Skip to main content
Topic: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford (Read 34219 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

When playing predominately right handed batting line-ups (like Englands) the left arm orthodox spinner (AGAR) is helped greatly  by the footmarks of a left arm over the wicket bowler (FAULKNER or STARC).

I'm not sure Lyon will be much good against the English right handers and any footmarks made by the left arm seamers will work more for Swann (against our lefties) than for Lyon against the one lefty they have.

Plus I think Agar was lame and had finger issues in this test.

So, if I was the selector, I would keep Agar  (if fit) and select Faulkner or Starc. Probably Faulkner because I THINK HE'S a competitor , he's smart (he learns) and won't let them off the hook.

He can bat as well but we can't keep hoping the tail will get us out of the crap and it should almost be irrelevant.

And yes, I'd drop Siddle for Bird.
You can fool some of the people some of the time.......................................

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #1
When playing predominately right handed batting line-ups (like Englands) the left arm orthodox spinner (AGAR) is helped greatly  by the footmarks of a left arm over the wicket bowler (FAULKNER or STARC).

I'm not sure Lyon will be much good against the English right handers and any footmarks made by the left arm seamers will work more for Swann (against our lefties) than for Lyon against the one lefty they have.

Plus I think Agar was lame and had finger issues in this test.

So, if I was the selector, I would keep Agar  (if fit) and select Faulkner or Starc. Probably Faulkner because I THINK HE'S a competitor , he's smart (he learns) and won't let them off the hook.

He can bat as well but we can't keep hoping the tail will get us out of the crap and it should almost be irrelevant.

And yes, I'd drop Siddle for Bird.

I too would drop Siddle for Bird.
I would pick Fawad Ahmed in place of Agar.
Maybe Agar needs to become a number 6???

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #2
When playing predominately right handed batting line-ups (like Englands) the left arm orthodox spinner (AGAR) is helped greatly  by the footmarks of a left arm over the wicket bowler (FAULKNER or STARC).

I'm not sure Lyon will be much good against the English right handers and any footmarks made by the left arm seamers will work more for Swann (against our lefties) than for Lyon against the one lefty they have.

Plus I think Agar was lame and had finger issues in this test.

So, if I was the selector, I would keep Agar  (if fit) and select Faulkner or Starc. Probably Faulkner because I THINK HE'S a competitor , he's smart (he learns) and won't let them off the hook.

He can bat as well but we can't keep hoping the tail will get us out of the crap and it should almost be irrelevant.

And yes, I'd drop Siddle for Bird.

I too would drop Siddle for Bird.
I would pick Fawad Ahmed in place of Agar.
Maybe Agar needs to become a number 6???

it won't happen but Agars technique is superior to Hughes by a mile and he was dead set stiff for the DRS to cook him last night. Plays the ball late and along the ground square of the wicket and he just needs to make sure he gets his head over the ball when driving and leaving more. Other than that he's good to go.

If they pick Ahmed a left arm seamer is absolutely vital.
You can fool some of the people some of the time.......................................

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #3
Time to shake it right up, this series is already shot with us 2-0 down. Problem is, we don't have the cattle over there at our disposal, may need to fly in a couple of batsmen ??

My team in batting order based on the current squad :

Batsmen
Haddin
Rogers
Khawaja
Clarke

All-Rounders
Agar
Faulkner

Wicket-Keeper
Wade

Bowlers
Pattinson
Siddle
Starc
Bird

I should point out, my rationale for going this way is that we have struggled to take wickets and therefore have had huge run chases ahead of us with the top order crumbling under the pressure without a technique. This team gives us six bowlers and shortens the batting tail as well. In other words, it gives Clarke some options to work with, something he hasn't had thus far.
 
Haddin is not a 'keeper but he is a good bat, Agar is a long-term project so move them both up the order, they have shown that they have the temperament to bat for long periods and put some value on their wicket.

Smith is too much slather & whack with the bat and cannot be relied upon, Hughes is a dud and Watson a selfish sook so fling them out of the team right now.

Whilst Harris would be dropped after playing pretty well, we need some variety with Starc's left-armers plus they wouldn't have seen much of Bird yet so there is a surprise factor.

If we had some other better options, I would have dropped Haddin & Rogers too !!
"The Other Teams Can Rot In Hell"

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #4
Time to shake it right up, this series is already shot with us 2-0 down. Problem is, we don't have the cattle over there at our disposal, may need to fly in a couple of batsmen ??

My team in batting order based on the current squad :

Batsmen
Haddin
Rogers
Khawaja
Clarke
Agar

All-Rounder
Faulkner

Wicket-Keeper
Wade

Bowlers
Pattinson
Siddle
Starc
Bird

I think an airfare or two is a must rather than that line-up.

Wade won't make a run against Swann and Haddin certainly can't play as a specialist bat with his (non existent) foot work .

Pick a batsman who think likes one, not a keeper who thinks he's a batsman.

You can fool some of the people some of the time.......................................

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #5
I doubt Agar will come up for the next test. It's a real strain on your body that much cricket and the guys have been in the field for a lot of overs in two tests.

I think Lyon will come in but he is suited to number 11.

My team would be:

1. Rogers
2. Haddin
3. Smith
4. Khawaja
5. Clarke
6. Hughes
7. Faulkner
8. Siddle
9. Harris
10. Bird
11. Lyon

Not necessarily the best team and unlikely in my opinion. Watson deserves to be booted.

The team without Watson gives us 6 bowlers and we bat down to 9 essentially which is one less than our current line up. If they stick with Patinson and don't bring in Lyon then Smith is our only spinner and the order shuffles down one position from Harris.

The bowling attack has left arm variety, good accuracy and then the spin of Lyon (loop and flight). The batting combination is left and right down to the middle order. Haddin could open with Rogers but I doubt they'd be any more effective than Watson score board wise but might last until lunch. Smith at 3 will play his shots anyway no matter where he is, so might as well take the bowling on and if he get's going build a platform.




Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #6
And Cowan must open.

He's paid for those two crap shots in the first test.

We need to occupy the crease.
You can fool some of the people some of the time.......................................

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #7
And Cowan must open.

He's paid for those two crap shots in the first test.

We need to occupy the crease.

If Cowan come back in to open then they have to drop one of bowlers (probably Agar) and leave Lyon out. If that happens play Faulkner or Watson further down (probably will be injured anyway). It will give us our strongest batting line up on paper (minus Warner of course) with what's available here at present.

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #8
No to Cowan. not up to it.

Haddin opening - why not? Can't do any worse can he....?
Finals, then 4 in a row!

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #9
No to Cowan. not up to it.

Haddin opening - why not? ....?

no footwork.
poor shot selection.
runs people out.
probably shouldn't even be keeping.
has he ever opened? its a skill most number 6's don't pick up easily, let alone an old one


And good timing on SEN. Gideon Haige just noted that in the Indian series Cowan batted longer than any batsman from either side.

A pretty important stat I would have thought, particularly for an OPENER.
You can fool some of the people some of the time.......................................

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #10
Regardless of who ends up trotting out to the wicket at Old Trafford I think one area we must improve is learning the value of singles.

In both Test matches and in both innings, England has turned over the strike. Australia did that fairly well in the second innings (thanks to Agar and Hughes) and amazingly that was the innings where we actually looked like making a score (and nearly won it).

Whoever opens or bats 3, 4 or 5 MUST learn the value of rotating the strike. This is the key to batting time. It's not just about leaving balls (Ed Cowans problem).

Watson cannot be out LBW if he is up at the non strikers end. Hopefully Lehmann will have drilled that into them - look for the singles. Accumulate 75-100 in every innings and you'll go a long way to getting a score.

Conversely the fielding needs to improve and we must find the areas they like to score their singles and keep them on strike. This builds pressure and brings the big shot which is the wicket opportunity.

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #11
Faulkner is an interesting selection but asking him to bat at 7 is asking a lot.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #12
Faulkner is an interesting selection but asking him to bat at 7 is asking a lot.

Henriques is a better credentialled bat than Faulkner but Faulkner is the better bowler of the two. If Henriques was here I think he'd get the nod. The option I think they will go for is keep Watson and bring in another batter.

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #13
Just read Pattinson gone now, stress fractures in lower back (again). Won't take part in remaining Ashes in UK.

enter Bird surely!

Re: The Ashes - Third Test @ Old Trafford

Reply #14
Just read Pattinson gone now, stress fractures in lower back (again). Won't take part in remaining Ashes in UK.

enter Bird surely!

You would think so.

Where's Cummins at? Was touted as the great white hope before his injury and now he's barely spoken of.
IN WADA WE TRUST