WATTO the TESTing material ?

[am Bays]

Greenidge and Haynes

followed by Viv and then Richie before the token left hander

"Token" Haven't heard that nickname for Clive Lloyd before!

[Jim05]

Personally think too much is made of the whole left/right combo thing.
For years we had Hayden/Langer, the Poms have Strauss/Cook and they went allright.

All left handed, maybe it's more important to have the lefties in

Greenidge and Haynes

followed by Viv and then Richie before the token left hander

Hope you are talkin about Gomes

[Dirk Tazelaar]

In the 1988/89 series Ambrose was the only lefty in the WI lineup:

Greenidge
Haynes
Richardson
Hooper
Richards
Logie
Dujon
Marshall
Ambrose
Walsh
Patterson

[FlyingHigh]

Nice stats there Mal. I agree with Ian Chappell too, Watson really needs to go back to opening the batting in the test side, clearly that's where he is suited best. I think Ed Cowan is doing well but I would like to see Watson and Warner together at the top of the order again.

Im still thinking Warner to 3, Hughes to 4
Cowan and Watto to open.

Warner at three would be a very attacking move, maybe somewhere down the line he might get an opportunity to bat at three. Watson and Cowan would make it a more balanced opening combination I suppose, not just all out attack, a guy like Cowan who can bat time and who can stick around giving the strike to his more aggressive partner can be handy.

I'd at least like a left/right hand opening combination- Watson and/or Cowan/Warner.

I think Cowan would bat better with Watson than Warner. He looks a bit uncomfortable, maybe confused, because with Warner at the other end anything could happen, and he is a bit unsure how approach his batting. Watson 50*, Cowan 35* at lunch, with Warner at 5 would be ideal IMO.

[helicopterking]

Either way, Watson doesnt have the Mental capacity to bat longer then 2 hours. His running between wickets is rotten. He struggles to rotate the strike, he is a boundry hitter, so the new hard ball and pace on the ball suits him. At 4, a subtle touch is needed, placement, working with the other batter and batting long periods of time.
His bowling may seem down, as injuries would be on his mind, and he would lack trust in it to really let rip. He also wouldnt have bowled alot coming into these tests, so with more bowling, the better his output will be with the ball.

[tigerpie]

Either way, Watson doesnt have the Mental capacity to bat longer then 2 hours. His running between wickets is rotten. He struggles to rotate the strike, he is a boundry hitter, so the new hard ball and pace on the ball suits him. At 4, a subtle touch is needed, placement, working with the other batter and batting long periods of time.
His bowling may seem down, as injuries would be on his mind, and he would lack trust in it to really let rip. He also wouldnt have bowled alot coming into these tests, so with more bowling, the better his output will be with the ball.

Very good post this one.
Have yet to see his speed figures but he used to be up 140 ish from memory.
I would much rather he opened with Cowan and Warner at 3. If he goes early then Warner can take over bashing it. But if Cowan goes then how many times will he run Warner out, or hog the strike.

[mal]

Eranga to Watson
Inswingin yorker
Watto jams down on it, inside edge that fortunately goes to the fine leg boundary for 4
Watson goes from 24 to 28

The significance of this
When Watto got to 27 it meant his average at the MCG in Test matches reached 100 +

Can the iconic SAFOOTY allrounder , make 100 in this innings , and in the process quieten the author of this thread ?

[Coach Bombay]

Eranga to Watson
Inswingin yorker
Watto jams down on it, inside edge that fortunately goes to the fine leg boundary for 4
Watson goes from 24 to 28

The significance of this
When Watto got to 27 it meant his average at the MCG in Test matches reached 100 +

Can the iconic SAFOOTY allrounder , make 100 in this innings , and in the process quieten the author of this thread ?

Nah dont reckon. maybe a 50

[whufc]

I didn't realise he only averages 37 at test level, lucky he can bowl because for a player who struggles to string matches together that's hardly a walk up start average

[Jim05]

I didn't realise he only averages 37 at test level, lucky he can bowl because for a player who struggles to string matches together that's hardly a walk up start average

Think he averages 42 as an opener which isnt too bad. Thats why I find it strange that he was shifted from opening

[stampy]

if he wasnt such a lemon injury wise he would be a bowler who can bat

[daysofourlives]

I didn't realise he only averages 37 at test level, lucky he can bowl because for a player who struggles to string matches together that's hardly a walk up start average

Think he averages 42 as an opener which isnt too bad. Thats why I find it strange that he was shifted from opening

FFS had enough of everyone that thinks he should open. So with his injury history we want to bring in a new opener every 3rd test do we? IMO you want your opening combination to be settled.
Let's not fprget he wasn't dropped or shifted from opening, he was just unavailable through injury and then we had to come up with a new combo which has done reasonably well. Given that and what WHUFC stated earlier that an average of 37 is hardly a walk up selection he should consider himself lucky to be given the opportunities he has.
He will not survive at 4 unless he can make centuries which looks beyong him at this stage. Piss him off to 6 or 7 where he can easily be replaced when he gets injured

[mighty_tiger_79]

cos of his injury issues, just leave him out all together

[daysofourlives]

cos of his injury issues, just leave him out all together

I wouldnt complain with that

[Jim05]

I didn't realise he only averages 37 at test level, lucky he can bowl because for a player who struggles to string matches together that's hardly a walk up start average

Think he averages 42 as an opener which isnt too bad. Thats why I find it strange that he was shifted from opening

FFS had enough of everyone that thinks he should open. So with his injury history we want to bring in a new opener every 3rd test do we? IMO you want your opening combination to be settled.
Let's not fprget he wasn't dropped or shifted from opening, he was just unavailable through injury and then we had to come up with a new combo which has done reasonably well. Given that and what WHUFC stated earlier that an average of 37 is hardly a walk up selection he should consider himself lucky to be given the opportunities he has.
He will not survive at 4 unless he can make centuries which looks beyong him at this stage. Piss him off to 6 or 7 where he can easily be replaced when he gets injured

You do make a valid point but I cant see Huss or Clarke moving up to allow him to bat at 6.
Id still take Watto over Mr Ed at the top of the order though

[dedja]

If he hasn't learnt how to build a big innings from Huss or Pup yet then he never will ...

[rod_rooster]

Calf strain. Unlikely to play in Sydney. Put a fork in him...

[dedja]

don't even need this ...

[Squids]

sack watto ffs

[The Dark Knight]

Calf strain. Unlikely to play in Sydney. Put a fork in him...

FFS