in England, but when did Hayden and McGrath ever captain any team? I don't rmember them captaining Queensland or NSW, or any of the counties for that matter.
Speaking more broadly, I think that's one of the problems with the packed international schedules in modern really. Top cricketers only get to play a couple of first class matches a season, and when there's a change of captaincy, international teams find themselves in a position where they have to choose from a pool of players who haven't actually captained a cricket team since they were in secondary school.
Alistair Cook in Bangladesh was a case in point. He's young to begin with but his lack of familiarity with captaincy was painfully obvious to see at times during that series.
Speaking more broadly, I think that's one of the problems with the packed international schedules in modern really. Top cricketers only get to play a couple of first class matches a season, and when there's a change of captaincy, international teams find themselves in a position where they have to choose from a pool of players who haven't actually captained a cricket team since they were in secondary school.
Alistair Cook in Bangladesh was a case in point. He's young to begin with but his lack of familiarity with captaincy was painfully obvious to see at times during that series.
You have to suspect that Australia are screwed given the confident way England are playing, the poor form of Australia's good batsmen and the lack of good bowlers so why not bring back some oldies for a laugh and/or because they are screwed anyway? Warne, Symonds and Clarke at least. And what about Bracken?
They'd probably fecking beat us. It would be a good laugh though, especially if we brought back Botham, Flintoff and Bumble.
Wasn't Warne a cert to be the next captain until his whole dietary pills fiasco?
Wouldn't have made much of a difference though. Australia won everything at time as it is except the 05 ashes with Ponting in charge.
What they need is someone right now to bring through a new generation of players. A 41 year old is not the answer. The only one that makes any sense is Clarke as he will be around for the next 4-5 years atleast and can build the team. But I don't think he'd be a good captain. Hussey and Katich will be gone soon. Don't think Haddin or Watson are leaders. So it will be Clarke almost by default
As Warne said in a web chat a few days ago, right now they're focused on the ashes and nothing else matters. Effectively, the Aussie team runs in a four year cycle with the Australian Ashes being the end of that cycle. After that they have a two and a half year period where they can bed in talent.
From a perspective of leadership, I reckon the man most suited to the job of Australian captain is Cameron White. That is partly a statement of what situation we have found ourselves in as a cricketing nation. Was it not for his unorthodox batting technique, and his poor Test record as a result of being chosen as a specialist spinner on an Indian tour, he should be in the side. Khawaja and Ferguson have faltered in past weeks and North's time is surely up. Dave Hussey will never play a Test for Australia. In my opinion, the only two competitors for no. 6/7 in the batting order are White and Smith, and I believe White should be given another chance. Smith has time on his side to gather more experience and improve his bowling, whereas if White is given a chance and grabs it, there will be serious calls for him to replace Ponting as the next captain of Australia.
Please not Bresnan, I'm really not convinced about him! Tremlett would be best I think, or Shehzad if there is swing at Perth.
Agreed living in Yorkshire I see allot of Bresnan I hope it isnt him has to be Tremlett or Shehzad.
Anyone but Bresnan, id even prefer Shahzad at Perth, but it surely has to be Tremlett, hes tailor made for the perth wicket plus hes as close to identical a replacement for the style of bowling Broad gives you as we've got.
Yeah has to be Tremlett IMO, the only reason you would consider bringing in Bresnan was to strengthen the batting line up, which we dont need at all.
I heard Nick Knight the other day saying we should drop Collingwood and play Shazad! I dont think we should start messing with the line up unless it needs to be.
I heard Nick Knight the other day saying we should drop Collingwood and play Shazad! I dont think we should start messing with the line up unless it needs to be.
If one of your main strike bowlers is out, the focus shouldn't be on reinforcing the batting runs he brings. Wickets should be the concern. Shahzad, the little I saw of him, looked quite impressive, but as everyone has pointed out, Tremlett may be the man due to his height.
The SMH is predicting that Nathan Hauritz, Mitchell Johnson and Phil Hughes will come in, adding:
Pacemen Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle face pressure to retain their positions and selectors were expected to discard two-Test tweaker Xavier Doherty in favour of Hauritz and possibly his state team-mate, legspinner Steve Smith.
Smith's inclusion could pave the way for a recast batting order, with the 21-year-old batting at seven and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin moving into North's No.6 spot.
Australia are losing the plot.
Yes we're losing the plot, but two of those names aren't really big surprises.
-Hughes has to come in for the injured Katich.
-Smith/Hauritz have to come in for the in over his head Doherty
-Pace bowler...look what they've done so far...
-Hughes has to come in for the injured Katich.
-Smith/Hauritz have to come in for the in over his head Doherty
-Pace bowler...look what they've done so far...
It says Smith and Hauritz both come in for Doherty and North. I would've replaced North with Khawaja or maybe Ferguson. The batting looks very awkward.
Hughes, Watson, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Haddin, Smith as the top 7.. it looks more like a T20 team.
I was impressed by the Australian bowlers in India, but everyone's gone off the boil. Australia are in complete disarray.
Broad's going to be a huge blow for England for the next test, though. Expect Shahzad to come in after Perth.
well North simply isn't good enough at this level...but he might get a reprieve with the match being at the WACA and everything.
For me the margin of the loss doesn't matter...losing a series is losing a series. So if radical surgery is needed to if not salvage this series, but to set us up for the future...so be it.
For me the margin of the loss doesn't matter...losing a series is losing a series. So if radical surgery is needed to if not salvage this series, but to set us up for the future...so be it.
I wouldn't write of Australia just yet in this series, they still have some good players.
I would like 22 people to start playing cricket again so I can sit here and watch lots and lots of it. ASAP.
Please bring back Mitchell Johnson! Please!
My money's on Tremlett as he'll get the extra bounce at the WACA.
My team for Australia would be...
Jaques
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Watson
Haddin
Hauritz
Harris
Bollinger
Clark
Does anybody really expect any thought from the feckwit Australian selectors. I mean Greg Chappell ffs, the guys a dead set arsehole who wouldn't no shit from shoe polish. The way that ganged up on Merv was horrible. The absolute incompetence from them is mind boggling.
Just pick Stuart Clark you daft cnuts, he's the best seemer we have!
Jaques
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Watson
Haddin
Hauritz
Harris
Bollinger
Clark
Does anybody really expect any thought from the feckwit Australian selectors. I mean Greg Chappell ffs, the guys a dead set arsehole who wouldn't no shit from shoe polish. The way that ganged up on Merv was horrible. The absolute incompetence from them is mind boggling.
Just pick Stuart Clark you daft cnuts, he's the best seemer we have!
Has Stuart Clark suddenly transformed into Dale Steyn? The last time I saw him was in the last Ashes when he was really rubbish.
North, Doherty and Bollinger out, Michael Beer (another left arm orthodox) and Phil Hughes in. These changes don't exactly fill me with confidence, as I don't rate Beer as that good a bowler and Phil Hughes, in the game against South Australia, made 4 and a nine ball duck. The Australia team for the Perth test will most likely be:
Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Smith
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Beer
I'd prefer Hilfenhaus over Beer seeing that it's Perth, but the selectors must have gone with Beer for a reason, since his home ground is the WACA, albeit only for three first-class games.
I'm disappointed Hauritz wasn't returned to the squad; he is the only experienced spinner with Tests under his belt and has been playing well recently, including a five against Western Australia at the WACA and a 146 as nightwatchman against SA. Instead, we've gone for Beer, who is completely unproven at first-class level, let alone Test cricket, who has been chosen for his "home ground" advantage. What a load of bull.
Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Smith
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Beer
I'd prefer Hilfenhaus over Beer seeing that it's Perth, but the selectors must have gone with Beer for a reason, since his home ground is the WACA, albeit only for three first-class games.
I'm disappointed Hauritz wasn't returned to the squad; he is the only experienced spinner with Tests under his belt and has been playing well recently, including a five against Western Australia at the WACA and a 146 as nightwatchman against SA. Instead, we've gone for Beer, who is completely unproven at first-class level, let alone Test cricket, who has been chosen for his "home ground" advantage. What a load of bull.
Is that beer bloke a spinner? never heard of him, Bollinger/Doherty and North all dropped so looks like Mitchell Johnson will be back for the ozzies (YES!)
Right..... the same Stuart Clark that didn't actually play in the last ashes 'series although should have', that took the most wickets in the 06/07 ashes series.... He's no Glen McGrath buts he's pretty fecking close to it.
Australian selectors prove once again they don't have a fecking clue. Who are the dumb asses that employ these feckwits?
He played in the last Ashes. Fourth and fifth test. He was pretty shit.
Warne, Gilchrist, Hayden, Langer, McGrath also did well in the 2006/07 Ashes, but doesn't mean they should be called back -- that was 4 years ago.