3rd test Australia vs England @ Perth - WACA

[TheParraboy]

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/272325.html

'WACA pitch will suit finger spin'

Warne lays blame with Fletcher

Cricinfo staff

December 13, 2006



Shane Warne believes Andrew Flintoff should be getting the team he wants © Getty Images



England's controversial team selections for the Brisbane and Adelaide Tests - and the buck-passing that has followed them - must be hurting the visitors' preparation for the Perth Test starting on Thursday, according to Shane Warne. Writing in his column in the Herald Sun, Warne said Duncan Fletcher should take responsibility for the decisions, including the contentious choice of Ashley Giles over Monty Panesar.

"Having captained teams myself, I know that it's important the skipper has the final say on team selection," Warne said. "From what I read and hear, Duncan Fletcher is the guy who chooses the England team. He basically said after the 2005 Ashes series he was the key selector and was happy with his team.

"This time I am hearing him say: 'It's not just me, there are others who pick the team.' While it doesn't impact on our preparation and how we approach this Test, it's great to hear him contradict himself all the time, and it can't be helping England. I hope that as captain, Andrew Flintoff is getting the side he wants. I don't know for a fact he isn't but if it's true then I am feeling for him."

Warne said spin would be a vital weapon on the WACA pitch this year but it would suit finger spin more than legspin. "I know I am going to have to do some hard work here," Warne wrote. "That's why I am tipping Michael Clarke to play more than a handy role here with the ball. Clarke's left-arm finger spinners are underrated but I expect he will get a couple of crucial wickets, and might even get Kevin Pietersen out. In fact, he will get Pietersen out in one of the innings."

Brett Lee said it would be disappointing if the Perth pitch suited the spinners more than the fast bowlers. "I'm expecting it to be very slow, as it has been over the past couple of years," Lee told the Sydney Morning Herald. "If there's enough carry for the quicks, then everyone's happy.

"If it gets to the stage where it's a real flat batting wicket, then [for] kids watching on TV, no-one will want to bowl fast. It's important there's enough there for the quicks. I'm not a person to whinge but I just hope that Perth is the wicket we are expecting, or has been in the past, but we'll have to see."

© Cricinfo

 

[Rastus_in_Melbourne]

Spinners, quicks, whatever.

Just have the damm urn ready to hand over England by Tuesday.

 

[Twizzle]

its probably going to be similar to that at Adelaide, but hopefully not as much of a road

 

[JJ]

just heard on the news here (NZ) that Symonds is in and will bat 6, Voges realeased.... Hussey and Clarke up 1

 

[willvillain]

The expected news. Although I wasn't expecting them to name the team until tomorrow morning.

I actually think that this is Australia's way of trying to emulate England even more. We can't have our Flintoff clone (Watson) so let's bring in a Pieterson clone (someone who is a gun ODI bat). It is strange logic, but I think that is how they are thinking.

 

[lockyno1]

F..k, not S..tmonds! Talk about a gimmie wicket to the Poms. Might as well just play 10 players, Symonds won't score anything!

 

[JJ]

I only caught the tail end of the report, perhaps it's not official - but I suspect it is their plan

 

[The Colonel]

Australia calls ahoy for Roy
By staff writers and wires
December 13, 2006 ANDREW Symonds will play for Australia in his first Ashes Test tomorrow having been named as the No.6 batsman for the third Test at Perth's WACA Ground.

Symonds, nicknamed Roy, replaces the Damien Martyn, whose shock retirement last Friday forced Australia selectors to u-turn on the addition of Symonds to the Test fold.

The Queensland all rounder will bat at No.6, while Mike Hussey will move up to No.4, and Michael Clarke No.5.

Hussey batted at No.4 during Australia's second innings in the second Test at Adelaide, and hit the winning runs with Clarke also not out beside him.

But the big news today was the Ashes debut for Symonds, who has for so long thought to have been only useful to Australia in the limied-overs arena.

Symonds, 31, edged out Western Australia's Adam Voges, 27, while young Queensland left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has again missed out and will be 12th man.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident Symonds is capable of cementing a spot in the Test side after posting only modest results in his first 10 matches.

He has an ordinary batting average of 19.06 in Tests and a bowling average of more than 45 runs per wicket, both considerably inferior to his dynamite limited-overs numbers, where he averages 38.63 with the bat and 36.92 with the ball.

"I'm pretty confident in him, I've watched him closely the last few days," Ponting said.

"I know he's been pretty excited to be around this group.

"I know he thought his Test career might have passed on him a few months ago, but he's done every training session in his baggy green cap and is very excited to be back.

"Just having a chat to him, he is really excited about being back in the team and right now feels better about his game than ever before."

Ponting said the Perth pitch was likely to be slower than previous WACA decks, although he expected good bounce in the first session of the match.

Australia fast bowler Brett Lee only yesterday suggested the slower nature of Australia's pitches - previously perceived to be the bounciest in the world - might spoil the game for budding fast bowlers.

Johnson has certainly been unlucky, along with South Australia's Shaun Tait, both quicker than the likes of Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark.

With AAP

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20920966-5009880,00.html

 

[yobbo84]

I actually think that this is Australia's way of trying to emulate England even more. We can't have our Flintoff clone (Watson) so let's bring in a Pieterson clone (someone who is a gun ODI bat). It is strange logic, but I think that is how they are thinking.

LOL. Someone who is a gun ODI bat? What, Gilchrist, Hussey, Ponting and Clarke isn't enough?

 

[skeepe]

Good to see. Symonds is a fantastic player and will be MOTM.

 

[IanG]

What will Symonds shine with most? Bat or Ball?

 

[skeepe]

In all likelihood, the ball I would say. I just have an inkling that the pitch will be suited to his style.

 

[hineyrulz]

What will Symonds shine with most? Bat or Ball?

in the field,thats what he doe's best.

 

[raiders fan forever]

C'mon Aussie

 

[aussies1st]

Meh no surprise by that, hopefully he plays his natural game rather than his in between game.

 

[Mr Angry]

Ricky's man love.......


Then again it is his arse on the line.


But seriously what are selectors for if Ricky picks the team?

 

[DeeGan]

I am a Andrew Symonds fan and applaud the selection here by the selectors though would have to admit - the big fella' is running out of opportunities to secure a long term future in the current test team. If he fails in his opportunities this series, he may (like Michael Bevan before him) be labelled "one dayers only".

Let's hope he heeds the advice of Buchanan and just goes out there playing his natural game. If he does, the English bowlers will be ducking for cover

 

[TheParraboy]

In all likelihood, the ball I would say. I just have an inkling that the pitch will be suited to his style.

so, you saw the Gilly interview on Inside cricket as well did you?

;-)

 

[Twizzle]

What will Symonds shine with most? Bat or Ball?

neither

he is not good enough to make it as a batsman or a bowler, his current Pura Cup form is ordinary at best.

sigh................when will they ever learn that current form is a better indication than a past record, and Voges current form is red hot

The selectors have said that they likes Symonds recent game in Pura Cup at the WACA, he bowled medium pace pies at the start and offies as te wicket wore.

He apparently took a couple of wickets, so does that mean taking two wickets is good enough to get you into the Aussie team.

He is not good enough to get a signifiant amount of wickets with his pies, or his offies, he specialises in neither and at international level he will and has struggled.

 

[The Colonel]

neither

he is not good enough to make it as a batsman or a bowler, his current Pura Cup form is ordinary at best.

sigh................when will they ever learn that current form is a better indication than a past record, and Voges current form is red hot

The selectors have said that they likes Symonds recent game in Pura Cup at the WACA, he bowled medium pace pies at the start and offies as te wicket wore.

He apparently took a couple of wickets, so does that mean taking two wickets is good enough to get you into the Aussie team.

He is not good enough to get a signifiant amount of wickets with his pies, or his offies, he specialises in neither and at international level he will and has struggled.

That sums it up.....