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

[yappy]

Smith's start is incredibly similar to Steve Waugh's. I think he is definitely worth persevering with but it could take a long time for him to really show his true value.

I actually hope he is overlooked for the ODI's. It will be far better for him to go back to the Shield and play some long form cricket. He's improving, but the more games he plays the quicker he'll come good.

Same with Hughes. He's looked better each innings. A big score isn't far away. I think he'll have a dominant last part of the Shield season.

 

[Twizzle]

There must be a reason why O'Keefe hasn't got a game ahead of DOherty and Beer. Surely there has to be something that we don't know. Personally I think O'Keefe has a good record but is jizzed over like the second coming of Warne on these boards....

I'm guessing but I'd say his age is the problem.

 

[yappy]

There must be a reason why O'Keefe hasn't got a game ahead of DOherty and Beer. Surely there has to be something that we don't know. Personally I think O'Keefe has a good record but is jizzed over like the second coming of Warne on these boards....

Yeah he takes wickets and makes runs, how could anybody be excited about a player who does that?

 

[yappy]

I'm guessing but I'd say his age is the problem.

He's the same age as Beer. How can his age be a problem. I'd say he was just sh*t outta luck that because Hauritz had been dropped he was left to carry the drinks for a couple of Shield games after the Aus A game. If he had played those games and taken wickets like he did as soon as he came back into the side there is no way he wouldn't have been picked and Michael Beer would still just be a nobody trying to get a regular start for WA with a mid 40s bowling average.

 

[beads6]

Yeah he takes wickets and makes runs, how could anybody be excited about a player who does that?

Settle down champ I want O'Keefe to get a go but I just see lots of Jizz on O'Keefe.

 

[fish eel]

yeh I agree, moving Haddin to 6 didn't work and Smith has a good FC record but doesn't appear to be ready for test cricket yet, but who else is there ?

Smith was worth a shot atleast.

If we assume Ponting plays again then the question answered - R Ponting.

Otherwise, I do think Cameron White an option (he is only 27 or so). He is a better batsman than Smith (though smith can tighten up his game), Callum Ferguson is an obvious candidate but isnt really scoring heavily - and Sean Marsh is having a good summer.

Interestingly, I think two of the most inform batsman in domestic cricket dont have a hope in hell of being selected - Andrew McDonald and Mark Cosgrove. Maybe the big man is worth a thought if he can keep scoring runs?

In the old days, Steve Smith would be dispatched for a summer of county cricket to work on things.....

 

[yappy]

Settle down champ I want O'Keefe to get a go but I just see lots of Jizz on O'Keefe.

As every teenage boy knows theres no better place for jizz than an old sock.

 

[Avenger]

Like I said yesterday Beer is a pie chucker.

 

[fish eel]

O'Keefe is obviously in the reckoning otherwise he wouldnt have played T20 earlier in the year and wouldnt have been picked in the Australia A side.

It's pretty clear the selectors just ballsed up the hole spinning option when they dropped Hauritz, then dropped Doherty for Beer's 'local' knowledge. Mind you, I thought Beer went OK, if only he didnt bowl that no ball!

 

[Avenger]

O'Keefe is obviously in the reckoning otherwise he wouldnt have played T20 earlier in the year and wouldnt have been picked in the Australia A side.

It's pretty clear the selectors just ballsed up the hole spinning option when they dropped Hauritz, then dropped Doherty for Beer's 'local' knowledge. Mind you, I thought Beer went OK, if only he didnt bowl that no ball!

How he ever got picked with his stats in domestic cricket is beyond me. I heard somewhere that he has never taken 5 wickets in an innings, 3 is his best effort.

 

[Red Bear]

I think bowlers like Hazlewood and Pattinson are a while off at this point, certainly promising in the future. Copeland is the one demanding selection.

 

[Avenger]

I've turned off cricket in recent years but I must admit that my enthusiasm has reignited with this challenging period in Australian cricket.

 

[yappy]

How he ever got picked with his stats in domestic cricket is beyond me. I heard somewhere that he has never taken 5 wickets in an innings, 3 is his best effort.

Yep, before this test he'd played 7 FC games (12 innings bowled) for the grand total of 16 wickets. Yep 1.33 wickets per innings. He has 3 3-fers.

 

[Southern Rooster]

Smith was worth a shot atleast.

If we assume Ponting plays again then the question answered - R Ponting.

Otherwise, I do think Cameron White an option (he is only 27 or so). He is a better batsman than Smith (though smith can tighten up his game), Callum Ferguson is an obvious candidate but isnt really scoring heavily - and Sean Marsh is having a good summer.

Interestingly, I think two of the most inform batsman in domestic cricket dont have a hope in hell of being selected - Andrew McDonald and Mark Cosgrove. Maybe the big man is worth a thought if he can keep scoring runs?

In the old days, Steve Smith would be dispatched for a summer of county cricket to work on things.....

How good would Cosgrove go doing the KFC commercials. He'd be perfect.

 

[Avenger]

Yep, before this test he'd played 7 FC games (12 innings bowled) for the grand total of 16 wickets. Yep 1.33 wickets per innings. He has 3 3-fers.

Thanks yappy. Which is why his selection absolutely baffles me. Surely Warne doesn't have that much pull with selectors ?

 

[fish eel]

How he ever got picked with his stats in domestic cricket is beyond me. I heard somewhere that he has never taken 5 wickets in an innings, 3 is his best effort.

I thought he looked like he could be a decent first class bowler, but thats about it. Somehow, the selectors seemed to have convinced themselves our spinner had to be left arm orthodox.

 

[Avenger]

I thought he looked like he could be a decent first class bowler, but thats about it. Somehow, the selectors seemed to have convinced themselves our spinner had to be left arm orthodox.

He reminds me of a really sh*t version of Murray Bennett.

 

[fish eel]

He reminds me of a really sh*t version of Murray Bennett.

minus the glasses hey?

 

[Southern Rooster]

He reminds me of a really sh*t version of Murray Bennett.

Same initials.

 

[Hallatia]

I thought he looked like he could be a decent first class bowler, but thats about it. Somehow, the selectors seemed to have convinced themselves our spinner had to be left arm orthodox.

I have found that one of the most ridiculous things about Australia this Ashes series. Australia have wanted a left arm orthodox bowler to account for Kevin Pietersen - one man. England have a formidable batting lineup which looks endless when Broad and Swann are on their game which they had been last year. It looked difficult to see Australia taking 20 wickets in any test, yet they wasted a position in their own line up worrying about one, and an erratic one at that