3rd Ashes Test - WACA

[smithy]

Beer actually has worse stats and less wickets than Hauritz and Doherty.

Another dung for dung selection from Hilditch.

The only consolation is that they won't pick 2 spinners in Perth and with that side they have to play Smith.

[Hondo]

If they want to play 4 quicks (Beer won't play surely) then they need a spinner to back them up so I understand Smith replacing North even though I think they are expecting too much of him. Ferg or Usman don't get in because they can't be a back up spinner I assume.

Phil Hughes? He deserves to be next in line based on performances before this season. But on this season alone he doesn't deserve it. Unless they wanted to tinker with the line up it was Hughes v Cowan? I'd take Hughes there. I'm also not convinced he is as sure a thing as most assumed he would be 18 months ago.

Johnson? Don't know what I think of that decision. I just hope he gets his mojo back because the cupboard is pretty bare as we have found out. Bollinger? For me the jury is out on him but I doubt we have seen the last of him.

Overall, I support the Aussies so despite my doubts I hope Smith, Johnson and Hughes cane them! We have to get behind them now don't we? It's not their "fault" if they got picked! Also note, Hilditch is chairman but our white knight G Chappell is on the team too.

[200 Killer Wasps]

Hilditch wants to get rid of Ponting but hasnt got the guts to sack him.

All Hilditch has to do is keep handing Ponting crap teams until he falls on his sword.

[FlyingHigh]

Can someone please explain to me why the leading shield wicket taker with a career of 57 wickets in 9 matches at 18 can't get a game ?
Is he too young at 24 ?

Khawaja - Leading the shield runs aggregate with 499 runs @ 71. At 24 years of age is he too young to be picked also.


HILDITCH YOU ARE A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for my ignorance Smithy, but are you talking about O'Keefre?

[NFC]

Can someone please explain to me why the leading shield wicket taker with a career of 57 wickets in 9 matches at 18 can't get a game ?
Is he too young at 24 ?

Khawaja - Leading the shield runs aggregate with 499 runs @ 71. At 24 years of age is he too young to be picked also.


HILDITCH YOU ARE A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry for my ignorance Smithy, but are you talking about O'Keefre?

Copeland.

[smithy]

Yeah I'm talking about Copeland.
I feeel we need a strike bowler to win the next test.
Would've been happpy with Copeland or Camerons inclusion for that reason.

Instead, we are recycling the same old poop that hasn't done the job.

[FlyingHigh]

Thanks fellas.
I agree, plus O'Keefe as Jim05 referred to. They are the sort of players we need to play if we are going to educated risks.

[CoverKing]

Steve Smith - 19 first class matches, 34 innings (4 n.o), HS of 177 and an average of 43.43. (dare say his 4 tests are included in this)

4 hundreds and 5 fifties (26% of time he goes on to score 50+)

Bowling - 33 wickets at 50.54

Callum Ferguson - 51 matches, 95 innings (8n.o), HS 132 and an average of 35.42

5 hundreds 19 fifties. (25% of time he goes on to score 50+)

Usman Khawaja - 25 matches, 40 innings (2n.o), HS of 219 and an average of 49.5

6 Hundreds and 8 fifties (35% of time he goes on to score 50+)

Just looking at these stats, as a number 6/7 batsman (depending on where Haddin bats), with the lack of spin bowling options here, i would easily choose Smith ahead of the rest. Smith made some runs in the second dig aswell as Khawaja and the Ferg. Smith was the only one to make runs in the Aus A game out of the three of them.

Smiths bowling is improving extremely well at the moment, and that was shown by the last game against the redbacks aswell.

As much as i love watching Ferguson bat and wished he was in the side, he should not be even thought about IMO in the test side. He is simply getting talked about because he is from SA. People saying Smith should be behind him, well i agree with the selectors, he shouldnt be.


please note: stats from cricinfo website and iv assumed they are correct up to and including the game just finished between SA and NSW

EDIT: just realised these do not include the latest SA v NSW game. So you can add 54 odd runs to Smith with one out, 8/169, Ferguson can have 145 runs (including a ton) added, and Khawaja 88 runs for one dismissal.

[rockstar]

Pfft, see what Smiths stats look like when he has played as much as the other two.

As for saying his bowling was good against SA, whoopdy doo i could go out there and bowl against that pack of cricket misfits and take a bag!

Your stats to mean indicate Khawaja shouldve been a certainty!!!

As for the Aus A statement, im sure O'Keefe made runs as well? Why no consideration?

In my opinion with SA bats, you may as well add a bit to their average and stats because they are playing against the best bowling attacks and dont get the luxury of facing the rubbish SA dishes up!

[smithy]

Pfft, see what Smiths stats look like when he has played as much as the other two.

As for saying his bowling was good against SA, whoopdy doo i could go out there and bowl against that pack of cricket misfits and take a bag!

Your stats to mean indicate Khawaja shouldve been a certainty!!!

As for the Aus A statement, im sure O'Keefe made runs as well? Why no consideration?

In my opinion with SA bats, you may as well add a bit to their average and stats because they are playing against the best bowling attacks and dont get the luxury of facing the rubbish SA dishes up!

Who are you suggesting they should've picked then ?
Give us your next test side.

Does it include Beer with his local knowledge?
I think he's played 2 maybe 3 games at the WACA...

EDITED - BEER has played 3 1st class games at the WACA, with his last effort 3/139 against NSW.
Ironically he played grade cricket at St Kilda with Warney.
Surely an early April Fools joke

[Adelaide Hawk]

BEER has played 3 1st class games at the WACA, with his last effort 3/139 against NSW.
Ironically he played grade cricket at St Kilda with Warney.
Surely an early April Fools joke

Once again, I've never seen Beer bowl, so I'll reserve judgement, but on the surface it appears to be a surprise selection. If Beer turns out to be a basket case like Doherty, the cricket public should demand a mission statement from the Australian selectors outlining precisely what their plan is.

From the outside looking in, they appear to be going for unknowns and novelty acts to try and upset England's concentration, but up to now it certainly aint working. Years ago they plucked players like Warne and Healy out of relative obscurity and achieved success, let's hope the current selectors have a genuine plan and aren't guessing on players like selecting Lotto numbers. I knew Doherty wouldn't be any good at Test level, why didn't the selectors?

[mal]

The selectors picked the team and then would have decided on the spinner
As there is no standout, all options, all spinners would have been discussed
They would have picked Smith with some reservations
At loggerheads, the 2nd spinner would have been difficult to decide upon
With no standout the selectors would have been in a quandry who to select
At this point Im thinking this is what transcribed
One of the selectors might have said:
"" Guys lets adjourn I suggest we hava Beer.""

[am Bays]

Weakest batting line-up I have ever seen.

Neither Ferg or Usman makes the squad? PATHETIC.

Take it you never saw: Wood, Cosier, Toohey, Yallop, Toohey, Laughlin 3/2 was bad 6/26 is worse IMO as we were in Brisbane in the 1st hour of the 1st innings of the 1st Test -

Mind you whilst some of the names aren't bad the last few lineups of the '81 series weren't much chop: Dyson, Kent, Hughes, Yallop, Border, T Chappell/Whellam.

So welcome to watching this Test cricket caper NFC!!!

A Hawk your thoughts on that Test line batting line up at Brisbane in December 1978 - worst you've seen?

[FlyingHigh]

Just looking at these stats, as a number 6/7 batsman (depending on where Haddin bats), with the lack of spin bowling options here, i would easily choose Smith ahead of the rest. Smith made some runs in the second dig aswell as Khawaja and the Ferg. Smith was the only one to make runs in the Aus A game out of the three of them.

Smiths bowling is improving extremely well at the moment, and that was shown by the last game against the redbacks aswell.

As much as i love watching Ferguson bat and wished he was in the side, he should not be even thought about IMO in the test side. He is simply getting talked about because he is from SA. People saying Smith should be behind him, well i agree with the selectors, he shouldnt be.

Pfft, see what Smiths stats look like when he has played as much as the other two.

As for saying his bowling was good against SA, whoopdy doo i could go out there and bowl against that pack of cricket misfits and take a bag!

Your stats to mean indicate Khawaja shouldve been a certainty!!!

As for the Aus A statement, im sure O'Keefe made runs as well? Why no consideration?

In my opinion with SA bats, you may as well add a bit to their average and stats because they are playing against the best bowling attacks and dont get the luxury of facing the rubbish SA dishes up!

CK, obviously you did not see the Australia A game. Batting on that first morning was very diificult, and Ferguson got an abosulte unplayable delivery, then in the second innings got bowled by a shooter. It was alsways going to be easier for Smith (and O'Keffe) after lunch on that first day.

Agree rockstar, should have been Khawaja first choice, a fair way ahead of Ferg second.
Would also be an intereseting comparison to see what positions the teams have been in when Smith and Ferguson have gone in to bat, because there hasn't been a helluva lot of support for Ferg to bat with over the last few years.

[CoverKing]

Actually I watched pretty much everyball of the Aus A game, evident by the thread and providing updates! Yes Ferg got two good balls, but the facts are he failed and Smith made runs along with Paine! From memory smith was either just in before lunch or just after, which when the side was getting rolled he stood tall and made some hard fought runs.
As much as I want Ferg to succeed and play Test cricket, it's a sad state if he is in the best 10 bats in the longer form of the game, with such a record!

[Rik E Boy]

So we are going in with someone who hasn't done jack because he played for the same club as Warnie or we are going in with someone who isn't going to take wickets just becuase he resembles warnie to a certain degree. White and Haurtiz should have been selected IMO.

regards,

REB

[Jim05]

Okeefe topscored and top wicket taker. The selectors wanted a left arm finger spinner which he is. The guy has a first class bowling average of 24 with 37 wickets from 10 games and a batting average if 50. He took 7 fa against a strong sri lanka A side who play spin excellant. He made kp look stupid on more than one occasion in hobart. So which part of the criteria doesnt he fit because they have overlooked him twice for a pair of duds

[FlyingHigh]

Actually I watched pretty much everyball of the Aus A game, evident by the thread and providing updates! Yes Ferg got two good balls, but the facts are he failed and Smith made runs along with Paine! From memory smith was either just in before lunch or just after, which when the side was getting rolled he stood tall and made some hard fought runs.
As much as I want Ferg to succeed and play Test cricket, it's a sad state if he is in the best 10 bats in the longer form of the game, with such a record!

Apologies CK re the Aus A game
However, I still think comparing Ferg and Smith on that first day is unfair.
I tend to agree with your last sentence as I'm not convinced Ferguson will make a Test player, and hence why I said Khawaja a fair bit ahead of him. But at the moment there aren't too many other options. If we were looking for a genuine no 6 batsmen, I would still have either of them there before Smith.Now is the time to play Khawaja, blooding him at no 6 with an eye to move him up the order, like they have done before. If they want to play Smith it should be instead of Beer

[FlyingHigh]

If Watson wants to continue to open (and let's face it, I don't see too many others challenging for that spot) then I wonder if Luke Butterworth has been considered by the selectors? I don't know his exact stats, but he seems to be pretty consistent with both bat and ball over a number of seasons.

Edit: 35 games, 1490 runs @ 27.5, 2 tons, 4 fifties. 101 wickets @ 26, SR 52.3.
Thought he may have made a few more runs, but has made a 66 and 103 against Vic earlier this season.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I've just heard on a Melbourne radio station that Hilditch has stated Beer was selected with the World Cup in mind. WTF!!?? If this is true, then I am really ticked off about it. Since when did an Ashes series rate as a pre-season warm up for the Woirld Cup???

Cricket in Australia has seriously lost the plot.