Roar Rookie
Joined August 2013
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Love him or loathe him, Brad Haddin's place in the Australian Test team has become one of its most contentious issues. The man once…
For the first time in years, I am excited to be a Wallabies fan. It may have something to do with having an Australian…
Definitely have been impressed by Whiteman, looks to have class with both gloves and blade. There is a strong generation of keepers around 20 years of age coming through the state cricket ranks at the moment. Definitely recommend keeping and eye on Jimmy Peirson from the Bulls – he was the keeper for the Aus Under20s side and has emerged as Hartley’s backup.
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?
I haven’t seen enough of Nevill’s keeping to make comment, but he has looked impressive with the bat.
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?
Agreed Gatesy that the pieces are there for a very handy side. Throw in guys like Pocock and Higgers back from injury, Dan Palmer who’ll be back from France and silky backs like Godwin and Speight and our side evolves another level. Plenty of talent in the current starters, and the competition for spots should only make everyone better. Definitely don’t think we’re anywhere near the finished article, but the pieces are there to warrant optimism about the next couple of years.
Seeds have been sewn for Wallaby World Cup victory
By no means do I think Haddin is dead and buried as a batsman. His 80 in the first test was one of the most composed knocks I’ve seen him play and nearly won it for us. The problem he will probably encounter is that in a lineup where the batting hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire, anyone averaging below 30 (even a keeper) is going to come under intense scrutiny. If the top 4 fire, we don’t need runs from Haddin, but recently that has been anything but the case.
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?
Ronchi did play a few ODIs for Australia a few years back, but he fell behind Paine in the pecking order. Definitely a brutal batsman, but always looked more like a batsman who could keep a bit rather than a true keeper-batsman
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?
Definitely not sure Bailey is the answer at number 6. I’ve been impressed by his start in ODI cricket, but I would have been picking Doolan or Khawaja. Agreed that Smith is probably the next VC, which would have been a laughable prospect even a year ago.
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?
I think he’s keeping better now than he was prior to being usurped by Wade the first time. The probably is he seems to be getting increasingly prone to ugly brain fades that have cost us key wickets and always make the highlights reel. Still, you’re right, on current form it will be his batting that gets him dropped rather than his keeping.
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?
It’s amazing to think that when Wade first entered the test arena his selection was widely applauded for his superior keeping skills to Haddin. How quickly that changed.
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?
Looks to be a number of good young keepers around the country, blokes like Doran and Jimmy Peirson from QLD, but I would doubt they’ll be ready for national honours any time soon. Can’t see Haddin realistically hanging around for more than a year or so, so I’d say it’s much more likely we’ll see Paine (or Hartley if the selectors realise that he exists) take the gloves for 5 years or so until guys like Doran are entrenched in their respective state sides.
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?
Certainly I’d agree with the idea that keepers should be selected on their keeping ability, but in the modern game there is certainly the need to balance that against their ability with the bat, particularly in team’s like our current test side that are like on batting talent further up the order.
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?
Next year looms as a big season for all of the Australian clubs. Reds have a strong squad, but how will they adapt to the post-Link era? Can the Brumbies find the edge they need to go one step further? The force have recruited well, but can they turn their home form into victories on the road? Can the Tahs keep building on the impressive signs they showed this year? And will the culture and squad overhaul taking place in Melbourne mean a turnaround in on-field fortunes? The pieces are all there for a blockbuster year for the Australian conference. Bring on 2014.
The Australian Super Rugby season that was
Folau has definitely shown a skillset to be a damaging centre, but the beauty of playing him on the wing means that our playmakers can make use of his sublime aerial skills on attacking kicks. Also tend to think that if Cooper is at number 10 we’d be best served by having a field general at 12, someone who can direct the team around the pitch and leave Quade to focus on setting up points. Will be interesting to see what Kurtley Beale going to the Tahs does to the equation, because we could well see Izzy playing 12 at Super 15 level from next year.
Where to now for Israel Folau?
Just a typo Lewis, had BR and BA in my side to start off with and got the teams scrambled.
Why the Wallabies will win the next World Cup
Mike I personally don’t agree in picking a player who only makes “a reasonable fist” of his other duties. As I said, I very much like the look of Lilo and wouldn’t argue with his selection, but as Godwin develops there’s no reason to think he can’t develop into a world class goal kicker himself, and he looks like the more damaging player. But I’ll concede that is purely my opinion.
Why the Wallabies will win the next World Cup
Agree with your comments Jordi. The thing with Quade is that if he plays the way he is capable of playing on a consistent basis it’d be impossible to ignore him, but that is a big if. Love the look of Toomua and Foley, and the competition might finally force QC to knuckle down. Certainly there’s a lot of work to be done in terms of nailing down combinations but I like MMM as a partner to Horwill because of his physicality and aerial skills. There are a number of solid contenders though. As is the case for the whole side.
Why the Wallabies will win the next World Cup
Gilly was anything but a mediocre keeper, and that 100 off 57 balls will live long in anyone’s memory
Does Bailey's selection spell Haddin's demise?