Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Smith would be my choice also. I met Warner once, a nice, knock-about bloke but he isn't in the same mould as Ponting where all that's needed is to simply sand back a few edges. A bit simple to be captain in all honesty.

Yeah, I agree, Warner is far from any leadership role.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Have to be impressed with Mitch Marsh's ability to learn and adapt. He's already gone to playing with bat in front of pad and is getting completely forward or completely back, no getting stuck on the crease...He's picked up in one test what Haddin hasn't in multiple series on the subcontinent.

[Greystache]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

He'd done a great job until that point but what a stupid way to get out for Marsh. It's just another in a never ending list of dumb dismissals. We have so few players that can think their way through a situation.

Our batsmen see ball hit ball.

Our bowlers bang it into the pitch.

So many dumb cricketers playing for Australia.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Have to be impressed with Mitch Marsh's ability to learn and adapt. He's already gone to playing with bat in front of pad and is getting completely forward or completely back, no getting stuck on the crease...He's picked up in one test what Haddin hasn't in multiple series on the subcontinent.

I have been pleasantly surprised with Marsh's form however, Lyon showed that you can bat on this track if you want to. Our top order aside from Warner has failed in that area.

This isn't a strong Pakistan bowling attack but they have a plan and have worked on it.

My preference at the moment would be to pick the best batsman and use Smith as the all-rounder. Until we can get our batting right I can't see what having extra bowling options is giving us.

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

I have been pleasantly surprised with Marsh's form however, Lyon showed that you can bat on this track if you want to. Our top order aside from Warner has failed in that area.

The Pakistan batsmen certainly proved that

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Is Smith ready for number 3? He does it and does it well at NSW

[Greystache]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Is Smith ready for number 3?

He strikes me as the type who rises to a challenge, so I'd be happy to see him given a chance.

I see his only real weakness at the moment is not doing the easy things enough, like cashing when we're 4 for 300.
I have him locked is as our next captain.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

He strikes me as the type who rises to a challenge, so I'd be happy to see him given a chance.

I see his only real weakness at the moment is not doing the easy things enough, like cashing when we're 4 for 300.
I have him locked is as our next captain.

I still have concerns about him on and outside off stump with the ball swinging away which I'll always have with his technique, but in terms of temperament and intent he's top notch. India at home is a soft way to ease him into the roll and I'd bank on him to cash in.

[Twodogs]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Thank God that's over.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Thank God that's over.

I mentioned this earlier but it's a shame this is a full series. There are some major lessons to learn but I'm not sure Lehmann and co will want to learn much. They will focus on the opposition we are facing here.

[Topdog]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

My preference at the moment would be to pick the best batsman and use Smith as the all-rounder. Until we can get our batting right I can't see what having extra bowling options is giving us.

By the same token not much point having extra batting options when your bowling is conceding 500 runs every innings.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Is there cause for hope though? Our three youngest batsman: Warner, Smith and Marsh were also our three best and looked the most adept at playing spin. I said before the test I was a fan of Marsh's talent even if not the results and he'll come back a much better player for the experience, he had already tweaked his technique after the first test. Warner and Smith in particular looked comfortable most of the time and a mistake made when the hard work was done turned what could have been excellent series into just 'okay' ones. It's no coincidence in my mind that our three best players on those pitches were also the guys who have been playing IPL since inception, have spent significant time in the sub-continent on limited overs tours and in the case of Marsh and Smith would have done underage academy tours there.

Contrast that to the lead-footed idiocy that was Haddin's batting (10 tests on the subcontinent for an average of 20 and not even a half-century), Rogers dug in but looked as if the conditions were as foreign to him as Mars and Clarke was so short of a gallop he should have been left in the mounting yard.

Shocking series but in terms of how our young batsman played spin I think it's an area we are seeing generational improvement in. The amount of time these guys spend on the subcontinent in their formidable years is starting to add up and I thought Marsh, Smith and Warner were solid if not spectacular.

[boydogs]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Good point Lemmon. First time I've heard the IPL is helping our test batsmen

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

By the same token not much point having extra batting options when your bowling is conceding 500 runs every innings.

Having your best 6 batsman isn't extra batting. We went into the last game with our four best batsman and two players probably outside of our best 12 batsman because they apparently provided us with extra bowling options.
Neither Marsh or Maxwell did much with the ball. The hard part was asking Marsh to be the 4th quick option in that game which just wasn't fair on him. At best Maxwell offers us a few overs of spin but Smith also does that.

The series showed us that some of our batsman don't know how to play to the conditions and build an innings when it's required. They are good attacking players but a few of them can't adjust to the position of the game and this needs to be addressed by the selectors.

I would have a question mark on Rogers although I have been a supporter of his efforts. Maxwell shouldn't play test cricket until he learns how to bat in difficult conditions. There is a question mark on Doolan but he was dropped prematurely and Marsh has probably done enough but I don't think he was a great selection.

Haddin's time is up and it will be interesting to see which way we go with a replacement.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs Pakistan Test Series

Is Shane Watson the best option at number 3? His 749 runs at 41.61 are easily the best figures any of the candidates have put forth since Ponting dropped down