Roar Rookie
Joined January 2015
988
Views
1
Published
57
Comments
Lifelong Australian cricket fan. Loves test matches.
Published
Comments
Based on playing ability alone, Michael Clarke should be playing in and captaining both Australia's Test and ODI teams. But, given his deteriorating body,…
Watson’s stats say nothing about the circumstances in which he’s scored runs or taken wickets. One of the most common complaints about him is that he only performs when the pressure’s off; when his team really needs him to perform, he generally isn’t up to the task. It would be interesting to see some stats regarding Watson’s performances in matches won vs. lost, or dead rubbers vs. non-dead-rubbers.
Career stats show Shane Watson up there with the best
I think it’s better for him to go out on top rather than stick around too long like, say, Ponting did.
Chris Rogers does it his way
Marsh’s been averaging over 45 with the bat in first-class cricket over the last two years, I think. His performances from earlier in his career skew his statistics a bit. He’s still young.
Ashes problem: Laying all hope on Marshy ground
Personally I’m all for replacing Haddin with Nevill, but he wasn’t exceptional in the tour match–he let through 31 byes in the first innings (albeit in the face of some pretty wayward bowling). I wonder if the selectors might be inclined to give Haddin a few more games on this basis?
Sorry Shane Watson, but you are a liability
Looking forward to Watson’s upcoming testimonial match.
[VIDEO] Ashes: England vs Australia first Test highlights: Day 4 cricket scores, blog
I reckon the Aussies wouldn’t mind a bit of rain!
[VIDEO] Ashes: England vs Australia first Test highlights: Day 4 cricket scores, blog
If Starc can’t play the next match and they bring in Siddle to replace him, then they should be able to bring in Mitchell Marsh, since Siddle can play the containing role which Watson was supposed to be playing.
The Ashes: England steal Australia's confidence
If Watson fails in the second innings, then surely it must be the final nail in his coffin. Yes, he offers a bit more with the ball than Mitchell Marsh, but that first-innings effort was a perfect example of how he is simply unable rise to the occasion when under pressure. Unless he manages to prove me wrong in the second innings, I will have no choice but to conclude that he lacks the mental fortitude to be able to contribute at this level when his team needs him to.
The Ashes: England steal Australia's confidence
I agree with your overall argument, but I feel you’re being a bit harsh on Marsh. I agree he needs to work on his economy rate, but he has been picking up an average of one wicket per innings over the last few tour matches, which is more than Watson.
Shane Watson likely to get the nod ahead of Marsh for Cardiff
I don’t think it’s his bowling average that the selectors look at; it’s his economy rate, which is consistently around 2.75 or less per over. He’s a very miserly bowler, and–though personally I think taking wickets is more important–that seems to be why the selectors rate his bowling so highly.
Mitch Marsh is ready for the Ashes. Don't make him wait
If, in this match, Watson bowls very well and gets a few runs in the second innings, and Marsh bowls poorly, then I might go for Watson. Otherwise definitely Marsh.
Ballance, not Smith, faces the biggest Ashes challenge
Do you think that, if Harris doesn’t play in this series due to injury and/or form, then that’s it for his international career?
Pressure on Watto after Marsh's second ton
Smith has to be at three. And I’d probably replace Marsh with Voges, batting at four.
Verbal warfare commences ahead of the Ashes
Only one of Harris’ wickets was a top-five batsman; the other three were the keeper (twice) and an all-rounder. And he didn’t take any wickets with the new ball. Johnson at least dismissed three top-five batsman in the first innings, including one with the new ball, although was much less effective–albeit economical–in the second innings.
Talking points from Australia's Ashes tour opener
Obviously it’s going to depend on the results of the two warm-up matches. At the moment, Johnson’s looking good–3/42 from 13 overs so far in Kent’s first innings–while Harris hasn’t been able to find a breakthrough–0/39 from 11. For now I’d be inclined to go with an unchanged attack from the Windies tour, but we’ll have to wait and see how things look after the second warm-up match.
Which Mitch to ditch? A review of Australia's quicks heading into The Ashes
McCullum has a ridiculous strike rate, though. I’d be happy with a quick-fire 35 from 20 balls at the top of the innings given that there’s plenty of batting to come.
ICC name their 'Team of the Word Cup' - three Aussies included
Ok, I’m happy to replace him with the left-handed Dhawan.
ICC name their 'Team of the Word Cup' - three Aussies included
I thought Sangakkara kept throughout the tournament?
ICC name their 'Team of the Word Cup' - three Aussies included
The reason I included Warner but not Smith is that Warner’s strike rate in this tournament (120.21) is much better than Smith’s (91.57). Also, it’s nice to have a left-hand/right-hand opening partnership.
ICC name their 'Team of the Word Cup' - three Aussies included
Or maybe Ravi Ashwin (at 8 or 9) instead of Imran Tahir. Or if the team’s a bit light on batsmen, JP Duminy (at 7) instead of Tahir.
ICC name their 'Team of the Word Cup' - three Aussies included
How about this for the team of the world cup?
Brendon McCullum (c)
David Warner
Kumar Sangakkara (wk)
AB de Villiers
Glenn Maxwell
David Miller
Daniel Vettori
Mitchell Starc
Mohammed Shami
Trent Boult
Imran Tahir
3 Kiwis, 3 Aussies, 3 South Africans, 1 Sri Lankan, 1 Indian
ICC name their 'Team of the Word Cup' - three Aussies included
Good decision. I was originally sceptical about Clarke’s inclusion in the team for this world cup after coming back from injury, but he’s one of Australia’s greats and I’m glad to see him making a dignified exit on his own terms. Hope he can finish it with a big score tomorrow.
Michael Clarke to retire from ODIs after World Cup final
Ok, well I looked Watson’s performances in matches won vs. drawn vs. lost, and it doesn’t really support my previous comment. Maybe stats comparing dead rubbers to non-dead-rubbers would be more telling…
In matches won:
Batting average: 34.81
Bowling average: 29.59
In matches drawn:
Batting average: 44.80
Bowling average: 45.80
In matches lost:
Batting average: 30.11
Bowling average: 32.34
Career stats show Shane Watson up there with the best