1st Test England vs Australia

[am Bays]

It's not me underselling him mate - that was his reputation at the time. He hadn't played a test til that point and we didn't have a 'known' spinner at the time. He did a fantastic job that tour, no doubt.

1st test at Headingly 1989, was his 3rd Test mate, made his debut at Sydney in January 1989. But I get your drift...

[JK]

Ha Ha after allegedly hitting the ball at the Australians during the warm up which caused a minor stink - Clark and Johnson came over to confront him and Clark had to be dragged away - I'm tipping Pietersen got told exactly where the pavilion is by the Australians on his way off.....

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 28,00.html

[am Bays]

Just have to be tight with Prior, he's a goer and won't want to tied down. Tie him down and he'll self distruct....

[JK]

Just have to be tight with Prior, he's a goer and won't want to tied down. Tie him down and he'll self distruct....

From the radio sounds as though you might have been on the money mate

[Dogwatcher]

Cheers AMBays, of course he made his debut in Sydney!

[Dirko]

5/76.....

[FD88]

Hauritz is bowling exceptionally well here. Has looked more dangerous than Swann and Panesar from the start. His test bowling average is below 30 now too!

5/76

[Hondo]

Hohns is a great analogy DW

He was seen as more of an all-rounder at Shield level and more of a part time spinner. He was never in contention for a test spot until right at the end of his career. He only really played v WI in Sydney because we always picked a leg spinner against them in Sydney. In 1989 the options were only Matthews, Taylor, May, Sleep and Hohns. Yet in 1989 Ashes he was important after missing the first (and maybe second?) test.

Australia's selection policy has always been a balanced attack most times including a spinner who is the best available at the time, ideally a leg spinner. Pre and post Warney that "best available" spinner has not always been a gun or even better than the next 3 fast bowlers. But we pick one 96% of the time and it's worked most times.

That's why I don't agree with calls to play no spinner at all just because Hauritz or Krezja are our current best options.

[The Cadet]

Any word on if theres rain around today.

[Hondo]

It's not me underselling him mate - that was his reputation at the time. He hadn't played a test til that point and we didn't have a 'known' spinner at the time. He did a fantastic job that tour, no doubt.

1st test at Headingly 1989, was his 3rd Test mate, made his debut at Sydney in January 1989. But I get your drift...

He missed the 1st test because Australia played 4 quicks with Greg Campbell making his debut

Hohns came in for the second test and the side remain unchanged for the rest of the series

In that series he played 5 tests and took 11 wickets at 27.27 and never played for Australia again

[FD88]

Any word on if theres rain around today.

Late afternoon if it is going to come around at all, but it's only light showers. Plenty of time...

[am Bays]

Hohns is a great analogy DW

He was seen as more of an all-rounder at Shield level and more of a part time spinner. He was never in contention for a test spot until right at the end of his career. He only really played v WI in Sydney because we always picked a leg spinner against them in Sydney. In 1989 the options were only Matthews, Taylor, May, Sleep and Hohns. Yet in 1989 Ashes he was important after missing the first (and maybe second?) test.

Australia's selection policy has always been a balanced attack most times including a spinner who is the best available at the time, ideally a leg spinner. Pre and post Warney that "best available" spinner has not always been a gun or even better than the next 3 fast bowlers. But we pick one 96% of the time and it's worked most times.

That's why I don't agree with calls to play no spinner at all just because Hauritz or Krezja are our current best options.

Wrong I'll think you find he would have played in 85-86 as Hollands career wound down but he was banned from Test cricket....

Within a month of his ban from touring South Africa being lifted he had a baggy green....

First test after the ban was was Melbourne 1988, next test he was in...

[wycbloods]

Hauritz is creating some chances for the in close fielders here i can't see them surviving [i]if[i] he continues to bowl the line and length he is currently.

[Hondo]

Wrong I'll think you find he would have played in 85-86 as Hollands career wound down but he was banned from Test cricket....

Within a month of his ban from touring South Africa being lifted he had a baggy green....

First test after the ban was was Melbourne 1988, next test he was in...

Nah, he was never mentioned as being in contention as I recall. Murray Bennett and Holland toured England 1985 and Holland played in 85-86. 1985-86 was Greg Matthews' glory season too so he wouldn't have played then.

Do you recall him ever being touted for test cricket at the time (1985)?

Maybe he would have played 1986-87 when Sleep came back for Sydney. In 1989 Hohns played because the WI didn't cope with leg spinners in Sydney and he was one of the few half decent leg spinners in the country. Not because he was a missing gun spinner banned from the RSA tour. He did well from then.

[spell_check]

And it was another (part time) spinner in Border who took 11 wickets in that 1989 Sydney Test.

[The Cadet]

Hohns is a joke, hated him as a player and more so as a selector when he tried to end Steve Waughs career. Dont think any one who turned there back on the baggy green to play the rebel tour should be allowed to become a National selector.

[am Bays]

Nah, he was never mentioned as being in contention as I recall. Murray Bennett and Holland toured England 1985 and Holland played in 85-86. 1985-86 was Greg Matthews' glory season too so he wouldn't have played then.

Do you recall him ever being touted for test cricket at the time (1985)?

Maybe he would have played 1986-87 when Sleep came back for Sydney. In 1989 Hohns played because the WI didn't cope with leg spinners in Sydney and he was one of the few half decent leg spinners in the country. Not because he was a missing gun spinner banned from the RSA tour. He did well from then.

He couldn't play test cricket from December 1985 to December 1988 as he was banned for being part of the Rebel Tours to South Africa, THATS why you or I didn't hear his name, he couldn't even play Shield cricket until December 1987

[Hondo]

He couldn't play test cricket from December 1985 to December 1988 as he was banned for being part of the Rebel Tours to South Africa, THATS why you or I didn't hear his name, he couldn't even play Shield cricket until December 1987

I know!

I am saying before the rebel tour he was never mentioned as a contender for a test spot. He was seen as a Shield player only. Not everyone who went on that tour was a former test player or contender ... Shipperd, Mick Taylor, Faulkner, etc.

I followed Australian cricket closely 1980-85 and his name never came up that I recall.

If he wasn't a contender before 1985 why would he have become one afterwards?

Yes, if he hadn't toured opportunity might have knocked. But it ended up knocking anyway.

[JK]

Interesting comment from an emailer on ABC Radio ... A Pom who's lived in Melbourne for many years and has studied both teams, and reckons the difference between the two is mental toughness.

Over the years (or at least the last 15) I don't think that's anything that's gone unnoticed, and whilst this series is still well and truly alive, the difference in body language between the 2 teams (and I think AH pointed this out yesterday) has been remarkably different.

In 2005 the Poms appeared to be on a mission they'd really set themselves for ... 1st test here and whilst they're getting carted some ordinary players are smiling and sharing jokes etc.

Not saying it's the be-all and end-all, but since AB changed the tone in 89' the Aussies have always given the impression it means a lot more to them, and have maybe gutsed out a lot more situations in that time.

[am Bays]

He couldn't play test cricket from December 1985 to December 1988 as he was banned for being part of the Rebel Tours to South Africa, THATS why you or I didn't hear his name, he couldn't even play Shield cricket until December 1987

I know!

I am saying before the rebel tour he was never mentioned as a contender for a test spot. He was seen as a Shield player only. Not everyone who went on that tour was a former test player or contender ... Shipperd, Mick Taylor, Faulkner, etc.

I followed Australian cricket closely 1980-85 and his name never came up that I recall.

If he wasn't a contender before 1985 why would he have become one afterwards?

Yes, if he hadn't toured opportunity might have knocked. But it ended up knocking anyway.

My point is that he would have played in the 85 - 88 period if hadn't gone on the tours, not "right at the end of his career". It wasn't until 82-84 that he established himself in the Qld shield team, up aginst Franke and Whyte for shield spots prior to that, three years of playing shield cricket he was ready for higher honours.