2nd Test: Australia v Pakistan at Abu Dhabi Oct 30-Nov 3, 2014

[AlwaysGreen]

I think Fruity Phil and/or Twatto are in line for a recall to the test side. Not that they deserve it but Doolan is on the outer, Rogers is always going to be a bit of a fall guy and Maxwell should never be considered again.

Siddle needs to be put out to pasture ASAP. Starc needs to go back to shield and find consistency.



As for our opponents imagine if they had two things going for them: firstly they could play at home and secondly Mohammad Amir hadn't been corrupted by Asif and Butt.

 

[madunit]

We need a new keeper, a genuine Medium pacer/all rounder who can swing the ball/get movement off the deck, a decent spin bowler or none at all. Batsmen are beholdent to the bowlers. You can carry average batsmen if you have a good bowling line up.

 

[madunit]

Anyone thinking we're going to do any good in a series without any lead up games and not having played first class cricket or months is mad.

I see it as completely disrespectful to the opponent to not play any first class cricket prior to a test.

And I agree, test series should be a minimum 3 tests

 

[Bazal]

Haddin was keeping fine before his injury, although it might be worth getting Nevill into the ODI side and giving him a taste of international cricket so that we have a replacement ready to go.

 

[JJ]

We need a new keeper, a genuine Medium pacer/all rounder who can swing the ball/get movement off the deck, a decent spin bowler or none at all. Batsmen are beholdent to the bowlers. You can carry average batsmen if you have a good bowling line up.

Don't agree entirely - we (NZ) have had quite serviceable attacks, but our batsmen have continually to be shown up at test level - the result is quick bowlers having to bowl too often without rest, ad breaking down

 

[8Ball]

Its all well and good to say we can't carry average batsmen, but the current line up is pretty much the best we've got. I'm no Watson fan but he's straight back in once fit. Outside of that, I can't see anymore improvements to the side.

We're very hard to beat on hard and bouncy pitches. The lower and slower the pitch is, the more we come back to the field.

 

[TheParraboy]

What has surprised me is Sunshine's average opening the batting is a respectfull 40.98 (29 tests) and 41.61 (10 tests) at no3. No mind blowing but shits all over Rogers, HAH, SMarsh and anyone else tried as opener or no3 in recent years

23.46 (18 tests) when he bats down the order

 

[MARSHALL ZHUKOV]

Hope they haven't ordered lunch for day 5 as this test will be over not long after the first drinks break

 

[TheParraboy]

I reckon we might see this test go well into the final session, a bit of a cliff hanger..

4/161

smith 50*
marsh 32*

Wouldn't be surprised at all if these two boys get centuries

 

[hineyrulz]

Another good 50 for Smith.

 

[Twizzle]

give up

 

[AlwaysGreen]

What has surprised me is Sunshine's average opening the batting is a respectfull 40.98 (29 tests) and 41.61 (10 tests) at no3. No mind blowing but shits all over Rogers, HAH, SMarsh and anyone else tried as opener or no3 in recent years

23.46 (18 tests) when he bats down the order

Statistics in this case can be misleading. The fact is Twatson gets out far too often after getting a start, with a lot of scores between 25 - 75. 3 of 4 of his centuries have come when the game or series is over.

He's a fantastic one day player. Unfortunately he plays test cricket the same way. In test cricket the best players convert 50s to 100s and 100s into big scores. Twatson doesn't have the mental toughness to do that.

I think he will come back into the side and he will continue to be the same pretender.

 

[umina panther]

If Watson can't bowl 15 over an innings and bat 6 he has no place in the Australian test side

 

[TheParraboy]

Statistics in this case can be misleading. The fact is Twatson gets out far too often after getting a start, with a lot of scores between 25 - 75. 3 of 4 of his centuries have come when the game or series is over.

He's a fantastic one day player. Unfortunately he plays test cricket the same way. In test cricket the best players convert 50s to 100s and 100s into big scores. Twatson doesn't have the mental toughness to do that.

I think he will come back into the side and he will continue to be the same pretender.

True

But give me that 25-75 over what Doolan, HAH, Cowan, SMarsh and Maxwell have done in the top 3. Who else is demanding to be a best player in the top 3?

I didnt want him no where near the test side, but until we groom a genuine top 3 player and see him grow and develop , we don't have much choice...for now. His bowling can come in handy as well

They have picked Chris Lynn for Aust A sides of late, averages over 43.00 in domestic. Maybe ease him into the indian home test series?

 

[Red Bear]

I'd slot Watson in at three at present, no one else is convincing.

Lynn is injured. Joe Burns though is a good young batsmen, he is off to reasonable start this year after making 98 today.

 

[Timbo]

I would consider Cosgrove to be honest. He may be the size of a house but he's ultra-consistent at the top.

 

[umina panther]

Smith looks the man for number 3

 

[AlwaysGreen]

PB and RB I agree, no one has done enough to stay in the side or get picked, he's the best option at the moment. Which doesn't say much about our batting stocks.

 

[hineyrulz]

Soft way for Marsh to go after a good knock.

Had looks to be struggling big time.

 

[8Ball]

Marsh and Smith both played/playing well. Haddin wincing after every shot.