:cry:

Why is the 2nd test in Adelaide and not Perth :?

I always thought it went

Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney.

I am pretty sure it is decided upon so as to give us the best perceived chance of victory.

Not reading the thread to see how widespread these thoughts are, but these are my thoughts:

- Johnson out (Dropped to Psychologist), Clarke out (Dropped to Physiotherapist/Shit form-o-therapist), Siddle out (Dropped to Shield cricket where he belongs), North out (Dropped to just being a regular guy off the street again)
- Bollinger in, Harris in, Hughes in, Smith in.
- A collective kick in the fucking arse is required.

Agreed on all except switch Siddle and Hilfenhouse. Why would you drop the only guy who looked a threat on that pitch, and keep the bloke who bowled everything a foot outside off and did shit all?

Nope, ive always known it to go The Gabba, Adelaide Oval, The Wacca, MCG, SCG.

a guy in my year got selected to carry the English flag out on the fourth day of the perth test.

Because Siddle fluked a hat-trick, suddenly he's above Hilf in the pecking order?

Hilf is better on every single other pitch we're playing on this summer. He was not suited for the Gabba and shouldn't have been played - but I could have told you that. The selectors clearly have no fucking idea who can bowl in what conditions and pitches. Which is why we're fucked this series. Hilditch needs a booting.

I'm dubious about Doherty too but I didn't envy bowling spin on that wicket. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt until after Adelaide.

i did that for the 3rd day of the sydney test between india and australia, such a good experience, i got to do both flags twice

No, it's because he has better figures at both Test and FC level, and Hilf looked as likely to take a wicket as Johnson did. That's nothing to do with the pitch, it was to do with the way he bowled. Unless it's overcast, he's near on useless. Hilf never has been, and never will be good enough for Test Cricket. Siddle may be the same, but he's deffinitely a better bowler than Hilf.

it's this, and Hobart slots in anywhere really if its a six test summer. Although iirc, the summer of 2007/08 it went Brisbane, Hobart, MCG, SCG, WACA, Adelaide.

I mean I'm not really defending Hilf here, since we clearly need to replace him as well, but who with? We don't have a wicket taking threat other than Bollinger.

Ryan Harris. Swings and moves the ball as much as Hilf does, but at a quicker pace, which means when the ball isn't moving, he can still hurry the batsman and cause them problems. PLus he can hold a bat.

O'Keefe
Harris
Bollinger
Siddle

That's what I'd go with.

:o Funky picked two New South Welshman :p

Hastings and Holland aren't ready yet, and I like Harris. :p.

Edited by Funky Munky: 30/11/2010 06:21:35 PM

Well yes, but I've already advocated including him (Harris). And I think it will happen. Praise Jebus!

I'd give O'Keefe a shot too. And bat Watto in the middle order and bowl him more. And put Phil Hughes in with Katich to open.

Siddle (because I agree that he won't get dropped after a hat-trick - but I advocate that he should be) opening the bowling with Doug, Harris and Watto at change, O'Keefe and Steve Smith (who I'd bring in for North) as spinners. A much more dangerous and varied attack.

Edited by scouse_roar: 30/11/2010 06:22:38 PM

hold on, make that 2 and half New South Welshman.

Australia's squad announced for the second test tomorrow:
Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Xavier Doherty, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.

As we can see Johnson is goneskies \:d/
According to SMH, Ponting dropeed him due to his wicketless 1st test. I think we can assume that North's bowling performance has probably saved him from loosing his spot too.

Ryan Harris and Dougie Bollinger are both in, but the 12th man won't be named until tomorrow.

source: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/mitchell-johnson-axed-from-second-test-team-20101202-18hew.html?from=smh_sb

FINALLY.

Bollinger, Siddle, Hilfenhaus.

This combination works and I'll demonstrate why.

a) You have a mixture of Left and Right handed bowlers, not that we didn't when Mitch was there

b) Each bowler offers something different in their lines and skills. Hilfenhaus put's it there and there abouts in the corridor of uncertainty. He swings the ball away to the right hander, into the left and often, when on song, causes doubt in batsmens minds with his ability to straighten and hit the seem. Siddle targets 3 main area's, those being just outside off, off and goes direct stump to stump. As we saw in the first innings, he's very aggressive in this sense. Bollinger brings it back in to the right hander and he generally bowls outside off and looks to catch batsman LBW with subtle changes every now and then. He is also a weapon against the left handers. Genuinely swings it away and bowls it on off.

c) All three offer varying lengths. As Hilfenhaus aims to take it away to the right handers, he'll pitch it on a good length, generally fuller. Siddle looks to cramp batsman more and will pepper short of a good length. He uses his sheer pace and persistence to eventually get batsmen to crack, the odd ball that moves results in beating the bat. Bollinger has very good variations in length. He bowls more often than not, just on a good length, causing the batsmen to get stuck on the crease as he makes you think whether to come forward or stay on the back foot. He then also has that change up where he bangs it in and can pepper the batsman short of a length.

These key areas provide a varying and complementing arsenal for our fast bowling attack. Add to that Watson, and I think we're in with a very good line-up.

Still think Doherty decision was a tad weird, but hey, I back spinners and like that if the captain believes in them, then they can be very good. Hauritz again showed for NSW why he is Australia's best spinner at the moment and why people were too scathing and harsh in his performances.

Edited by sanga1: 2/12/2010 03:22:53 PM

Just thinking, with Doherty, Siddle, Bollinger and then Hilfenhaus there's no tail at all there, obviously they're not in the team for their batting but that is a pretty poor tail.

Yeah, Bollinger has to be in there. Has been one of if not the best Australian bowler this year.

Very true and that is where in Mitch, we lose in essence an All-Rounder. Siddle can handle the bat, Doherty is not much better or worse. Bollinger and Hilf are genuine tailender's! Tis is a concern, but that is why the top order must now really perform. If those bottom 4 can scrounge 40-50 runs between them, and support any other batsman, then that'll do

With Harris you have a bit of batting don't you?

I'd rather lose an all rounder than have him bowling for shit.

Bollinger's record this season proves that he deserves to be in there.

7 tests, 208.5 overs, 29 wickets for 685 runs at an average of 23.62.

If you're picking your bowling lineup to bat, you're beyond help. Pick your best 4 bowlers, no matter how good/bad they are with the bat. Harris should be in for Hilf anyway, and he can bat, better than Johnson probably.

Aus to bat. Big boost.

Wow. What a bad start.

:lol: WTF. I just woke up, turned on the TV to see Jimmeh Anderson sprinting across the field. And now he gets another. Jesus Christ. Fucking love Jimmeh.

FML. 3 wickets, 2 runs. Come on 12 I'm going to watch the NBA. Fuck this rubbish.