The news that Jackson Bird has been ruled out of the rest of the Gavaskar-Border series, may actually be a blessing in disguise.
When we look at the XI who played in the game, it is obvious that some must be retained, and some must be replaced.
While quality spin is a priority for India, I feel that the area where a replacement is definitely needed is wicketkeeping.
So, how about sending in Tim Paine or Brad Haddin for that spot?
I do agree that we have a weaker spin department than India, but poor keeping can only make matters worse.
But poor keeping can only make matters worse!
I feel Lyon and Doherty (if picked) will play better in the next Test. Australia need to avoid a situation where the few chances that are created behind the stumps are messed up by Matt Wade’s sloppy keeping.
While many point to Wade’s batting prowess as a reason to keep him in the side, he is obviously not performing.
I know he can attack well on flat wickets, and he may be a better player on swinging wickets, but on a dust bowl against spin, he is vulnerable. He even struggled against quality spinners in Australia.
Even if he plays all the games in this series, I don’t think he will cross the 50 run mark once.
Cricket Australia need to rush Paine or Haddin immediately into the side. I prefer Paine due to his previous fantastic series in India, in 2010.
If not, Wade could at least have a bit of a chat to Nathan Lyon about defensive technique. Lyon lasted 77 balls, on fourth and fifth day wickets, surpassing Wade’s collective batting effort.
Tony
Guest
Bring Chris Hartley over but play Wade as a specialist batsman and Hartley as wicketkeeper and bring Nathan Hauritz as a extra spinner
JGK
Roar Guru
Can a keeper really do an acceptable job with a fractured cheekbone?
aussie1st
Roar Pro
Lol perfect timing with the article, Wade has an injury.
Bearfax
Guest
Slim I dont think Doherty is up to the challenge and I dont think based on statistics that Maxwell is up to it....yet. Doherty is not a test player. Maxwell has the potential but not yet. I suspect Maxwell would get one or two wickets but I think he'd get them at 40-50 runs a pop. He's a good batsman but too cavalier at this stage and likely to get out early far more often than not. But he could be a top player in a year or two, like Smith..
Brendon
Guest
Nevill doesn't even keep for NSW, so he can't just slip into the Aussie side.
Brendon
Guest
Hartley is a much better keeper, I've seen a bit of him this year and he's nearly as good as I've seen, he bat's ok as well, no where near as good as Wade, but Ok
Brendon
Guest
Hartley's catch was pretty awesome, SA will win it's first shield since 96 this year, Botha has em purring.
Brendon
Guest
Not entirely true, I watched a lot of the game and his keeping was actually pretty atrocious, I've backed him all summer and I'll back him for the next test but he needs to improve. The amount of balls he dropped was crazy, some of them were really straight forward, also he's standing to far back, he was catching 50% of the balls on the second or third bounce and almost none above the knees, move forward for crying out loud, I was incredulous. Forget Paine, give Hartley the nod if after the series nothing has improved, but Wade see's this series out regardless, no point throwing another keeper to the Wolves.
Roy
Guest
nmj, you must be watching the wrong Hartley or the wrong Wade or both.
Roy
Guest
Agree with all your points on this James ... but can't help but note you've changed your tune in a big way since I and others suggested Hartley was the better gloveman a little while back. As a keeper, Wade is well down the pecking order of Australian keepers, Haddin is barely 1 rung higher and, in my view, neither is good enough with the bat to adequately compensate. Besides they both seem like 1 speed batsmen that can't or won't adapt their style to suite the game. Fine for limited overs cricket, but unacceptable for the test side.
Felix
Guest
Would they be the same roads that have been producing more swing and seam, along with quicker shield results than ever before? If you follow domestic cricket closely you'll find an outcry from batsmen and spinners that shield decks have been juicy green tops of late. Try attending a few games it gives you a great, albeit quiet, view into Australian Cricket.
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
Hartley is no better a keeper than Wade and is useless with the bat. He keeps on roads throughout the Shield season - particularly the Gabba - and would struggle even moreso than Wade in India. Assuming there are no better options is ignorant, but knowing there are no better options is completely different. Wade is performing his role very well.
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
You fail to note that Hartley keeps on our Australian roads consistently. Wade kept pretty well during the summer, and of course he's gone somewhere he's never been before, as have many of the touring party, and struggled. India is the toughest frontier in cricket. Give Wade a chance, he could be in the side on his batting alone and his keeping among Australians is second-to-none. People were saying the same things about Wade when Haddin was the incumbent. Let the side settle.
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
Ryan Harris, fit, is the best quick in Australia. It's a shame he's in rehab so often, he could be all the difference in the back to back Ashes.
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
As Kerry Packer famously once said (I think it was about Matthew Wade), 'Dont get bitter, get better..!!'
slim
Guest
I would of thought a John Invirerity type allrounder would be the answer: Glenn Maxwell? Call me Bupinder, but, shouldnt there be two spinners playing on these spin-friendly wickets? Will Mick Clarke finally bat up the order? Will Xavier Doherty prove them wrong and have a Ravichandran Ashwin-esc type innings?
Praveen
Guest
Sunil some fantastic points bhai
Praveen
Guest
No doubt that in terms of glove work Hartley is the best we have, ludeman is impressive for what I see
Praveen
Guest
Let's send a SOS for boof as next Australian coach
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
Yep, that's probably right. Plenty of low scores there.