1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane Nov 21-25, 2013

[lockyno1]

sure he can, 0/52 in the 2nd innings WA finished on 8/244 (103 overs) held on for a draw

They hade to make White bowl overs FFS and HE TOOK 4/38 and almost got them the win

He got 6 in the first dig, he is a better spinner end of story. O'Keefe as good as he is bowls too flat for Australian conditions. Agar is a better version of O'Keefe and he isn't ready. Lyon/Ahmed are the spin options.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Doug Bollinger will never get picked again. He's a one spell wonder. Really, he got picked for Australia based on his guts and heart. Love the rug but he played as many tests as he deserved.

 

[lockyno1]

Doug Bollinger will never get picked again. He's a one spell wonder. Really, he got picked for Australia based on his guts and heart. Love the rug but he played as many tests as he deserved.

Yep, unlucky but his time is well and truely over in test cricket!

 

[typicalfan]

Lyon is the only spin option.

 

[lockyno1]

Lyon is the only spin option.

Can see them gambling on Ahmed. However ONLY if Watson is fit!

 

[typicalfan]

Ahmed is a pie chucker. All Aussie spinners are except O'Keefe and Lyon and O'Keefe ran over the family pet of somebody.

 

[African Monkey]

Yep, unlucky but his time is well and truely over in test cricket!

yeah his figures are good reading in test cricket mainly due to being in the side when australia were playing crap opposition. not saying he's a bad bowler, there's just better options than him.

 

[lockyno1]

Ahmed is a pie chucker. All Aussie spinners are except O'Keefe and Lyon and O'Keefe ran over the family pet of somebody.

O'Keefe won't cut it, sometimes you sort of need to make these decisions. Doesn't do enough with the ball, neither does Lyon. Both need a doosra. Ahmed has more ways of troubling batsmen- and England can't play leggies!

 

[typicalfan]

Swann doesn't have a doosra and doesn't do that much more with the ball than Lyon. The main difference is between the ears.

 

[Tommy Smith]

Swann spins it plenty more than Lyon lol

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Lyon either bowls too flat or tosses it up and hopes it will do something. The spinners main role in this series is to take the odd important wicket and keep things tight. Swann has it all over Lyon in that regard as I see him snaring a few more top order batsmen than Lyon.

I would take a punt on Ahmed only if we are down in the series and desperately need to do something crazy to win. Otherwise it's Lyon. Ahmed's credentials are that he took a few wickets in a few games in Pakistan first class cricket (which is pretty mediocre standard) a few years ago. The rest is hype.

 

[lockyno1]

Swann doesn't have a doosra and doesn't do that much more with the ball than Lyon. The main difference is between the ears.

He does have one, just hasn't bowled it. There was an article a few weeks ago that he has been working on one. Lyon is rubbish, bowls ODI dart off spin. If we want that- Hauritz was better!

 

[Twizzle]

He does have one, just hasn't bowled it.

no he doesn't

There was an article a few weeks ago that he has been working on one.

which is why he doesn't have one

Lyon is rubbish, bowls ODI dart off spin.

seriously, have you ever seen him bowl ?

If we want that- Hauritz was better!

at what ?

Lyon is not gonna win us a test match but our selectors will pick him.

I would give Ahmed a go, he cant be any worse

 

[TheParraboy]

Swann spins it plenty more than Lyon lol

^ this is all you need to know regarding Lyon and Swann,

in addition, and most importantly Swann is a far better spin bowler when decks call on spinners to perform (eg 5th day)

 

[lockyno1]

no he doesn't

which is why he doesn't have one

seriously, have you ever seen him bowl ?

at what ?

Lyon is not gonna win us a test match but our selectors will pick him.

I would give Ahmed a go, he cant be any worse

Swann will bowl his version of the doosra- it is the one delivery he hasn't bowled until this series. Did you see Lyon in Adelaide- was garbage, flat pies that wouldn't have turned an inch. Hauritz turned it more and that isn't a compliment as even I know Hauri was a defensive spinner. Ahmed for mine HAS to play. We won't win this series by being conservative. Conservative was what we did in England...we won how many tests?:crazy:

 

[typicalfan]

Lyon either bowls too flat or tosses it up and hopes it will do something. The spinners main role in this series is to take the odd important wicket and keep things tight. Swann has it all over Lyon in that regard as I see him snaring a few top order batsmen than Lyon. I would take a punt on Ahmed only if we are down in the series and desperately need to do something crazy to win. Otherwise it's Lyon. Ahmed's credentials are that he took a few wickets in a few games in Pakistan first class cricket (which is pretty mediocre standard) a few years ago. The rest is hype.

This is pretty much what I mean as well. Swann knows how to get the most out of his bowling. Lyon doesn't really have that nous but he actually spins the ball quite well for a finger spinner. The main hope is that Lyon gets a few wickets and develops a bit more.

 

[Twizzle]

If Lyon gets wickets in the first test, he'll play the whole series.

 

[hineyrulz]

Big if Twizz.

 

[RHCP]

We've dropped Lyon twice but gone back to him after the replacements were underwhelming. I hate this stupid attitude that the grass is always greener on the other side. f**k 'potential', Ahmed should be forcing his way into the side, not falling into it.

Better the devil you know, at least for the first Test.

 

[Timbo]

I agree. Lyon's done nothing wrong.