3RD TEST WI V AU

[Grahaml]

And on Chanerpaul, this is getting ridiculous. He gets these not outs for 70 odd too often because he's batting TOO LOW!!!!!! He should be number 4 at least. And the way the Windies have been collapsing regularly he might as well be number 3. But at least that would give him a chance to really make the opposition pay. Put them on the back foot, rather than have them think they can attack the tail for most of his innings which is the current situation. Australia have their best bat in at 3 or 4 almost invariably, and it works superbly. If you can't get them out they've made tons, and often big ones. I can't remember the last time Ponting was stranded less than 100. Chanderpaul batting at least number 4 would put pressure on the opposition bowlers, take pressure off the blokes at the other end and surely would allow the Windies to bat themselves out of losing situations or into winning situations than their current set up.

[Rik E Boy]

Let's give Casson some time. In the short term our quicks will do the job, and Clarke/Symonds offer good back up in the spin department. However, when things get trickier by giving Casson a chance we might end up with a guy who can do a job regularly. Let's not forget that we're not looking for a Warne. That would be nice, but reality says we just want a guy to pose a threat and offer some variation to the attack, especially when the quicks struggle for the breakthrough. Until then though, we can look forward to a very strong tail with Casson and Lee at 8 and 9.

Now be fair Graham. Let's give mal some time. He is an excellent writer. He has made a habit of writing people off on this site for years!

regards,

REB

[mal]

On Beau Casson
I dont want to be disrespectful
Anyone who plays Test Cricket has ability
However he is there becoz WARNE/MACGILL retired, HOGG was not good enough
He is there becoz this is the worst time EVER for spinning prospects in AU
There is simply no one else
I want him to succeed
BUT
They dont call me Kiss of Death for nothing
When I damn a player he usually ends up in oblivion

PS
I am no genuis this time if CASSON does not make the grade, just realstic

EAST AUSTRALIA is 0/85
CHANDERPAUL will be chasing too many to win
KAT is due for a ton !

[Grahaml]

Actually, I'm not so sure this IS the worst time for spin prospects in Oz. I don't remember too many top spinners in the 80s. Matthews was an honest toiler, but were he on the scene right now we'd be saying he wasn't good enough. I think we've had our expectations unfairly raised by the fact we had Warne and MacGill for so long.

[spell_check]

Didn't even know about Road Tennis until then, looks kind of demanding on the back and knees!

http://www.proroadtennis.com/

[Thiele]

Just before lunch dsy 3 Australia in a good postion at 0-152

[mighty_tiger_79]

Jacques gets his 50

aussies in cruise control

[mal]

LUNCH
0/163
78*HUNGRY JAQUES
74* KAT [due for a 100 !!!]
LEAD 198
Those magnificent spin twins BENN/GAYLE wicketless

CHANDERPAUL will be chasing far too many now

[Dirko]

Jaques out for 108

The Kat 108 n.o
Ponting 14 n.o

Aus 1/246........cruising.......

[locky801]

Aust 1/299

Katich 136*

Ponting 39*

[locky801]

Aust 2/299

Ponting gone for 39

The Kat still there

[Hazbeen]

Stumps score

Australia 3/330 lead of 365 with 2 days to play

Jaques 108
Ponting 39
Hussey 18

Katich 148*
Clarke 0*

[stampy]

in an impregnable position now, mike hussey must be concerned about his form in my book

[stan]

Well done to Katich again. Second ton this series and a good one at that. Has really made some good runs on this tour and took his oppurtintiy with both hands and well done to him.

[hearts on fire]

Well done to Jaques, hasn't really made a decent score in a while. Also a well done to Katich, a great knock and hopefully he can go on to make a double ton. I am also concerned with Mike Hussey's form of late, he seems to be getting out around the twenty mark on a regular basis.

Just a question for everyone, what happens when Matthew Hayden comes back? Who do they drop?

[Hazbeen]

Well done to Jaques, hasn't really made a decent score in a while. Also a well done to Katich, a great knock and hopefully he can go on to make a double ton. I am also concerned with Mike Hussey's form of late, he seems to be getting out around the twenty mark on a regular basis.

Just a question for everyone, what happens when Matthew Hayden comes back? Who do they drop?

When Haydos comes back I think it will be Jaques to go, Katich is a better fielder and useful bowler and IMO has better technique.

[Adelaide Hawk]

When will captains from other countries learn that if you want to beat Australia you must bat first? Australia's batting is too strong and will rarely fail twice, so in most cases you will always be facing a reasonable total to make in the 4th innings. It just doesn't make sense to send the Aussies in, just because there's a little early life in the wicket.

In the past 30 years, the time when Australia has struggled most is when they've had to make runs in the 4th innings.

I guess I can understand Chris Gayle doing it, because he plays the game like a parklander, but it just mystifies me that captains never learn. They keep making the same mistakes, and keep handing victories to Australia on a silver platter.

[SOTTERS]

Well done to Jaques, hasn't really made a decent score in a while. Also a well done to Katich, a great knock and hopefully he can go on to make a double ton. I am also concerned with Mike Hussey's form of late, he seems to be getting out around the twenty mark on a regular basis.

Just a question for everyone, what happens when Matthew Hayden comes back? Who do they drop?

Hayden should not get back in, Katich cant be dropped two test hundreds last 3 innings, Jaques a 70 and now a ton in last two innings. Disapointing that Hayden got injured but he will have to wait now until a player loses form or injury. Maybe at his age playing in the IPL was a bad move. He will be 37 when we play our next test against India.

[SOTTERS]

Pressure also mounting on Hussey last 9 Innings 205 runs @ 22. His overall career is brilliant, a couple of more failures in India and he will become under intense pressure to hold his spot.

[rod_rooster]

If and when Hayden is fit he will be picked and rightly so. He is a better player than both Jaques and Katich.