How does Ben Cutting not finally get a chance to prove himself on the biggest stage in cricket for Australia?
Injuries have seen the options of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson unavailable to help grab the urn back.
So who do we turn to in our hour of need? Mitchell Johnson.
I can already see it now, horrible flashbacks to England being 1/500 at the Gabba in their second dig, Johnson bowling over after over of nothing.
He finished the match with figures of 0/170 off 42 overs. That was the day I realised, and so should have the selectors, Mitchell Johnson just wasn’t up to Test standard.
Never mind he took 10 wickets in the third Test after being dropped, the damage of what had been such a up-and-down Test career was done.
He faltered at the MCG and again in Sydney, his time was up in the Test arena just before he was 30.
Cutting last year had a strike rate of 38.8, while Johnson was 52.5. Both played the same number of games and bowled in the same amount of innings. Cutting played for the team that made the final, Johnson did not.
Most importantly though, Cutting took 22 wickets, Johnson 17.
Ben Cutting played in the Australia A game against the English, giving the English batsmen a lot of concern and taking the key wicket of Jonathan Trott.
However, along with his 10 mates who played for the ‘A’ team, he got absolutely no look in for the first Test.
So will somebody please give me a logical reason as to why Mitchell Johnson has been chosen to help take the 20 wickets needed to help Australia win the first Test?
Didn’t think so.
Mark
Guest
Hookin, do you like apples?
Justin3
Guest
Brett the key word is...was
James P
Guest
Hilfenhaus overworked? This is the guy who bowled over 500 overs in one first class season. Are they crazy? Stupid question I guess
Hookin' YT
Guest
The selectors keep persisting with crud. Have done since 2008 when we were No1. Watson has 46 tests and 3000 test runs. THREE THOUSAND!! Johnson shouldn't have played in 2010 except at the WACA In 5 matches at the WACA he has 36 wickets at 19.67
Brett McKay
Expert
Seriously? I acknowldeged his faults and issues in three posts above! You do read, don't you?
Hookin' YT
Guest
Here let me remind you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTOb65qDjlY
Brett McKay
Expert
I haven't forgotten anything..
Hookin' YT
Guest
You forgot fast. Fast wayward park hack.
Brett McKay
Expert
You're completely missing my point, Hookin. It's very cool to be hard on Johnson and point out all his flaws, but the fact remains, he was very, very good bowler. Statements like Geoff's here today completely overlook that, all in favour of portraying Johnson as some wayward park hack..
Hookin' YT
Guest
And he took 0/66 and 0/104. Is this going to different? By the time we get to the WACA we may 2-0 down. All the poms cut and pull well and like the ball coming on (which makes the pitches they prepared in England nuts). We need bowlers like Alderman, McGrath and Stu Clark. Not quick but deadly accurate.
Brett McKay
Expert
There's no debating his figures or even why he lost his spot, Hookin, but more than a bit of poetic licence tends to be applied when it comes to describing Mitchell Johnson, that's my point. If Johnson truly wasn't up to Test standard by the time he played the First Ashes Test in 2010-2011, he'd hardly have had 160 Test wickets by then, would he?
Hookin' YT
Guest
His 35 wickets against England come at 34.43 a piece and at, wait for it, 4.03RPO. Sooo sticking with history, 28 overs 3/112 ok? What was his return last Gabba test ;)
Jo M
Guest
True that.
Max Weber
Roar Pro
Yeah, Harris is not there which explains it.
Brett McKay
Expert
Geoff, you realise that by the point you worked out Johnson wasn't up to Test standard, he already had more than 160 Test wickets?
Hookin' YT
Guest
So did Siddle last week. Same batsman, smaller ground.
Jo M
Guest
He is currently going at over 5 an over, after 6 overs he is 0/34
A punter
Guest
The name Ben Cutting keeps coming up in forums such as these. Very difficult to understand why he has not been given an opportunity. I hope he performs well the Shield.
Dan Ced
Roar Rookie
I want Sayers in Siddle's spot but for this series I will give Siddle the benefit of the doubt, He did not do poorly in England when I was watching.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Yes, I had a feeling something like that might happen :) However, if you look through QLD matches you'll see that he opens very rarely. He has been taken off after only 3 overs as well so I'll claim that as vindication ;)