SA Footy

**** REB
**** DUTCHY
**** INTERCEPTOR
**** ALL YOU C**** ON SA FOOTY

...well, that's what it seemed like to me LOL. A gutsy effort by Katich but I reckon he's the most selfish player in International cricket since Geoff Boycott. We need a Kat ton when he isn't riding on the coat tails of Gilchirst, but at least Katich did his job and not for the first time either (from the 'credit where credit is due dept').

I still think the World Cup is a worry with both Katich and Martyn in the top four when we have better batsmen such as Jacques and Hayden who are plying their wares in domestic cricket.

regards,

REB

Not much of a swear filter hey Wedge?

Rik E Boy wrote:I still think the World Cup is a worry with both Katich and Martyn in the top four when we have better batsmen such as Jacques and Hayden who are plying their wares in domestic cricket.

How is this for a selection theory - drop Martyn, shift Katich to four, and open with Jaques & Gilchrist? Katich batted 6 in test cricket, and opens in ODI's so surely he could slot into number 4. He certainly looks solid enough to play at 4.

If I were a selector though, I'd be pushing for Martyn out, Jaques in and Hussey up to number 4.

Thats a good move, but i would have thought that if you would be wanting Jacques to open in the World cup then you would have been playing him more in this series so he could gain experiance. The window of opptunity is closing. Also WTF does Jacques need to do to get in the team, come on, really the man is a run machine, made 94 in his first match, he is dominating the domestic scene at the moment, one has to ask what else does he need to do????

I think the selector's dilema is trying to find someone to drop to fit him in. It appears that they do not want to change the batting line-up too much, whereby they replace likeness for likeness (Katich out injured, Jaques in/Ponting out, Hodge in).
Obviously Katich is playing too well to warrant being dropped, and dropping the most obvious candidate Martyn and bringing in Jaques would mean a change in the batting line-up. BTW Martyn hasn't exactly been playing poorly either.

I also think that the biggest problem the selectors face is finding someone to replace McGrath. Hopes, Lewis, Dorey, Clark all haven't shown what it takes to be an adequate replacement for Pidge. I think the man for the job is Watson.

Alright Katich finnaly ticked off the "no ton in ODI's" box but there is one left and it is glaring -

WIN A GAME OFF YOUR OWN BAT FOR AUSTRALIA

Why are we looking to drop someone from our batting line up? We have set a few very decent scores and chased some aswell, I reckon the bowling is far more of a concern than our batting!

BubblesOfBlue wrote:Why are we looking to drop someone from our batting line up? We have set a few very decent scores and chased some aswell, I reckon the bowling is far more of a concern than our batting!

Because one dayers are won by batsmen and tests by bowlers *opens up the can of worms*.

regards,

REB

Dutchy wrote:Alright Katich finnaly ticked off the "no ton in ODI's" box but there is one left and it is glaring -

WIN A GAME OFF YOUR OWN BAT FOR AUSTRALIA

You just keep on asking more from him dutchy dont you

stan wrote:

Dutchy wrote:Alright Katich finnaly ticked off the "no ton in ODI's" box but there is one left and it is glaring -

WIN A GAME OFF YOUR OWN BAT FOR AUSTRALIA

You just keep on asking more from him dutchy dont you

Openers in ODI's should be able to do this IMO. We got rid of the 'anchor' theory when Tubby was ousted, true our 'anchor' has a better strike rate than the painfull Tubby but why bring back this old chestnut and roast it on the fire? Why TF do we need an 'anchor' in a 50 over match, especially when the two power plays mean that the field is now up normally for the first twenty overs??? Hayden and Jacques are clearly the better players and we don't need an anchor. A better suggestion is to move Katich down the order to do the 'Bevan role', drop soft Martyn and bringing in the more attacking Jacques to open. Something like this in other words.

GILCHRIST
JACQUES
PONTING
HUSSEY
SYMONDS
KATICH
CLARKE
WATSON
HOGG
LEE
BRACKEN

Supersub CLARK

Not my preferred team as I believe Hadyen must be in the side and I also think Gillespie is a better option than the plethora of newer 'fast medium' men. Despite having more knockers than an episode of Baywatch, I believe that in recent matches Katich has proven his worth in the side as a batsmen but is not attacking enough for mine and should be in the 'Bevan' role. Supersub Clark in for Katich when possible because Katich's fielding is second only to Martyn in terms of 5hite levels.

We should walk it in for the next World Cup but the current strategy is opening the doors for a team like Pakistan. Would you be backing Katich to stand up to Shoab Ahktar on West Indian decks?? No friggin chance. But against the spinners Kat is fine and as such he should be bunting the ball into the gaps with the field back in the last thirty rather than picking out fieldsmen inside the circle and putting additional pressure on to Gilchrist in the first twenty overs.

regards,

REB

Katich is the poor mans Bevan.
Glad Gilly was up the other end as Katich would have seen Australia safely to 230-240.

Normally I hate it when I see not enough Croweaters/Queenslander/blue bagger type comments from people who live in the state a certain player comes from.

However despite the fact I'm a Croweater, even though I don't live in a postcode that starts with 5, I think Cosgrove for his batting was worthy of a trip to see how he goes, given that they have punted with Johnson. The thing about Cosgrove is that he is on the way up and is only going to get better. It is obvious that they are still throwing around combinations with a view to next years World Cup

If you can be critical of the selectors you can accuse them of having a 'squad" mentality and persevering with some players when others outside the team or even the CA contract list are performing at a level that deserves consideration. Not so much Katich in my opinion more so Martyn.

The only doubt about Cosgrove is his fielding and athleticism in the field (not withstanding that catch he took against QLD in his 1st game back). Interesting to note they have used this excuse with Jaques tonight. Mind you under the current rules he could always be subbed out.....

PS good side REB

Katich is still boring to watch.
Again, he needs to produce when others fail.

Dogmatic wrote:Katich is the poor mans Bevan.
Glad Gilly was up the other end as Katich would have seen Australia safely to 230-240.

I believe that Bevan was the most monumentally overrated one day player in the history of cricket and that Katich is in fact, better than him.

regards,

REB

Rik E Boy wrote:

Dogmatic wrote:Katich is the poor mans Bevan.
Glad Gilly was up the other end as Katich would have seen Australia safely to 230-240.

I believe that Bevan was the most monumentally overrated one day player in the history of cricket and that Katich is in fact, better than him.

regards,

REB

What fact do you base that on Prit E Boy?
At least Bevan was capable of winning a game when he didn't bat for himself.

Prit E Boy?? Why thank you Sorry mate, I'm spoken for ha ha.

Well if the definition of overrated is having a majority of observers state that the player in question is better then he actually is, who do you suggest is more overrated than Bevan? Bevan was rated by many observers who should have known better as the best one day batsman in the game at a time when there players of the calibre of Mark Waugh, Sanath Jayasaria and Sachin Tendulkar at their peak. THAT'S overrated and that's what I base that statement on and my opinion. Funny things these Bulletin Boards, people often put forward their opinions.

As for the boredom stakes, Bevan was a least as boring as Katich and as for winning games of his own bat, Bevan had a lengthy ODI career and Kat is just beginning. I have stated more than once on this site that I believe Kat should not open (out of the side is my usual stance of course) as I believe they are similar players and as such Kat should bat down the order as Bevan did.

As for Kat vs. Bevo head to head, I reckon Kat is better against the spinners, they are equal in the field (ie. not that good in comparison to team mates), Bevo played the swinging ball batter and Kat is better at the short stuff..Bevo never had to play against the new bouncer rule and I reckon he'd get sorted quick smart by the short stuff. I can understand you not rating Kat, but Bevo in my opinion was the most overrated one day cricketer I can think of and I am appalled that another player of his style has risen up to take his place at a time when players such as Hayden, Jacques and Cosgrove look on.

regards,

REB

I don't rate Bevan and found him boring to watch milking singles all the time. I'll think you will find Bevan was highly rated against spinners. Bevan was a gun in the field until he did his shoulder in. Take notice of Katich's fielding, he does not have a very good arm and spills a few catches. Bevan's biggest problem was good short pitched bowling. Both batsmen rely on someone scoring heavily at the other end.
I am not convinced with Katich's batting.
Good luck to him in South Africa. After that tour I will be surprised if he survives.

Agree with you REB on Bevan being overrated he seemed to bat to be there at the end aswell which when he didn't last the innings out left bowlers chasing 6 an over which was a tall order.
I also cant believe no one replied to your can of worms!! I agree with you to an extent that bowlers are the key in Tests but an economical bowler in 1 day cricket is pretty bloody valuable to put the pressure on the batsmen to score at the other end.

I agree as well, but I reckon that the bowlers play a bigger part in one dayers than some may give them credit for. Especially "once-in-a-generation" bowlers like McGrath & Warne, who have the ability to not only slow the scoring, but take wickets as well. The best way to stop scoring is to take wickets.

Dutchy wrote:Alright Katich finnaly ticked off the "no ton in ODI's" box but there is one left and it is glaring -

WIN A GAME OFF YOUR OWN BAT FOR AUSTRALIA

I'm no great Katich fan but surely sharing in the best 4th wicket partnership (after they were 3/10) is winning it off your own bat. If he hadn't have hung around I doubt Gilly could have performed like he did