This was on the week before last on the Backpage.

I actually think it is a good idea. And its time to stop shunting Finch around which CA has been doing for the past 4 or 5 years. And I think it would be a good role for Warner. Means Lynn and Finch are able to open. (Lynn is useless in the middle - Short has been inept so far against spinners be it IPL, Eng, UAE). 

Then the middle is controlled by Warner and Smith (the two guys best equipped to deal with spinners as well as seamers). It also gets them partnered up more often, which I think is a good thing for both of them.

The rest of the team can then work itself from there (Maxi, Stoinis or MMarsh etc).

Warner was the batting backbone of SRH in the IPL. He does have more gears. Losing Lynn to the 4 overs of new ball swing (I am being generous here) is not that great a loss. But Australia need big scores from Finch, Smith and Warner regularly to win.

By way of example, Boult took a hattrick yesterday in the 3rd over in the UAE with the ball swinging. That was game over. There was no swing after that. It was a spinner's pitch. 

England always open up with David Willey in England - just to extract what swing is on offer with the new ball. Sometimes Woakes as well. Plunkett does not take the new ball.

If the first ball pitched up to Lynn sails over long off for 6, the bowler will start thinking twice about pitching up to Lynn. After the first few overs - any swing threat will likely be gone.

1 Lynn
2 Finch (c)
3 Smith
4 Warner
5 Maxwell
6 Stoinis/MMarsh
7 Carey
8 Agar
9 Starc
10 Cummins
11 Hazelwood

8 appears to be a problem. Be better if there was a good allrounder spinner in Australia. Doesn't have to be a superstar of the next Shane Warne with Punter batting levels. Just a regular Richie Beanaud type will do. 

Time to bring back James Faulkner . Marsh in for Maxwell. I would like to have Agar but we need a wristie .. Zampa gets my vote.

I prefer Lynn to open and make an early statement. But today he showed he is more than just a  power hitter... and Paddles it was in the middle order. I liked the way he  got himself in and then when he stepped on the accelerator no bowler was safe. His timing too was impeccable and he even has a defence.  He impressed me. Had he got some bat on that one he gloved that ball probably would have sailed over the boundary and he would have had a 50 .. with momentum. His dismissal started the collapse.. brick bats to Maxwell and Stoinis for getting themselves out when we needed the momentum to continue. 

I'll give you a bit digest, no offence :

1 If Zampa and Faulkner (with  no form at all) return, you need to drop one of Haze, Starc and Cummins.
2 Lynn is not a middle order batsman's pimple (he made 18 runs in the 4 balls preceding his dismissal off a fast seamer's bouncer?!) When did Clarke ever get out that way?! Lynn is solely a fast bowling slugger. His averages vs spin are woeful. Purely woeful!
3 Lynn is quality. I believe in him. He is an opening slugger of epic talent. I would select him. But he is not middle order material. He is 'stand and deliver'. He is an opener just as Jayasuriya, Kalu, Greatbatch, McCullum, Roy, Hales, Bairstow  et al all or are were.  He will slog 100's but not build innings like a middle order bat.
4 Aus middle order is softer than jelly. And all nations are aware of it.
5 There is only one world class attack playing today - it is Safrica's.
6 Aus may win this still, because the SA batting is almost as bad as Australia's if not worse with no Duminy, Amla let alone ABdV. This match is batting "cripple fight" of two teams lacking the current batting resources to win the world cup next year. That may change when senior players return.
7 Pretorious not being a regular selection makes me loathe the quota selection of Safrica. Phelukwayo is nowhere near him in talent. At all. It actually makes me angry. Pretorious is like a modern day Ian Harvey - but he's not missing out to Andrew Symonds - he is missing out to Mick Lewis with a tan. :-)

Like I said, no offence - I look forward to your reply. I am just speaking frankly and with forthrightness. This is what I believe. Zampa?! What has he ever done? He may bowl Australia to victory today, and if he does, - it will be his first that I am aware of :-)

I'll give you a bit digest, no offence :

1 If Zampa and Faulkner (with  no form at all) return, you need to drop one of Haze, Starc and Cummins.
2 Lynn is not a middle order batsman's pimple (he made 18 runs in the 4 balls preceding his dismissal off a fast seamer's bouncer?!) When did Clarke ever get out that way?! Lynn is solely a fast bowling slugger. His averages vs spin are woeful. Purely woeful!
3 Lynn is quality. I believe in him. He is an opening slugger of epic talent. I would select him. But he is not middle order material. He is 'stand and deliver'. He is an opener just as Jayasuriya, Kalu, Greatbatch, McCullum, Roy, Hales, Bairstow  et al all or are were.  He will slog 100's but not build innings like a middle order bat.
4 Aus middle order is softer than jelly. And all nations are aware of it.
5 There is only one world class attack playing today - it is Safrica's.
6 Aus may win this still, because the SA batting is almost as bad as Australia's if not worse with no Duminy, Amla let alone ABdV. This match is batting "cripple fight" of two teams lacking the current batting resources to win the world cup next year. That may change when senior players return.
7 Pretorious not being a regular selection makes me loathe the quota selection of Safrica. Phelukwayo is nowhere near him in talent. At all. It actually makes me angry. Pretorious is like a modern day Ian Harvey - but he's not missing out to Andrew Symonds - he is missing out to Mick Lewis with a tan. :-)

Like I said, no offence - I look forward to your reply. I am just speaking frankly and with forthrightness. This is what I believe. Zampa?! What has he ever done? He may bowl Australia to victory today, and if he does, - it will be his first that I am aware of :-)

Then bat Faulkner in Maxwell's position. Has a superior ODI  batting record in any case. 

If our belly is soft then pick our best performed ODI player George Bailey. He proved in that tour match he still has the magic.

Were you watching with your eyes closed. Lynny actually consolidated when those early wickets fell. Surprised me. 

Zampa has been our most successful limited overs bowler. Dont say a whole lot for the others I suppose. If there is a better wristie out there then please put him in  Zampa's place.

What offence? You are expressing your opinion. 

Lynn didn't consolidate. He block bashed. There's a massive difference.



He's a natural and talented basher. Let him bash to win.

And thanks for not being offended. You have my respect baggers. Top man.

But Faulkner at his best is too high at 7. He's an 8.