Aussie tour of Sri Lanka
- Thread starter Jeba
- Start date
Bucking Beads
International Captain
- Mar 5, 2008
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He just needs runs.
Bucking Beads
International Captain
- Mar 5, 2008
- 24,608
- 7,911
But he will. Arrogance personified in him
If Ponting comes back it should be at the expense of Khawaja IMO. Don't get me wrong, Khawaja has a bright future in Test cricket, but the maturity and poise shown by Shaun Marsh shows he's the answer at number 3 right now.
I'd bring Ponting back to play at 6.
But, as Beads said, he won't accept that.
Key now as you say is to break this partnership early on day 5. Really need to cause a collapse to have any chance of getting the result.
True, that's an option.
Bucking Beads
International Captain
- Mar 5, 2008
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I'd be in favor of having openers actually open. Marsh is much better suited to batting down the order in tests IMO . Khawaja goes if punter comes back in.
And technique. I hate to be too critical of Hughes with an unorthodox technique, because it was that kind of criticism that kept Hayden out of the Test team for so long, but Hughes lacks the mental toughness Hayden had. Combine that with substandard technique and he's never going to be consistent at this level.
Hughes has to fix one of those areas.
Khawaja seems cool and calm and has a classical technique. He's the real deal. Marsh also showed great commitment and application during his knock, something the Australian top order (bar Watson and Hussey) has lacked in the last 2 years and he's worth persevering with.
Bucking Beads
International Captain
- Mar 5, 2008
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Has improved plenty since he debuted. Is not throwing his wicket away and really doing the job as an opener this series. No big scores yet but it is coming. Gotta look past his weird technique. Would be fine with khawaja staying in the side but he should open not marsh IMO.
I wonder how long we'll ignore the elephant in the room before we start thinking we should move Watson down the order? He's doing a great job, but he's there by default because of lack of opening options. Imagine how much damage he could do to attacks at 5 or 6? He somewhat has the shackles on him as opener because he can't afford to give his wicket away. That's especially so when you've got Ponting at 3 who's as likely to get out for 1 in 40 balls as 12 in 4.
ethos
NRL Player
- Mar 4, 2008
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A top four of Khawaja, Hughes, Marsh and Clarke looks way too brittle. Three are rookies coupled with the fact that Clarke's too flashy and likely to get out in a crisis. Watson's too consistent to move down the order at this point. Plus I think Ponting is in pretty good form. And the jury is still out on Marsh, granted it was great application on debut but flat pitch and his first class record isn't great.
I reckon the side as it stands now is pretty much spot on. Although I'd have O'Keefe as the spinner and Bollinger as 12th man.
I reckon the side as it stands now is pretty much spot on. Although I'd have O'Keefe as the spinner and Bollinger as 12th man.
