5th Test: Austalia vs England at SCG Jan 3-7 2011

[Danish]

nice first 2 deliveries for khawaja, followed up by a very well left ball outside off showing he can still pick his shots.

a shame he has to debut with watson really. not going to get much help settling in or building a partnership

 

[beads6]

That was pretty special.

I jizzed

 

[Twizzle]

Oozi has nearly caught Watson

 

[TheParraboy]

2011 onwards

Khawaja >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Punter

 

[Danish]

has watson been taking lessons from Tubs??


Never seen him shoulder arms so much

 

[umina panther]

2011 onwards

Khawaja >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Punter

Yes at no.3 but i think punter at no.4 is still our best option

 

[beads6]

Yes at no.3 but i think punter at no.4 is still our best option

No Punter is 36 I can't see the point in him coming back from the injury and bad form . There is just no value in it for the team and the future.

 

[Twizzle]

there is no doubt Punter will return

all depends on what Oozi does, if Punter drops to 4, or Oozi bats at 6 and Smith gets the flick

 

[Big Pete]

You'd swear Punter was just another cricketer judging by some of the comments on here...

He's one of the greats of the game, once he recovers he'll be back.

 

[HevyDevy]

You'd swear Punter was just another cricketer judging by some of the comments on here...

He's one of the greats of the game, once he recovers he'll be back.

Indeed.

It's why we need Khawaja to score runs in this Test - to FORCE the selectors to drop Punter to No.4.

f**k he looks good doesn't he?

 

[beads6]

You'd swear Punter was just another cricketer judging by some of the comments on here...

He's one of the greats of the game, once he recovers he'll be back.

he should retire simple as that. Form has been pathetic for 2 years, I don't care how good he was, he isn't what he used to be.

 

[Big Pete]

Punter deserves at least another year, it's not like he's keeping anyone too important out of the side.

 

[HevyDevy]

he should retire simple as that. Form has been pathetic for 2 years, I don't care how good he was, he isn't what he used to be.

He at least deserves a chance at No.4.

 

[MSIH]

Ponting had the option to bat 4, but declined it.

Some of you guys would have Don Bradman's corpse playing for Australia because he earned it.

 

[beads6]

He at least deserves a chance at No.4.

He had a chance at 4 but he declined that due to him being an arrogant noob. His time has come I can't see any value of giving him another summer.

 

[Big Pete]

And some of you would have a fetus play...

 

[HevyDevy]

He had a chance at 4 but he declined that due to him being an arrogant noob. His time has come I can't see any value of giving him another summer.

What a croc. The selectors could have told Ponting to bat 4 if they wanted to rather than ask nicely.

 

[The_Joey_Show]

I don't think Uzi will be dropped or moved down the order regardless of what Punter does / wants to do. He is Australia's No. 3, and is batting like it. As far as I see it, the options are:

1. Drop Punter (or ask him to retire).
2. Punter to 4, Clarke to 5, Hussey to 6, Haddin to 7, Smith to 8 as the bowling all rounder, and drop Beer.
3. Punter to 6, Haddin to 7, drop Smith.

To be honest, I'm not sure what is the best option. I can see the good and bad points in all of them.

 

[The 18th Man]

Uzi I have $$ on to get debut 100 - looking the goods.

As for Hughes, I am one of his biggest fans though we cannot exclude him from criticism if only because he made a fantastic start to his Test career vs SA. You can live on that for so long.

Since last innings vs SA, his scores have been: 36, 4, 17, 0, 37, 20, 86*, 2, 12, 16, 23, 31 or 284 runs at 25.81. Not good. Not good at all for an opening batsmen. In fact, he has passed 50 just once since his third innings 160 vs SA. From memory, once in 14 innings he has gone passed 50 since that glorious knock.

Talented player, though there has to be a mental side of his game that is weak at the moment and for Hughest to secure a long term future in the side, he has to ensure his mental side of the game is on par with his obvious talent.

 

[HevyDevy]

I don't think Uzi will be dropped or moved down the order regardless of what Punter does / wants to do. He is Australia's No. 3, and is batting like it. As far as I see it, the options are:

1. Drop Punter (or ask him to retire).
2. Punter to 4, Clarke to 5, Hussey to 6, Haddin to 7, Smith to 8 as the bowling all rounder, and drop Beer.
3. Punter to 6, Haddin to 7, drop Smith.

To be honest, I'm not sure what is the best option. I can see the good and bad points in all of them.

Option 2 is pretty close to the mark but with Hauritz instead of Smith (which would also allow O'Keefe to play for NSW). Smith isn't ready yet.