Push in the Back wrote:
Good point LM. My issue with Hopes is that as a stand alone in either skills (bat/bowl) he would not make team. Just as Watson and White have had to realise - you need to be top drawer in one or the other. He is neither. Very middle range ole Hopesy..and one rough head! We genuinely need to let go this pursuit of an all rounder - almost impossible to nail at International level..
Totally agree, I'd rather have another frontline bowler or top order batsman than a mediocre all-rounder, he's no pin-up boy either. I can't see why we didn't trial Warner for this series, the selectors could've said to him "Look son, we want 350 runs out of you with a strike rate of over 100 to cement your spot in the World Cup squad". We only have White with the ability to strike at over 100 and he usually strikes at 60 til he gets to 30 or 40 and then gets moving.
I do see Paine as Haddins back-up but I'm not convinced he's the opener we are looking for, maybe we've been blessed by Gilly and have high expectations of keeper/batsmen now.
Hussey is wasted at 6 aswell, maybe he should open, Ponting and Clark bat too close together, neither can smash a quickfire 50 and put the bowling side on the back foot.