Test Squad for South African Tour - predictions & discussion

[Spargo]

It's one batsmen, don't start making excuses for the red backs before the event.

Whatever theory the selectors currently ride with, Hughes deserves to be in the Australian touring Squad.

[shoe boy]

The Cricket God's have intervened in this one thankfully and the right bloke is headed to South Africa.

Marsh out, Hughes in http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2014/1/30/phil-hughes-replaces-shaun-marsh-on-south-africa-tour

26 tests ave 32

[woodublieve12]

How many chances has Phil Hughes had to secure his spot in the Australian team????

[bennymacca]

How many chances has Phil Hughes had to secure his spot in the Australian team????

Who else would you take?

Give me a single player that is still playing shield that has a better record than him?

[woodublieve12]

How many chances has Phil Hughes had to secure his spot in the Australian team????

Who else would you take?

Give me a single player that is still playing shield that has a better record than him?

i'd take Klinger before i'd take hughes.... Give someone a crack who hasbn't had one before. Phil Hughes should change his name to Mittens because he's had more lives then a cat...

[bennymacca]

Well he got dropped unfairly both times imo. 32 isn't a great record but warners average was about there until the recent series

Not saying he will come in and dominate, just that I don't think there are any other better qualified, and he has been scoring runs at shield level. How marsh got picked in the first place is one of life's great mysteries.

[bennymacca]

Reckon Dolan at 3 and Watson at 6 is a lock for the first test though

[Footy Smart]

enriques is only 26, (turns 27 in a few days) and averages 32 with the bat and 28 with the ball at shield level. only had 6 tests too, so i dont think it is a tried and failed proposition.

happy for him to go, faulkner has jumped ahead of him, that is the only reason he isnt playing more international cricket right now.

people seem to forget that almost all youngsters are dropped at one point in their career.

hayden
langer
clarke
steve waugh
brett lee

could have easily been warne too

and Ponting.

Also one of my favourites to watch at full flight Damien Martyn

[bennymacca]

yeah good one, didnt think of him.

[whufc]

Reckon Dolan at 3 and Watson at 6 is a lock for the first test though

Sounds good to me!

[mal]

Reckon Dolan at 3 and Watson at 6 is a lock for the first test though

Sounds good to me!

Good thinking
Lets replace the current number 3 who has scored 2 centuries in his last 6 Tests
The same person who averages about 42 batting at 3 in his career, and then backs up to be a handy 5th bowler
And replace him at 3 with a rookie against arguably the most feared pace attack in the universe
Yeah lets bat the current number 3 down the order where he averages about 30 odd
Just beat England 5-0 , yeah good thinking lets tamper with the batting line up

Come on Benny, WHUFC , you blokes are 2 smart to actually believe Doolan at this point of time should bat 6 in front of Watson


Hope Alex Doolan makes lotsa runs IF he is selected
But I doubt he is capable enough

[bennymacca]

Well why would they drop a lower order batsmen in bailey and bring in all top order batsmen?

Watsons technique against quality pace bowling is still suspect too, I assume that's why they brought marsh and Doolan in to begin with, to be more solid against the new ball.

[David Brent]

Well why would they drop a lower order batsmen in bailey and bring in all top order batsmen?

Watsons technique against quality pace bowling is still suspect too, I assume that's why they brought marsh and Doolan in to begin with, to be more solid against the new ball.

Plenty of top order bats have started their career batting at 6. Punter & Langer both had stints there. Put Doolan 6 & he can move up the order in the future if need be.

[bennymacca]

That's a fair point. Most of my reasoning comes from an interview with boof during the big bash, where they asked him about Watson, and where he saw him in the order, and he replied with yeah I think 3 is the right spot for him. And then after a pause, there or 6. And just the way he said it struck me, like he didn't really need to say it but was leaving that option there. So I think he still wants Watson to bat at 6 eventually, but yeah as you point out, he might start off Dolan at 6 and let him establish himself before switching

[mal]

Well why would they drop a lower order batsmen in bailey and bring in all top order batsmen?

Watsons technique against quality pace bowling is still suspect too, I assume that's why they brought marsh and Doolan in to begin with, to be more solid against the new ball.

Nothing wrongggg with your logic
But , personally, I think its illogical to change the batting line up right NOW
Quote this back at me if SsSsSSsSsSsteyn, Morkel and Philander make Watson an abject failure though

If Watto can average between 35-50 against that attack, that's a pass mark for me

[bennymacca]

35-50 is a pass for any batsmen in the world against the saffers on their decks

[whufc]

Agree if Watto can average 35 at 3 this series that is job done.

Yeah he batted well there this series but it was on some nice decks against a fairly flat attack with the exception of Broad.

I guess like how alot of people see Smith I just can't get past Wattos flaws to see him being a test number 3. For me he doesn't

-score runs freely enough (it's either a 4 or and edge for a single)
-he can't work singles and means the non striker at times goes 15minutes or so not facing
-he is a terrible runner between wickets
-his techniques means his a sitting duck against balls that seam (swinging ball isn't as big an issue)
-hits to many balls in the air for a number 3

I hope I'm wrong and he has a great series, I think his to valuable a player (worlds best 5th bowler imho) to not be somewhere in that side.

I agree for this series against the saffers Watto at 3 and easing Doolan into the side is a common sense safe deciscion, long term though I don't think we have found a number 3 yet

[bennymacca]

-score runs freely enough (it's either a 4 or and edge for a single)
-he can't work singles and means the non striker at times goes 15minutes or so not facing
-he is a terrible runner between wickets
-his techniques means his a sitting duck against balls that seam (swinging ball isn't as big an issue)
-hits to many balls in the air for a number 3

all of these are almost positives for a number 6 batsman. a run a ball 60 when batting at number 6 takes the game away from your opposition and makes him a matchwinner, the same innings at number 3 leaves you thinking he should have gone on with it to make a big score.

[Grahaml]

What's this rubbish idea that somehow a guy who bats 3 can't bat 6? A bloke can score runs in the toughest batting slot in the side but then can't in the easiest? That makes zero sense.

[bennymacca]

What's this rubbish idea that somehow a guy who bats 3 can't bat 6? A bloke can score runs in the toughest batting slot in the side but then can't in the easiest? That makes zero sense.

Not sure anyone is suggesting that, more that moving watto down can be better for both him and Doolan/Hughes