Cricket

[pahoffm]

Re: Cricket

Australia squad Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Michael Kasprowicz, Stuart MacGill, Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait.

© Cricinfo

Not a bad squad. Imagine the test side will be:
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Symonds
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
McGill
Tait
Kasprowicz

Kasprowicz is backup if Lee & Tait fail to fire together, and Martyn is there for experience at No.4 if he is needed.

As for Hodge, as we all knew, can't make runs under pressure, and makes them nearly always in the 2nd innings. Most selectors, whether national or local, look at 2nd innings runs with ambivalence.

 

[SfB_AkA._DeLiCiOuS]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

 

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

Agree,Symonds has done nothing in his test career apart from 1 innings.Throw in the fact he is injured as well.Watson is younger & a better bowler.

 

[Hayfever]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

Agree,Symonds has done nothing in his test career apart from 1 innings.Throw in the fact he is injured as well.Watson is younger & a better bowler.

And you reckon Hodge was unlucky?
At least Symonds can field a bit and bowl the odd over here and there

 

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

Agree,Symonds has done nothing in his test career apart from 1 innings.Throw in the fact he is injured as well.Watson is younger & a better bowler.

And you reckon Hodge was unlucky?
At least Symonds can field a bit and bowl the odd over here and there

Hodge was picked as a batsman Mr Sneeze & he's a good fieldsman.

 

[TigerForce]

Re: Cricket

Does cricket ever go into hibernation ?

 

[Hayfever]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

Agree,Symonds has done nothing in his test career apart from 1 innings.Throw in the fact he is injured as well.Watson is younger & a better bowler.

And you reckon Hodge was unlucky?
At least Symonds can field a bit and bowl the odd over here and there

Hodge was picked as a batsman Mr Sneeze & he's a good fieldsman.

and then got dropped because his form deserted him and his fielding is mediocre by today's Test standards.

 

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

Agree,Symonds has done nothing in his test career apart from 1 innings.Throw in the fact he is injured as well.Watson is younger & a better bowler.

And you reckon Hodge was unlucky?
At least Symonds can field a bit and bowl the odd over here and there

Hodge was picked as a batsman Mr Sneeze & he's a good fieldsman.

and then got dropped because his form deserted him and his fielding is mediocre by today's Test standards.

Mr Sneeze,You are dribbling again.Hodge made a double ton 3 tests ago & his fielding is very good.Martyn is averaging 23 in the Pura Cup.Great average.

 

[Hayfever]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

Agree,Symonds has done nothing in his test career apart from 1 innings.Throw in the fact he is injured as well.Watson is younger & a better bowler.

And you reckon Hodge was unlucky?
At least Symonds can field a bit and bowl the odd over here and there

Hodge was picked as a batsman Mr Sneeze & he's a good fieldsman.

and then got dropped because his form deserted him and his fielding is mediocre by today's Test standards.

Mr Sneeze,You are dribbling again.Hodge made a double ton 3 tests ago & his fielding is very good.Martyn is averaging 23 in the Pura Cup.Great average.

I hate to see a grown man crying in his beer MB.

Jaques should be in for Martyn

 

[Tigers of Old]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

Agree,Symonds has done nothing in his test career apart from 1 innings.Throw in the fact he is injured as well.Watson is younger & a better bowler.

Symonds is one of Punter's mates so he'll be there until a ripe old age.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

Agree,Symonds has done nothing in his test career apart from 1 innings.Throw in the fact he is injured as well.Watson is younger & a better bowler.

And you reckon Hodge was unlucky?
At least Symonds can field a bit and bowl the odd over here and there

Hodge was picked as a batsman Mr Sneeze & he's a good fieldsman.

and then got dropped because his form deserted him and his fielding is mediocre by today's Test standards.

Mr Sneeze,You are dribbling again.Hodge made a double ton 3 tests ago & his fielding is very good.Martyn is averaging 23 in the Pura Cup.Great average.

Martyn should not have been dropped in the first place and the nHodge should not have been droppedto bring back Martyn. What a joke.

For what its worth, I thnk SHane Watson is a shocker. Don't see what all the hype is about and bringing back Kasper??? He had a fork sticking out of his back 18 months ago.

Terrible, terrible selection panel.

 

[Hayfever]

Re: Cricket

Symonds ahead of Watson is a absolute joke!!!
He's had one good test innings & thats it.
Gun ODI player, thats about it.

Agree,Symonds has done nothing in his test career apart from 1 innings.Throw in the fact he is injured as well.Watson is younger & a better bowler.

And you reckon Hodge was unlucky?
At least Symonds can field a bit and bowl the odd over here and there

Hodge was picked as a batsman Mr Sneeze & he's a good fieldsman.

and then got dropped because his form deserted him and his fielding is mediocre by today's Test standards.

Mr Sneeze,You are dribbling again.Hodge made a double ton 3 tests ago & his fielding is very good.Martyn is averaging 23 in the Pura Cup.Great average.

Martyn should not have been dropped in the first place and the nHodge should not have been droppedto bring back Martyn. What a joke.

For what its worth, I thnk SHane Watson is a shocker. Don't see what all the hype is about and bringing back Kasper??? He had a fork sticking out of his back 18 months ago.

Terrible, terrible selection panel.

Big Merv........ he's a Victorian. Has he sold out on Hodge?

 

[jb03]

Re: Cricket

Trevor Hohns on SEN now talking dribble & trying to defend Martyn's selection.His favorite saying now is we've made a "judgement call"

Heard that interview. I'm still giggling thinking about it. Never heard more contradictions in 5 minutes in my life. Martyn does not deserve a recall based on Hohns stated criteria and Hodge is a tad stiff. Hons dismissed Hodge's 308 runs against SA at 80 because 200 of them were made in one dig. Odd.

FWIW, IMO, Hodge actually isn't up to it.

 

[pahoffm]

Re: Cricket

Hodge - never makes runs under pressure, and then 2nd innings.

Watson - to prone to injury.

Martyn - just an experienced backup in case of disorder.

 

[Tigers of Old]

Re: Cricket

Hodge - never makes runs under pressure, and then 2nd innings.

Watson - to prone to injury.

Martyn - just an experienced backup in case of disorder.

One thing's for sure it's not just our bowling attack that's looking vulnerable these days.
This IMHO is an Aussie team that is most definately in decline and I will not be surprised one bit to see us lose this series.
Already starting to appreciate what a fantastic Australian team we've had for the last 15 odd years because dare I say it Rome is falling....

 

[bigwow]

Re: Cricket

There are two tests in Bangladesh after SA tour.

I hope some young blokes get a go in these matches, in preparation for ashes nest year.
Though, young players would probably get stiffer match practice playing for their district club than the Banglans. There is also an A team tour mid year, so the Cosgroves, Johnsons, Magoffins, Dorey etc should get some international exposure.

Martyn & Kasprowicz have been good servants of Australian cricket, but their selection here smacks of conservatism, and 'jobs for the boys'.

 

[mb64]

Re: Cricket

Hodge - never makes runs under pressure, and then 2nd innings.

Martyn - just an experienced backup in case of disorder.

What nonsense about Hodge.He deserved to go on tour.Martyn is not seen as a backup as Hohns said he will bat at 4.

 

[mk33]

Re: Cricket

1st class stats this year

Martyn 3matches 142 runs 71hs 23.66 average
Hodge  11matches  805 runs 203hs 47.94 average  2hundres 3 fifties
Symonds 8matches 449 runs 163hs 37.41 average

Hodge was never the opportunity to prove himself and anyone thinking elsewise is polishing themselves. Hodge 200 was in the 2nd innings but was under pressure as we were behind. He may not end up being good enough but deserves an opportunity. Martyn was unlucky to be dropped orginally but it proved to be a good thing as he has not made runs at first class level or one day level this year. As for Symonds 1 good innings in 10 in test level and he cannot BOWL.

My squad for arguments sake

Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Hodge, Hussey,Clarke and probably Symonds
Gilchrist
Warne, Macgill
Lee, Bracken, Gillespie, Tait

Gileespie has bowled well in SAF in the past, Kasper is honest but not a matchwinner but support bowler. Bracken unlucky as well as has not much wrong when played.

I still think selectors have done well in past 10-15 years and I will say I was wrong with Marto has a good tour and does well in the Ashes but at the moment IMO they have hit the panic button.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Cricket

Hodge - never makes runs under pressure, and then 2nd innings.

Martyn - just an experienced backup in case of disorder.

What nonsense about Hodge.He deserved to go on tour.Martyn is not seen as a backup as Hohns said he will bat at 4.

Agreed, he only got a double ton when we were in strife. Disgrace, disgrace, disgrace.

The rot has set in. Trevor Hohns next move is to appoint Spud Frawley coach.

 

[marella jube]

Re: Cricket

Could possibly understand this call if , say Lehmann , had leapfrogged Hodge & Martyn , as despite his age (he retired himself from international cricket prematurely imo,possibly a response to Hookes tragedy) , he's been in good nick & brings guile to the team but Martyn , no . Hohns claims Martyn hasn't had many chances in Shield cricket to advance his cause are weak. Could argue he had more than enough chances when in the Test side previously.

Understand that Hodge,like Love before him,may not ultimately be Test standard but deserves opportunity as the incumbent to get 1st go....As for claims he can't play back foot,well,where did he make his 200+ ? Don't think it was on the eastern seaboard....

Jaques papers seem to be similarly unfairly marked too..Despite that,I wish Martyn the best of luck,assuming he hasn't ridden all of it already....