Carlton Supporters Club

Wade seems to have got himself into a pickle with the Kiwi quicks ... and it could be career ending.

He's only had one bad Test this summer, in Perth, where he made 12 and 17. Had a 60, 38no, 38 and 30no. in the other Tests.

Yes, but the way he is playing, or not playing, the Kiwi quicks is nowhere near Test standard batting.  I'm surprised that Langer hasn't intervened - or perhaps he has ...

The issue is when Wagner is bowling short they set up with 6 blokes out on the leg side. Essentially it's the risky shot or don't play. Wade has decided not to play a shot at it, similar to Smith. Hence his figures aren't reading too badly. Normally a batsman wouldn't have trouble with a bloke bowling bouncers at 130k but the field settings, being not far off bodyline, makes the cross batted shot risky. 6 blokes out on the leg side with at times no slips, are they kidding? What it does do, especially in Smith's case using up 400 balls combined in both first innings for 43 and 85 (don't worry about the 2nd innings where they are hitting for quick runs), is wear the bowlers into the ground allowing other to make hay with tired bowlers. Hence scores of near 500. Thing is, while they are bowling short at Smith and Wade, they are not getting them out exhausting the bowlers. They are just letting their short balls go. Kiwi's think their tactics might be successful but they're not, other than slowing down scoring.

He averages 30 odd
He’s not good enough

To be fair, most of that was when he was keeping wickets. That has to be pushed aside.

This year he's made 2 centuries at important times and does average 48 this summer. Helped by two not outs of course but they were 38 and 30. We don't know what he would've gone on to make.

Wagner is NZ's version of McGrath.

Wagner keeps things tight over after over, then when the Aussie batsmen get a loose delivery they panic when trying to get the most from it!

The technical term is "sucked in!"

Not sure bowling short with a packed legside field makes him McGraths league, the latter bowled batsman out while Wagner just waits for the batsman to mistime a pull or hook.
Viv, Ponting, Richie Richardson etc would have carved Wagner all over the park bowling that line at his pace....

While I agree about the abilities of Richards, Ponting, Greenidge and the likes, I don't agree about Wagner and McGrath being significantly different.

Ignoring the bowling length differences, their speed and modus operandi are basically the same, they fast-medium bowl the batsmen into a coma then wake them up and send them off with a tickle while the batsmen are still half-asleep!

Warne and McGrath is tandem specialised in this tactic, and they both benefited greatly from the consistent and complimentary approach.

Not sure bowling short with a packed legside field makes him McGraths league, the latter bowled batsman out while Wagner just waits for the batsman to mistime a pull or hook.
Viv, Ponting, Richie Richardson etc would have carved Wagner all over the park bowling that line at his pace....

Wagner's tactics are legitimate, his execution of them is first class.

It's no good Australia sooking about it whenever Smith or Warner doesn't make a ton!