James Muirhead

[Different kind of Rabbit]

No way, why take him to play a couple of T20's when they are being played at the same time as the last round of Shield cricket. If you want him to become a test cricketer he needs to play the longer form and not just T20 matches. He needs some more variety too IMO

Agreed much rather see him play first class cricket instead of the 20/20 slog fest. His game will not improve playing that rubbish.

I wouldn't' send him to RSA, he needs lots of 4 day cricket for mine.

Needs to play out our Shield season and then off to County Cricket.

I think it's less about playing T20 and more about having him amongst the Aussie squad. Sure he'll get the odd T20I while he is there but I think he would benefit more from being in and around the Australian team on tour then he would from playing shield this year. Chances are that Warnie will be in SA as well, commentating.

Some tour matches, a few T20's and a bit of time spent with Warnie + just being in the Aussie squad would be of more benefit to him at the moment. Give him a taste of whats on offer and then send him off to county and back to shield next year.

 

[Timbo]

You think he'd get more benefit from being a net bowler in South Africa than playing 4 day cricket against the best in Australia? Hell no.

Also, please keep him as far away from Warne as humanly possible. He's already a Victorian leggie which means Warne will be fapping like crazy to get him ahead of Lyon.

Maybe see if someone a bit more grounded could mentor him - MacGill maybe.

 

[umina panther]

Few years of shield cricket not carrying drinks

 

[Different kind of Rabbit]

You think he'd get more benefit from being a net bowler in South Africa than playing 4 day cricket against the best in Australia? Hell no.

Also, please keep him as far away from Warne as humanly possible. He's already a Victorian leggie which means Warne will be fapping like crazy to get him ahead of Lyon.

Maybe see if someone a bit more grounded could mentor him - MacGill maybe.

The best in Australia are over in South Africa.

The shield cricket comp is a burnt out husk of what it used to be. Particularly when the Australian team is touring. I think he'd see a lot more benefit from being amongst the touring party than he would from playing in front of two and a dog in a competition that virtually has no meaning anymore. With the Australian side he will have specialist coaching 24/7 and he will be playing tour matches against quality opposition on a variety of different tracks.

As much as Warne is a douche bag, he is also the greatest leg spin bowler we have ever produced. Plus, the way he thinks about the game is unique and brilliant in its own way. Obviously, you don't want him out on the piss with Warnie, but you certainly want Warnie in the nets with him at every opportunity.

I'd get MacGill around him as well anyway. The more input from those sorts of guys, the better imo.

 

[ek999]

The best in Australia are over in South Africa.

The shield cricket comp is a burnt out husk of what it used to be. Particularly when the Australian team is touring. I think he'd see a lot more benefit from being amongst the touring party than he would from playing in front of two and a dog in a competition that virtually has no meaning anymore. With the Australian side he will have specialist coaching 24/7 and he will be playing tour matches against quality opposition on a variety of different tracks.

As much as Warne is a douche bag, he is also the greatest leg spin bowler we have ever produced. Plus, the way he thinks about the game is unique and brilliant in its own way. Obviously, you don't want him out on the piss with Warnie, but you certainly want Warnie in the nets with him at every opportunity.

I'd get MacGill around him as well anyway. The more input from those sorts of guys, the better imo.

I thought there was only the one tour match which is starting on Wednesday

 

[Twizzle]

I think you're underestimating Shield cricket DKOR.

He needs to master first class cricket either here in in pommieland in county cricket, its the natural progression, rather then taking him from grade cricket to T/20 cricket which could damage him irreparably making him bowl defensively rather than becoming an attacking bowler and setting attacking fields.

T/20 fields are set to keep runs down, he will never bowl to a slip, gully and batpad and thats what he needs to be doing imo for very long spells.

 

[typicalfan]

There are two Shield games between now and the SA T20 series. He can easily do both. He bowled pretty attacking in the recent series as well. Then there is County Cricket so why will sending him to SA ruin him?

 

[Twizzle]

he wont play any cricket other than T20 in RSA

 

[herbert henry1908]

You think he'd get more benefit from being a net bowler in South Africa than playing 4 day cricket against the best in Australia? Hell no.

Also, please keep him as far away from Warne as humanly possible. He's already a Victorian leggie which means Warne will be fapping like crazy to get him ahead of Lyon.

Maybe see if someone a bit more grounded could mentor him - MacGill maybe.

McGill is the Australian spin coach isn't he? I'm sure he'll get plenty of coaching from him.

But I hardly see any problem with Warne helping him out. Despite being a clown Warne knows his craft inside out.

 

[herbert henry1908]

The best in Australia are over in South Africa.

The shield cricket comp is a burnt out husk of what it used to be. Particularly when the Australian team is touring. I think he'd see a lot more benefit from being amongst the touring party than he would from playing in front of two and a dog in a competition that virtually has no meaning anymore. With the Australian side he will have specialist coaching 24/7 and he will be playing tour matches against quality opposition on a variety of different tracks.

As much as Warne is a douche bag, he is also the greatest leg spin bowler we have ever produced. Plus, the way he thinks about the game is unique and brilliant in its own way. Obviously, you don't want him out on the piss with Warnie, but you certainly want Warnie in the nets with him at every opportunity.

I'd get MacGill around him as well anyway. The more input from those sorts of guys, the better imo.

He needs FC cricket no matter the standard. To say otherwise is bunk.

We're talking about a kid who has only played 2 FC matches Ffs.



He's already missed the first half of the shield season, he must play the final four games.

 

[Twizzle]

McGill is the Australian spin coach isn't he? I'm sure he'll get plenty of coaching from him.

But I hardly see any problem with Warne helping him out. Despite being a clown Warne knows his craft inside out.

Warnie also does it on a "consultancy" basis according to quotes from Boof in the media that a read a few weeks back

 

[lockyno1]

Why Holland is picked ahead of him when Ahmed is injured/dropped was the biggest joke. Can cop Ahmed, was touted as a test player early in the season, Holland is a Doherty pie chucker flat dart bowler.

 

[Helmet Man]

Muirhead has potential but he isn't that good to be in the test side or be a permanent member in the squad at this point in time. Warne and McGrath were superb talents in shield cricket but Muirhead isn't anything like that. Nathan Lyon is doing a fine job and Muirhead should just get a few seasons in shield cricket under his belt and make a claim in the process. Also Steve O'Keefe says hi.

 

[Sir Biffo]

If he gets rushed into Tests he'll end up like that nuffy English spinner who had a pretty good FC record (in the second division that Podgey made the bulk of his FC runs in), played one match and got caned.

Let him play Shield for a few years, while going on those endless 'A' tours and prove his worth. Lyon is a quality spinner, you don't take 100 test wickets at just over 30 without being a quality player.

Don't forget with Muirhead that even if it's another 3-4 years until he plays tests, he'll still end up playing about 150 or so games!!!

 

[Marshall_magic]

He shouldn't have played any games for Australia he's absolute rubbish.

Agreed, he was a gimmick player who filled a role the national team was lacking in. In the same mold as Dave Williams playing origin.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Muirhead has potential but he isn't that good to be in the test side or be a permanent member in the squad at this point in time. Warne and McGrath were superb talents in shield cricket but Muirhead isn't anything like that. Nathan Lyon is doing a fine job and Muirhead should just get a few seasons in shield cricket under his belt and make a claim in the process. Also Steve O'Keefe says hi.

Muirhead has only played one shield game.

I'm not sure how you can say that when he hasn't been given the chance.


I'm not saying he should be in the test side but if he has a solid first 10 games I could easily see him brought into the test squad.

And there's no need for it to be at the expense of Lyon either. There will always be some opportunities to play two spinners. Particularly if we have an all rounder in the team.


Right arm wrist spin is like pure gold.


Btw - Warne was not a superb talent in shield cricket like you claim. His performances for Australia B & A side is what got him a call up to test cricket. His all time shield bowling average was in the mid 30s.

 

[herbert henry1908]

If he gets rushed into Tests he'll end up like that nuffy English spinner who had a pretty good FC record (in the second division that Podgey made the bulk of his FC runs in), played one match and got caned.

Let him play Shield for a few years, while going on those endless 'A' tours and prove his worth. Lyon is a quality spinner, you don't take 100 test wickets at just over 30 without being a quality player.

Don't forget with Muirhead that even if it's another 3-4 years until he plays tests, he'll still end up playing about 150 or so games!!!

Couldn't disagree more.

It all depends on how he plays his first 10 shield games or so.

If he's good in those games he comes in. Not to replace Lyon, but to complement him.


You don't just sit someone on the sideline to mature them. Not when you Bowl a rare craft like leg spin.

If his average is around 30 after 10 games he'll come into the squad imo.

There's a lot of love for Nathan Lyon in this thread, but people have short memories. He was also very inexperienced when he made his test debut.

Lyon had only played 5 FC matches when he made his test debut.

 

[Dogmatix]

Viv Richards was right when he said his thinking when an off spinner came on to bowl was "thou shalt not bowl". Off spin is a rubbish form of bowling without the doosra and Cricket Australia's thinking is that the doosra cannot be bowled legally so Aussie off spinners won't be bowling it. So Nathan Lyon's test average of 32 is as good as it will get and this is ordinary

Muirhead has a heap of potential and should be given every chance to play in the Aussie team ASAP. Lyon will end up being a Shield bowler and injury backup

 

[typicalfan]

Lyon was very economical in the recent test series and maintained the pressure. Sometimes that means the wickets fall at the other end and Lyon gets a lot of purchase for a finger spinner. Lyon was picked for his action as much as Muirhead might be.

 

[TheParraboy]

Couldn't disagree more.

It all depends on how he plays his first 10 shield games or so.

If he's good in those games he comes in. Not to replace Lyon, but to complement him.


You don't just sit someone on the sideline to mature them. Not when you Bowl a rare craft like leg spin.

If his average is around 30 after 10 games he'll come into the squad imo.

There's a lot of love for Nathan Lyon in this thread, but people have short memories. He was also very inexperienced when he made his test debut.

Lyon had only played 5 FC matches when he made his test debut.

This

I love it how when Lyon has gotten dropped, a few have a cry and say his replacement doesn't deserve it. When that's the same way Lyon got his gig as well

We need to consistently look for someone better in the spin department, we just cant close our eyes ands say Lyon is it for the next 10 years. If there is no one better so be it, but we also need to give promising guys a go