To Bing or not to Bing: that is the question
Unlike our dearth of spare batsmen, the Australian selectors suddenly have a glut of fast bowlers to choose from. Brett Lee is 100% fit and ready to go. Stuart Clark has been waiting all series for a bowl. Both are class acts. But the four bowlers currently in the side, Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus and Hauritz, have all contributed at various stages. So who makes room?
This is where the selectors have to make tough decisions. Or if they can't make them, we bloggers will make it for them. For starters, Hauritz can go. Australia's number one issue is taking 20 wickets. We won't win the Ashes unless we find a way. I can't see Hauritz being part of this solution. So bring Clark in for Hauritz. Stuart Clark is a no-brainer - we need Mini-McGrath's consistency to tie down one end as well as take regular wickets.
Now the tough decision. Do we bring in Brett Lee, now fit but not match fit? Do we wait till he plays the warm-up game after the 4th Test or fast track him into the side now? It's risky - it's taken Mitchell Johnson 3 Tests to find form so how long will it take Binger to find rhythm? I say yes - we're down 1-nil, we need to win a Test or two. Time for bold moves. To Bing or not Bing? To Bing!
So who makes room? Mitchell Johnson has been inconsistent but finally found his groove in the 3rd Test. He had Ian Bell out LBW around 10 or 20 times but Random Rudi was expecting Lord's style wides from Mitch and forgot to pay attention. And Mitch is Australia's best bowler. So I say Mitch stays.
That leaves Hilfenhaus or Siddle. There's no choice at all. Hilfenhaus has been our best bowler by far on this series. Workhorse and wicket taker. Swinging the ball consistently. Hilfy stays. That leaves the journey man, Peter Siddle. He's bowled with aggression, taking wickets fairly consistenly. But he's leaked too many runs and the wickets haven't come consistenly enough. It's a tough call but I'd dump Siddle for Lee. So my XI would be:
- Shane Watson (urgh)
- Simon Katich
- Ricky Ponting
- Michael Clarke
- Mike Hussey (cause Pup should be batting above Mr Cricket)
- Marcus North
- Brad Hadden (who looks to have recovered)
- Mitchell Johnson
- Brett Lee
- Ben Hilfenhaus
- Stuart Clark
I don't anticipate that the selectors will take a risk on Brett Lee. So they should swap Hauritz for Stuart Clark. But then they like to keep a spinner in the side for balance. So most likely, the one change they'll make is Clark in for Siddle.
| Posted by JC on Thu 6 Aug |  55 comments |
However, my only concern is whether it would be too risky to bring two bowlers in to the side that havn't played test match cricket this series. Cause if Mitch starts bowling like in the second test it would really test the match fitness of Lee and Clark.
Posted by nigelah on 2009-08-06 14:20:02
Posted by Moses on 2009-08-06 14:26:47
Posted by ssukhdial on 2009-08-06 20:08:40
If that is the case I will sacrifice Siddle only in this test match, also I feel that Hauritz will not make the site if a Stewart Clark is 100% fit and firing.
The young Don Bradman has gone from Hero to Zero, just not in mode of an opener, I believe he will play better in one dayers.
Against South Africa he only flush hard outside off and scored of his feet, that was just undicciplined bowling bad cathing and umpire dicussions, made him look good and I knew that he would not perform well on slower wickets,spin was always a problem for him,and any thing short close to the body was his downfall.
Ricky Ponting has shown to me that presure has became his worse nightmare as a captain and I believe that Micheal Clarke has to be the person to take over from Ponting now.
Cheers
Happy dog Cricket lover.
Posted by happydog on 2009-08-10 14:54:59
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