Jeor Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I can't help but feel that Hauritz being exposed at International level in an ASHES test series is definitely going to make the inevitable Shane Warne comparisons even more apparent. The fact is he is a spinner who does not achieve much turn or bounce on pitches that do or do not suit him. Average spinner and when compared to bowlers of Warne's calibre poor poor poor poor SHIT.Oh, I wouldn't be so harsh on Hauritz. He did get much more turn and bounce than Panesar or Swann in the first Test at Cardiff, and he is the Australian leading wicket taker in the series so far. ;)Believe it or not, there is a greater sin than letting Shane Watson into the Test team - keeping Stuart Clark out. If Watson's in on tour match form, Clark should be in. If Jaques is out on poor Test series form, Johnson should be out. There's no consistency. And Clark absolutely must play in this series. The McGrath comparisons are a little bit lame, but (possibly apart from Hilfenhaus) Clark is the best bowler for English conditions, and he's been bowling well. The most economical bowler out of all the tour matches, and has never failed to pick up a wicket in an innings so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horza Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Oh, I wouldn't be so harsh on Hauritz. He did get much more turn and bounce than Panesar or Swann in the first Test at Cardiff, and he is the Australian leading wicket taker in the series so far. ;)Believe it or not, there is a greater sin than letting Shane Watson into the Test team - keeping Stuart Clark out. If Watson's in on tour match form, Clark should be in. If Jaques is out on poor Test series form, Johnson should be out. There's no consistency. And Clark absolutely must play in this series. The McGrath comparisons are a little bit lame, but (possibly apart from Hilfenhaus) Clark is the best bowler for English conditions, and he's been bowling well. The most economical bowler out of all the tour matches, and has never failed to pick up a wicket in an innings so far.A-fucking-men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 And by Jaques, I clearly meant Hughes. :PI'm in such an apoplectic fit I can't even talk properly or remember peoples' names. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delete this account pls Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 The most frustrating thing with Watson is that he is actually a decent player. But he's not going to be a regular member of the team. At some point this year Watson *will* get injured. it's inevitable. He didn't drink enough milk as a kid or something. He'll break down in a match, and we'll need to replace him, so why not just SKIP THE WHOLE FUCKING PROCESS and pick another player?That, combined with the baffling continuing non selection of Clark ... I just don't understand it at all. Did Stu bang one of the selector's wives or something? Like Jeor said, he's not Glenn McGrath, but he's the closest damn thing Australia have right now, and he's our most consistent bowler by a huge margin.ETA; Speaking of Jaques, is he injured or something? Seems like he's been totally forgotten. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horza Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Pitch inspection, no play until 3-4pm local.Have fun watching, Sandgropers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJDonegal Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I'm sure I heard about Jaques having back surgery or something catastrophic? I'll have a look and see what I can see... OK, I've found yes he did, but that was in October last year and at that time he was hoping to be back for the tour to South Africa, which was obviously quite a while ago.He wasn't given an Australia Cricket contract for this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubby Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Pitch inspection, no play until 3-4pm local.Have fun watching, Sandgropers.I will not be watching.<- Still speechless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted July 30, 2009 Author Share Posted July 30, 2009 Bad news for Aus, with the in-form Haddin out:Brad Haddin is out of the Test. He has broken his index finger of his left hand - took a couple while practising in front of the pavilion, and Graham Manou has been picked instead Well well - what news about Haddin. Poor bloke. This happened after the toss, so he's only just broken it. To clear up the Graham Manou debut. He came in after the toss at the agreement of England who allowed him to replace Haddin. The team-sheet Strauss was handed at the toss had Haddin's name on it.I take it from this that Strauss could have forced Aus to play with ten men. Good sportsmanship England. Just pray that Manou doesn't get a debut Ashes hundred ;).ETA: and just saw this on cricinfo as well:"Poetic justice?" wonders Ask Steven. "It was Haddin who rolled the ball that McGrath stepped on four years ago." Tremendous spot, Steven Lynch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted July 30, 2009 Author Share Posted July 30, 2009 Aussie openers looking good. England bowling pies. Deck looks flat. Should be a draw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vestrit Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Aussie openers looking good. England bowling pies. Deck looks flat. Should be a draw. :lol: Greatest summary of a session ever written Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Believe it or not, there is a greater sin than letting Shane Watson into the Test teamIs it letting both Shane Watson and Andrew McDonald into the Test team at the same time? ;)To be fair, Watson played a lot better than Hughes did in the last couple of tests, although he should probably have been out lbw to Swann. Aussie openers looking good. England bowling pies. Deck looks flat. Should be a draw.A draw does seem like the most likely option, particularly given the forecast. On the other hand, you could reverse the two country names and you'd perfectly describe the first session from the last Ashes test at Edgbaston, and that turned out to be quite an entertaining match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJDonegal Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 If the weather forecast goes as... forecast... then I'm sure Australia would love to give Johnson some bowling practice with all pressure off to try and get his rhythm back. For that reason, I hope England can keep Australia in at the crease as long as possible, and the 126-1 beginning is an excellent start. :pirate:As a secondary objective, try and make Watson run for his runs. He's bound to step on a rogue jelly bean that one of the England players will not have dropped on the wicket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubby Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Memo to: England Cricket TeamFrom: The Future of Australian CricketSubject: Australian PlayersPlease note that in future you are to dismiss S Watson with extreme prejudice. S Katich is permitted to make runs. S Watson is not.Thank You. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Memo to: England Cricket TeamFrom: The Future of Australian CricketSubject: Australian PlayersPlease note that in future you are to dismiss S Watson with extreme prejudice. S Katich is permitted to make runs. S Watson is not.Thank You.Seconded!Well, begrudgingly I'll have to say that Watson's half-century was welcome. Maybe the cricinfo theory about Flintoff only bowling well to left-handers is true. Still, I'm afraid this might mean the selectors will persist with Watson, and in the Fourth or Fifth Test he will break down on the first morning and leave us playing with 10 men in a match that would be a series decider.Escaping with a draw might be the best thing for Australia, with Haddin out injured as well. Haddin is a huge loss. Manou's wicketkeeping is very good (and probably actually better than Haddin's) but he's only half the batsman Haddin is.Given the fact that Haddin is out, Stuart Clark is not playing, Johnson needs to get his form back, and Edgbaston historically being Australia's worst ground, I'd be happy for Australia to get a draw. Give Johnson some overs in the match to find his form again, hold out while Haddin gets back from injury and Clark tries to work his way into the team. The selectors picked a weak team (though Haddin's injury wasn't their fault) so not losing will be an accomplishment in itself. ;)That being said, we do need to start winning some matches. ;) I think if we can sneak one more win that should be enough as it feels there might be a couple more draws left in the series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Thursday Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 *cue Onions puns* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delete this account pls Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 :stunned: Is this match alive and well?"Onions makes Australians cry.""Onions peels Australia's top order.""Onions is an essential ingredient for spaghetti bolognaise."**The last one could use some work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted July 31, 2009 Author Share Posted July 31, 2009 Bullshit. That was the most plumb LBW I have seen all year. Michael Clarke's luck gives me the shits. Someone sack Aleem Dar.I need something to comfort me now. Ah, this should do nicely ;).ETA: The cricketing gods have spoken! Rudi gives Clarke the finger on a less-plumb LBW. Oh well, justice was served.As for the game situation ATM, the conditions have turned around dramatically. This has the potential to be quite a low-scoring match if the bowlers continue to swing the ball to the same extent that Onions and Anderson have moved it this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 As for the game situation ATM, the conditions have turned around dramatically. This has the potential to be quite a low-scoring match if the bowlers continue to swing the ball to the same extent that Onions and Anderson have moved it this morning.I have no doubt Johnson will get the ball to swing. Unfortunately, balls that swing further down the legside than they already are will rarely trouble the batsmen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 Absolute disaster of a session for Australia. Lost 7 wickets and scored very few runs.Four years ago (Lords 2005) I was not worried when this happened. Some (like Hereward) will remember that I was not panicking too much by Australia being bowled out for 180-odd and said that I'd wait to judge until Australia had had their turn to bowl. Back then Australia had McGrath and Warne and I was convinced that whatever England's bowling attack could do, we could do better. Now I'm not sold on that at all. Oh selectors, how stupid you were not to select Stuart Clark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubby Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 See, this is what happens when you give Watson the responsibility of seeing off the first ball of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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