3rd Ashes Test - WACA

[smithy]

Proof MJ was dropped.

A quote from the article

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/the-a ... 5964780485

Asked why Johnson failed to receive the kind of backing from selectors that had been shown to Australia's struggling middle-order batsmen, Ponting replied: "Good question, you might have to ask Andrew Hilditch that."

Hilditch rejected all interview requests.

Ponting and coach Tim Nielsen were consulted by selectors before Johnson was dumped.

Bizarrely, on Wednesday night, nearly 12 hours after Johnson had been told of his sacking, selector Greg Chappell said he knew nothing about the decision.
Cricket Australia explained yesterday that Chappell had not checked his voice messages because he was at the movies.

"I'm not a selector," Ponting said. "We have four selectors of which I am not one. The coach is not one.

"When it comes to big decisions like this one, they are wholly and solely made by the selection panel.

[mal]

Cooky monSTAR and the norMALly composered Strauss are gunna have sleepless nights
Beware of the BOG [best on ground] today
MJ pummelled the bowlers
MJ bowled 2 very good overs b4 stumps
If butter fingered HUSSEY could catch it would have been a big day for MJ

IF he bowls anything like he did today, he will scare the British batsman this Test game
MJ and the outa form AU skipper are the only 2 players capable of turning it on the next 4 days to level the series 1 all

The Ashes will be decided TOMorrow IF the Mitchman can produce
First thing Ponting needs to do is bowl him first up TOMorrow , thats all I ask

[Killa]

Can not wait until Chappell is chairman of selectors as there will be mass changes with young blood coming in with a never say die attitude and taking the game on like smith did in India. If he hit Australia win.

[NFC]

The team I'd like to see representing Australia next summer:

1. Hughes
2. Watson
3. Khawaja
4. Clarke
5. Ferguson
6. Smith
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. O'Keefe
10. Hazlewood
11. Copeland

I'm still not convinced Ponting is done though.

[smithy]

NFC - Despite hughes poor form in the shield this season, I agree he should've got a spot in this test.

He had a flying start to his career and I'm glad he got a gig rather than a 29 year old recylced cricketer.

After seeing his disMissAL in the 1st Innings, he obviously has major psychological issues in his head or he just ain't a test cricketer.

his dismissal was one of a person afraid of the short ball and getting a full ball. = poor defence.
There is a suburb in France named after Australia's top order....................Toulouse.

[NFC]

NFC - Despite hughes poor form in the shield this season, I agree he should've got a spot in this test.

He had a flying start to his career and I'm glad he got a gig rather than a 29 year old recylced cricketer.

After seeing his disMissAL in the 1st Innings, he obviously has major psychological issues in his head or he just ain't a test cricketer.

his dismissal was one of a person afraid of the short ball and getting a full ball. = poor defence.
There is a suburb in France named after Australia's top order....................Toulouse.

You're right, it was a very dodgy looking dismissal. However, I'm still a huge fan, and I think he just purely and simply, MUST be persisted with. I think the kid copped awful treament. Lets look at his test career innings by innings:

0. Some people immediately think why did we pick this bloke after he slashes at a wide one in the 4th ball of a test.
75. Probably would've made a ton if not for a freakish catch by ABDV.
115. Speaks for itself.
160. Speaks for itself. 2 centuries in the one match against the best bowling attack in the world, amazing.
33. Failed to convert a good start.
32. Failed to convert a good start.
36. First Ashes experience, makes 36, a solid knock but just failed to convert again.
4. His first fail since opening innings.
17. “Caught” behind by Strauss, when replays clearly showed ball hit ground. Was then dropped on, realistically, one poor innings. This is where the problems began, the obvious loss of confidence stemmed from the axing here.
0. Back into the team to replace injured Katich.
37. Was looking good, opening partnership of a 100, but again failed to turn a 30 into a bigger score.
20. Tour of New Zealand, in to replace Watson.
86*. Came off only 75 balls, 12 fours and a six. Scored 86 out of team total of 106.

So really, for all the bad press he gets, he’s still got an impressive record for a guy who’s just turned 22 who has played on foreign soil against some strong teams. GIVE HIM A GO. I get that his technique is suspect, and that he needs to put a lot of work into sorting out his obvious issues. Struggles with the short ball, worries about it so much that his defence for the full balls is often insufficient. When he gets out, it’ll often look ugly, and people start talking. With that said, he’s just turned 22, has scored a mountain of runs already in his FC career, and he’s clearly got talent. He’s got that ability to turn starts into big scores (although many 30’s in tests already), he can punish opposition bowling line-ups when he gets going, and he can score quickly and turn the momentum of matches. He’s a match winner.

He’s far from perfect, and he’ll fail a lot in the early stages of his career. But give him a decent go, and I mean DECENT, and I think he’ll come good on his potential. I don’t care if he fails for the rest of this series, you leave him in and let him learn and develop. I don’t care if he doesn’t pass 10 for 10 straight innings, as long as he’s still got confidence in his own ability then I’d back him. He’s still just a kid, all players have to battle demons to become quality players, he’s currently battling his, but all I ask is for Hughes to be given a fair and proper go and give him the support he needs. Make sure he knows that he has the full backing of everyone in CA and that even if he fails, he’ll be given time to establish himself.

[NFC]

Oh and one last thing RE Hughes, if he really was as bad as people were saying, he wouldn't have the record he does in tests.

South Africa said they'd figured him out after the 1st test where he made 75, they said they'd ball short all the time, he goes and makes twin tons. Third test, makes two 30's, even after they'd "woken up" to him.

Then all the talk from the Poms about how they've got him, well he still goes and makes 30 odd. I know it's not a whole lot, but if you listened to the talk you'd imagine he made 3 straight ducks in England. He made a start, failed once, and was cheated once. Hardly as horrific as you're lead to believe.

Then he makes a blazing 86* against NZ. Again, if he was that bad, he wouldn't be makings these scores, or getting off to these starts. My point is that he's always copped it from opponents, media, "fans", and he's still made runs. He makes runs, that's what he does. He looks ugly, he gets out looking awful, but he's got talent, and when he makes a start, look out, because he's likely to explode. Back him in for crying out loud!!

[Killa]

The team I'd like to see representing Australia next summer:

1. Hughes
2. Watson
3. Khawaja
4. Clarke
5. Ferguson
6. Smith
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. O'Keefe
10. Hazlewood
11. Copeland

I'm still not convinced Ponting is done though.

Ponting should bat out the series at 3 then really consider moving to 5 or 6. He look good with the intent of making runs but undone with the catch of the series. And it will be funny when people complain about too many NSW players in the test team when they are really the only state developing good young talent.

[Footy Smart]

The team I'd like to see representing Australia next summer:

1. Hughes
2. Watson
3. Khawaja
4. Clarke
5. Ferguson
6. Smith
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. O'Keefe
10. Hazlewood
11. Copeland

I'm still not convinced Ponting is done though.

Ponting should bat out the series at 3 then really consider moving to 5 or 6. He look good with the intent of making runs but undone with the catch of the series. And it will be funny when people complain about too many NSW players in the test team when they are really the only state developing good young talent.

NFC you cant be serious about O'Keefe he is exactly the same as Doherty. 1 good game and the public fall in love with him, Hughes- well the other teams have worked him out and he wont make it at test level unfortunately. His technique has to many floors

Time should be put into Cowan, Lynn, Kuwaja, mitch Marsh(Watsons role), Mattinson and Ferg.... They are the future of Autralian batting

[Booney]

*In your best Richie voice*

What a catch WHAT A CATCH!

[mighty_tiger_79]

good summary NFC, put it like that he certainly isnt the worst going around and probably shouldnt have been dropped at the time

[Jim05]

You cant be serious FS
Doherty averages 48 in ss
Okeefe averages 24
Okeefe best spinner in aus by a mile IMO
Kept out of NSW by hauritz and the golden boy.
Dont be suprised if okeefe plays last test in sydney

[Lightning McQueen]

I wouldn't be surprised if Z.Owen plays in the Sydney test.

[Gingernuts]

I wouldn't be surprised if Z.Owen plays in the Sydney test.

I wouldn't be surprised if I played in the Sydney test

[Footy Smart]

You cant be serious FS
Doherty averages 48 in ss
Okeefe averages 24
Okeefe best spinner in aus by a mile IMO
Kept out of NSW by hauritz and the golden boy.
Dont be suprised if okeefe plays last test in sydney

Im not saying Doherty etc are better than o'Keefe, im saying is that people have fallen in love with O'Keefe after 1 game simialr to Doherty, hence the same result will be achieved by selecting him.

How many FC games has O'Keefe played? averages can be miss leading with minimal games (did he just have a good game or 2? Possibly, has he done enough to deserve the best spinner in AUS tag? A BIG FAT NO)

[Booney]

I wouldn't be surprised if Z.Owen plays in the Sydney test.

I wouldn't be surprised if I played in the Sydney test

*ahem*

I would be...

[Gingernuts]

I wouldn't be surprised if Z.Owen plays in the Sydney test.

I wouldn't be surprised if I played in the Sydney test

*ahem*

I would be...

I produced some very handy left arm spin in my indoor cricket days. That seems to be enough to get in the queue for a baggy green.

[Gingernuts]

Was just reading the addies rundown of yesterday's play and came across this diabolical stat:

Hussey's 401 runs are more than the rest of Australia's top-order combined.

Dear o dear o dear.

[Rik E Boy]

I wouldn't be surprised if Z.Owen plays in the Sydney test.

I wouldn't be surprised if I played in the Sydney test

I bowl left arm crap as well and I'm from NSW. I'm a shoe in!

regards,

REB

[Jim05]

Dont worry about the bowling, we have to find top order batsmen that can last more than 10 minutes.
Its a disgrace when siddle looks technically better than our number 4 and 6 batters.