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Joined August 2014
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Twitter: @HMcDonaldSport - https://twitter.com/HMcDonaldSport // LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/preview?vpa=pub&locale=en_US
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Agree Ronan, I’m a Lyon man and we need a specialist spinner in the side. He’s tossing them up, giving the ball the chance to spin, bowling aggressive lines, and he’s happy to go for runs if it’s creating the opportunities to take wickets. Bowling just the way he did when he was originally discovered in the Big Bash. He’s the attacking spinner we need for the World Cup
Australia on track to win ODI World Cup
I think everyone needs to calm down first and realise it was one loss, we aren’t all of a sudden the worst side in the world. Credit to Zimbabwe, their spinners bowled very well particularly utilising the spin friendly conditions, the pitch resembling something like a day 3/4/5 pitch in India. Batting wise, they didn’t lose a lot of wickets early, they managed to see out the first 10 overs for the loss of only 2 wickets. They also struggled against the spin of Lyon, except for Chigumbura who danced down the wicket and had a clear plan to attack Lyon, rather then to wait for the ball to spin and cause havoc. It was a match-winning knock for the Zimbabweans.
From the Australian’s point of view obviously the batting was poor, it highlighted there are still deficiencies when batting against spin, and also showed they were struggling to adjust to the ball not thundering on to the bat. But from a world cup point of view, we have to remember that the pitches back home and in NZ are going to be nothing like the ones produced in Harare.
Looking at the make up of the team I don’t think it was actually too bad, I think the only change that should have been made in hindsight was batting Smith at 6 for Mitchell Marsh. This would have obviously improved the batting depth, but also on a turning pitch would have provided us with more spin options, and considering he took 3 wickets against Zimbabwe in the first match of the series, his bowling may have proved invaluable. Cutting would then have opened the bowling with Starc.
It’s pretty clear we didn’t play to our potential, and hats off to ZImbabwe because they adapted to the conditions a lot better, and also formulated a brilliant, very sensible run chase.
Australia on track to win ODI World Cup
Great minds think alike Ronan, Faulkner for McKay was my only lingering concern. Think McKay needs to be given the opportunities this Aussie summer to prove he is still one of our best ODI bowlers heading into an important world cup, and Faulkner needs to re-establish himself after getting so hyped up last summer
McKay (Career ODIs in Aus): 30 Matches, 60 Wickets, Ave: 18.63, Econ: 4.52, SR: 24.7
Faulkner (Career ODIs in Aus): 10 Matches, 19 Wickets, Ave: 25.84, Econ: 5.69, SR: 27.2
McKay (2012-14 ODIs in Aus): 13 Matches, 23 Wickets, Ave: 22.13, Econ: 4.65, SR: 28.5
Faulkner (2012-14 ODIs in Aus): 10 Matches, 19 Wickets, Ave: 25.84, Econ: 5.69, SR: 27.2
The more I think about it, the more I start to convince myself McKay is the man. It’s a tough one
Australia on track to win ODI World Cup
My XI for the World Cup would be
1. Warner
2. Finch
3. Watson
4. Clarke
5. Bailey
6. Maxwell
7. Haddin
8. Faulkner
9. Johnson
10. Starc
11. Lyon
Australia on track to win ODI World Cup
^ Hear hear, absolutely nailed it! I’ve never heard anyone label Chris Rogers a bad cricketer due to his lack of runs in T20 or 50 over cricket
The stats don’t lie, Finch is one of the world’s best
Completely agree, his first class record is certainly not good enough to crack into the test side. Either way there’s certainly not a spot for him in the XI at the moment, and there’s people waiting who would be rated in front of him. Let’s hope he can have a strong Shield with the Vic’s and proves he can deal with the red ball
The stats don’t lie, Finch is one of the world’s best
I think his first class four-day form is completely different to that of his T20I and ODI form. I don’t believe he should be in test calculations, far from it. His shield form is poor, and only once he proves himself there can he be considered for the test side. To say though that his outstanding international short form record is down to luck because he hasn’t done well in the shield is clutching at straws, they’re completely different formats. It’s clear he’s consistently performing at the international level, I don’t think someone scores 5 international centuries in 12 months on the back of luck…
The stats don’t lie, Finch is one of the world’s best
Thanks BrumbyJack much appreciated! I can’t see any changes being made to the side tonight. With George Bailey saying Clarke won’t be back until the end of the tournament, he will remain sidelined. No one really failed with the bat in the first match so I doubt Phil Hughes will come in. The only question is weather Ben Cutting may be given a shot in place of Richardson or Starc, neither of whom did anything wrong, but more so just to change up the bowling attack/rotate the bowlers
Australia's killer instinct is back
Cynicism excused Allanthus! Appreciate your point, but you’ve also hit the nail on the head about the point I was trying to make!
Australia's killer instinct is back
Thanks for the feedback Allanthus. I feel though, that the article placed very little emphasis on the actual match played against Zimbabwe. It was commenting on how things have change in Australian Cricket over the last 14 months, and a piece of fielding from Monday night’s game certainly highlighted that change of mindset in the Aussie camp
Australia's killer instinct is back
I believe Mike Young was brought into the Australian set up on a short-term contract for the 2013/14 summer, Nudge. Lehmann still thought the fielding standards weren’t up to scratch, so Young came in and tried to rectify the issue. Blewett’s hiring would reflect Lehmann’s desire to bring former players back into the coaching set up
Australia's killer instinct is back
Yea for sure Sideline Comm. I think that’s where Darren lehmann would have to step in, and I feel he and Clarke are certainly on the same wavelength regarding most tactical decisions (a part from maybe leaving Steve smith out of the side a couple of nights ago!) You obviously don’t want the situation to arise where players have absolutely no idea when they will be heading out because that will ruin their mental preparation for the innings, but if you have a couple of batsman ready to go and the parameters in which they would go in next made clear, I feel they should be able to handle Clarke being out in the centre
Rigid batting orders should be abolished in ODIs