Official Ashes 2006-07 Team Discussion Thread

[Embers]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

We will regain the Ashes in a canter regardless of what happens into the future, if we play like we are now, we will still give England a hiding, now we got the pitches, we will just doctor em for spin, Warnie and McGill will rip em to shreds and bobs ya uncle

Although it wud be nice to find a no 6 batsmen by then, but in the end it wont matter.

 

[pinkus maximus]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Tait,Rofe,Dorey. I dont care who it is(well I do ) Either of these guys would add more value to the side than Bracken who bowls at a pathetic pace for a front line bowler

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Forgot to mention Dorey so i didn't read the rest.

Dorey has everything in the kitty. Rofe is good too.

A Dorey/Tait/Rofe bowl off against the next minnows we face.

Dorey is very good. But at 28, he isn't in the "young" category. Middle-aged maybe.

I still think we should give him an opportunity, but his age means that he's not as much a part of my broader point about pushing through a new crop of quicks.

Why has Dorey only played 11 first-class matches?

 

[Embers]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Dorey is very good. But at 28, he isn't in the "young" category. Middle-aged maybe.

I still think we should give him an opportunity, but his age means that he's not as much a part of my broader point about pushing through a new crop of quicks.

Why has Dorey only played 11 first-class matches?

Serious back problems, he is fine now however

 

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Dorey isnt anywhere near Australian selection in my books, you need more than 1 season of consistant bowlers to make the Aussie team and if Dorey's in the mix Wise from Victoria has to be.

 

[F/D]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Hodge
Hussey
Cosgrove
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Dorey
McGrath



That should be the line up.


As AC has said, McGrath is seriously losing his potentcy and will probably be struggling, but given what he has done for Australia, he should get in the team.

 

[Embers]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

You all overrate England, and underrate our extremely crappy performance. Didnt you lot watch them get thumped in Pakistan?

 

[YOTC]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Dorey is very good. But at 28, he isn't in the "young" category. Middle-aged maybe.

I still think we should give him an opportunity, but his age means that he's not as much a part of my broader point about pushing through a new crop of quicks.

Why has Dorey only played 11 first-class matches?

As mentioned back problems and went to Europe for 5 years and was a bodyguard for a Russian Family. (what i heard on the radio)

So he hasn't been playing cricket all that long and could last another 8 years.

 

[pinkus maximus]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Dorey is very good. But at 28, he isn't in the "young" category. Middle-aged maybe.

I still think we should give him an opportunity, but his age means that he's not as much a part of my broader point about pushing through a new crop of quicks.

Why has Dorey only played 11 first-class matches?

I think he will be picked to play ODIs this summer. I think because of his age the selectors might bring him in quicker than expected,so they can get the most out of him.If he was 22 then he could play domestic cricket for another 4 years but its now or never for Dorey

 

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Why do people not rate Allan Wise? surely you dont believe the crap eddie says

His stats are just as good as Dorey and he is 2 years younger and would add more in terms of variety to our attack than Bracken.

 

[F/D]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Dorey = 200cm+ bowler who can get bounce but also alot of swing.



Rare for a guy that tall to get swing.

 

[Star]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Well thought out and written post GL

1. Blood at least one young quick at international level

Without doubt the big challenge for selectors. I reckon crack this one and all other 'priorities' become obsolete - for a season anyway

2. Find a #6 who actually looks like scoring runs

This is a no-brainer IMO. The next best performed gets this gig. I reckon it will be Clarke (after the next test) with Jaques waiting in the wings like Hodge and Hussey did.

3. Hodge needs to become a world-class #4

Has done nothing wrong as yet.

4. The Gilchrist Factor

Has many credits in the bank and his capabilities alone will give him a free ride. Happy for him to do nothing until the Ashes then spark it up then. Hell, give him a break if he needs one and freshen him up.

I don't rate McGrath in the top 3 quick bowlers in the country at the moment.

Is 'at the moment' today? or this week? or this month or what?

I wouldn't have dinner with the bloke but he is an out and out champion and writing him off will leave a lot of egg on faces.

 

[Opportunity Cost]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

I think the ideal number 6 at the moment for the Aussies is Cosgrove. We might as well have someone who can bat rather than someone who can neither bat or bowl (Symmonds). The only good thing Symmonds has going for him in the tests is his brilliant fielding.

 

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

I think the ideal number 6 at the moment for the Aussies is Cosgrove. We might as well have someone who can bat rather than someone who can neither bat or bowl (Symmonds). The only good thing Symmonds has going for him in the tests is his brilliant fielding.

I thought he bowled pretty well today.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

I think the ideal number 6 at the moment for the Aussies is Cosgrove.

Just walk me through this.

Cosgrove is a talented 21 year-old who has played a good half-season.

What has he done to advance his selection claims beyond those of Jaques and Clarke?

People get carried away whenever a young player shows a bit of potential. Let's see if he can maintain it for 12 months before rushing him into the side ahead of more accomplished players?

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Dorey isnt anywhere near Australian selection in my books, you need more than 1 season of consistant bowlers to make the Aussie team and if Dorey's in the mix Wise from Victoria has to be.

Paul Rofe is the guy who's next in line for me.

He's 24 and has been pretty good for a couple of seasons.

If Rofe and Tait can play a few Tests, or even ODIs, in the next 12 months, I'd feel a lot more confident heading into the Ashes.

 

[apollo_creed]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Well thought out and written post GL

1. Blood at least one young quick at international level

Without doubt the big challenge for selectors. I reckon crack this one and all other 'priorities' become obsolete - for a season anyway

Its not a challenge. The answer is obvious.

He's just sitting on the sidelines at the moment.

2. Find a #6 who actually looks like scoring runs

This is a no-brainer IMO. The next best performed gets this gig. I reckon it will be Clarke (after the next test) with Jaques waiting in the wings like Hodge and Hussey did.

Cosgrove should be ahead of Clarke, he's been in form ALL SEASON AT DOMESTIC LEVEL IS YOUNGER AND HASN'T PERFORMED LIKE CRAP FOR HIS COUNTRY FOR A YEAR AT TEST MATCH LEVEL.

3. Hodge needs to become a world-class #4

Has done nothing wrong as yet.

That's not his point.

Hodge has a long way to go before even being close to a world class number four. Leave your bias out of this. Or could it just be that you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about?

4. The Gilchrist Factor

Has many credits in the bank and his capabilities alone will give him a free ride. Happy for him to do nothing until the Ashes then spark it up then. Hell, give him a break if he needs one and freshen him up.

Yes, let Gilchrist perform pathetically for another year and keep him in the team. I'm not in favour of dropping him now, but to suggest he should be kept even if he has another year of poor form is ridiculous.

Is 'at the moment' today? or this week? or this month or what?

I wouldn't have dinner with the bloke but he is an out and out champion and writing him off will leave a lot of egg on faces.

He WAS a champion. He's getting older, past his best ie; not improving, and to expert observes like me its obvious he is on the DECLINE.

There are a few far better fast bowlers at the moment on the sidelines that him.

He might have the occasional good game but he is no longer a feared bowler.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

Cosgrove should be ahead of Clarke, he's been in form ALL SEASON AT DOMESTIC LEVEL IS YOUNGER AND HASN'T PERFORMED LIKE CRAP FOR HIS COUNTRY FOR A YEAR AT TEST MATCH LEVEL.

Clarke has made 395 runs from 3 Pura Cup innings, including 2 centuries.

That's pretty good form as well.

If you're taking Cosgrove's ING form into account, then you should also consider Clarke's form in the Chappell-Hadlee ODIs, where he scored 184 runs at 92, including 2 outstanding half-centuries.

Clarke is ahead of Cosgrove. But I still think Phil Jaques is a real chance to slot in at #6.

 

[F/D]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

If Clarke was given a free ride into the Test team, why not give a more talented kid one too?


In the long term, Cosgrove will be the better player.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

All we need to win back the Ashes is to pick the best available 11 players.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

If Clarke was given a free ride into the Test team, why not give a more talented kid one too?

In the long term, Cosgrove will be the better player.

Pretty dumb argument.

Clarke was given a Test spot 18 months after making his ODI debut.

In that time, he scored 900 runs at an average of 40.91.

This myth about Clarke being given a "free ride" into the Test team overlooks the fact that he had been a bloody good ODI batsman for over 18 months before making his Test debut.

And then he scored a century on debut in India.

What exactly are you arguing?

Because Clarke was picked without a lot of FC form, it's suddenly OK just to promote any talented kid who strings together a couple of decent innings?

Should that be the selection policy from now on?

That's incredibly stupid. Do you realise that you're an idiot?

 

[Cooldude]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the Ashes

All we need to win back the Ashes is to pick the best available 11 players.

Nope, it'd be a lot more difficult than that

Our batsmen have been spoilt that the past few years, they've gotten used to batting on flat tracks, nowadays if the ball does anything at all in the air or off the deck, as the Ashes demonstrated, and as this Test demonstrated, we really struggle.

The bowling is the least of our concerns as far as taking twenty Pommy wickets, their batting's not exactly crash hot, but our batting cannot fail again like it did last time 'round and crumble under their reverse swing

At the moment, only Hayden (If he gets his mind together), Ponting and Hussey really have the technique to combat the England bowling quartet, the rest is a worry.

I have no doubt Watson will come straight back into the side when he's fit again coz he's a long term project for the selectors and quite frankly they'll pick him, so he will bat at either 6 or 7.

If we play the two leggies, that's the English batsmen sorted already, but unless the English quicks go off the boil, they'd enjoy bowling on the bounicer tracks of the Gabba and the WACA

 

[GoSydneySwans]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the A

He WAS a champion. He's getting older, past his best ie; not improving, and to expert observes like me its obvious he is on the DECLINE.

There are a few far better fast bowlers at the moment on the sidelines that him.

He might have the occasional good game but he is no longer a feared bowler.

Interesting you say that actually, because this is the way I see our pace bowling attack at the moment.

1. McGrath
2. Tait (looking towards the future, he is our best prospect by a fair way.)
3. Gillespie
4. Kasprowicz
5. Bichel
6. Rofe

I don't know about Dorey but I've heard he is good (but then again I heard Mitchell Johnson was good). I like the look of Gerard Denton, and Wise is having a bit of success. I didn't list Lee there because saying that I rate him No. 7 wouldn't be true, I seriously don't think he's done enough to be ahead of those performing well in domestic competitions. He's done well against West Indies and hasn't really been anything to write home about against South Africa.

McGrath is a genius, and has had one bad match...I'm surprised anyone could even think about jumping on the great man and say that he's not feared. He's still, in my eyes, the best bowler Australia has had. Warney gets a lot of wickets against the tail (although I don't want to turn this into a starz-like weighting argument), and McGrath is still as masterful as ever.

 

[embleygirl]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the A

I think Gilly might need to stop playing the one day game or at least take a break from them. The guy need's a rest. If Gilchrist does get back into form by next year's Ashes who's to say Flintoff won't trouble him again?

 

[YOTC]

Re: The 4 things that need to happen in the next 12 months if we want to regain the A

I don't know about Dorey but I've heard he is good (but then again I heard Mitchell Johnson was good).

Theres a difference actually.

Mitch Johnson was picked on ability and he has lots of it. Dorey is actually good and a success.