WA V QLD p/c game Watson + Symonds allround good guys.

[mal]

Both teams have selected imposing batting line ups in the p/c game at the WACA.
And the Watson v Symonds showings

WA were cruising at 1/97 and enter Andrew Symonds who was bowling to
the star studded WA batting line up of
Langer, Rogers,Hussey,Martyn,North and Gilchrist
WA now 8/203
Symonds 10 overs 3/18 including the scalps of Rogers, North and Gilchrist
My mate Watson 13 overs 0/24
Watson + Symonds both playing for Australia Ist test ?
The other brilliant allrounder Hopes has 0/25[capable of playing in the
Australian o/d team in the West Indies]

And when we thought that Clark/Tait/Bracken would support Mcgrath/Lee in
steps left handed star Mitchell Johnson with 3/52 dismissing Martyn and the
prize wicket of Mike Hussey.
The Australian selectors will be having nice nightmares.

QLD look winners against the unmenacing WA attack of
Dorey,Gilles,Mcgoffin,Edmonson and Hogg.

I had thought 2 years ago that Australian cricket would struggle to replace
this current batch of aging Test superstars, but the depth is coming through
in the strongest domestic comp in the world.

[sydney-dog]

Mal

I know your a Watto fan but I am a Huge Roy fan, I love what he brings to the team, he is a world class fielder, his batting has mmatured out of sight, he now know's how to construct an innings when he is required too and for a fourth seamer or off spin bowler he does the job

[rod_rooster]

Agreed sydney-dog. Symonds is an exceptional batsmen and is steady with the ball. Watson is steady but not brilliant or match winning with either.

[mal]

I reckon Watson is the better batsman in 5 day games.
Roy is the better in the o/d arena and a better fielder and a better spinner
but against the Poms Watto with speeds up to 14o km should get the nod.
Why not play both, and drop Martyn whose best recent form is in the o/d games.


WA all out 208

Johnson 4/56
Roy 3/18
Watson 0/24

[rod_rooster]

I reckon Watson is the better batsman in 5 day games.
Roy is the better in the o/d arena and a better fielder and a better spinner
but against the Poms Watto with speeds up to 14o km should get the nod.
Why not play both, and drop Martyn whose best recent form is in the o/d games.


WA all out 208

Johnson 4/56
Roy 3/18
Watson 0/24

We'll have to agree to disagree mal. Watson is an OK batsmen but nothing special. Same goes for his bowling. Neither would get him a spot on it's own so he shouldn't play. That's my opinion anyway. Symonds' batting is so dangerous if an all rounder is picked it should be him. Once again just my opinion. If i had it my way neither would play although the excitement factor of Symonds might persuade me. Can turn a game with the bat very quicky. He and Gilchrist in full flight and batting together would be wonderful to watch.

Australia's best chance for a quality all rounder in the foreseeable future is Moses Henriques. The guy has the potential to be something very special.

[mal]

I reckon Watson is the better batsman in 5 day games.
Roy is the better in the o/d arena and a better fielder and a better spinner
but against the Poms Watto with speeds up to 14o km should get the nod.
Why not play both, and drop Martyn whose best recent form is in the o/d games.


WA all out 208

Johnson 4/56
Roy 3/18
Watson 0/24

We'll have to agree to disagree mal. Watson is an OK batsmen but nothing special. Same goes for his bowling. Neither would get him a spot on it's own so he shouldn't play. That's my opinion anyway. Symonds' batting is so dangerous if an all rounder is picked it should be him. Once again just my opinion. If i had it my way neither would play although the excitement factor of Symonds might persuade me. Can turn a game with the bat very quicky. He and Gilchrist in full flight and batting together would be wonderful to watch.

Australia's best chance for a quality all rounder in the foreseeable future is Moses Henriques. The guy has the potential to be something very special.

Roy as a test batsman NO
Roy as a o/d batsman YES
He is a repeated failure as a test batter, BUT IS ONLY 1 GOOD INNINGS AWAY.

[rod_rooster]

Equally:

Watson as a test batsman - No

Watson as a test bowler - No

Just my opinion though and i have a feeling the selectors may see it differently in an attempt to conjure up a quality all rounder that simply does not exist in Shane Watson.

[mal]

Equally:

Watson as a test batsman - No

Watson as a test bowler - No

Just my opinion though and i have a feeling the selectors may see it differently in an attempt to conjure up a quality all rounder that simply does not exist in Shane Watson.

Got to agree with you, but you need to agree to:

Symonds as a test batsman-No
Symonds as a test bowler-No

[rod_rooster]

Equally:

Watson as a test batsman - No

Watson as a test bowler - No

Just my opinion though and i have a feeling the selectors may see it differently in an attempt to conjure up a quality all rounder that simply does not exist in Shane Watson.

Got to agree with you, but you need to agree to:

Symonds as a test batsman-No
Symonds as a test bowler-No

Fair enough. I think of the 2 though i'd prefer to have Symonds purely because of his potential to turn games with the bat but neither are in the top 6 batsmen in the country. Basically both players as test cricketers - No.

[Rik E Boy]

I believe that both Symonds and Watson are both Test Cricketers. However, what is the defintion of 'Test Cricketer'?

For me it is this..that they have the ability to make runs, take catches and wickets and field well at the highest level. Are posters on this site trying to say that Watson and Symonds cannot do this just becuause they don't bat well enough to be a specialist batsman or bowler? Are they not 'Test Cricketers' because of the high standard of Australian Cricket? Australia could field two elevens and both would be in the top four at the end of a five year test cycle in my view.

Symonds and Watson are both genuine allrounders and to be writing off Watson at this stage of his career is premature at best and foolhardy at worst. Watto is only just starting his career mes amis and WILL get better. Symonds has had opportunites to make himself a permanent part of the Australian XI and I believe it is most unfortunate for Australian Cricket that he has so far been unable to grasp them as he is one of the most talented cricketers of his generation.

For those not prepared to give 'the nod' to Watson and Symonds because they are not specilaists..what are the alternatives? Pup or Katich as a number six does not excite. Jaques as a middle order player may work but that option will leave us with only four bowling options for the test. The (relative) weakness of current number six batting options for Australia at this point provides the perfect opportunity to develop Watson in the all rounder role.

I believe the only real criticism of Watson is he is not Ian Botham or Keith Miller. Now these blokes aren't once in a generation, more like once in every three or four decades. Does our all rounder need to be THAT good considering the current strength of Australian cricket? I would suggest that he does not and the selection of Watson or the less likely selection of Symonds would be a far better selection than that of Michael Clarke. Watson has the ability to cover the recent tallies of a Katich or Clarke at test level and he can also take wickets as well. Watson should be selected for the Gabba test becuause, sorry boys, Keith Miller is unavailable.

regards,

REB

[am Bays]

Keith Miller, I love hs quote when asked about pressure on a criket field,

"It is hard to think of anything on a cricket field being "pressure" when you've had a Messerschmitt up your arse"

[Rik E Boy]

Yep, good quote that one.

regards,

REB

[JK]

I think you're right REB, most punters (and the ACB I might add) want to see us unveil a Freddie Flintoff, and unfairly our guys get judged against the best allrounder currently going.

BTW, depending on the conditions, opposition, and the rest of the lineup I'd take Symonds over Watson.

[mal]

WA 208
QL 4/222

Watto v Simmo v Hopey

In come Watson at 2/125 after Haydens 76.
Out went Watson at 3/125......made 0

In come Symonds at 3/125
Out went Symonds at 4/128....made 3

Maybe we should talk about Jimmy Hopes being the OZ allrounder

Love 91 not out
Perron 20 not out

SCORES

WA 208
QL 5/369

LOVE 180
HOPES 49

Martin Love for the number 6 spot ist test ?
Jimmy HOPES the forgotton allrounder for 1st test ?

SCORES

Forget watto/simmo/hopey because

LOVE C gilchrist b HUSSEY 186

4 bowlers + Hussey ist test now !!!!!!!!!

WA 208
QL 6/390
HOPES 58 NOT OUT

[mal]

Day 3
WA 208 + 5/231 Martyn[23] North[2]
QL 509 Love [186] Hopes[90]

The great white HOPEs has clearly won the battle of the allrounders
with a 90 in QLD's mammoth 509
WA 5/231 still about 70 shy of QLD's score with 1 day left
Check this out HUSSEY c Hartley B Hopes [0]

Watto/Royboy/Hopefull/

RUNS

Watson 0
Symonds 3
Hopes 90

BOWLING

Watson 0/24 + 0/13
Symonds 3/18 + 1/75
Hopes 1/49 + 2/38

The great white HOPEs is winning the battle.

[Dogwatcher]

Keith Miller, I love hs quote when asked about pressure on a criket field,

"It is hard to think of anything on a cricket field being "pressure" when you've had a Messerschmitt up your arse"

Tassie, as much as I love reading about Keith Miller and I love the legacy he's given us....I'm so tired of this quote. It's greatness is becoming tainted by overuse.

However, to test Keith's theory, maybe we should fly some of our boys over to Iraq to hang out with our troops over there for a while, then they'll know pressure....

[mal]

Keith Miller, I love hs quote when asked about pressure on a criket field,

"It is hard to think of anything on a cricket field being "pressure" when you've had a Messerschmitt up your arse"

Tassie, as much as I love reading about Keith Miller and I love the legacy he's given us....I'm so tired of this quote. It's greatness is becoming tainted by overuse.

However, to test Keith's theory, maybe we should fly some of our boys over to Iraq to hang out with our troops over there for a while, then they'll know pressure....

Not a bad reply

[mal]

Day 3
WA 208 + 5/231 Martyn[23] North[2]
QL 509 Love [186] Hopes[90]

The great white HOPEs has clearly won the battle of the allrounders
with a 90 in QLD's mammoth 509
WA 5/231 still about 70 shy of QLD's score with 1 day left
Check this out HUSSEY c Hartley B Hopes [0]

Watto/Royboy/Hopefull/

RUNS

Watson 0
Symonds 3
Hopes 90

BOWLING

Watson 0/24 + 0/13
Symonds 3/18 + 1/75
Hopes 1/49 + 2/38

The great white HOPEs is winning the battle.

WA all out 285

Roy 2/96
Watto 2/30
Hopey 2/38

QL win outright in 3 days !