1ST ASHES TEST: England v Australia at Nottingham Jul 10-14, 2013

[herbert henry1908]

If Agar does well in this 2nd dig then....

How is it not strengthening the batting line up putting him at 6, and pissing off Cowan?
The guys temperament and technique are something special.

Because usman is a better batsmen than Agar.

That strengthens the line up more.

If Watson wasn't in the team I'd be very interested in Agar playing 7 with four pace bowlers.

 

[TheParraboy]

Clarke on Cowan (when asked about pressure on him to retain his spot)

"Look that's up to the selectors, I just batted him at no3 cause he is a class player"

 

[unbreaK]

So the general consensus is

1 - Watson
2 - Rogers
3 - Khawaja
4 - Clarke
5 - Hughes
6 - Smith
7 - Haddin
8 - Agar
9 - Siddle
10 - Starc
11 - Pattinson

 

[hineyrulz]

Clarke on Cowan (when asked about pressure on him to retain his spot)

"Look that's up to the selectors, I just batted him at no3 cause he is a class player"

:? And his record shows that.

 

[Meapro Ham]

Take out Ian Bells innings and we'd be in the drivers seat.

Be a good idea if you read my post properly before replying. My point was our batsmen haven't been good enough and we've had to rely on runs from a tailender to stay in the game. Ian Bell is a batsmen so you wouldn't take his runs out when comparing our batsmen to theirs.

I know its a complicated theory but keep thinking about it and I'm confident you'll get there eventually.

 

[RHCP]

Cowan averages 0.1 (aka a bees dick) less than Hughes and less than 3 runs less than Twatto. Same amount as 50s as Hughes, one less century than Watto, two less than Hughes.

He has played awful this Test but I feel the need to play devil's advocate since it seems he's the only one who cops any stick.

Averages for our most recent Test series in India, for a bit of perspectives sake:

Cowan - 33.12
Hughes - 18.37
Watson - 16.5

He'll get another shot.

I'm an Usman fan but his Test record, or ODI for that matter, isn't too flash either. This is not a time for kneejerk decisions.

 

[African Monkey]

Why drop Rogers?

Yes for some reason people don't like him. Don't know what more he has to do to get a fair go at the top especially with his fantastic FC record over many years and last time I checked he top scored out of the top order in the 2nd dig.

I suppose people will always play their favourites.

 

[Meapro Ham]

Cowan averages 0.1 (aka a bees dick) less than Hughes and less than 3 runs less than Twatto. Same amount as 50s as Hughes, one less century than Watto, two less than Hughes.

He has played awful this Test but I feel the need to play devil's advocate since it seems he's the only one who cops any stick.

Averages for our most recent Test series, for a bit of perspectives sake:

Cowan - 33.12
Hughes - 18.37
Watson - 16.5

He'll get another shot.

Not right to say he's the only one to get any stick. The others get plenty as well. I think the perception rightly or wrongly is that Hughes & Watson have the potential to be better whereas Cowan is playing at his potential and just isn't very good.

 

[BunniesMan]

Cowan averages 0.1 (aka a bees dick) less than Hughes and less than 3 runs less than Twatto. Same amount as 50s as Hughes, one less century than Watto, two less than Hughes.

He has played awful this Test but I feel the need to play devil's advocate since it seems he's the only one who cops any stick.

Averages for our most recent Test series in India, for a bit of perspectives sake:

Cowan - 33.12
Hughes - 18.37
Watson - 16.5

He'll get another shot.

I'm an Usman fan but his Test record, or ODI for that matter, isn't too flash either. This is not a time for kneejerk decisions.

Unlike the other people you mention Cowan does not have the talent to average 40 or 50, ever. Hughes, Watson and Khawaja all could at their best.

A mediocre talent out of form is dead weight in this team. Khawaja should be there. At worst he'll be as bad as Cowan, but he has the potential to be much better.

My XI for the 2nd test would be:

Watson
Rogers
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
Khawaja
Agar
Haddin
Siddle
Pattinson
Starc

 

[benched tiger]

Rogers looks real steady at the top of the order,he appears not to be over awed and looks confident in his own ability against the Poms.

 

[8Ball]

I like Agar as much as anyone, but to suggest that he bat ahead of Haddin shows a complete lack of knowledge of cricket

 

[TheParraboy]

Whatever the result, lets hope it goes down to the wire, would be kinda a fizzer if poms won by 100 runs, which is unlikely anyway

 

[AusKnightRKO]

2 things will either happen..

1. Australia gets rolled for less than 40 this morning.
2. We go close but still lose.

 

[RHCP]

Unlike the other people you mention Cowan does not have the talent to average 40 or 50, ever. Hughes, Watson and Khawaja all could at their best.

A mediocre talent out of form is dead weight in this team. Khawaja should be there. At worst he'll be as bad as Cowan, but he has the potential to be much better.

:lol:

So runs on the board don't matter, only imaginary 'potential' runs?

He averaged 40+ against the best pace attack in the world, the selectors were too worried about fragile Phil to play him in that series, despite his 'potential'

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Cowan has been given what? 20-odd tests in a ROW to solidify himself? He hasn't. Hughes at least has made hundreds and/or decent scores. Watson can't convert but makes 50's and ties up one end when/if he bowls.

Khawaja has played 6 games, none of them in a row.. No continuaty at all. Can't possibly compare Cowan to Khawaja on that fact alone.

Khawaja deserves his chance, 3rd series in a row chosen in a squad without playing a test. It's time. Cowan is useless and can't handle any pressure and the one test he did score a 100 we didn't even win... We drew and lost the series. Meaning his contribution is irrelevant if you consider Hussey and Clarke also made a ton and double ton.

 

[Leagueaddict]

Ags looks solid!

 

[Red&BlackBear]

Moronic shot by hads..

 

[TheParraboy]

yup Cowan simply HAS to go, win, tie or lose this test

Agar and Hadds very cautious (Hadds flashes a wider one for 4)

133 to go (132 to tie)

 

[Moffo]

We got dis

 

[TheParraboy]

get through this swann and Anderson spell and victory is ours

give them maidens galore, no problem, they will tire , we have all day