1ST TEST: Australia v West Indies Brisbane Nov 26 - Nov 30 2009

[Collingwood Storm]

Lee is out injured with his elbow again.

The squad will probably go to Brisbane on the weekend with the All-Star game on Sunday night.

 

[Mr Angry]

Yes Watson opening, honestly do the selectors watch the game, he failed quite badly for QLD, you know in a game when there is not fielding restrictions and bowlers are actually trying to get you out.

Then again it is the Windies, who have some decent batsman but not much in the way of bowlers.

I would be more than happy for Watson to bat at 4 or 5 or 6.

 

[Mr Angry]

Shane Watson as Australia opener? The greats of the game remain divided
By Robert Craddock and Ben Dorries
November 19, 2009
Australia are expected to persist with Shane Watson as a Test opening batsman, a selection that continues to divide opinion on the eve of a series with West Indies.

The all-rounder is set to be selected in the role when the squad for next Thursday's first Test against the Windies on Thursday afternoon.

But former Test captain Allan Border and ex-coach John Buchanan say he should drop down to the middle order and make way for a specialist.

Border said Phillip Hughes should face the new ball, while Buchanan suggested Watson should bat between four and six.

"If Shane is seen as a genuine all-rounder who bowls a lot, then he might bat at No.6," Buchanan said.
"If he is seen as a batsman who bowls a bit, he might end up batting at No.4 or No.5.

"They want Hughes back, but right now the best team is the one they have just had."

Former paceman Jeff Thomson said persisting with Watson was ridiculous.

"He has gone OK as an opener in the short form of the game, but I think it's ridiculous that he is opening the batting in Tests," Thomson said.

"How would you feel if you were Phil Hughes or Phil Jaques or Chris Rogers?

"Those blokes have a right to be completely p----- off.

"What are the selectors on?"

Former Queensland captain Jimmy Maher agreed.

"I don't think (Watson) is a long-term opener," he said.

"Phil Hughes is a really good player and I don't think he should have been dropped in England. I'd like to see Australia put their plans in place for next year's Ashes series as soon as they can."

Andrew Hilditch's selection panel is likely to plump for a side similar to the one that lost the Ashes, with Mike Hussey likely to survive and Nathan Hauritz to be the spinner.

Hilditch sees Hughes as a long-term Test opener but the youngster's form since returning from England has not been convincing.

Watson is likely to be the only contentious decision. As Thomson said yesterday: "He is averaging 27 as a Test batsman . . . all this stuff about him being a superstar is absolute bulldust."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26370341-5018870,00.html

Glad I am not the only one.

 

[aussies1st]

How very disappointing, lucky for them it is only the Windies.


Simon Katich, NSW, 34
Shane Watson, NSW, 28
Ricky Ponting (c), TAS, 34
Mike Hussey, WA, 34
Michael Clarke (vc), NSW, 28
Marcus North, NSW, 30
Brad Haddin, NSW, 32
Mitchell Johnson, WA, 28
Peter Siddle, VIC, 24
Ben Hilfenhaus, TAS, 26/Nathan Hauritz, NSW, 28
Doug Bollinger, NSW, 28

Spot what's wrong ;-)

 

[Mr Angry]

I blame the Colonel aka Fruit man.

 

[Matt23]

I'm listening to Hilditch on FSN, he's a complete f*ckwit

 

[yappy]

Spot what's wrong ;-)

How very disappointing, lucky for them it is only the Windies.


Simon Katich, NSW, 34
Shane Watson, NSW, 28
Ricky Ponting (c), TAS, 34
Mike Hussey, WA, 34
Michael Clarke (vc), NSW, 28
Marcus North, NSW, 30
Brad Haddin, NSW, 32
Mitchell Johnson, WA, 28
Peter Siddle, VIC, 24
Ben Hilfenhaus, TAS, 26/Nathan Hauritz, NSW, 28
Doug Bollinger, NSW, 28

That's what's really wrong. We'd swap him for North any day.

 

[yappy]

pssst, Windies opening bowlers, bowl at the stumps boys. That big blond genius will miss one soon enough and you'll have picked up an lb or bowled nice and cheap.

 

[TheParraboy]

I dont understand the fuss, Sunshine deserves his spot as opener
He did well in the ashes, and his OD form has been sublime as opener. Deserves to be there imo
Probably paves the way that Hauritz will play.

Hughes was unlucky to be dropped during the ashes, but he should be the first bloke chosen should injuries or poor form happen to any of the top 6 (though he needs to get some runs too in FC cricket). Though Hussey was damm lucky to hold onto his spot during the ashes imo

The rest of the side is as predicted. Good to see Dougy given recognition

 

[hineyrulz]

I'm listening to Hilditch on FSN, he's a complete f*ckwit

Damn straight, nothing will top his comments last week wher he said Johnson,Siddle and Hilfy we're the top wicket takers in the Ashes series so they deserve to be first picked. They were the only bowlers to player every test you geniused piece of dogsh*t!!!!!!! :x

 

[TheParraboy]

someone should have thrown a shoe or two at him...

 

[hineyrulz]

More like a hand grenade PB, he just gets more geniused. "This is the team that will win back the Ashes" That was the team that just lost them Hilditch you useless plonker :crazy:

 

[African Monkey]

Damn straight, nothing will top his comments last week wher he said Johnson,Siddle and Hilfy we're the top wicket takers in the Ashes series so they deserve to be first picked. They were the only bowlers to player every test you geniused piece of dogsh*t!!!!!!! :x

LOL that is funny.

 

[TheParraboy]

Damn straight, nothing will top his comments last week wher he said Johnson,Siddle and Hilfy we're the top wicket takers in the Ashes series so they deserve to be first picked. They were the only bowlers to player every test you geniused piece of dogsh*t!!!!!!! :x

Broad, Swann, Anderson also played every game ;-) finishing 4th, 5th and 6th respectively in the 2009 ashes wickets tally

 

[hineyrulz]

Broad, Swann, Anderson also played every game ;-) finishing 4th, 5th and 6th respectively in the 2009 ashes wickets tally

Oh FFS!!! ;-)

 

[yappy]

The fuss is he isn't an openers bunghole. I have never seen a guy who delivers so little made such a fuss over. He is a passable ODI player and that's it. He isn't in the top half dozen openers in the country. Katich, Jaques, Hughes, and Rogers are all clearly better credentialled openers. He has a major technical fault - you don't get out over 70% time bowled or lb and not have a major problem.

As for down the order, he has no right to claim a spot there either. 11 tests at 27 is not a top 6 batsmen. Even if age does come calling for Hussey, or Clarke's back packs it in you move Katich back to the middle order and bring in another of the proper openers before you pick Watson. Maybe if you lose two guys then you start to look at Watson.

He's only got the selectors so hot for for him because of his 'alleged' bowling ability. The fact he's a pie chucker who breaks down whenever he rubs a ball down the front of his pants doesn't seem to have worked it's way into Hilditch's brain yet. Ponting was so keen to use this amazing all round talent that he got 8 overs in 3 tests. He's no more a test all-rounder than Cameron White.

Now this imposter is going to get the chance to make big runs against barely First Class opposition and all of the boosters will be saying 'see how good he is' and we'll be stuck with him until he gets shown up against a decent opening attack. That's what the fuss is about. Jaques or Hughes (or both) should be in Brisbane filling their boots against the Windies. Having the head selector bagging out Hughes for not making a ton in the two shield games he's had since he had his confidence shaken by being unfairly dropped is just too rich for words - Watson doesn't even have to play First Class cricket before he's back in the saddle. Watson has 13 FC 100s in 75 games (when was Watson's last First Class hundred by the way?), Hughes has 10 in 29 games. Watson isn't fit to carry Hughes' kit.

Watson should be carrying the drinks at best. I suppose I can at least be happy that his next long term injury can't be far away.

 

[hineyrulz]

The fuss is he isn't an openers bunghole. I have never seen a guy who delivers so little made such a fuss over. He is a passable ODI player and that's it. He isn't in the top half dozen openers in the country. Katich, Jaques, Hughes, and Rogers are all clearly better credentialled openers. He has a major technical fault - you don't get out over 70% time bowled or lb and not have a major problem.

As for down the order, he has no right to claim a spot there either. 11 tests at 27 is not a top 6 batsmen. Even if age does come calling for Hussey, or Clarke's back packs it in you move Katich back to the middle order and bring in another of the proper openers before you pick Watson. Maybe if you lose two guys then you start to look at Watson.

He's only got the selectors so hot for for him because of his 'alleged' bowling ability. The fact he's a pie chucker who breaks down whenever he rubs a ball down the front of his pants doesn't seem to have worked it's way into Hilditch's brain yet. Ponting was so keen to use this amazing all round talent that he got 8 overs in 3 tests. He's no more a test all-rounder than Cameron White.

Now this imposter is going to get the chance to make big runs against barely First Class opposition and all of the boosters will be saying 'see how good he is' and we'll be stuck with him until he gets shown up against a decent opening attack. That's what the fuss is about. Jaques or Hughes (or both) should be in Brisbane filling their boots against the Windies. Having the head selector bagging out Hughes for not making a ton in the two shield games he's had since he had his confidence shaken by being unfairly dropped is just too rich for words - Watson doesn't even have to play First Class cricket before he's back in the saddle. Watson has 13 FC 100s in 75 games (when was Watson's last First Class hundred by the way?), Hughes has 10 in 29 games. Watson isn't fit to carry Hughes' kit.

Watson should be carrying the drinks at best. I suppose I can at least be happy that his next long term injury can't be far away.

Qft!!!!!

 

[eddiesmith]

So if Watson has a problem with the straight ball that is unacceptable then how is it alright for an opening batsman who cant play a short ball?

I did find it interesting going through his shield record, alot of games at the SCG, a couple of centuries against the might of Tassie and SA away from the SCG with 0 and 4 at the WACA, 0 and 50 at the MCG and never opened at the GABBA

Its no wonder they hadnt found this problem before England did

 

[yappy]

So Steyn and his yarpie mates didn't think to drop any bouncers in? Get your hand off it. The poms talked it up and our selectors were dumb enough to fall for it. With the fruit Watson was served up in the third test Hughes would have pumped them for a ton and no one would have ever brought up this supposed deficiency against the short ball again.

Hughes has a lot lot less problems with short bowling than Watson has with straight bowling.

 

[eddiesmith]

So Steyn and his yarpie mates didn't think to drop any bouncers in? Get your hand off it. The poms talked it up and our selectors were dumb enough to fall for it. With the fruit Watson was served up in the third test Hughes would have pumped them for a ton and no one would have ever brought up this supposed deficiency against the short ball again.

Hughes has a lot lot less problems with short bowling than Watson has with straight bowling.

Actually the South Africans exposed him a couple of times, he got away with a few gloves down leg side but they seemed intent on a different focus that didnt work out

I find it no coincidence he hasnt made first class runs on the faster tracks in Australia