India v Australia 1st Test

[smithy]

Is it just me or is Michael Clarke a tad over-rated

Seems to throw his wicket away more often than not, yet is regarded as a future captain of the side.

Im a bit unsure about him at the moment, seems to be a bit of a flat track bully.

Am i wrong in saying this.

Yes, agreed mate. IMO he never seems to deliver when we need him too and throws his wicket away a little too much. I always want to see him dominant the opposition bowlers and make a stack of runs, but I unfortunately don't see enough of it from him.

Could that be because he never had to really work hard to get into the side in the 1st place.
I'm with others, I don't see what the big deal with this bloke is and I'm sure I could pick a dozen players more worthy of his spot in the 50 and 20 over formats of the game.

[catchisthecry]

He had to work to get recalled.
I'm not a big fan. I think it's a disgrace he is in the T20 team, borderline ODI team, but certainly a good test batsman... Hate watching him bat tho, never seems to be middling the ball

[Jim05]

Good test batsman but could be a lot better. Seems to make a pile of runs when we are going well but ive hardly even seen him have a goods innings when our backs are to the wall. Definately not T20 or 1 day player though and not sold on his captaincy. If Ponting retired suddenly I fear for who might be able to step up. We have been blessed with captains in waiting in the past but not so certain now.

[The Dark Knight]

He had to work to get recalled.
I'm not a big fan. I think it's a disgrace he is in the T20 team, borderline ODI team, but certainly a good test batsman... Hate watching him bat tho, never seems to be middling the ball

Read my mind there catch, totally agree.

He shouldn't be in the T20 team at all but you know those selectors, they see things very differently.

[Media Park]

As soon as I saw the Teeball comment, I got back on board here. Pup should not be in that side.

Bailey, Ferg, Khawaja, many more, all ahead of him.

[brod]

In realtion to the comments regarding Clarke and his inability when the going is tough

CAREER/LOSSES
63/13 matches
14/1 Centuries
49.80/36.04 batting ave

[OnSong]

Are there many batsmen who have a similar average in losses than in wins?

[brod]

Are there many batsmen who have a similar average in losses than in wins?

plenty (and the majority will be nature) , another couple of interest at the moment is

RT PONTING

CAREER/LOSSES
147/25 matches
39/4 hundreds
54.5/36.14 batting ave

MJ NORTH

CAREER/LOSSES
18/4 matches
4/0 hundreds
35.39/6.25 batting average

SR WATSON

CAREER/LOSSES
21/5 matches
2/1 hundreds
39.69/37.60 batting average

[wristwatcher]

Are there many batsmen who have a similar average in losses than in wins?

plenty (and the majority will be nature) , another couple of interest at the moment is

RT PONTING

CAREER/LOSSES
147/25 matches
39/4 hundreds
54.5/36.14 batting ave

MJ NORTH

CAREER/LOSSES
18/4 matches
4/0 hundreds
35.39/6.25 batting average

SR WATSON

CAREER/LOSSES
21/5 matches
2/1 hundreds
39.69/37.60 batting average

Would somebody please show that stat on North to the selectors. Pretty Please

[Jim05]

Wattos figures dont suprise me. For someone who was thrown in at deepend as a temp he has done a fair job and as the stats show he values his wicket in any circumstance. Norths figures are pathetic, im sure even mcgrath averaged higher than 6. This figure suggests that if the Aussies are struggling he isnt capable of arresting the slide. The poms must be laughing if he stays in. You watch he will make 40 or 50 this test and the selectors will stick with him for another 12 months.

[Rik E Boy]

Watto has done an excellent job but I reckon he should bat at three and Punter at four. If it was good enough for AB to go down the order Punter should do the same. Then we could have our most attacking bats at three and four. Clarke, Hussey and North are all struggling to hit the ball off the square and as such should be viewed as expendable at this level.

However, they are of course untouchable and for that reason the Ashes will remain in England. Australia in the current age are akin to England in the 'let's pick John Emburey and Mike Gatting again' era..and we know how often that sort of selection policy worked for them.

regards,

REB

[whufc]

Watto has done an excellent job but I reckon he should bat at three and Punter at four. If it was good enough for AB to go down the order Punter should do the same. Then we could have our most attacking bats at three and four. Clarke, Hussey and North are all struggling to hit the ball off the square and as such should be viewed as expendable at this level.

However, they are of course untouchable and for that reason the Ashes will remain in England. Australia in the current age are akin to England in the 'let's pick John Emburey and Mike Gatting again' era..and we know how often that sort of selection policy worked for them.

regards,

REB

Here here, that would be the best move the current selectors could do imho.

Would you bring in Hughes and then drop North having a top 6 like this

Katich
Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey

[Jim05]

Id go
Hughes
Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Ferguson
Haddin/Paine
Smith
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger/Siddle/george

[wristwatcher]

This is the Team id like to see win back the ASHES!!!!

Watson
Katich
Punta
Pup
Huss
Fergy
TimPaine (yes that is one word)
Smith
Jono
Hilfy
Bolly

Hughes is gonna be awesome but at 21ish he may just have to wait a year or 2 for Kato to hang up the baggy green IMO.
TimPaine is a very good batsmen but his footwork as a keeper is the best that i have ever seen.
Smith seems logical enough and ive ripped into Haury enough on this site. Smith batting is exciting and adventurous and his fielding is nothing short of sublime
Hilfys much improved batting gets him the nod over Siddsy. Its a good thing to have a quality bowler waiting in the wings.

Having said all this....If India wins the toss and bats and Peter "boy" George rips the heart out of India with some inspired spells im sure all us croweaters on this site may be looking to Smith batting at 6 and leaving the big fella in the team. Good luck to Pete today. Its hard to believe a young fella getting a BAGGY GREEN without being from NSW

[The Dark Knight]

Are there many batsmen who have a similar average in losses than in wins?

plenty (and the majority will be nature) , another couple of interest at the moment is

RT PONTING

CAREER/LOSSES
147/25 matches
39/4 hundreds
54.5/36.14 batting ave

MJ NORTH

CAREER/LOSSES
18/4 matches
4/0 hundreds
35.39/6.25 batting average

SR WATSON

CAREER/LOSSES
21/5 matches
2/1 hundreds
39.69/37.60 batting average

Interesting to see that Watson is the only batsman there to have a similar average from when the Aussies win to when they lose.

[The Dark Knight]

Watto has done an excellent job but I reckon he should bat at three and Punter at four.

I reckon Watson will become the number 3 when Ponting retires but it might stretch his workload a bit too much, if the team wants to still use him as a bowling option aswell.

[Rik E Boy]

Watto has done an excellent job but I reckon he should bat at three and Punter at four.

I reckon Watson will become the number 3 when Ponting retires but it might stretch his workload a bit too much, if the team wants to still use him as a bowling option aswell.

Opening the batting is a heavier workload than batting at three I would have thought but once again Watto is doing the job in the opening position. He needs to mind you as our middle order is carp.

regards,

REB

[The Dark Knight]

Watto has done an excellent job but I reckon he should bat at three and Punter at four.

I reckon Watson will become the number 3 when Ponting retires but it might stretch his workload a bit too much, if the team wants to still use him as a bowling option aswell.

Opening the batting is a heavier workload than batting at three I would have thought but once again Watto is doing the job in the opening position. He needs to mind you as our middle order is carp.

regards,

REB

Number 3 is usually where your best and most important player bats (Ponting is both of those but is out of form). I have no dobut Watson is good enough and consistant enough to bat at 3 but I fear for his workload, if he keeps bowling. It would be a huge demand on him to bat at 3 and be our premier batsman, bowl and be in the field for long periods of time.

[heater31]

Watto has done an excellent job but I reckon he should bat at three and Punter at four.

I reckon Watson will become the number 3 when Ponting retires but it might stretch his workload a bit too much, if the team wants to still use him as a bowling option aswell.

Opening the batting is a heavier workload than batting at three I would have thought but once again Watto is doing the job in the opening position. He needs to mind you as our middle order is carp.

regards,

REB

Number 3 is usually where your best and most important player bats (Ponting is both of those but is out of form). I have no dobut Watson is good enough and consistant enough to bat at 3 but I fear for his workload, if he keeps bowling. It would be a huge demand on him to bat at 3 and be our premier batsman, bowl and be in the field for long periods of time.

It didn't seem to stop South Africa picking Kallis in that position......... he IMHO is the best batting allrounder in modern times

[The Dark Knight]

I reckon Watson will become the number 3 when Ponting retires but it might stretch his workload a bit too much, if the team wants to still use him as a bowling option aswell.

Opening the batting is a heavier workload than batting at three I would have thought but once again Watto is doing the job in the opening position. He needs to mind you as our middle order is carp.

regards,

REB

Number 3 is usually where your best and most important player bats (Ponting is both of those but is out of form). I have no dobut Watson is good enough and consistant enough to bat at 3 but I fear for his workload, if he keeps bowling. It would be a huge demand on him to bat at 3 and be our premier batsman, bowl and be in the field for long periods of time.

It didn't seem to stop South Africa picking Kallis in that position......... he IMHO is the best batting allrounder in modern times

Yeah that's true Heater, they're pretty much the same type of cricketer, but it is Kallis, he's something else.