Re: Australian Test XI - Selection Thread
Completely true, but neither does North.
I think half the reason he is struggling a little now is that he is batting in a position he has never batted in before. Look at Ponting, when he was batting at 5 and 6 he was quite terrible, soon as he went to number 3 off he shot to become Australia's best batsman ever, save for the Don. I think if North was up the order where he should be, he would be off in leaps and bounds. North doesn't have a 'fast' speed setting, he bats in one mode, and bats that one mode well. What happens the when, he is in the 6 position, fast runs are needed? Number 6 and 7 are the two spots where you are more than likely at some stage in almost every match need quick runs from. That's why players like Gilchrist, Martyn, Symonds, Haddin, Watson, etc bat there so well, and it is a tactic that Australia has used for quite some years now. Klinger, IMO, actually fits in number 6 better than North.
That comes to another situation, though, is that North can replace nobody in the top order. Which means that if North and Klinger aren't suited to there, they can't get in the team in the first place.
IMO North was brought into the team for what I think was preparing Hussey for an early retirement, then bring Watson into number 6. Unfortunately for the selector's plans, but fortunately for the team, Hussey finds some form and cannot be dropped now. North is left stranded at 6 after making a couple of good centuries and Watson has to open because there is no other spot for him. I think if Hussey didn't make any runs, Hughes would still be much closer to the side, and they would carry his dead weight while he fixed his problem at the level he should have stuck at once selected, not dropped for a crazy Queenslander with no planning (can't say it didn't work though).
Another thing I saw earlier is was mentioning Bailey's FC average. I don't believe in looking at averages for domestic levels because quite often the first half of a young cricketer's career is horrible. Take Nofke as one example, average of 34 with the ball after all seasons, but last three seasons has averaged 21. It was a first couple of bad years that brings that up. The same has happened to Bailey, if I remember correctly, averaging better now than he was (correct me if I'm wrong). I haven't seen much of Bailey, so I can't tell if he should be around the side at all.
Don't get me wrong, I like White, but not sure he should be playing Test cricket just yet. Personally I would actually like Dave Hussey to fill that spot, but it won't happen.
Mousey;385060 said:
Completely true, but neither does North.
I think half the reason he is struggling a little now is that he is batting in a position he has never batted in before. Look at Ponting, when he was batting at 5 and 6 he was quite terrible, soon as he went to number 3 off he shot to become Australia's best batsman ever, save for the Don. I think if North was up the order where he should be, he would be off in leaps and bounds. North doesn't have a 'fast' speed setting, he bats in one mode, and bats that one mode well. What happens the when, he is in the 6 position, fast runs are needed? Number 6 and 7 are the two spots where you are more than likely at some stage in almost every match need quick runs from. That's why players like Gilchrist, Martyn, Symonds, Haddin, Watson, etc bat there so well, and it is a tactic that Australia has used for quite some years now. Klinger, IMO, actually fits in number 6 better than North.
That comes to another situation, though, is that North can replace nobody in the top order. Which means that if North and Klinger aren't suited to there, they can't get in the team in the first place.
IMO North was brought into the team for what I think was preparing Hussey for an early retirement, then bring Watson into number 6. Unfortunately for the selector's plans, but fortunately for the team, Hussey finds some form and cannot be dropped now. North is left stranded at 6 after making a couple of good centuries and Watson has to open because there is no other spot for him. I think if Hussey didn't make any runs, Hughes would still be much closer to the side, and they would carry his dead weight while he fixed his problem at the level he should have stuck at once selected, not dropped for a crazy Queenslander with no planning (can't say it didn't work though).
Another thing I saw earlier is was mentioning Bailey's FC average. I don't believe in looking at averages for domestic levels because quite often the first half of a young cricketer's career is horrible. Take Nofke as one example, average of 34 with the ball after all seasons, but last three seasons has averaged 21. It was a first couple of bad years that brings that up. The same has happened to Bailey, if I remember correctly, averaging better now than he was (correct me if I'm wrong). I haven't seen much of Bailey, so I can't tell if he should be around the side at all.
Don't get me wrong, I like White, but not sure he should be playing Test cricket just yet. Personally I would actually like Dave Hussey to fill that spot, but it won't happen.
