Second test, Aust vs NZ hobart starting Friday

[scoob]

The only problem is, we are seriously lacking young batting talent in this country. Even Khawaja hasn't really earned his spot yet and he is probably the pick of them... I think Hussey, Haddin and Ponting still add value & their experience shouldn't just be thrown away all at once.

A lot of people said David Warner hadn't proved his worth yet either. But maybe you have a point - retain either ponting or hussey at 5/6 and promote Cowan and bring back watto and Marsh... Its ok to go full on young with the bowling line up but we need to continue with only experience batsmen? Why?

Hussey and Ponting are two of the best fielders in world cricket. Both are proven batsmen currently out of form - doesn't mean they won't regain it. I remember just over 12 months ago the same great Aussie knockers were calling for Hussey's head - he was easily our best batsman only last summer. If they are to be replaced, it must be by a player who is in outstanding 1st class form - Australian Test sides should not be selected on the basis of age - Warner is a must keep and the bowling looks ok. We must keep at least one or two proven, experienced batsmen or India will embarrass us !

Embarass us?!?!?!?!? I would think getting trashed 3-1 at home by a team that hadn't won a series in Australia for 20+ years is an embarassment, getting bowled out for 47 then losing by 8 wickets after leading on the first innings is an embarassment, getting beaten on our home deck by the 8th rank test playing national, who haven't won a test in Australia for 20+ years is an embarassment... these blokes are getting embarassed constantly. But why change? Why give the young guys a go when the older players are doing so well? These youngs blokes have really struggled since they have been given a chance - Marsh, Lyon, Cummings, Pattison, Warner...

[MAY-Z]

Guess we should keep ponting since he made a half century in brisbane. He is in such good form.

I dont see why we wouldnt play cowan (in outstanding form), watson and marsh if all fit. drop hughes, ponting and hussey.

Ponting HAS to go. May as well get games into some one else considering he is continue to fail.

Ponting is averaging over 40 in his last 4 digs, what has he done wrong apart from being Australia's best batsmen since Bradman?

just because he is a north melbourne supporter you think he is in sublime form

what has he done right since the hobart test of 2010? he has a batting average of 27 over 17 tests in the same time katich averaged 46, even hughes has a higher average

[The Sleeping Giant]

The only problem is, we are seriously lacking young batting talent in this country. Even Khawaja hasn't really earned his spot yet and he is probably the pick of them... I think Hussey, Haddin and Ponting still add value & their experience shouldn't just be thrown away all at once.

A lot of people said David Warner hadn't proved his worth yet either. But maybe you have a point - retain either ponting or hussey at 5/6 and promote Cowan and bring back watto and Marsh... Its ok to go full on young with the bowling line up but we need to continue with only experience batsmen? Why?

Hussey and Ponting are two of the best fielders in world cricket. Both are proven batsmen currently out of form - doesn't mean they won't regain it. I remember just over 12 months ago the same great Aussie knockers were calling for Hussey's head - he was easily our best batsman only last summer. If they are to be replaced, it must be by a player who is in outstanding 1st class form - Australian Test sides should not be selected on the basis of age - Warner is a must keep and the bowling looks ok. We must keep at least one or two proven, experienced batsmen or India will embarrass us !

Embarass us?!?!?!?!? These youngs blokes have really struggled since they have been given a chance - Marsh, Lyon, Cummings, Pattison, Warner...

2 are out injured, and the other 3 have played 2 tests against the 8th ranked test side. Why not mention the failures? Khawaja, Hughes, Starc just from this series.

Ponting and Hussey have a few tickets up there sleeve.

All great eras come to an end. It happened with the West indies, it has happened with Australia. It happened with Port, Sturt, and will happen with Centrals.

[scoob]

2 are out injured, and the other 3 have played 2 tests against the 8th ranked test side. Why not mention the failures? Khawaja, Hughes, Starc just from this series.

Ponting and Hussey have a few tickets up there sleeve.

All great eras come to an end. It happened with the West indies, it has happened with Australia. It happened with Port, Sturt, and will happen with Centrals.

And performed, unlike others in the side who didn't perform... all eras end -I understrand that by why live in the past and hang on to past glories - how will that benefit us in 2 years time?

Hughes not up to it - Khawaja was pretty was much opening the batting (also got run out by Ponting) and starc probably not quite there yet - you can't expect every young player to come in to perform but you have to at least give them a chance. Can you say that Ponting will perform better than Marsh, Hughes better than Cowan, Hussey better than Watson - if they are at least 50-50 propositions I would think going with the younger option would be more beneficial in the long run.

I hope like hell that ponting and hussey turn their form around if they get picked - I would love to see them demolish the indians, but I dont want to go through the whole pick players because they once played well ala Mitchell Johnson... hoping they will return into some form.

[Dutchy]

Guess we should keep ponting since he made a half century in brisbane. He is in such good form.

I dont see why we wouldnt play cowan (in outstanding form), watson and marsh if all fit. drop hughes, ponting and hussey.

Ponting HAS to go. May as well get games into some one else considering he is continue to fail.

Ponting is averaging over 40 in his last 4 digs, what has he done wrong apart from being Australia's best batsmen since Bradman?

just because he is a north melbourne supporter you think he is in sublime form

what has he done right since the hobart test of 2010? he has a batting average of 27 over 17 tests in the same time katich averaged 46, even hughes has a higher average

Ha, what has North Melbourne got to do with it

If that was the case Id be harping on about Siddle also.....seriously.

Ever thought of what else he brings to the team in the form of fielding and leadership for the young guys?

Again no one can tell me who you replace him with and earnt the right to replace the 2nd best batsmen this country has produced.

[Ruben Carter]

how old is Tendulkar??? Should he also be sacked?

[scoob]

how old is Tendulkar??? Should he also be sacked?

Tendulkar 38 years old : 2008 - 2011 he averages 62.95

Ponting 37 years old tomorrow : 2008 - 2011 he averages 37.13

Hussey 36 years old : 2008 - 2011 he averages 40.20

[Pup]

how old is Tendulkar??? Should he also be sacked?

Get a grip its about form not age and Hussey and Ponting are clearly on a downward spiral.

Sachin is not.

[jackpot jim]

Whats Tendulkers ave. away from the Batting paradises in the sub continent in recent years?

[jackpot jim]

Sensational win by New Zealand, to have the mental strength not to give up when all looked lost (Aust only needed another 100 with 8 wickets in hand).
Wouldn't be a bad idea for some of Australias' batsmen to have a look at the fight and determination shown by New Zealand in the field.

This loss could be the best thing that has happened to Australia as it could hasten the regeneration of the side which will ultimatley lead to their return to the TOP.

[Media Park]

Whats Tendulkers ave. away from the Batting paradises in the sub continent in recent years?

Still fine. I will go and get a number for you though...

[The Sleeping Giant]

Whats Tendulkers ave. away from the Batting paradises in the sub continent in recent years?

Averaging 26.45 away from sub continent in the last 5 years.

[Media Park]

TSG? His last three series (excluding Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh):

Tendulkar by series outside of the subcontinent, going backwards:

in England 273 runs @ 34.12 (two fifties, eight innings)
in South Af 326 @ 81.50 (two centuries)
in New Zealand 344 @ 68.18 (one hundred, two fifties)

The series before that was 07/08 against Australia, and if I post those stats, your argument looks really bad mate....

[westozfalcon]

By being stubborn and hanging on he his doing himself a disservice and putting unfair pressure on the selectors

that is a ridiculous post. Selectors are paid to make the tough calls...[/quote]

The point I was making was that a player of Ricky Ponting's calibre does not deserve to suffer the ignominy of being dropped from the side. Out of sheer respect for an all-time great of Australian cricket the selectors will naturally hold off as long as possible before they let the axe fall but Ponting is forcing their hand by refusing to acknowledge that his time is up.

[CoverKing]

Guess we should keep ponting since he made a half century in brisbane. He is in such good form.

I dont see why we wouldnt play cowan (in outstanding form), watson and marsh if all fit. drop hughes, ponting and hussey.

Ponting HAS to go. May as well get games into some one else considering he is continue to fail.

Ponting is averaging over 40 in his last 4 digs, what has he done wrong apart from being Australia's best batsmen since Bradman?

just because he is a north melbourne supporter you think he is in sublime form

what has he done right since the hobart test of 2010? he has a batting average of 27 over 17 tests in the same time katich averaged 46, even hughes has a higher average

Ha, what has North Melbourne got to do with it

If that was the case Id be harping on about Siddle also.....seriously.

Ever thought of what else he brings to the team in the form of fielding and leadership for the young guys?

Again no one can tell me who you replace him with and earnt the right to replace the 2nd best batsmen this country has produced.

Yes he provides leadership, but look at what someone like a Warner can do.

Cowan is averaging above 56 in first class cricket in 2011. He should be opening with Warner. He has also made scores in both of Australia A games in the last two years.

Watson can then bat down the order. Plus when Marsh is fit, he should be in the side.

[Bum Crack]

didn't that Micky Arthur guarantee on the news last night that Ponting and Hussey will play in the boxing day test?? Get rid of em FFS.

[CoverKing]

Guess we should keep ponting since he made a half century in brisbane. He is in such good form.

I dont see why we wouldnt play cowan (in outstanding form), watson and marsh if all fit. drop hughes, ponting and hussey.

Ponting HAS to go. May as well get games into some one else considering he is continue to fail.

Ponting is averaging over 40 in his last 4 digs, what has he done wrong apart from being Australia's best batsmen since Bradman?

just because he is a north melbourne supporter you think he is in sublime form

what has he done right since the hobart test of 2010? he has a batting average of 27 over 17 tests in the same time katich averaged 46, even hughes has a higher average

Ha, what has North Melbourne got to do with it

If that was the case Id be harping on about Siddle also.....seriously.

Ever thought of what else he brings to the team in the form of fielding and leadership for the young guys?

Again no one can tell me who you replace him with and earnt the right to replace the 2nd best batsmen this country has produced.

Averaging over 40 in his last 4 digs, but averaging under 25 in his last 4 test digs

[Dutchy]

Averaging over 40 in his last 4 digs, but averaging under 25 in his last 4 test digs

Huh?

[Swamp Donkey]

Can we start another thread? Im sick of being reminded of our performance in Hobart everytime I see this topic in the 'active topics' list.

[CoverKing]

Averaging over 40 in his last 4 digs, but averaging under 25 in his last 4 test digs

Huh?

The last 4 Test matches I meant. Typo*