Heads MUST roll

[Doctor]

Ian Harvey once again showed why he only averages 18 with the bat in One Day cricket. In a situation that demanded only run a ball cricket, he decided to hoik one over mid-wicket, straight down the sweeper's throat on the boundary.

Silly stuff from a fellow that has yet to prove anyone he can handle batting in the top form of one day cricket - his success in county cricket and indeed local domestic cricket is completely opposite to his international form.

Suggestions he is an allrounder are ridiculous - he is a handy bowler (who got smashed yesterday by the way) and can whack the ball a bit but doesn't fit the class of someone who can bat or indeed a pinch hitter because he doesn't hang around long enough to score more than 20.

Harvey's days have been numbered for a while - the problem is that Brett Lee (who should bowl at the death) spent 59 legal deliveries yesterday trying to bowl the one ball that got him a wicket on his 60th ball - a yorker. Lee's lack of control and patience will lose him his spot if he isn't careful.

Bevan finally produced something - he needs some runs and despite some help from Clarke and some of the tail, Australia fell short.

 

[SirShire]

Heads should roll because of such a poor effort! Do the figures 1-83 mean anything to you? They aren't accpetable in ANY game.

That game was well within reach and we had a wealth of batsmen to achieve it. Bevan and Clarke in, then Harvey. And GDizzy is handy with the bat.

We needed around 80 runs in that last 15 overs, it was certainly achieveable.

 

[Anonymous]

Ian Harvey once again showed why he only averages 18 with the bat in One Day cricket. In a situation that demanded only run a ball cricket, he decided to hoik one over mid-wicket, straight down the sweeper's throat on the boundary.

Silly stuff from a fellow that has yet to prove anyone he can handle batting in the top form of one day cricket - his success in county cricket and indeed local domestic cricket is completely opposite to his international form.

Suggestions he is an allrounder are ridiculous - he is a handy bowler (who got smashed yesterday by the way) and can whack the ball a bit but doesn't fit the class of someone who can bat or indeed a pinch hitter because he doesn't hang around long enough to score more than 20.

Harvey's days have been numbered for a while - the problem is that Brett Lee (who should bowl at the death) spent 59 legal deliveries yesterday trying to bowl the one ball that got him a wicket on his 60th ball - a yorker. Lee's lack of control and patience will lose him his spot if he isn't careful.

Bevan finally produced something - he needs some runs and despite some help from Clarke and some of the tail, Australia fell short.

The thing about that is, we could have a bowler in there doing a better job with the ball, and an equal job with the bat.

The decision to keep Harvey at 8 is costing Australia points.

I sure Andy Bichel, Michael Kasperwicz, Nathen Bracken or Shaun Tait could all do a much better job with the ball without taking anything away from the batting line up.

 

[RICHO]

Until McGrath is available, the only change in the bowling should be Bracken in for Lee.

As for the batting order.....
Hayden
Gilchrist
Ponting
Bevan
Clarke
Martyn
Symonds
Harvey
and then the bowlers.

Of course, this can change depending on the situation. Australia are being too rigid in the game plan.

 

[Anonymous]

They have tried Bevan at 4 in the past and it hasn't worked.

I don't think he will play International cricket for too much longer.

 

[fat_mike]

bevan at 4 works.

if australia lose a couple of quick wickets bevo can come in and steady the ship so to speak. build a partnership and get it all back on track. his one day batting form has always been excellent. move him up the order, i have no idea how symmo is batting above bevo. symmo is a top player but should be lower down the order so he can come in and attack later in the innings.

brett lee should be given the arse, 1-83 is shocking. had his bowling been alot tighter then the indians wouldnt have gottent he 300 that they got and the target wouldve been lot easier. bracken is said to be fully fit and looks like taking his place in the next game. apart from that not many changes are needed. one game in the last 10 doesnt require mass changes

 

[SirShire]

I think he may be heading towards the end of his prime...

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Ian Harvey once again showed why he only averages 18 with the bat in One Day cricket. In a situation that demanded only run a ball cricket, he decided to hoik one over mid-wicket, straight down the sweeper's throat on the boundary.

Silly stuff from a fellow that has yet to prove anyone he can handle batting in the top form of one day cricket - his success in county cricket and indeed local domestic cricket is completely opposite to his international form.

Suggestions he is an allrounder are ridiculous - he is a handy bowler (who got smashed yesterday by the way) and can whack the ball a bit but doesn't fit the class of someone who can bat or indeed a pinch hitter because he doesn't hang around long enough to score more than 20.

Harvey's days have been numbered for a while - the problem is that Brett Lee (who should bowl at the death) spent 59 legal deliveries yesterday trying to bowl the one ball that got him a wicket on his 60th ball - a yorker. Lee's lack of control and patience will lose him his spot if he isn't careful.

Bevan finally produced something - he needs some runs and despite some help from Clarke and some of the tail, Australia fell short.

The thing about that is, we could have a bowler in there doing a better job with the ball, and an equal job with the bat.

The decision to keep Harvey at 8 is costing Australia points.

I sure Andy Bichel, Michael Kasperwicz, Nathen Bracken or Shaun Tait could all do a much better job with the ball without taking anything away from the batting line up.

Im not if Bichel and Kasper wouldve made a difference, but maybe Bracken wouldve. Speaking of Tait if Australia does loss another game, and its because of the bowling, maybe they should give Tait a go, he did get an 8 for in a one dayer.

 

[S2H]

I think Australia need to bring in ome youth, especially bowlers. Tait would be an excellent addition to the team. My squad would be:

Hayden
Katich
Ponting
Leahmann
Clarke
Gilchrist
Simmons
Watson (when he can bowl 10 overs again)
Williams
Gillespi
Tait

Bracken
Huritz
Nicholson
Hussey
Haddin

 

[Alan Shore]

Any bowler who leaks 83 runs in ODI cricket should be punted immediately. Yet again Martyn was woeful and proved why Katich (or Lehmann if fit) need to come in as replacement.

 

[Twizzle]

All a bit harsh, don't you think.

We only lost one game, not the series.

We generally drop one or two each year, nothing to get too depressed over.

 

[Anonymous]

I think Australia need to bring in ome youth, especially bowlers. Tait would be an excellent addition to the team. My squad would be:

Hayden
Katich
Ponting
Leahmann
Clarke
Gilchrist
Simmons
Watson (when he can bowl 10 overs again)
Williams
Gillespi
Tait

Bracken
Huritz
Nicholson
Hussey
Haddin

By the time Watson can bowl McGrath will be back

 

[CouldaBeenAnything]

I think people need to watch some old games from around 84 - 88 to remember what it was like NOT to win every time the side walked onto the field!

No crisis as yet...but I agree some youth needs to be blooded

 

[S2H]

Granted there is no reason to panic about loosing a game, however Lee and Martyn's form is very concerning and the selectors would not be doing their jobs if they didn't address the problem. They are taking spots which other people could fill better than they can at the moment.

 

[choc_soldier]

We are not at crisis point yet, we are still rated the number 1 team in the world. But we have enough depth to suggest that players like Lee and Martyn are not irreplaceable.

Conceding 83 in any one dayer is not good enough. Lee's confidence is at rock bottom at the moment, and it's greatly affecting his bowling. He should be dropped back to state cricket. If he can kill 'em there, maybe that could warrant a re-call, but at the moment, he's not good enough to keep a place in the team.

I would have to say the same for Martyn. He constantly gets starts, but just doesn't go on with it. There are a number of players at the moment that are showing greater form than him, and they should be given a go.

But just wait and see whether either of those two get dropped. As the saying goes, it's harder to get out of the Australian team than it is to get in.

Give Tait and Katich a run. Tait can knock 'em over, and Katich would add an extra option in the bowling department as well as his batting.

I actually think that Bevan was the only guy who could have got us home last night... he is a one day specialist. He is probably approaching the end of his career, but he is still a valuable asset to our team. Maybe he can be promoted back up to 5, with Clarke at 6 and Symonds at 7.

 

[fat_mike]

bevan has to stay. he is performing like he always does, hasnt had anyone besides michael clarke around him to build a patnership. bevo is solid and will keep playing well and lets hope he can get people to saty and build a partnership if the top order fails.

 

[PB]

Certainly know crisis, but how can people A) defend bevan and B) crticise Lee in the same post.

Look at their mistakes.

Bevan was WOEFUL last night. first ball he wipped off his pads very fine for four - classic Bevan. That was it, for the rest of the night he was trying to hit the ball too hard, and of the two's he scored, only one appeared intentional, the rest were miss hits. On at least 6 occaisions he came up the wicket and made no, or minimal contact. he had zero balance, and his hear was rocking around like a slinky!

There is no point batting Bevan at 4, if the team ends up 4/250, if Symonds can go in at four and by the end of the innings we get 8/290. If it means Bevan has to start playing some sacrifical innings, then so be it.

As for Lee, he is always going to go for slightly more (a run run and a half more per over) than his fellow bowlers. We accept that but expect him to get more wickets.

Last night, and in hobart, there appeared to be very little wrong with his technique, and indeed he appeared to be hitting his desired spot more than he was missing. My problem is the tactics he is either deciding to employ, or (the more likely scenario), being told to employ. Brett Lee in one day internationals should be bowling two deliveries. Fast at the body, and inswinging yawkers. Thats it! That is why he had a good world cup, not by bowling this bull dust line outside off stump.

Our coaching has become very stale lately. from Lee's bowling line, the teams fielding, to Martyn getting constantly caught square driving. What are the coaching staff doing??

 

[S2H]

Last night, and in hobart, there appeared to be very little wrong with his technique, and indeed he appeared to be hitting his desired spot more than he was missing. My problem is the tactics he is either deciding to employ, or (the more likely scenario), being told to employ. Brett Lee in one day internationals should be bowling two deliveries. Fast at the body, and inswinging yawkers. Thats it! That is why he had a good world cup, not by bowling this bull dust line outside off stump.

Have to disagree with that. Lee's bowling was very inconsistent. He was bowling six different balls an over. Either he isn't thinking about where he is going to bowl or his form is very very bad. If he cant put the ball in the right spot, ponting cant set fields to him and the batsman will score 7-8 an over from him.

 

[S2H]

Last night, and in hobart, there appeared to be very little wrong with his technique, and indeed he appeared to be hitting his desired spot more than he was missing. My problem is the tactics he is either deciding to employ, or (the more likely scenario), being told to employ. Brett Lee in one day internationals should be bowling two deliveries. Fast at the body, and inswinging yawkers. Thats it! That is why he had a good world cup, not by bowling this bull dust line outside off stump.

Have to disagree with that. Lee's bowling was very inconsistent. He was bowling six different balls an over. Either he isn't thinking about where he is going to bowl or his form is very very bad. If he cant put the ball in the right spot, ponting cant set fields to him and the batsman will score 7-8 an over from him.

 

[El Diablo]

Whats happened to our dominance? India really have our measure.

I'd say we dominated this series and India who have lost 10 of their last 12 games against us.

We lost 1 game and there was mass panic saying "heads MUST roll" :?

So we've now won 6 ODI series in a row including the World Cup. In those 6 series victories we had 41 wins and 6 losses. It amazes me that 1 loss early on in this series seemed to cause mass hysteria.

Hopefully a lot of people are happy now. I am