Man of the Series

[Kyptastic]

With two innings to go before the end of the series, I thought it would be interesting to see who people thought deserved the Man of the Series. I feel there's been four standout players for the Australians all series - Clarke and Ponting with the bat and Hilfenhaus and Siddle with the ball.

Clarke - 589 Runs at 147.25, 2 hundreds, 0 fifties

Ponting - 484 Runs at 96.80, 2 hundreds, 2 fifties

Ben Hilfenhaus - 26 Wickets at 16.53, 2 5wk hauls

Peter Siddle - 22 Wickets at 17.36, 1 5wk haul

There's also an other option.

 

[CAS79]

Siddle and Hilfy have been great buit Clarke is an absolute must. A triple and a double and both times he came into bat for those scores it was a little precarious.

 

[Starburns_]

Difficult one, the bowlers have been fantastic but evenly spread. Went with Ponting though, his runs have been more important than Clarke's, especially in the first test which was by far the closest one.

 

[Plugger35]

Brad Haddin

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Hilfenhaus comfortably

Was the 2nd best cricketer in each of the the first 3 tests when the series was on the line.

Has been the most consistent of all the cricketers - performing every test.

Clarke had a stand out innings at Sydney, but didn't contribute in Melbourne or Perth

 

[drummond2fevola]

Laxman or Dravid, there efforts have gone along way to ensuring an Australian whitewash.

 

[dan warna]

If they were to use a brownlow type system 3.2.1 hilfenhaus, as Clarke didn't score in 2 test matches.

If they were to score on a points out of 10, then clarke would get 2*10s, and 2*3, and hilfy would probably get 2*8 and 1*7 and probably another 1*7 and win.

if they were to score across the series, well a triple century and a double century are pretty rare, and clarke should. Heck even a triple century is pretty rare.

Clarke for me deserves it, and just from Hilfenhaus, who would win it any other series, 26 probably 29 wickets from a 4 test series is pretty damn special.

 

[Kim Hagdorn]

Siddle has been fantastic but it's impossible to go past Clarke.

 

[DaRick]

Clarke, considering he scored a 200 and 300 when Australia were in precarious positions (no mean feat at any time, but especially not during one series), took Sachin Tendulkar's wicket in Sydney and had to captain the side.

Ponting, Siddle and especially Hilfenhaus are unlucky to miss out; each could have very well taken it in other series.

 

[Underarm]

hilfy was good no doubt, But Clarke's innings was the death knell to India's series, and they havent looked like winning a day since. Clarke took what ever self confidence they had a rammed it into the ground.

 

[2222 Richie B]

Hilfy. Knocked over the English for fun. Hopefully he takes another 5fa in the second innings of this test match to help his case even more.

 

[Jeremias]

There are certainly a few candidates, but I'd be giving it to Clarke. Hilfy not far behind.

 

[BarneyBent]

hilfy was good no doubt, But Clarke's innings was the death knell to India's series, and they havent looked like winning a day since. Clarke took what ever self confidence they had a rammed it into the ground.

Pretty much this.

25-30 wickets at 16-17 is a quality performance with the ball. 589 runs at 147.25 with a double ton and an unbeaten triple ton that completely changed the face of the series and broke the Indians' will isn't just brilliant, it's phenomenal, especially when considering the otherwise low-scoring nature of the series.

 

[aussie1st]

Clarke will get it with ease, that double hundred sealed it. That is not to play down Hilfy achievement as any other series and he probably gets it.

 

[Lemma]

Yeh Clarke has to get it, Hilfy unlucky he's been great

 

[Tazwegian]

I'd say Punter, Siddle, or Hilfy. Clarke performed in two tests, the other two he failed. I wouldn't begrudge him man of the series, he has been excellent, but Ponting, Siddle, and Hilfy all have been extremely consistent.

 

[Underarm]

just to add, Clarke easily, but if Ponting Hilfy and siddle(and Patto_man) performed this well in any other series they would easily get it.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Hilfenhaus for mine. Clarke unlucky but one of his big innings was in the dead rubber.

 

[realsniper09]

You could mount a case for any of them.

Clarke - a triple and a double. Superb captaincy throughout. That should pretty much seal the award, but then again, he did fail with the bat in two of the tests, and for a series award, that may count against him.

Ponting - consistent. Only failed in one innings. 2 50's, a hundred, and a double all in pressure situations. Remember the 1st test in Melbourne when his partnership with Hussey was so important (Australia were 4-27 when Clarke got out) ? His 100 was important in building the partnership with Clarke in Sydney, whilst his 200 was equal (albeit slower) than that of Clarke's.

Hilfenhaus - Consistently outstanding. Just look at the numbers. Not only that, he was able to bowl more overs than the other bowlers which meant not having Watson or Lyon (who didn't bowl lengthy spells) didn't weaken us as much.

Siddle - Again, outstanding and consistent. I thought he gave us the breakthroughs when partnerships seemed established. Also contributed some runs (esp. Melbourne, but also Perth when he was 3rd highest), when it was important.

In the end, I would go Hilfenhaus. The ability to bowl long and terrific spells, as well as being brilliant in ALL 4 test matches is important. Consistently is the key. VERY hard to play VERY well in ALL the innings.
Clarke wasn't (batting-wise) in 2 tests, whilst Ponting doesn't have the volume of runs that Clarke made (nor was he as convincing). That being said, it was more of a bowler's series except for a few partnerships, so that may carry some weight.
I think Clarke will win it though - his captaincy has been brilliant, but moreso because of his historic triple and then the double.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Pretty much this.

25-30 wickets at 16-17 is a quality performance with the ball. 589 runs at 147.25 with a double ton and an unbeaten triple ton that completely changed the face of the series and broke the Indians' will isn't just brilliant, it's phenomenal, especially when considering the otherwise low-scoring nature of the series.

Say what now?

We were already 1 match up and had just rolled them for under 200 - it's not as though India had all the momentum in the series

The performance which perhaps changed the course of the series would be Siddle's spell at the end of Day 2 at the MCG. Absolutely rattling Dravid and then getting Tendulkar when India were well in the hunt after a sub-standard effort with the bat by our mob.

I understand the statistics of what Clarke has done, it's a phenomenal effort - But the bowlers have won us this series. I'd have Hilf from Siddle and then Clarke

 

[Natho]

Clarky must be a lock for it. Hilf not far behind.

 

[Scotland]

BW Hilfenhaus.

 

[rickyp]

If it was a per game 3-2-1 hilf would be a great chance, but I don't think it is and as far as I'm concerned if you've scored a double and a triple in a 4 test series you're a worthy winner. Hilf is very unlucky though, 26 wickets is a crap load for 3.5 tests

 

[realsniper09]

The performance which perhaps changed the course of the series would be Siddle's spell at the end of Day 2 at the MCG. Absolutely rattling Dravid and then getting Tendulkar when India were well in the hunt after a sub-standard effort with the bat by our mob.

Agree here. They were favourites and by a bit at that stage, then Siddle struck and we all know what happened after that.

Also, I don't think it was the triple hundred that changed the series. It was Clarke and Ponting's partnership IMO, by the end of that, we were set. So Ponting had a huge role to play as well at that point. Clarke's runs just put it beyond doubt.
I mean, I favour Hilfenhaus for the award, but if Clarke gets it, he deserves it. Captaining a side to a probable 4-0 stands for heaps.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Clarke, and easily.

329* and 210. Who knows, he might add another ton today?

It's a wrap.