Drop Siddle for the Hyderabad Test
Roar Rookie By Joshua James, 26 Feb 2013 Joshua James is a Roar Rookie
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- Australia cricket, Cricket, india cricket, Peter Siddle, steve smith, Test cricket, Xavier Doherty
Australia's Peter Siddle celebrates after dismissing Sachin Tendulker.
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The age-old success mantra for Aussies on the sub-continent of one spinner and three quicks, doesn’t seem to work.
In my previous article, I suggested a one spinner attack with Lyon. Based on the results, now we are pushed to look at the only other option, the idea which England tried here. That brings us to Xavier Doherty.
No one can assure Doherty would emulate Monty Panasar, but still he is the last resort here. And the bowler to go would certainly be Mitchell Starc, since the Hyderabad surface is bound to more closely resemble Chennai than Mohali.
I live in Chennai and am well aware of the heat in these southern states of India, so it’s natural we would get a much drier surface in Hyderabad too. Mitchell Starc will not be able to help us by any means, though he bowled well in the first game.
I am also disappointed with Peter Siddle, as he didn’t get us those few crucial breakthroughs with his hit-the-deck-hard bowling. Siddle should be out, which should bring in Mitchell Johnson, who can bat better than Siddle too.
Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson and Matthew Wade struggled more against spin, but I would count Hughes as unlucky, having watched both the dismissals. I still would go with him for the next game.
Looking at Wade asks serious questions about his selection for India. How can anyone believe he could play spin here? Though many played poorly, he was pathetic against spin. How good it would be if Brad Haddin or Tim Paine was here.
Paine has the technique to play spin and use his feet, he would have surely made a difference. Cowan needs to go, can be replaced by Steve Smith, who has the technique for sub-continent wickets.
My XI would be:
Shane Watson
Dave Warner
Phil Hughes
Michael Clarke
Steve Smith
Moises Henriques
Matt Wade
Mitchell Johnson
James Pattinson
Nathan Lyon
Xavier Doherty
12th man – Glenn Maxwell
Looking forward to your suggestions and opinion!
February 26th 2013 @ 6:29am
AndyMack said | February 26th 2013 @ 6:29am | Report comment
Smith in front of UTK?? U r kidding.
I agree that Starc is not test standard at the moment, brilliant at limited overs cricket but not at red ball cricket.
Cannot beleive our saviour is X, i know he is our only choice given out selectors selections, but i guess it has to be done.
February 26th 2013 @ 9:24am
jameswm said | February 26th 2013 @ 9:24am | Report comment
Unbelievable selection.
Having said that, I’m not convinced Smith wouldn’t do better than, say, Hughes. Smith has soft hands and plays late.
February 26th 2013 @ 9:45am
Boris said | February 26th 2013 @ 9:45am | Report comment
Spot on with Starc. The selectors have no problem pigeon-holing McKay as a limited overs specialist so until Starc performs at Shield level (I don’t mean just a few yorkers here ‘n’ there, I mean consistent, long, economical spells) then Patto, Bird, Siddle and even Johnson are in front of him in my book.
I also agree Steve Smith is quite a humourous suggestion.
Seriously, what has O’Keffe done to offend the selectors?!?
February 26th 2013 @ 2:53pm
AndyMack said | February 26th 2013 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
Boris, think it shows the selectors have this short term memory syndrome. They can recall Starc doing OK in a few Odis and 20/20s so he should be in the test team. Same as what happened with marsh.
February 26th 2013 @ 8:08am
John Philipson said | February 26th 2013 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Quite honestly the problem in this test has been across a number of fronts, not just the bowling.
First, Australia lacks starch in its top 5 (ala Cook). Shane Watson does not have the mental fortitude to go past 60 and Cowan is not good enough to get there. Hughes agreed has been outbowled, but I think most would agree he is a mentally strong player.
Warner is definitely a work in progress, and needs to rediscover the intent that got him his 100 against NZ on a tricky deck.
Wade is not a number 6, maybe if he wasnt keeping, but him keeping all day means he needs to bat 7.
Second, the fielding has not been good enough, as another Roarer pointed out, the Cowan drop really has cost us.
Third, our bowling has lacked penetration – although the indians pitch doctoring makes a joke of test cricket really.
How does your team address this? Well first I dont like your top 5, it lacks really crease occupiers with strong infallible test techniques.
Instead I would opt for the following top 5.
Cowan
Khawaja (a big ask of him)
Clarke (needs to play up top)
Hughes
Warner (still view him as a middle order player rather than an opener)
Watson (Watson to bowl as well – provided he is up to it)
Wade (you could almost switch Henriques and Wade after this games performance)
Henriques (he plays as the third main seamer)
Pattinson
Starc
Lyon
I understand a lot of people will be aggrieved that I have removed Siddle – but I think this team is a stronger batting team, but still with a varied four pronged pace attack and Lyon (who should be supported by Clarke and Warner).
February 26th 2013 @ 11:02am
matt h said | February 26th 2013 @ 11:02am | Report comment
I don’t see how this team has more of a chance of taking 20 wickets than the first test team. All you have done is remove one option. don’t forget we did score 380 in the first innings and 200+ on Day 4 is actually not too bad. BUT India score 570 and this is not acceptable. So someone has to come in if you are dropping Siddle, whether it is Doherty, Johnson or Maxwell.
I would drop Siddle and Star and bring in Johnson and Doherty. Leave the batting order as is for one more test. Watson goes home after tha anyqay and Khawaja will come in.
February 26th 2013 @ 11:44pm
Viren said | February 26th 2013 @ 11:44pm | Report comment
John,
Pitch doctoring? The Chennai pitch had runs for those who were good enough, and provided a result early on day 5. A sporting pitch, by any measure. Pattinson and Jimmy Anderson showed us that pacers, too, could prosper if good enough.
I don’t buy the theory that sub continental pitches are dodgy. Just different. Would you say growing a bit of grass on the pitch is ‘doctoring’? Surely not.
PS – Unbiased Indian/Aussie supporter here.
February 26th 2013 @ 8:20am
Red Kev said | February 26th 2013 @ 8:20am | Report comment
I have to say I did enjoy listening to the commentary by the English, it provides a very different perspective to the cheerleading that is normally offered by ABC radio or by Channel Nine of our cricketers.
Cowan, not really good enough but thought well of for prizing his wicket.
Warner, they are aware of what he can do but haven’t seen it, reserve judgement.
Hughes, they consider a bunny, has one shot, the cut, and he will edge to slip all day long,
Watson, they don’t really rate as a test cricketer but I believe they do respect him for his ODI and T20 skills.
Clarke, best batsman in the world, feared
Khawaja, they do actually rate having seen him for a couple of seasons in County Cricket, he has a technique and they believe he can score runs
Smith, they consider a bad joke
Wade, they aren’t impressed by but they haven’t seen a lot of him.
Henriques, they hadn’t seen him but they now rate him for gutsing out runs, not pretty, not flashy, but effective and valuable.
They certainly don’t believe Lyon or Doherty are test match spinners.
They also think all our pacemen are soft – injuries, 3-over spells, etc.
Reasonable criticisms to be honest.
February 26th 2013 @ 8:38am
Red Kev said | February 26th 2013 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Tim Paine – that’s the other guy they were banging on about, they really rate him, think he should be in the team instead of Wade (just not until after the Ashes).
February 26th 2013 @ 9:30am
jameswm said | February 26th 2013 @ 9:30am | Report comment
Last time we went to India Haddin was injured and Paine played. His batting and keeping werre both impeccable. He dug us out of holes regularly. This is why I rate him, because he excelled in about the toughest of conditions for an Aussie.
In fact I’d have kept him in and not reinstated Haddin. At the time, Haddin’s batting was reckless and his keeping sloppy. They put Haddin back in, and that really changed, didn’t it?
They picked Healy after very few FC games, on potential and attitude. They knew he was one tough bugger. I feel the same with Paine, and that’s why I’d pick him.
Added to that of course, is that Wade’s glovework remains highly inconsistent. I didn’t see that much of the test, but every 5 overs or so he’d drop one off the quicks, for no reason. And it’s not like he’s a genius off the spinners.
I don’t care if it’s Paine, Hartley or Nevill, but we need a keeper who never drops it, and gets stumpings.
February 26th 2013 @ 10:46am
josh said | February 26th 2013 @ 10:46am | Report comment
I don’t know how that is balanced perspective. It’s reeks of English cheerleading before the Ashes.
February 26th 2013 @ 10:48am
Red Kev said | February 26th 2013 @ 10:48am | Report comment
As opposed to the ABC radio, Channel Nine and Gideon Haigh? It balances their commentary nicely, I didn’t say it was ‘balanced’ in and of itself.
Their criticism of most of our batting lineup however is reasonable.
February 26th 2013 @ 11:11am
josh said | February 26th 2013 @ 11:11am | Report comment
My mistake re: balanced.
It’s reasonable to a degree. Seems to be rooted in perceptions formed in 2009.
If I was England I would be least concerned with:
Cowan: I’d use Shane Warne adage don’t worry trying to get him out; he does it himself and doesn’t bother the score book too much anyway.
Watson: Was a big fan, but seems to have lost his way a bit now.
Smith: I’m not sure will get an Ashes gig.
February 26th 2013 @ 11:19am
Red Kev said | February 26th 2013 @ 11:19am | Report comment
Cowan does, but he gets himself 30 pretty much regardless of whatever else is going on – he may find himself still in favour because of that.
February 26th 2013 @ 8:45am
Crispy said | February 26th 2013 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Steve Smith AHAHAHA, awesome comedy piece bro!
February 26th 2013 @ 8:54am
jamesb said | February 26th 2013 @ 8:54am | Report comment
Didn’t Tim Paine make a 90 odd the last time Australia toured India. I remember that I was very impressed by that innings of Paine. I was surprised that Australia went to India with just one keeper.
Siddle without doubt is the biggest disappointment of the team. He just looked rusty. Also i had high expectations of Siddle, whereas I had low expectations of our batting.
At the end of the day, the squad to India is very ordinary. There are some handy cricketers back at home like Rogers, O’Keefe and Paine that could have made a difference.
February 26th 2013 @ 9:46am
jameswm said | February 26th 2013 @ 9:46am | Report comment
Not just once. Paine dug us out of trouble at least twice. And he barely conceded a bye. In tough conditions, standing up to spinners.
OK – let’s get the facts.
Paine played 2 tests in India in 2010. 1st test, came in at 5 for 222 and scroed 92. In our 2nd innings he failed as we lost our last 6 wickets for 48, and ultimately the test.
2nd test 59 and 23.
February 26th 2013 @ 11:32am
DJW said | February 26th 2013 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Siddle was in phenomanal form, The NSP rested him for awhile (I don’t think he played the warm ups, I could be wrong) and he has lost his rhythem and form.
Saying that he is a hit the deck bowler which the chennai conditions don’t help. Usually though his constant tight line and length still work but he hasn’t bowled consistantly so far.
February 26th 2013 @ 11:51am
Scifi said | February 26th 2013 @ 11:51am | Report comment
Didn’t Siddle not play Shield after the Sri Lanka series so he could he get some training in the gym in before heading off to India?
You should have played Shield Sids! Match fitness is different to gym fitness as Shane Warne mentioned yesterday.
February 26th 2013 @ 9:57am
Adam said | February 26th 2013 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Hughes and Smith in the same team? I just couldn’t stomach that. Hughes might have copped a good ball in the second innings, but his first innings dismissal was embarrassing, just like so many of his test dismissals to date.
Clarke, Warner, Henriques and Patto are the only ones who deserve their spots at the moment.
February 26th 2013 @ 9:58am
Sydney Kiwi said | February 26th 2013 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Smith in for Cowan, nice one ;p
Siddle could do with a break (drop, rest, rotation, whatever you call it) – he seems to have dropped off form over the ODI / 20/20 games. Doherty in.
Cowan surely needs to go now, its a pity as he showed some backbone in the prelims. He will be back in once Watson leaves so he still has some chances.
Starc will be a tough call as I love having the L/H option but looks to be drier still in Hydrabad he may stay but I say give Bird a go as he can tighten it up for the spinners at the other end.
Interesting to see some opinions outside of Australia. I agree a little with Hughes being very predictable but he is mentally strong.
So lineup- Watson, Warner, Hughes, Khawaja, Clarke, Henriques( has done enough to move up), Wade (up one less pressure), Patterson, Doherty, Lyon,Bird.
That leaves us a quick, two fast mediums with Bird being the stock bowler. Two off side spinners, Two leg side spinners in Warner and Clarke. This side should be more stable and get more runs with more support for Clarke. And also another spinner to share the load with Lyon.
February 26th 2013 @ 10:07am
Renegade said | February 26th 2013 @ 10:07am | Report comment
I like that line up Sydney kiwi…only problem is Bird has flown back home with back problems.
I get the feeling he would have had success if he played.
February 26th 2013 @ 11:56am
Crispy said | February 26th 2013 @ 11:56am | Report comment
Cowan has outscored Watson in this match, and has exactly the same bowling figures: 0 overs, 0 maidens, 0-0. Hughes looks completely at sea against quality spin, and for my mind I think he should make way for UTK. 3 openers should be enough.
Bird isn’t even in the country anymore (flew home yesterday with back pain) but if he was he should definitely be in the side. It’s a shame O’Keefe isn’t there because he’s a decent bowler who would strengthen a very fragile looking batting line-up, but I agree Doherty has to play if they have to bowl a spinner for 47 overs an innings.
My ideal 11 would be: Warner, Cowan, Watson, Khawaja, Clarke, Henriques, Wade, O’Keefe, Pattinson, Lyon, Bird.
Of the touring party currently there: Warner, Cowan, Watson, Khawaja, Clarke, Henriques, Wade, Pattinson, Siddle, Lyon, Doherty
February 26th 2013 @ 9:32pm
James said | February 26th 2013 @ 9:32pm | Report comment
It’s funny. Hughes looks completely at sea against quality spin and also completely at sea against quality pace bowling (if we class Chris Martin as quality anyway). I’d love to see him have a fantastic career, but at this point I think he is more likely to struggle through India and then get caught in the slips in the Ashes until he is dropped. Hope that I am wrong.
February 26th 2013 @ 10:36am
brian zhang said | February 26th 2013 @ 10:36am | Report comment
Last time Australia were in india, Bollinger, hilfenhaus and Johnson all got wickets and hauritz the spinner was thrashed .
I don’t think the selectors have made a diabolical mistake because Australia’s major strength right now is pace bowling. During the final frontier series in 2004, McGrath gillespie and kasprowicz all had brilliant series whilst Warne other than.the 6fer to took, didn’t take many big hauls.
You cannot drop siddle from the side. I think if one had to be dropped it’d be starc because his action.is.more suited for bouncier and seam friendly pitches whilst Johnson’s slingy round arm naturally allows reverse swing. If there was a series for Doherty then it’d be now. Maybe the second allrounder is needed in smith or Maxwell though both aren’t real potential wicket takers
February 26th 2013 @ 11:54am
Scifi said | February 26th 2013 @ 11:54am | Report comment
We need two front line spinners. Whilst I don’t think Xavier is the man he is the first cab off the depleted rank in India so he gets the nod. I would drop Sids for him. Siddle looked rusty and his style of hitting the deck in India was less than helpful. Should have played Sheidl Sids!
Starc was average so bring in the X factor Johnson. You then have Pattinson, Johnson and Henriques for your quicks, Lyon and Xavier for spin with a little back up from Clarke and co.
Khawaja should be in the team so I would make room for him too. Our batting against spin was awful aside from Clarke and the gutsy Henriques.
February 26th 2013 @ 2:16pm
mick the clown said | February 26th 2013 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
Is thsi a joke? you said “We need two front line spinners” and then state Lyon for one of our spins? -3/200
That is not a front line spinner. That is rubbish.
February 27th 2013 @ 12:39pm
Jack said | February 27th 2013 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
He did bowl over 40 overs, how many runs do people normally get hit for after bowling 40 overs. Because the average score in a 50 over game is about 250
February 26th 2013 @ 2:28pm
nachos supreme said | February 26th 2013 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
“The age-old success mantra for Aussies on the sub-continent of one spinner and three quicks, doesn’t seem to work”
Success? depends on how you define successful.
In the “age” of the Border Gavaskar trophy from 96 on there have been 6 Australian tours of India not including the current tour, with a return of 1 series victory in 04-05.