1st test: West Indies vs Australia (Jamaica)

[Berkeley_Eagle]

Australia : 232 / 3 in 63.4 overs (RR: 3.64)
Overs left for the day : 26.2

Ricky Ponting (c) 124 no
Brad Hodge * 23 no

http://www.vcricket.com/Full/default.aspx?team1=West%20Indies&team2=Australia&matchdate=05/22/2008

 

[clontaago]

Katich chokes again, surprise surprise.

 

[Canteen Worker]

Katich did not choke. He tried to hit a wide ball out of the park and was taken in a very good catch.

 

[Fro]

Who would you have in there if not him Clon?

Remember he is batting out of position.

 

[clontaago]

What do yo call getting out for 12, when you have been left in test wilderness for 2 years and finally get a chance to come back into the game against 3 of the worst quick bowlers in the game (check their averages) on an excellent pitch.

I call it choking.

Fro, anyone. Katich is a good domestic player against domestic players. He just doesnt have what it takes to play at test level. Never has, never will.

 

[Fro]

same thing was once said about Matt Hayden Clon

 

[Canteen Worker]

Hayden looks like his hammys are shot so someone will have to step up as an opener. I will not write Katich off yet - he did break the Sheffield Shield record this year and that is no mean feat. Time will tell. (Though of course you are always right)

 

[The Gronk]

I rate Katich.  He scored just about the best 80 I have ever seen at the SCG against India about 5 years ago. 

Dominated an attack that was turning it sideways. 

 

[The Gronk]

Katich is a good domestic player against domestic players. He just doesnt have what it takes to play at test level. Never has, never will.

FYI Clon, Katich 113 in the second test. 

 

[Canteen Worker]

Katich scored his third test century. Not bad for a player who doesn't have what it takes. Does Clon want them to pick Hodge or that pretender opener from WA?

 

[clontaago]

I dont rate Hodge at all either. A good knock from Katich however 1 inning doesnt change my opinion.

 

[Canteen Worker]

Who would you replace him with Doug?

 

[Fro]

Matt Hayden

But I agree Katich is a far more refined bat than when he last played tests.

opening Bats around the country should be putting in a big off season training effort because there is going to be a spot open there very soon.

And as CW mentioned Rogers does not have it, economy of movement is very important, and he wanders around everywhere.

 

[Canteen Worker]

I don't think Jacques has fully established himself either. He has had his good moments but isn't a Hayden or Langer as yet. I would love to see David Hussey in the test team but the middle order is pretty settled.

 

[Fro]

yep CW, Jaques hasnt cemented a spot, in fact if Hayden recovers from his injury and Katich goes well in the next little while and Jaques doesnt, might make things interesting.

Yeah we have 4 million middle order bats, but opening is harder so there are less that are good at it.

Shaun Marsh and Phillip Hughes are my 2 young men to watch over the next 2 - 5 years.

 

[Canteen Worker]

I note that Shaun Marsh was top scorer in the IPL. Watson also had a very good tournament.

I wonder if odds are shortening at Warnie playing the Ashes series next year. I have a mate that reckons he is a special to do so.

 

[clontaago]

Magill has officially retired from international cricket afetr turning up late for the second test. Warnie's odds must be shortening!!

I would have no hesitation in giving D Hussey a shot at opening. He is too good to not have in the side. Michael Clarke could also open, with M Hussey moving to 4 and D Hussey in the middle order.

 

[Fro]

Yes CW Marsh was top scorer, on a contract of about 50k

Watson got the official player of the series. and I reckon it will be the making of him.

Clon Clarke is far too loose technically to succeed as an opener, but is devastating where he is.

 

[The Gronk]

Magill has officially retired from international cricket afetr turning up late for the second test. Warnie's odds must be shortening!!

I would have no hesitation in giving D Hussey a shot at opening. He is too good to not have in the side. Michael Clarke could also open, with M Hussey moving to 4 and D Hussey in the middle order.

Clarke isn't a test opener.  If you were going to put someone up the order it would have to be M Hussey.  He played his entire state career at opener. 

 

[Canteen Worker]

My thoughts exactly Matt, which is what happened when Katich didn't bat in the second innings of the current test.