3RD TEST WI V AU

[mal]

I beg my own pardon
GAYLE is a drongo sending the Aussies in[Adelaide Hawk summises perfectly why you win the toss and BAT]
KAT does make a 100
CASSON takes no wickets
NostraMAL does it again

2 of those were easy I guess

QUIZ TIME
Who is the only player for AU to make 2 tons in this series ?
Admired by REB/MAL
defended by ROD_ROOSTER
Its

KAT THE BAT !

148*

HAYDEN will be feeling uneasy
Yes he is a better player than HJ and KAT
But he will be a 37 year old cripple by the next series, so will he be better than the other 2 ?

[rod_rooster]

I reckon HOF is spot on and despite being very harsh i'd drop Jaques for Hayden. If Hayden doesn't perform then bring Jaques back in but Hayden has earnt the right with his magnificent record to come straight back in.

By the way mal, not only do i defend the Kat i also admire him. Has made the absolute most of the ability he has and thoroughly deserves his spot in the Test side.

[NFC]

Pressure also mounting on Hussey last 9 Innings 205 runs @ 22. His overall career is brilliant, a couple of more failures in India and he will become under intense pressure to hold his spot.

Let's be honest, no he won't.

[GWW]

I agree there - on form the last 12 months Ponting would be dropped before Hussey.

[Grahaml]

Jaques has a test average of 48 or there abouts. Bit hard to say he's either out of form or out of his depth. Hayden WILL come in straight away, and I think Jaques as the incumbent before Hayden's injury will hold the spot as it stands.

And this talk about Gayle sending Australia in is bollocks. WI knocked Aus over for 250. You have to say that the bowlers did the job and it was the batsmen who failed to deliver. Australia have shown it's a good enough track to bat on to score. WI SHOULD have put Australia at least 100 runs behind on the first dig. Gayle's decision can only be based on the first innings of the game, and IMHO Gayle's decision put the Windies in front at that stage of the game.

[mal]

Jaques has a test average of 48 or there abouts. Bit hard to say he's either out of form or out of his depth. Hayden WILL come in straight away, and I think Jaques as the incumbent before Hayden's injury will hold the spot as it stands.

And this talk about Gayle sending Australia in is bollocks. WI knocked Aus over for 250. You have to say that the bowlers did the job and it was the batsmen who failed to deliver. Australia have shown it's a good enough track to bat on to score. WI SHOULD have put Australia at least 100 runs behind on the first dig. Gayle's decision can only be based on the first innings of the game, and IMHO Gayle's decision put the Windies in front at that stage of the game.

But now WI will have to bat last on a wearing pitch, a clear disadvantage.
Putting sides in to bat is frought with danger
Any advantage that you might have in the first session if overcast might be lost batting last
BUT
It did work to an extent as WI finally found a way to bowl out AU for less than 400



O/D INT
EG 5/307 v NZ
PIETERSON 110
The amazing one did the amazing again
Twice he swapped over and batted left handed and hit those 2 balls for SIXES

AU 5/385
CLARKe 26*
HADDIN 16*
KAT 157

LEAD 420
WI will be chasing a new world record to win this game
Nice toss to lose

[mighty_tiger_79]

136/1 the windies in the last session day four

chasing 480 odd - a world record attempt

[Hazbeen]

Stumps Day 4

WI 3/235, trail Aust by 239 runs

Gayle 26
Marshall 85
Sarwan 43

Chanderpaul 27*
Bravo 30*

Lee 0/50
Clark 1/29
Johnson 0/53
Cassom 1/58
Clarke 1/25
Symonds 0/6

[Rik E Boy]

Year of the Kat..........

regards,

REB

[mighty_tiger_79]

i think the windies can win this

[Grahaml]

But are the Windies going to lose because they batted second, or because they aren't good enough? Australia are miles ahead of them, and I think this is a major reason for the score the Windies are chasing. It looks to me like the best days to bat were days 2 and 3. I would bat first without thinking 9 times out 10, the other 10% I would end up batting first 90% of the time. I think this may have been the 1% of the time that you would bowl first. Given the batting conditions they could (should?) have had and didn't take advantage of 400+ in their first innings would have been possible. And anytime you can earn a 150 run first innings lead I think you would back yourself to win regardless of who was batting last.

[Grahaml]

Anyway, I think the Windies need a serious shake up. There's not much you can do about their lack of bowlers. That Benn might be worth hanging on to, but I think they need to find a couple of quicks who can either get wickets or keep it tight. These ones they have don't seem capable of either. Bravo needs to bat at 7, Chanderpaul 4 and bring in a specialist batsman at the expense of a bowler. What can their 4th useless seamer do the other 3 can't? At least that would shore up the batting and allow them to make decent scores to give their bowlers a chance. And if they bring in a young quick or two, knowing there's a strong batting lineup will perhaps ease the pressure and allow them to be more patient I don't know enough about their players to suggest a lineup but I think they surely must have a young middle order batsman worth trying at 6, swap their current 4 with Chanderpaul, and bring in the most promising young seam bowler and give him perhaps up to 10 tests to show his worth. Sadly the best chance to do this has just gone by. Failing against the best in the world is something easily recovered from, but success against the best is something never forgotten.

[Dogwatcher]

On the opening bat situation, I think it's time to say thanks Matt the Bat. You've done us proud, done the job and given us lots of memories but it's time to move on.
We're at a time when change is starting to occur. Jaques and Katich have done well this series and if things continue could be the opening pair for the next couple of seasons.
Hard decision yes, but the selectors have done it before - Healy, Mark Waugh, Geoff Marsh.

[locky801]

i think the windies can win this

Yep I'm with you MT79, Chanders still at the wicket and they wont get him out, just needs someone to stay with him for the first session and the runs will take care of themselves

[Hazbeen]

i think the windies can win this

Yep I'm with you MT79, Chanders still at the wicket and they wont get him out, just needs someone to stay with him for the first session and the runs will take care of themselves

Don't think they have anyone who can last the distance with Chandepaul, only the injured opener then the tail to come.

Australia to win by tea.

[jackpot jim]

i think the windies can win this

Yep I'm with you MT79, Chanders still at the wicket and they wont get him out, just needs someone to stay with him for the first session and the runs will take care of themselves

Don't think they have anyone who can last the distance with Chandepaul, only the injured opener then the tail to come.

Australia to win by tea.

Agree with Hazbeen.
Would like to see Windies win but apart from Chanderpaul, there's no windies batsman capable of batting more than 2 hrs and with Chattergoon unlikely to bat, Aust will wrap it up quickly once they get the initial breakthrough.
Gayle, yet another SOFT dismissal.

[Grahaml]

Bravo isn't a true test standard batsman IMHO. Handy 7 or 8 really. Aussies will attack Bravo relentlessly and feel confident of getting a result. Chanderpaul would be more dangerous if you didn't have the tail following immediately.

Anyway, Matt Hayden is STILL doing the job. He might be hurt right now, and if he can't recover he'll do the right thing. But Healy, Waugh and Marsh weren't as good to start with, weren't in great form and had outstanding replacements at the ready. Katich and Jaques did enough to suggest they could be a very good combination, but Katich is really a middle order player IMHO, and Jaques is still just getting started. Openers who average over 50 are rare. You don't get rid of them that quickly. Hayden's last 20 tests he's averaged slightly more than his career average, while players such as Gooch, Marsh, Taylor, Slater, Simpson, Greenidge, Haynes, Langer and a host of others failed to average more than 50. So long as Hayden wants to play, is doing the job and there are no outstanding replacements (actually, you'd need 2!) around then he gets the gig.

IMHO the opening pecking order goes Hayden, daylight, Jaques, Katich, the rest.

[rod_rooster]

Good post grahaml. Summed up perfectly.

[Hazbeen]

Good post grahaml. Summed up perfectly.

Very well put, Haydos has been the best opener in world cricket this century, we do not need to pention another champion off while we are getting used to life with Gilly, Pigeon, Warnie & JL.

[Grahaml]

Could be argued he's been better than any opener, ever. Can't think of too many career openers with a better record. Better average and strike rate than Gavaskar who is my immediate thought of a rival.