How will the ODI line-up look by the end of summer?

[Gunnar Longshanks]

What are we going to do about our opening partnership?

Gilly and Katich are both struggling.

There's a piece in the Fairfax papers today about the need for us to work this problem out sooner rather than later:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/crick...e-for-world-cup/2006/01/15/1137259945552.html

I'm in favour of giving Gilly more time. The reality is that Haddin would be a pretty handy replacement and could do the job straight away.

I still think that Gilly is in our best XI. I don't think there's any doubt about that. Although I don't know if I'll have the same confidence if he fails to make a score this summer.

Katich should be moved on. He's not the real deal. Bring back Hayden or give Jaques a run. We could even experiment with using a middle-order batsman to open. Clarke and Martyn are possibilities.

 

[Bentleigh]

What are we going to do about our opening partnership?

Gilly and Katich are both struggling.

There's a piece in the Fairfax papers today about the need for us to work this problem out sooner rather than later:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/crick...e-for-world-cup/2006/01/15/1137259945552.html

I'm in favour of giving Gilly more time. The reality is that Haddin would be a pretty handy replacement and could do the job straight away.

I still think that Gilly is in our best XI. I don't think there's any doubt about that. Although I don't know if I'll have the same confidence if he fails to make a score this summer.

Katich should be moved on. He's not the real deal. Bring back Hayden or give Jaques a run. We could even experiment with using a middle-order batsman to open. Clarke and Martyn are possibilities.

Gilly & Martyn/Jaques

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Gilly & Martyn/Jaques

Phil Jaques moved into poll position today.

Martyn did nothing.

Katich picked the wrong time to get injured.

Gilly just needs to get back among the runs. He and Jaques are the best combination. I've been saying that all along.

Still wonder if Hayden couldn't contribute something. But Jaques' performance today might have shut the door on Hayden.

 

[eddiesmith]

Umm, Gilly aint going to open again for a while, if ever

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Umm, Gilly aint going to open again for a while, if ever

I reckon that's premature.

He'll be back in the side before the end of the summer. What's the point of picking a guy like Gilly at #7?

Gilly and Jaques are our best opening combination for the WC.

 

[eddiesmith]

I reckon that's premature.

He'll be back in the side before the end of the summer. What's the point of picking a guy like Gilly at #7?

Gilly and Jaques are our best opening combination for the WC.

Because they need to relieve the pressure and workload on him

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Because they need to relieve the pressure and workload on him

Temporarily maybe.

Long-term, Gilly remains our best opener. That's where he's a genuine match-winner.

If you take Gilly's batting out of the equation, I'm not convinced he should be selected ahead of Haddin.

If we were only interested in their glovework, Haddin would probably get the nod. Moving Gilly to #7 makes this scenario more of a reailty.

It's at the top of the order that Gilly has real value. Otherwise he's just another lower order hitter.

 

[eddiesmith]

Temporarily maybe.

Long-term, Gilly remains our best opener. That's where he's a genuine match-winner.

If you take Gilly's batting out of the equation, I'm not convinced he should be selected ahead of Haddin.

If we were only interested in their glovework, Haddin would probably get the nod. Moving Gilly to #7 makes this scenario more of a reailty.

It's at the top of the order that Gilly has real value. Otherwise he's just another lower order hitter.

You are joking arent you? Haddin is the worst keeper for glove work in Australia

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

You are joking arent you? Haddin is the worst keeper for glove work in Australia

That's a bit much.

I thought he was pretty good.

 

[Bentleigh]

What's the point of picking a guy like Gilly at #7?

Why the hell not

I reckon Gilly would be a rather good person to be having comming in @ 6-8

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Why the hell not

I reckon Gilly would be a rather good person to be having comming in @ 6-8

Gilly is a matchwinner at the top of the order.

His impact would be blunted coming in at #7. We have finishers like Hussey and Clarke to do that job. Gilly's role is to get us off to a flying start.

He's been struggling to get going lately. Big deal. That's where Ponting earns his money.

A player like Gilly is an absolute bonus. He's not in the side as a specialist batsman, but is one of the world's cleanest hitters.

To bat Gilchrist anywhere except at the top would be to waste his unique abilities and the massive advantage he offers us.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Gilchrist and Jaques will be opening our batting by the end of summer.

Clearly our best option.

 

[Kahuna]

My team

1. Gilchrist
2. Jacques
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Clarke
7. Symonds
8. Lee
9. Bracken
10. Hogg
11. McGrath

The is someone I have missed and it is getting annoying that I can't remember who the hell it is. So my Super Sub will be the person I forgot.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

My team

1. Gilchrist
2. Jacques
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Clarke
7. Symonds
8. Lee
9. Bracken
10. Hogg
11. McGrath

The is someone I have missed and it is getting annoying that I can't remember who the hell it is. So my Super Sub will be the person I forgot.

Super-sub would be Hopes or Watson.

I agree with that group of players. Maybe tweak the order a little.

Symonds has earned his spot at #5. Hussey bats at #7 as a specialist finisher.

I'd have Hogg ahead of Bracken.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Umm, Gilly aint going to open again for a while, if ever

Or, conversely, he could be back opening the batting a week later.

 

[Bentleigh]

Gilly is a matchwinner at the top of the order.

His impact would be blunted coming in at #7. We have finishers like Hussey and Clarke to do that job. Gilly's role is to get us off to a flying start.

He's been struggling to get going lately. Big deal. That's where Ponting earns his money.

A player like Gilly is an absolute bonus. He's not in the side as a specialist batsman, but is one of the world's cleanest hitters.

To bat Gilchrist anywhere except at the top would be to waste his unique abilities and the massive advantage he offers us.

Say a Clarke and Jaques would give us almost as good a start. I would think slightly less of a scoring rate but more chance of hanging around for a longer period.

This would allow Symo to get in the action earler and Clarke and Hussey to build more an score rather than come in with 5 overs left.

Gilly batting in the last 10 over (no.6 or 7) could be a wonderful thing.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Say a Clarke and Jaques would give us almost as good a start. I would think slightly less of a scoring rate but more chance of hanging around for a longer period.

This would allow Symo to get in the action earler and Clarke and Hussey to build more an score rather than come in with 5 overs left.

Gilly batting in the last 10 over (no.6 or 7) could be a wonderful thing.

Do you still think Gilly should be dropped to #7?

You sure change your mind a lot.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Gilly is a matchwinner at the top of the order.

His impact would be blunted coming in at #7. We have finishers like Hussey and Clarke to do that job. Gilly's role is to get us off to a flying start.

He's been struggling to get going lately. Big deal. That's where Ponting earns his money.

A player like Gilly is an absolute bonus. He's not in the side as a specialist batsman, but is one of the world's cleanest hitters.

To bat Gilchrist anywhere except at the top would be to waste his unique abilities and the massive advantage he offers us.

Vindicated.

Let's drop him to #7 and open with Martyn!

Dumbest. Idea. Ever.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Umm, Gilly aint going to open again for a while, if ever

It gets funnier everytime I read it.

 

[Armageddon]

Vindicated.

Let's drop him to #7 and open with Martyn!

Dumbest. Idea. Ever.

Though, MArtyn was very good today! Maybe MArtyn is a better otion than Katich, well not maybe most likely!

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Though, MArtyn was very good today! Maybe MArtyn is a better otion than Katich, well not maybe most likely!

There are quite a few people who are better options than Katich.

I've been sticking up for Martyn for ages. As a #4.

There's no way he should open. But there's no way he should be dropped.