Comments on: Watson could prove the difference in Ashes battle

By: Jameswm

Jameswm — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:43:38 +0000

And forget about Hughes. I always assumed watson would move down to 6, but now I’m not so sure. He’s becoming the imposing opening presence that Haydos was, and is an interesting with the tough left hander Katich.

By: Jameswm

Jameswm — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:31:22 +0000

Re Smith

I agree his career figures do not justify him being selected right now. But sometimes you get a young talent who you just think has the goods, and take a punt on. Is Smith that promising and worth the punt? I tend to think he is, though we wouldn’t know till he’s played a season or two of test cricket. They should have him in the one-day squad right now (forget about Marsh and open with watson and Haddin) to get used to the big stage.

I don’t like how Warnie has done a couple of sessions with him. Warnie should be seeing him every month, if possible, watching him on TV and calling him with observations. Maybe he does and we don’t hear about it.

As for picking Smith – don’t forget he is a precociously talented batsman too, so would you lose a lot of batting putting him in for North? Ferguson for Hussey and that’ll do for a squad.

Harris has done very well (fast and accurate and swings it) and can rightly be thrown into the mix with Johnson, Hilfy, Bolly etc. Ahead of (make that well ahead of, for tests) McKay too, thanks.

By: Rickety Knees

Rickety Knees — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:37:36 +0000

PP – Smith’s figures at this stage of his career are comparable to Warne’s.

By: damos_x

damos_x — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:01:23 +0000

i think Rickety Knees has a good take on it as far as the lengths gone to when Ricky is in your corner ( Andrew Symonds for example ) & it has to be considered when examining the jostling for position or a chance to get in the team. This isn’t an abnormal situation, it happens in everyday life, we even have a cliche for it in it’s not what but who you know so Ricky shouldn’t be seen as a villain in terms of his influence but it is a factor & that Watson seems to be a favourite means he is going to get some leeway when it comes to the line-up & my bet is he will fight tooth & nail to hold the opening spot next to Katich. With runs on the board & wickets in the bag he will be in a strong position & despite the fact that I don’t think the selectors are doing much more than rubber stamping Ricky’s team it does point to the fact that it is Ponting that who axed Hughes & thus the young man will have a hell of a time getting back in the door let alone on the team sheet & if it seems outlandish then let us pause for moment to think of the recent international retirement of Brad Hodge as evidence that being one of the boys ( or more importantly one of Ricky’s boys ) is handier than being outstanding. Watson is going well & long may it last even if the better balance is him at number 6 after North is dropped,

By: Viscount Crouchback

Viscount Crouchback — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:31:28 +0000

I agree that England need a fifth bowler. Strauss and Flower didn’t realistically have the option in SA since so many of the top order batsmen were out of form. If England arrive in Oz with just one batsman out of form – instead of three or four – then they might take a punt on the fifth bowler.

I think they ought to – the Ashes schedule looks brutal. I’m all in favour of intense warm-ups but Perth-Adelaide-Hobart-then Brisbane looks extremely gruelling. Then the Tests themselves are all extremely condensed. I rather doubt that a four-man attack will make it past the 2nd Test at Adelaide before it keels over.

By: preciouspress

preciouspress — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:46:10 +0000

How after so few games, wickets and exposure to Test batsmen, can Spiro claim that Smith is an international class leg spinner. Apparently on the basis of 4 over bowled in 20/20 cricket. Lets hope he is correct but the evidence is not in yet.

As for Watson it could be a story of lbw Anderson/Broad/Onions for <10.

By: Rickety Knees

Rickety Knees — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:07:49 +0000

I agree Spiro. Smith showed a maturity beyond his years in the pressure packed T20 cauldron last night. His two wickets were as a result of quality bowling. However I have no faith in the selectors to get this right. It seems to me that acceptance into the “Ricky’s club” brings greater and extended opportunity. Having three world class all rounders in Watson, Haddin and Jonson is a quirk of cricket history. Dropping North and bringing Steve Smith in – who also has the potential to be a genuine alrounder – should be a no brainer. That gives the side 4 guys to bowl at 140km+, an offie and a leggie and lose nothing in batting in th process.

In test cricket you need to get a side out twice and England are proving to be the masters of stonewalling. Havng a side with six bats (plus Smith, Johnson and Haurtitz) and six bowlers (plus Katich and Clarke) could do the job. But does Ricky’s Club see it that way?

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:10:31 +0000

I can see where you’re coming from Alec, and there’s no doubt Watson adds a nice symmetry to the Australian side. I know you’re not saying he’ll be the difference between the two sides per se, but he’s very quickly become a vital cog in Ponting’s Test XI.

It will be interesting to see what sort of side England bring out here next summer. What happened to all those “next Freddie Flintoff”s?!?

By: Spiro Zavos

Spiro Zavos — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:07:45 +0000

What Shane Watson does is give the selectors some flexibility (if they are capable of taking it) in the shape of their side. Watson is a batting all-rounder who gives the selectors their fourth seam bowler, capable of taking wickets and keeping things tight.
His selection means the selectors should make a couple of adjustments to the batting order, with Michael Clarke going in ahead of Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin replacing Marcus North at number 6.
This would allow for Steve Smith to come into the side batting at seven or eight and adding his leg-spinners to the off-spin of Nathan Hauritz.
Smith showed last night in the T20 match against Pakistan that his leg-spin is of international class, despite his figures in Shield cricket.

By: vas

vas — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:40:58 +0000

I’m not sure Watson will have as big an impact as you think Alec.

For me, he has hit his first real crest of form since avoiding injury. But form is temporary though. I would not be surprised if he is pulled down several pegs before Ashes hostilities resume.

I still think the selectors are tempted to get Phillip Hughes back in the mix, so that Watson can shift down the order to provide some more bowling. Marcus North may be the guy to make way.

As for England, their biggest concern is finding a number 3. It was way too soon to ask Jonathan Trott to do it, and he looked all at sea in South Africa. If I were England, I’d get Collingwood there. He is now the senior batsman in the lineup, and with Pietersen unfocused and dishevelled, Collingwood has to take responsibility.

The other concern is to make sure England’s quicks have a plan B if their swing bowling operation doesn’t work. As the last tour showed, it’s not easy to extract swing with the Kookaburra.

The most secure bloke on your team is Graeme Swann, so the family can feel proud…

By: vinay verma

vinay verma — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:02:30 +0000

Alec, the difference is not any one player. It is the mindset that is important. England are proving masters of the rearguard. But they suffer from stage fright when leading. They seem to be saying “Are we really in front” They should have won the series in South Africa.
Australia is prepared to risk losing to win and this will be the difference. Unless England believe they can win they may well face another drubbing in Australia. The lack of an express bowler will hurt England. Their attack on Australian pitches looks,at best,serviceable.
The battle lines are drawn.