Roar Rookie
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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I’m saying “if both are making runs” M. Marsh has been given an opportunity and continues to impress, you can’t pre-empt a drop in form. If he continues to make runs, I feel he certainly warrants his place in the side. In the same token, Doolan has not made a great deal of shield runs, and struggled in the first test, as such it’s fair to say he’s not making runs, and certainly fair enough he isn’t selected
Marsh and Watson both in Australia's best Test XI
If both are making enough runs to warrant selection as batsman, there is no reason why these two can’t then both be picked in the same side as batting all-rounders. We have to pick our best batsman regardless of what their perceived role is! Rogers Warner Doolan/Watson Clarke Smith Marsh/Watson Haddin Johnson Harris Pattinson Lyon in an ideal world.
I also hope Joe Burns’ progress continues, I hope he is our next test no. 3. His technique is superb.
Marsh and Watson both in Australia's best Test XI
The list just keeps on growing! Would be a phenomenal achievement for one of the game’s modern greats
AFL Grand Final: Storylines a-plenty ahead of the big dance
Well said Michael! Plenty of head to head battles between certain players, particularly the like for like role players from either side. Going to mean they’re matches are heavily scrutinized against that of their opposite player
AFL Grand Final: Storylines a-plenty ahead of the big dance
You’re spot on Mastermind, the late night finish had me mix up my 10 and 9, 9 year contract for $10m!
Nonetheless, absolutely right, the spotlight will be firmly on Buddy and whether it’s he who walks away with the spoils or his former club!
AFL Grand Final: Storylines a-plenty ahead of the big dance
Would you support a part 2 Tim?
AFL Grand Final: Storylines a-plenty ahead of the big dance
Too right Fellas! I think the fascinating point about this GF is that there’s still plenty of other storylines, that may even warrant a part 2! Including;
– Cyril Rioli – “will he or won’t he”
– Joey Kennedy – up against a club synonymous with the Kennedy surname (in the work of his father/grandfather)
– Brad Sewell – weather he will get an opportunity in the GF after missing last weekend, and weather this may even be his last year
– Luke Breust – up against players with whom he won a Swans Reserves premiership with in 2007
– Josh Gibson – likely to mark his “Bungy Brother” in Buddy this Saturday
– Luke Parker – How far he’s come since the 2012 GF, where he wore the green jacket as sub to now just missing out on AA selection
– Brian Lake – Playing with the struggling Bulldogs of 2012, few would have thought by 2014 he would be playing in a second consecutive GF and already have a Norm Smith to his name
AFL Grand Final: Storylines a-plenty ahead of the big dance
Thanks Casper, yea in regards to the props – Shannon Boyd has been a huge shining light for the Raiders, great to see a young prop doing well as it’s often so much harder for them to assert themselves at a young age. Glasby has done brilliant for the Storm, but I think with maybe some more time game, and learning from Scott, Tamou and Ashton Sims will really benefit him! Sam Hoare has a huge future, I know a lot of the Cowboys fans are already calling him the next Matt Scott which is a huge rap.
I thought Mbye had a great season, and Littlejohn obviously only played a handful of matches. But I just felt, in the few games he did play Littlejohn really stamped himself on the match, and had a great impact. Keen to see more from both next year. With the depth of wingers, it was hard for Gutherson to get a look in considering he only played 3 games. In saying that, 3 tries in 3 games is brilliant output, but preferred Mata’utia and Johnston to him.
My 2014 NRL rookie team of the year
I was only including regular season statistics, wasn’t including his excellent double against Manly last weekend
My 2014 NRL rookie team of the year
Completely agree Wooliemern, there was a period in the middle of the season where he worked his way into the starting side for Parra, and was ridiculously destructive. Breaking tackles, brilliant offloading and passing, and pulled his weight in defence. But I felt after this mid season form, his form dropped away and eventually resulted in him being dropped! He will be a future NSW rep I have no doubt about it, I rate him extremely highly, for a big man (in fact not a big man, a huge man) has brilliant hands and vision, but just missed out for me due to the late season drop in form
My 2014 NRL rookie team of the year
Absolutely, it’s obviously a lot easier for an outside back to flourish from a very young age, compared to say a Front Rower. Hope these players continue to develop at the rates they are
My 2014 NRL rookie team of the year
I think Valentine Holmes displayed plenty of potential in the closing rounds of the season and I would have rated him above Jacob Gagan. While Gagan was a great finisher, I feel Holmes has more to offer. Look forward to seeing more from these sharks youngsters next year
My 2014 NRL rookie team of the year
Unfortunately Matt Moylan debuted in Round 7 last year and ended up playing 13 games in 2013, so he was over the “3 games in first year”. I tell you what Jay C if he was available, no doubt he would have been straight into Fullback and Moses to Five-Eight, Moylan’s had an outstanding season!
As for the Broncos, yea you’re right I believe the only player who was really up for consideration was Jake Granville. Season has been too bad, and while McCullough was injured for a few weeks in the middle of the season he stepped up, although I don’t think he was any better than the likes of Lichaa or Koroisau
My 2014 NRL rookie team of the year
Yea agree! He has both a brilliant defense and a great attacking game
Are we too quick to label players all-rounders?
To add on that statement, in the Lehmann era he’s had 14 innings. Only 5 of those 14 innings have been scores of over 36, and in only 3 of those five innings has he come in when we were in trouble.
• 54 v England – came in at 4/114
• 60 v India – came in at 4/74
• 92 v India – came in at 4/71
I think this highlights he’s not making a lot of runs consistently, and particularly not making a lot of run when we are in a difficult situation
Are we too quick to label players all-rounders?
Completely agree, we’ve seen he can be a match winner multiple times! But when times a tough and he really needs to dig in, his game plan may not come off
Are we too quick to label players all-rounders?
I think as an intenational batsman he lacks consistency. Since Darren Lehmann he has averaged 36, a brilliant ODI average, but he’s only surpassed 36 runs in 5 of his 14 innings (36%).
During the Darren Lehmann era – Batsman’s scores over/under 36:
Shaun Marsh: 4/3 57%
George Bailey: 9/9 50%
Shane Watson: 6/6 50%
Aaron Finch: 9/10 47%
Michael Clarke: 4/6 40%
Glenn Maxwell: 5/9 36%
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big “Big Show” fan, I posted at the start of the week he would be in my World Cup XI. But his incosistency places pressure on a weakned batting line up. Great he’s got a brilliant strike rate, but quick-fire 30’s will help Australia grab the momentum for a short period of time, and then hands it back over the other side once he departs.
Are we too quick to label players all-rounders?
And then you have to start a completely different tier for Matt Wade – he’s bowled batted and wicket-kept in the one test!
Are we too quick to label players all-rounders?
Thanks Broken-hearted toy! Yea I agree regarding Mitch marsh, the point I was trying to make though is there’s a difference between asserting yourself as a batting all-rounder at Domesitic level vs establishing yourself in that role at an ODI level. I think that’s the step Cutting has to also make, I certainly rate his batting for QLD and Brisbane Heat, but now needs to prove he can do it an ODI level, we saw glimpses of it against Zimbawe which is exciting! I rate Faulkner and hope he can firstly strengthen his bowling as that is his predominant role and then start to worry about his batting because we’ve seen match-winning knocks from his bat against both India and England.
Are we too quick to label players all-rounders?
Jammel, its a question that could be answered in a massive article, but I’ll give you as succinct answer as I can. I don’t mind how many all-rounders are in the side, as long as their statistics in one of the disciplines matches or betters that of the players we label specialists. I.e. if Mitchell Marsh, Shane Watson and Glen Maxwell are all averaging 45+ I don’t see any reason why they can’t be in the same team as they meet the requirements of a specialist batsman, there bowling on top of that is then an added bonus!
So for me I guess the question isn’t do we have too many all-rounders, but which all-rounders shouldn’t be in the side. It’s pretty clear Faulkner’s stats on this tour haven’t met that of which is required by a specialist batsman or bowler, so for the next game I don’t think he should be there. Now, Mitchell Marsh, he is certainly holding his spot as a batsman down, so I feel he should definitely be in the side, and his bowling is obviously a big bonus! Finally, Glen Maxwell, his last three innings show 7,13,22 and that’s certainly not up to the level that is required of a batsman, his bowling is handy in the spin-friendly conditions, but I feel we need to look at his batting first and at the moment it’s just not good enough. Considering though that Clarke has gone home, his batting is needed for the final.
For the final my side would be: Hughes, Finch, Haddin, Bailey, Smith, Marsh, Maxwell, Johnson, Starc, Richardson, Lyon
I’d have Haddin high as he can handle the swinging ball etc. And while I have Marsh and Maxwell in 6 and 7, as this article suggests, I’d send them in when the time was right. If we are flying with wickets in hand you can send them in early, but if its tough going for the batsman I’d let the more competent batsman in Smith and Bailey try to tackle the conditions before them.
I hope that somehow answers your question, you may have just given me the inspiration for my next article though!
Rigid batting orders should be abolished in ODIs
Going to have to disagree with you there Rellum, I feel we have had the variety of players in our side to create flexible batting orders but rarely have they been utilised in such ways. Do agree though that it’s tough for players to be chucked out into the middle when they are completely expecting it, but I think that’s solely because players have just been so used to hearing an order at the start of the innings and sticking with it
Rigid batting orders should be abolished in ODIs
Spot on Sideline Comm! Completely agree
Rigid batting orders should be abolished in ODIs
Absolutely Jammel, my idea stemmed from the fact that I feel often a more genuine batsman should be promoted to stabilise the innings, over an attacking all-rounder who is listed to come in next. I think it’s obvious and very clear as to when all-rounders should be promoted, but takes a wise captain to promote a batsman to consolidate in a time of need. For example – promoting a Smith/Haddin over Marsh/Maxwell
Rigid batting orders should be abolished in ODIs
Interestingly, right on cue Joe Burns has smacked 98 for QLD in their total of 152
Marsh and Watson both in Australia's best Test XI