Aussie bowlers to turn the Ashes into the Bashes
The recent State of Origin clash between Gallen and Miles reminded me of a tactic that has been used in Test cricket in the past: unprovoked violence on an unsuspecting player.
Vicboy
Roar Rookie
Joined January 2013
967
Views
3
Published
6
Comments
Favorite player: Trent Cotchen Best match Aus v Sth Africa 2nd test. Heals hits a 6 for us to win by 2 wickets
Published
Comments
Righties vs lefties: 1980 - 2013
The last few years have seen the Australian Test batting order heavily dominated by left handers.
Australia has bowlers, now can we find the batsmen?
A few years ago we were lamenting our bowling stocks, and now we seem to have too many! So how can we revitalise our batting stocks to give us too many talents to choose from?
Do we have any other right handed options than Smith? To bat for Australia in test matches you should be a top 4 bat in Shield cricket, and be plundering runs. Surely the Cameron White experiment shows that (only now batting at 4). We have too many left handers for Swann to bowl at if we do get going.
Can Hussey teach some blokes to swap hands!?
Watson to open batting in Ashes: Lehmann
Do we have any other right handed options than Smith? To bat for Australia in test matches you should be a top 4 bat in Shield cricket, and be plundering runs. Surely the Cameron White experiment shows that (only now batting at 4). We have too many left handers for Swann to bowl at if we do get going.
Can Hussey teach some blokes to swap hands!?
Watson to open batting in Ashes: Lehmann
If the pitches prepared result in 4 spinners and Sharma, we will be flogged. And should not tour again for 5 years! Surely the Indian Admin will want a contest, and so prepare balanced sub-continent pitches that allow both types of bowling a chance to take wickets. The head to head contest for me that will most affect the outcome is Sehwag v Clarke. If Sehwag crashes the quicks all over the park (as he is wont to do at home), Tendulkar can bat within himself, as can the other less experienced batsman. (Ponting was always batting under pressure in the end, I would have liked to see the champ bat at 6 in his last 2 years, but I digress!) Then we will have to turn to spin more often, not our strength. In reverse, if Clarke can continue his excellent form, our relatively novice batting line-up can have time to find their tempo on testing Indian tracks. Clarke takes the game away from opposition; and particularly batting first, could allow the pace bowlers to bowl to the patient plan they need. Clarke will work hard to ensure he is in the best physical, and therefore mental, shape to perform at his best. Sehwag is less predictable here. I am looking forward to a contest in the test matches – the rest I don’t really care!
Why Australia is a rank outsider in India
Bevan could play as a spinner, stats are good. But reckon he would nearly be offended. I feel he struggled with the bat trying to follow Steve Waugh (putting pull/hook away). He then became too predictable to the short ball. Brad Hogg was selected, although to be fair, it was the Shane Warne era. Brett Lee was unbelievable in the series we lost to Poms in England, but his Test figures are a long way from Merv. Being fat was OK back then (not now Cossie), as long as you performed. And Merv did the business against the lot. Dean Jones bowled like me, so was replaced after a bad tour against Sri Lanka, then easy beats. Waugh was a good bat and could roll out a few overs too, but Jones scored a lot of tough runs up the order. Would love to know the science behind the success of left handers at the highest level, and the data of us park cricketers that are right handed. To bowl to 2 lefties in the top 6 is unusual, little own 5! AFL is heading this way with left footers as kicking skills become more important.
Righties vs lefties: 1980 - 2013
The real worry for Rugby League and AFL is soccer. Everyone is frightened of litigation, so games in the playgrounds are non-tackle. Soccer is seen as this. If soccer can turn that play into sustainable upper (16-18) junior competitions both traditional sports will lose ground in their heartlands. Leaguies have their heads in the sand about GWS, Auskick is growing madly, AFL in the schools has been well serviced by well trained (media & PR) players – both Sydney & GWS. Once Cameron, Cognilio etc start to get going they will be exciting to watch and the crowds will come. How to change the culture of society so that kids can get dirty, scabs on their knees, occasional blood nose? Soccer will keep coming.
Moneyball or the Youth Policy?
Siddle will play. Lyon get batsmen out, so that Starc can clean up the tail. If the tail gets 150 the whole show is over. Swings and slogs from Swann etc are valuable runs, but if Starc runs through them it will affect their confidence and therefore their bowling. One tactic not mentioned ( maybe due to drama with State of Origin) is the bash. And I don’t mean Warner and Hughes batting! Like when McGrath took on the West Indies I hope to see the English tail bashed. Anderson will get in behind, but sort them out with attack on the body. Pattinson Starc and Siddle can all bat (even if they couldn’t ) under pressure – no choice in recent years. Lets see how the Poms bowlers go with a few bruised fingers. I think that Swann’s injuries could take longer to heel if re-opened. Then lets see how Monty bats and bowls.
I would like Cowan to play. It is too risky to have Hughes and Warner.
Anyway I am looking forward to it. Unlike a few weeks ago, when it felt like I had to steel myself for headmaster’s best! Couldn’t run away, just endure.
Batting coming together under Boof, now for the bowlers