2011/12 Australian Summer Of Cricket (*SPOILERS*)
- Thread starter Harsha_12
- Start date
theflyinggerco
OzCardTrader
I'd say Cowan and Warner are safe, but Marsh is gone. The top order will be Cowan-Warner-Watson-Ponting-Clarke-Hussey-Khawaja in some order.
Marsh's series (17 @ 2.83, high score of 11, plus he scored a duck in the second innings of the Cape Town Test) is the worst by a specialist batsman since New Zealand's Ken Rutherford scored 12 @ 1.71 with a high score of 5 in West Indies in 1985. And this Indian attack isn't a 1980s Windies attack.
Marsh's series (17 @ 2.83, high score of 11, plus he scored a duck in the second innings of the Cape Town Test) is the worst by a specialist batsman since New Zealand's Ken Rutherford scored 12 @ 1.71 with a high score of 5 in West Indies in 1985. And this Indian attack isn't a 1980s Windies attack.
Shaun Marsh will be ok. The Sri Lankan team he took 100 off on debut recently won a Test on South African soil so it wasn't a mug opposition that he made it against.
It would seem that the first mistake he makes in each innings is also his last! I reckon he'd barely have had a play and miss during the Test series, he either misses a straight one or edges a catch somewhere, somehow. Christ, a touch of luck wouldn't go amiss.
It would seem that the first mistake he makes in each innings is also his last! I reckon he'd barely have had a play and miss during the Test series, he either misses a straight one or edges a catch somewhere, somehow. Christ, a touch of luck wouldn't go amiss.
theflyinggerco
OzCardTrader
I think that back injury that knocked him out during the South African tour has made him rusty; he only played 1 Big Bash League game since that Cape Town duck and being picked for this series.
He needs a good ODI series before he'll be picked for the Caribbean, but I'd go with Khawaja personally.
theflyinggerco
OzCardTrader
Shane Watson ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Marsh and Khawaja aren't in the XI, does Watson play at #3? If not Watson then who? That's my issue with a top 6 of Warner-Cowan-Ponting-Clarke-Hussey-Watson.
With that top 6, I can only think of playing Cowan at #3 putting Watson and Warner together, which could be a combo that gets 0-200 in a session or we'll be 2-7 after 2 overs.
I'd prefer to give Marsh time to get fit and get game time or give Khawaja another go. But I don't wanna dump Cowan...
What you talkin' 'bout, Jack?
theflyinggerco
OzCardTrader
I'd Like TO See Watson Bat at 3
Fair enough.
But if he's going to bat at #3, from the viewpoint of him batting lower to help him bowl more, is that any different to opening?
I think Watson needs to go down to 6, but then where does Huss go? I think Huss will retire soon enough (after the Caribbean series IMO), and the Australia top 6 will be Cowan, Warner, Khawaja/Marsh, Ponting, Clarke, Watson.
The Watto situation is bloody hard hey....I think the selectors have to either say a. you are an opening batsman/No. 3 who won't bowl or a No. 5 or No. 6 who will bowl.
The only issue I see with him batting between 4-6 in the order is that he will often have to start against spin, which I think he is better at playing once he is set. Seems like a bloke who likes to whip out the cover drive, cut and pull early to get himself going and then settle down.
The only issue I see with him batting between 4-6 in the order is that he will often have to start against spin, which I think he is better at playing once he is set. Seems like a bloke who likes to whip out the cover drive, cut and pull early to get himself going and then settle down.
theflyinggerco
OzCardTrader
A lot of people are talking about how Clarke's appointment to the captaincy has seen a resurgance in his form.
The simpler and more accurate answer for his form is this: He's a #5, and he's returned to #5.
Clarke at #4: 565 runs at 20.92, with no 100s and only 3 50+ scores in 28 innings
Clarke at #5: 4457 at 61.05, with 16 100s and another 16 50s in 61 innings.
Hussey... Too old and even if he turns into Bradman there, he'll 37 by the time the Aussies return from the Caribbean. Stopgap at best.
