Paddles I agree with your previous post, and thank's for the support, but a lot of what you are saying was back in 2015. On Hadlee who can blame him for wanting 3rd man or mid off, don't reward the batsman for getting him to do what you want him to do.

But let me explain the discussion between Baggers and myself regarding Hazlewood has been for quite a few years, we've known each other for 6 or more years. I respect Baggers opinions, more so when we discuss shield cricket. But when it comes to Hazlewood he's over the top in his praise.

When he came into the side back in 2014 he had been dropped from NSW after playing only 1 game against Vic when he took 3/140 in the match and Victoria won by 9 wickets. He never played any more games at shield level that year. At the same time Jason Behrendorff just demolished Qld taking 10/114. When it came to selection Hazlewood got the nod after 4 rounds of sheffield shield had been completed. Baggers said that they needed variation in the attack as Johnson and Starc were playing Behrendorff was another leftie. Fair enough, but back then I was questioning Starc's inclusion after the start he had to his test career, who wasn't. After 12 games at test level I had no problem with Hazlewood his record was impressive as Baggers will confirm (Paddles that was the 2015 era you're talking about). 

Then came the time of Johnson's retirement, which sort of came out of the blue, if you recall. Johnson's parting comments were that he felt that his bowling was not good enough to warrant continued selection for Australia. With a return of 3/170 who could blame him, it's wasn't but Hazlewood's return was 1/137 and Hazlewood was the opening bowler, Johnson was the first change. That got me questioning things afterall Johnson's comment were quite strange at the time, was he nudged out the door and it was a little parting shot at Starc and Hazlewood?

Pattinson then came into the side for the West Indies. Now this is where Baggers coped a lot from a lot of people on the site we were on (I think it was Bigpond) especially when he posted a comment that Pattinson was taking a page out of the Hazlewood handbook on how to bowl. A lot of people were Pattinson fans and still are. Note that particular test Hazlewood took 0 wickets and Pattinson took 6 for. A lot of people objected to Baggers continued praise of Hazlewood and really gave it to him. I never said a word if you remember Baggers. I actually did feel sorry for Baggers, but he did bring it on himself at the time, and I think most posters on this site do know what i am talking about, but everyone is entitled to their opinions and as I said I do respect Baggers opinions.

Since that period Baggers and I have constantly discussed Hazlewood's downward spiral, remembering Hazlewood is and has always been an opening bowler, and as an opening bowler he has to be judged as an opening bowler. As a 1st change bowler I have no objection to Hazlewood's presence how many times have I said that Baggers. But while he is opening he is preventing bowlers such as Jackson Bird, James Pattinson, even Cummins when Starc is playing from access to the new ball which is exactly what these bowlers are really good with, they are the 1st change expected to do the grunt work which their bowling styles are not suited to, there is no point in playing them. This is to the detriment of our attack. Honestly who doesn't want to see Pattinson and Cummins open the bowling? The only time we have seen that was the 1st test a test which Australia won. Even the recent 3rd test when push came to shove, Pattinson was completely by-passed for Hazlewood and Cummins and the end result we lost the test, and where is Pattinson now. In and out of the side, no chance of establishing form with continued match play.

But after all these years still no-one including Baggers and posters on this site has ever put forward a single argument well supported with any facts contrary to what I have written. Paddles can attest to that. You make think it is rubbish but prove it? That is the beauty of Forums you can give a difference in opinion, which can make you think, I never post a comment without support. I believe that this bowler is a great bowler because I like him doesn't hold much factual basis does it. Exactly who are you and should I be impressed?  Let me ask you this if Baggers posts that he measures a bowlers ability on the number of plays and misses a bowler can achieve do you see a problem with this statement? The admission that the batsmen are missing yet no wicket falls, no bowled no LBW doesn't that suggest wrong line? Or maybe it's just me. But I can back off if you wish, and just praise the best bowling attack in the world, which I can assure is just not true.

Oh spare me Baggers. Broad is averaging 29 this series and Archer 17 with more wickets to boot, despite playing less tests.

Broad is not within light years of Archer. Never will be in my opinion. I would drop him when Anderson is back. Literally drop him. There is Stone and TRJ I would over Broad as well.

I said before the series Archer is going to be a superstar. And now people know my views on Broad too.

Don't bait me like this. :P Broad is ordinary. Always has been. Archer, if he stays fit, will be a great imo - but he so far has UNDENIABLY totally out-bowled Broad. It's not even close.

Was it necessary to give everyone a life story of our forum relationship Mike.
If Hazlewood warrants criticism I will accept that. But he has bowled superbly.. admittedly against not the most superior of opposition (Paddles)  regardless.. he does not deserve your excessive criticism.. His figures back that up..I posted them earlier) tho they have taken a hit from these T20 like tonking sessions by Stokes and Buttler.
I admire the way Josh has matured and learnt from his frailties in Ashes 2015. He has not gone looking for swing and has bowled a near impeccable 7/8mts for much of the time. All bowlers even the most accurate stray on occasions.. he is not a robot.
You wont back off Mike. Come summer on our flat drop ins where Hazlewood struggles and you will be back with the ribbing and use of him as your personal punching bag.. So nothing will change. As I said your constant rubbishing of Josh is becoming boring so I will be ignoring them from now on. 

I'm not comming between you and mike baggers, cos I know deep down you're close which was obvious before the forum I found you both on - but Josh nailed the 2015 Ashes. He knocked it out of the park and dominated. Johnson was crap. Not Haze that series. Read Mike's post again. You miss this point.

Was it necessary to give everyone a life story of our forum relationship Mike.
If Hazlewood warrants criticism I will accept that. But he has bowled superbly.. admittedly against not the most superior of opposition (Paddles)  regardless.. he does not deserve your excessive criticism.. His figures back that up..I posted them earlier) tho they have taken a hit from these T20 like tonking sessions by Stokes and Buttler.
I admire the way Josh has matured and learnt from his frailties in Ashes 2015. He has not gone looking for swing and has bowled a near impeccable 7/8mts for much of the time. All bowlers even the most accurate stray on occasions.. he is not a robot.
You wont back off Mike. Come summer on our flat drop ins where Hazlewood struggles and you will be back with the ribbing and use of him as your personal punching bag.. So nothing will change. As I said your constant rubbishing of Josh is becoming boring so I will be ignoring them from now on. 

Curran looks like a hell of a good left arm swing bowler to have left out so far in this series.

I'm not comming between you and mike baggers, cos I know deep down you're close which was obvious before the forum I found you both on - but Josh nailed the 2015 Ashes. He knocked it out of the park and dominated. Johnson was crap. Not Haze that series. Read Mike's post again. You miss this point.

Curran is unusual. He played for my domestic team in NZ. The first time I saw him bat, I knew he had batting talent. But his bowling is awful. Horrible. 

But, with a Dukes in England, he swings it around corners.

He over pitches and bowls a lot of rubbish - globally and in England, he can't hit a length to save himself, his line is okay, but he's short, and he struggles to hit length, so he can full, or short, or anywhere in between, but he swings it in England. In the WI with a Dukes, he was crap. Utter crap.

But in England he is a high ER, but low SR bowler. Cos of his swing movement. 

He definitely swings it a lot. But he has no length control. At all. And the wide of off will come out frequently too.

No he didnt nail 2015 mate. He bowled like the rookie he was. 4-16 @25. Tho the comms said he bowled expertly using the Lords slope. His inexperience showed up when he lost his accuracy searching for swing at Nottingham and paid the price.. rather unfairly I said at the time. Johnson was pretty ordinary that tour but it was debutant rookie that got canned. I was scathing at the time with McDermott as their bowling coach. 

No he didnt nail 2015 mate. He bowled like the rookie he was. 4-16 @25. Tho the comms said he bowled expertly using the Lords slope. His inexperience showed up when he lost his accuracy searching for swing at Nottingham and paid the price.. rather unfairly I said at the time. Johnson was pretty ordinary that tour but it was debutant rookie that got canned. I was scathing at the time with McDermott as their bowling coach.