Australian Summer Of Cricket '08/'09

[Flutterby]

And Brett Lee is a myth

 

[Browny]

I feel sorry for Haddin and Katich they pretty much carried the batting for both innings

 

[Coxy]

Yep, Australia had 3 players - Haddin, Katich and Johnson.

 

[Browny]

It really shows how much Australia missed S.Clark - His accurate bowling applies the pressure and restricts runs, something Siddle failed at.

Im assuming Symonds was picked over Watson for his spin and medium pace bowling options. So Punter who pushed for his inclusion did not bowl him.

Ponting basically had a one day field so all RSA had to do was knock it around for singles.

Lee lost his pace and accuracy, Kreijza was too expensive but looked dangerous at times (the Brett Lee catch may have made the difference).

RSA showed how to bat with controlled agression and not to throw their wickets away on crap shots. No respect for the bowler is undoing us.

End rant

 

[Coxy]

Agree with everything you said there Browny. Symonds is a shadow, he looks like his heart's not in it, and if he's not going to have his bowling utilised then there's no point. Watson has to play in Melbourne IMO.

And the batsmen all need to look at what SA did. Everyone was laughing when they scored at like 1 an over to start their second innings, but it set the tone. They saw out the new ball and showed they were judging each ball on its merits.

Johnson and Lee got changed, and then Siddle and Krejza sent down copious four balls. And they capitalised.

Compare with the likes of Clarke, Hussey, Ponting, Symonds etc who got out trying to smash balls that weren't there for it. Absolutely ridiculous.

It's a huge worry that Australia had to rely on the tail to put on 100+ in each innings to make it respectable.

 

[Browny]

We are only lucky that we have a tail that in any other team could almost be allrounders - ie Johnston, Lee, Krejza

 

[bob the Smasher]

Also agree with Browny.

I was a bit surprsied at Pontings comments re: changing personnel. (Unless that was just typical media hype)

Only problem with Watson for Symonds is his batting is up and down. Watson is a bowling allrounder, and given Hayden and Husseys form, I don't think they can risk Watson.

 

[Coxy]

I'd include Watson for Siddle. Siddle was utterly useless.

At least with Watson at 7 or 8 the batting has another level of depth, plus he can bowl.

 

[Browny]

Siddle needs to go, he did absolutely nothing. We have plenty of pace bowlers waiting in the wings like Hilfenhaus and Tate to name a couple of the top of my head.

Im prepared to stick with Krejza as he is always a chance. Once he gets his consistency right he will take bagfulls, just cant be soo expensive.

This is Hayden last series if he doesnt get it going. Jacques, Rogers, Marsh and Co are lining up and you cant keep them waiting too much longer.

My team once Hayden is gone:

M. Hussey
Katich
Ponting
Clarke (He needs to be at number 4 as he seems to stop the collapse of wickets quite regularly)
D. Hussey
Symonds/Watson
Hadden
Lee
Johnston
Krejza
???? maybe Tate

12th man who knows

 

[winnie_992]

Who got man of the match?

 

[Browny]

Siddle?

 

[bob the Smasher]

I'd include Watson for Siddle. Siddle was utterly useless.

At least with Watson at 7 or 8 the batting has another level of depth, plus he can bowl.

In that case that is not a bad way to go. Watson will need to bowl very well though, cosnidering how much Lee is lackin ing penetration.

Rogers in for Hayden would be worth considering as well.

 

[BroncoMatt]

AB De Villiers

 

[Browny]

AB De Villiers

Good pair of hands on him to go with his batting

 

[Beachy]

And Brett Lee is a myth

[eusa_clap.gi [eusa_clap.gi [eusa_clap.gi

I was going to say he's a has-been, but on thinking about it a bit more, I'm of the opinion he's a never-was. His bowling is very similar to Ponting's captaincy IMO - the same-old, same-old, without any variety or imagination. Credit to Lee for managing to capture 300+ Test wickets, but the fact that he's never once managed to snare more than 5 wickets in a single innings says it all to me. Leader of the attack my @rse - get rid of him now I say.

If I was Mitchell Johnson, I'd be filthy at the lack of support my fellow bowlers had offered me. And for Ponting to come out and have a whinge about the state of the pitch, when Sth Africa managed to take 20 wickets, speaks volumes for a man who once again ran out of ideas when it really mattered.

 

[ethos]

Ponting's captaincy has always been questionable and without Warne / McGrath to throw the ball to, he's being exposed. But, in saying that, most captains would struggle to get wickets from the likes of Siddle and Krezja and Lee at the moment.

The selectors are the ones who should be put under pressure. Cameron White's selection in India was bonkers, and I have no idea how Siddle has made the side considering the dominace of Bolliger, Hilfenhaus and Noffke in state cricket over the past few seasons. Symonds should never have waltzed back into the test side either, especially after Watson's efforts in India.

Watson should be there instead of Symonds and one of Bollinger, Noffke or Hilfenhaus at the expense of Siddle.

edit: full credit to SA though, great determination througout the whole match.

 

[robbie mustoe]

And Brett Lee is a myth

[eusa_clap.gi [eusa_clap.gi [eusa_clap.gi

I was going to say he's a has-been, but on thinking about it a bit more, I'm of the opinion he's a never-was. His bowling is very similar to Ponting's captaincy IMO - the same-old, same-old, without any variety or imagination. Credit to Lee for managing to capture 300+ Test wickets, but the fact that he's never once managed to snare more than 5 wickets in a single innings says it all to me. Leader of the attack my @rse - get rid of him now I say.

If I was Mitchell Johnson, I'd be filthy at the lack of support my fellow bowlers had offered me. And for Ponting to come out and have a whinge about the state of the pitch, when Sth Africa managed to take 20 wickets, speaks volumes for a man who once again ran out of ideas when it really mattered.

I am not a Brett Lee fan but to say that a man who has taken 300 test wickets is a "never-was" is utterly retarded.

Still, it is you.

 

[mrslong]

Last year was Lee's one and only good season as far as I am concerned. Before last season he got most of his wickets cleaning up tail enders after McGrath and Warne ripped through the top order batsmen for him.

Johnson should be filthy, I agree! Where was his support? Lee has nothing and should be goornne. Leave Hayden in for the Melbourne test match though.