Third Aus vs Pak 14th-18th Jan in Hobart

[Hondo]

What you say makes sense LM. All I'd say the other way is that giving (gifting?) someone test matches at a young age doesn't by itself automatically make them better players. It does if your next competition down is pathetic but it's arguable that our SS system is competitive enough that Aust players can come in to tests later in life and do as well as if they had been playing for the 5 years preceeding.

ie, Mike Hussey

As you say, there's theories about squad building and then there's the reality of what talent pool is around at that time. You have your ideal age profiles but you don't want to pick teams based on age quotas.

[Lightning McQueen]

I find it dangerous territory having so many players around the same age, once a couple retire a few more go with them and you find that you are re-building for 3 or 4 years the majority of your team.
The Windies have been re-building for 20 years and still appear to be a fair way off of the mark. Is cricket dying over there to basketball, they found Curtly on the beach, are they looking hard enough.

[Lightning McQueen]

Anyway, back on topic, I'm retracting my nads and tipping a draw.

[brod]

Peter Siddle gets the prize for stating the obvious

"For us to fight back and put a lot of pressure on them, with bat at the end there and obviously with the ball, the way Hauritz and Mitchell Johnson especially attacked them … it's definitely going to hurt them and definitely going to play on their minds a lot coming in to Hobart."

[brod]

In the wash-up from Sydney, the PCB expressed its "utmost concern" over the team's effort and rushed the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to Hobart to take the gloves from Kamran Akmal. His performance at the SCG was poor; he dropped four catches and missed a run-out and his spilled opportunities were instrumental in allowing Australia back in the game.

Surprised that Kamram Akmal has the third test most dismissals since 2000

[stan]

Im looking forward to this test. Should be a good battle.

I reckon Pakistan almost have the bowling attack right. Asif, and Sami with Kaneria is a good balanced attack at this point. I would questin sammi's ability though to keep producing the spells of bowling he achieved in the first innings at Sydney. He can go missing at times. The 3rd quick being Gul is interesting, he needs to step more like he sort of did in the second dig. Otherwise the 17 year old in Ammer can slot in. Infact I would be tempeted to slot him in either Sami and Gul.

[acockfromwayback]

All BS aside, Ponting has probably been the only young fella that we given the opportunity to over the past couple of decades and what do you know, he's the world's leading runscorer ever.
.

I'm sure Tendulker has something to say in regards to this at least, possibly Lara also?
Is this for real?

Watson debut early, for sure he copped lots of injuries but thats not selectors problem, Katich debut at 24-25 if i'm correct but didn't take that first opportunity, Lee started early, Hughes, most of our current bowlers have been given the opportunity at a youngish age (25ish)

Ferguson i would have thought would be playing currently if it wasn't for injury.

I'm a strong believer in picking the strongest available side and if that means playing in-form juniors so be it, but since Hughes run spree before his debut, no one bar perhaps Klinger has done enough to push a senior player out of their spot in the side.

[Adelaide Hawk]

I'm a strong believer in picking the strongest available side and if that means playing in-form juniors so be it, but since Hughes run spree before his debut, no one bar perhaps Klinger has done enough to push a senior player out of their spot in the side.

Test players are not selected on sheer weight of runs and wickets in Sheffield Shield any more. They used to be, but that was when existing Test players were playing most of the shield games themselves. Big 100s against popgun attacks, or bags of wickets against average batting line ups do not impress selectors.

These days Test selectors look for players they consider to made of the right stuff to play Test cricket. Examples of this policy has been Shane Warne and Ian Healy who did almost nothing at shield level before being plucked to play Test cricket.

[stan]

I'm a strong believer in picking the strongest available side and if that means playing in-form juniors so be it, but since Hughes run spree before his debut, no one bar perhaps Klinger has done enough to push a senior player out of their spot in the side.

Test players are not selected on sheer weight of runs and wickets in Sheffield Shield any more. They used to be, but that was when existing Test players were playing most of the shield games themselves. Big 100s against popgun attacks, or bags of wickets against average batting line ups do not impress selectors.

These days Test selectors look for players they consider to made of the right stuff to play Test cricket. Examples of this policy has been Shane Warne and Ian Healy who did almost nothing at shield level before being plucked to play Test cricket.

Theres probably a few more examples of that, but im cant think of them right now.

I can't see Klinger getting the nod unless there is an injury to Clarke or Hussey. Even then Hughes my still get the nod ahead of him. Which I know is crap because for the second season in a row the guy is a run machine, but thats just how it is.

[locky801]

Most would expect the Aussies to win this in a canter after the horrid last 2 days Pakistan had in the last test. However, we dont have to look back to far in the history books to see what Australia's form is like once a series is won, alot of the time they tend to have 5 days off and get beaten. Not sure if it will happen this time, even though we have had a good summer (not dominating) one or two that have been named in the side are playing for their current test careers, Marcus North (been enough said) and IMHO Peter Siddle, yes he did well with the bat but he is in the side as an opening bowler and sorry his figures aren't really setting the world on fire. Just a couple of other guys there as well that havent set the world on fire in Ponting and Clarke either but they are safe, overall , would love to see the entire side perform as one with both bat on ball and demolish the Pakistan side and come away with a 3 zip win

[Media Park]

Agree with removing North.

Who's the replacement?

If Kat comes good, put Hughes down the order, easy done.

If there's no Kat, which player comes in?

You'd have to say Michael Klinger...

Not so sure on Siddle.

I'm not a big fan, and he hasn't done enough to retain his spot, but who do you replace him with?

Clint McKay? Not a Test player.
Hugh Hefnerhaus? Injured...

Simple fact, there is no form replacement to take the new ball...

Being a patriotic South Ozzie, I'd have to say one P. George would have to be high on the list, but he's nowhere near ready...

Even tho he's not performing, we know he can perform...

[mal]

In the wash-up from Sydney, the PCB expressed its "utmost concern" over the team's effort and rushed the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to Hobart to take the gloves from Kamran Akmal. His performance at the SCG was poor; he dropped four catches and missed a run-out and his spilled opportunities were instrumental in allowing Australia back in the game.

Surprised that Kamram Akmal has the third test most dismissals since 2000

This is precisely why AU will always be a better team than PA
The keeper had a horror game and they call for a replacement
HOW DOES THAT MAKE THE REST OF THE TEAM FEEL ?

The AU way of carrying players works better, even if a couple of players in recent years were given longer stays than deserved

[Lightning McQueen]

All BS aside, Ponting has probably been the only young fella that we given the opportunity to over the past couple of decades and what do you know, he's the world's leading runscorer ever.
.

I'm sure Tendulker has something to say in regards to this at least, possibly Lara also?
Is this for real?

Watson debut early, for sure he copped lots of injuries but thats not selectors problem, Katich debut at 24-25 if i'm correct but didn't take that first opportunity, Lee started early, Hughes, most of our current bowlers have been given the opportunity at a youngish age (25ish)

Ferguson i would have thought would be playing currently if it wasn't for injury.

I'm a strong believer in picking the strongest available side and if that means playing in-form juniors so be it, but since Hughes run spree before his debut, no one bar perhaps Klinger has done enough to push a senior player out of their spot in the side.

Yes, my mistake, I should've written Australia's leading ever runscorer.

[shoe boy]

[
All BS aside, Ponting has probably been the only young fella that we given the opportunity to over the past couple of decades and what do you know, he's the world's leading runscorer ever.
.[/quote]

I'm sure Tendulker has something to say in regards to this at least, possibly Lara also?
Is this for real?

Watson debut early, for sure he copped lots of injuries but thats not selectors problem, Katich debut at 24-25 if i'm correct but didn't take that first opportunity, Lee started early, Hughes, most of our current bowlers have been given the opportunity at a youngish age (25ish)

Ferguson i would have thought would be playing currently if it wasn't for injury.

Cmn on LMQ lift your game
Who in your opinion should we look at for the future who is in your terms a kid?
Mine would be Smith/Marsh and then daylight.

[Lightning McQueen]

Cmn on LMQ lift your game
Who in your opinion should we look at for the future who is in your terms a kid?
Mine would be Smith/Marsh and then daylight.

You're probably on the money there, there's not many kids setting the place on fire, I do think our bowling stocks are looking impressive though, Hazelwood, Starc, George and a few others from WA, Qld and the other NSW lad.

[carey]

In the wash-up from Sydney, the PCB expressed its "utmost concern" over the team's effort and rushed the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to Hobart to take the gloves from Kamran Akmal. His performance at the SCG was poor; he dropped four catches and missed a run-out and his spilled opportunities were instrumental in allowing Australia back in the game.

Surprised that Kamram Akmal has the third test most dismissals since 2000

will be interesting to see how young akmal performs with his big brother being dropped

[locky801]

In the wash-up from Sydney, the PCB expressed its "utmost concern" over the team's effort and rushed the wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed to Hobart to take the gloves from Kamran Akmal. His performance at the SCG was poor; he dropped four catches and missed a run-out and his spilled opportunities were instrumental in allowing Australia back in the game.

Surprised that Kamram Akmal has the third test most dismissals since 2000

will be interesting to see how young akmal performs with his big brother being dropped

Evidently the side aren't happy over him being dropped (story on the news tonight) chances are now he will play, if he doesnt this test could be done and dusted in 2 days

[CoverKing]

Well he is the vice captain, and with the Paki's, the VC is on the selection committee when it comes to team selections once on tour. i doubt he will be dropped!

So Pakistani like. He has kept damn well in the NZ series, and had a extremely bad test against us at the SCG. He didnt set the world on fire in the Boxing day test, but if that was most other countries, he would have been stuck with for the series at least.

[cokadonkeytoo]

i wonder if Pakistan will get themselves in an unbeatable position again in the 3rd test and bet all their match payments on the Aussies like they did in the 2nd test

[Adelaide Hawk]

i wonder if Pakistan will get themselves in an unbeatable position again in the 3rd test and bet all their match payments on the Aussies like they did in the 2nd test

And you know this to be fact do you?