1st Test: India v Australia at Bangalore

[mal]

ROD ROOSTER

On Pura Cup form WATTO has been GIFTED a spot for this tour
The selectors want a middle order batsman who can bowl and thats why he is there
HUSSEY does not fit the criteria he is a batsman and very occasional part time bowler
NOFFKE is a front line bowler who bats well [but you cant bat him 6 for AU]
There4 WATTO fits the criteria

Lets get things in perspective WATTO/ROY
WATTO injury prone but keeps trying + trying + trying to establish a Test career
MONKEYMAN established test player but does he always try + is he disciplined enough?
We all love the way ROY plays cricket
BUT
His attitude ?
His frequent stoushes with opposition players?
His breaking of team implemented rules ?

Thats why WATTO is there becoz ROY is not.

BETTING AFTER DAY 3

$1-55 DRAW
$3-10 AU
$8-00 IN

Dunno about the draw ROD
WATTO took 2 wickets so the track might be close to a minefield by day 4

[rod_rooster]

I understand what the selectors are looking for i just can't understand why they see that in Watto. He is a reasonable batsman (not nearly as good as a number of others fighting for a spot though) but his bowling is very very average. Sure he's taken 2 wickets in this Test so far but i don't reckon the Indians would be spending much time working out plans as to how to play against him. IMHO we should have selected an extra seamer instead of White (Bollinger over Siddle) and then played a batsman who deserves his spot istead of Watto (D. Hussey, particularly as he can bowl some useful off breaks). Anyway i hope Watto does well and helps get Aus over the line.

[rod_rooster]

BETTING AFTER DAY 3

$1-55 DRAW
$3-10 AU
$8-00 IN

Dunno about the draw ROD
WATTO took 2 wickets so the track might be close to a minefield by day 4

I agree with that. A couple of quick wickets today for Aus and we are well on top. A lead of 200 could be enough. The $3.10 for Aus looks good value but there is a chance that India could skittle Aus pretty quickly too so the $8.00 for India could also be tempting.

[mal]

Theres no doubt that players like HUSSEY / JAQUES would be miffed at watching and not playing this test.
Its a selecting philosophy
Something I had posted on an allrounders thread a while back[ironically about SYMONDS/WATSON allrounders thread]

AU has had the luxury in this decade of playing
4 very good bowlers[OOH AHH/WARRRRNEY/DIZZY/BINGA]
A keeper with extraordinary batting [GILLY]
Its all changed now
The 4 best bowlers thesedays are not quite good enough to play as a foursome only
CLARK/BINGA/MJ are adequate but with no frontline 4th bowler and a spinner the need for a cricketer like SYMONDS as the allrounder is a neccessity
SYMONDS creates the balance of the 4th/5th bowler who is a good batter
With ROY out the selectors[rightly so] need to balance the team with that allrounder
Hence WATTO

ROD maybe just maybe the team could have been

HAYDEN
KATICH
PONTING
HUSSEY
CLARK
WHITE
HADDIN
NOFFKE
LEE
MJ
CLARK

It works becoz of the potential of WHITE/HADDIN making runs ???
James HOPES another ???

If we play my man The Dave[ David Hussey] and not WATTO it would be a limited attack

[rod_rooster]

I like your thinking although i rate D. Hussey's off breaks as better than C. White's pies. D. Hussey is also a far far superior batsman. That side is much better though however Aus is still on top in this Test and if they win the selectors have done their job and who could argue.

The other thing to consider is that possibly the best spin bowler in Australian cricket is batting at number 5 and is vice captain. He should bowl more and he will do well.

[Rik E Boy]

Well done on Watto getting two important wickets yesterday. While I'm not a fan I always want to see ANYONE who wears the Baggy Green succeed.

regards,

REB

[Thiele]

India allout for 360

Watson ended up 3/45

[hearts on fire]

Well done Watto!

[locky801]

Aussies 1/24 Hayden gone and Ponting looked very very lucky to be given not out as well

[rod_rooster]

Well done Watto. 3 crucial wickets.

[hearts on fire]

Hayden has had a sh1t start to this series, poor old matty.....

how did he get out this time?

[Interceptor]

Hayden has had a sh1t start to this series, poor old matty.....

how did he get out this time?

LBW, he was a long way forward and the ball was swinging down leg. No luck for Hados.

Ponting was correctly given not out. Ball narrowly missed the bat on its way to the pad.

[rod_rooster]

Hayden has had a sh1t start to this series, poor old matty.....

how did he get out this time?

LBW, he was a long way forward and the ball was swinging down leg. No luck for Hados.

Ponting was correctly given not out. Ball narrowly missed the bat on its way to the pad.

Yeah, Haydos was a little unlucky again.

[locky801]

Aussies 1/43 after 20


mongrel of a pitch to bat on right now it seems

[spell_check]

Hayden has had a sh1t start to this series, poor old matty.....

how did he get out this time?

LBW, he was a long way forward and the ball was swinging down leg. No luck for Hados.

Ponting was correctly given not out. Ball narrowly missed the bat on its way to the pad.

The ever appealing Indians at it again - but only when we do it is when criticism rolls in.

They don't like to be called monkeys, but it sounds like a zoo when they and the crowd get loud.

[locky801]

Ponting now gone


Aussies 2/50

Katich still there on 9 after facing 63 balls

[locky801]

TEA

Aussies 2/74 off of 33 overs, draw coming up one thinks

KATICH 21* off of 100 balls

HUSSEY 12* off of 25

[Gozu]

I was just having a think about a situation that may concern Hayden. Let's just say he wants to keep playing for another couple of years, he would be on a good contract with CA. Is there anything stopping CA low-balling him (or anyone else)? Like say in the next batch on contracts couldn't they just offer him the minimum wage (which surely would be a pay cut)? It's not like he can go anywhere else and would be forced to accept it or retire.

[hearts on fire]

I was just having a think about a situation that may concern Hayden. Let's just say he wants to keep playing for another couple of years, he would be on a good contract with CA. Is there anything stopping CA low-balling him (or anyone else)? Like say in the next batch on contracts couldn't they just offer him the minimum wage (which surely would be a pay cut)? It's not like he can go anywhere else and would be forced to accept it or retire.

Why would they do that? Just because he has had a sh1t test, they don't need to think about pay-cuts or anything like that. Hayden has been a long servent to the Australian team and i am sure they will give him a very long time to bounce back. Just remember Haydos has had a wonderful last couple of years and deserves to have the oppurtunity he has been given. There is no doubt he WILL bounce back!

[catchisthecry]

4/117
Watto! your time is now...