Ashes Discussion

[Fitzy]

Yeah I know.

Also, Harris was always going to be the opener unfortunately. I really hope he does well he does screams decent state cricketer, can't hack it at international level, a version of Jacques Rudolph if you will.

I just don’t get it, we are trying to win the ashes and we got a bloke who is playing well in the shield and has proven he can score hundreds in the test arena but we pick the man who can’t make a 50 is super inconsistent and isn’t that young to at least claim the development card. It’s a pile of shit. Considering Warner can’t face Broad or England in general we are basically giving them 2 wickets straight up every innings.

 

[BroncsFan]

Harris is frustrating gets to 25 - 30 and he`s gonski .
Looking fwd to seeing Green with bat and ball . He looked promising last I saw him .

Get the sense this year could be the making of Green.

Excellent form in the shield last year leading to test debut and some decent showings to suggest he's got something there to work with.

Comes into this year no longer under the radar and a pretty important player for WA, and has been in great form again.

Suggests that he has the temperament to handle the pressure and keep doing his thing.

It's got the feeling that he could have a big summer this year... would love to see him become good enough that he takes the no. 5, because what a middle order that would be.

3. Marnus
4. Smith
5. Green

 

[Sproj]

I just don’t get it, we are trying to win the ashes and we got a bloke who is playing well in the shield and has proven he can score hundreds in the test arena but we pick the man who can’t make a 50 is super inconsistent and isn’t that young to at least claim the development card. It’s a pile of shit. Considering Warner can’t face Broad or England in general we are basically giving them 2 wickets straight up every innings.

Yeah man I hear ya, guess they gotta keep Warnie happy and keep that Victorian quotient. Harris will likely fail again so hopefully they won’t persist if he does. Who knows, he might have a lucky summer and we have another Marcus North situation on our hands which would be frustrating.

As for Warner, the good news is he is a different beast on Aussie roads. He’ll fill his boots as he always does with the ball doing nothing but I also get the feeling this summer might be the end for him, he’s pretty old now.

 

[Sproj]

Get the sense this year could be the making of Green.

Excellent form in the shield last year leading to test debut and some decent showings to suggest he's got something there to work with.

Comes into this year no longer under the radar and a pretty important player for WA, and has been in great form again.

Suggests that he has the temperament to handle the pressure and keep doing his thing.

It's got the feeling that he could have a big summer this year... would love to see him become good enough that he takes the no. 5, because what a middle order that would be.

3. Marnus
4. Smith
5. Green

I agree with all of this except Green isn’t in great form for his standards, he’s going fine don’t get me wrong but he isn’t kicking on this year yet. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because it means he hasn’t peaked yet, he’s still got a few levels to go yet. Even if he isn’t going quite as well as last year though (and this is to be expected and he is going fine), the quality of bowler he will be facing is nowhere near the calibre of last year either.

 

[1910]

I just don’t get it, we are trying to win the ashes and we got a bloke who is playing well in the shield and has proven he can score hundreds in the test arena but we pick the man who can’t make a 50 is super inconsistent and isn’t that young to at least claim the development card. It’s a pile of shit. Considering Warner can’t face Broad or England in general we are basically giving them 2 wickets straight up every innings.

Harris got a 100 last week in Victoria's first game and got more runs than Khawaja last season. Victoria have only started their season last week.

You've left out some pretty key facts.

 

[Sproj]

Harris got a 100 last week in Victoria's first game and got more runs than Khawaja last season. Victoria have only started their season last week.

You've left out some pretty key facts.

Harris also failed twice in his last start on a difficult pitch, meanwhile Khawaja batted brilliantly on a pitch that was doing a lot. Harris almost always fails on a pitch or conditions where the ball does anything at all, context is equally important.

 

[1910]

Harris also failed twice in his last start on a difficult pitch, meanwhile Khawaja batted brilliantly on a pitch that was doing a lot. Harris almost always fails on a pitch or conditions where the ball does anything at all, context is equally important.

Khawaja was dropped by WA early, not for luck he would have failed too. I am not mounting a case either way but whatever you say for one you could say for another.

 

[Sproj]

Khawaja was dropped by WA early, not for luck he would have failed too. I am not mounting a case either way but whatever you say for one you could say for another.

Not really. Khawaja has performed at international level, had some absolute world class innings, Harris has failed every single chance he’s had, every single one.

 

[1910]

Not really. Khawaja has performed at international level, had some absolute world class innings, Harris has failed every single chance he’s had, every single one.

The fact we are still having this discussion 10 years after his debut and unsure if he should be in the side shows he hasn't performed consistently at Test level. Sometimes I think he's been treated harshly but he's had some terrible series in amongst- Dubai, Adelaide and New Zealand.

 

[Sproj]

The fact we are still having this discussion 10 years after his debut and unsure if he should be in the side shows he hasn't performed consistently at Test level. Sometimes I think he's been treated harshly but he's had some terrible series in amongst- Dubai, Adelaide and New Zealand.

Sure but he was unlucky to be dropped last time. His test record is something Harris can only dream of and his record is just ok. It’s a shame it’s really between these two as no one else is putting their hand up…yet.

Ward looks good but so new, Hunt looks promising but nowhere near ready., Burns has lost his mojo, Street just can’t get a consistent run together, S.Marsh is an older, better Harris.

So if it’s between Khawaja and Harris, Khawaja is a no brainer.

 

[Unbreakable]

Sure but he was unlucky to be dropped last time. His test record is something Harris can only dream of and his record is just ok. It’s a shame it’s really between these two as no one else is putting their hand up…yet.

Ward looks good but so new, Hunt looks promising but nowhere near ready., Burns has lost his mojo, Street just can’t get a consistent run together, S.Marsh is an older, better Harris.

So if it’s between Khawaja and Harris, Khawaja is a no brainer.

The problem is that Khawaja isn't an opener anymore. He's been batting in the middle order for Queensland for the last couple of years, and that's where his form has started to turn. Harris will be the opener with Warner if Pucovski isn't available.

The question becomes Head vs Wade vs Khawaja for the number 5 spot. Not sure which way they'll go as of yet, it may come down to who performs best in the possibles vs probables match leading in to the first Test in Brisbane.

 

[mitch222]

Usman calls the selectors racist when he is justifiably dropped. He has had a lot of chances to cement his place in the team and hasn't. Hell if Usman wanted to be the opening partner with Warner then why not open in Sheffield shield cricket. He is to much of a disruption to the team these days to warrant selection in the test team. Langer would be more concerned about the overall squad harmony then bringing in a player who can make everyone else uneasy with his constant whining.

 

[Fitzy]

The problem is that Khawaja isn't an opener anymore. He's been batting in the middle order for Queensland for the last couple of years, and that's where his form has started to turn. Harris will be the opener with Warner if Pucovski isn't available.

The question becomes Head vs Wade vs Khawaja for the number 5 spot. Not sure which way they'll go as of yet, it may come down to who performs best in the possibles vs probables match leading in to the first Test in Brisbane.

I know Wade won us the game last night but you can safely rule him out.

 

[Fitzy]

Usman calls the selectors racist when he is justifiably dropped. He has had a lot of chances to cement his place in the team and hasn't. Hell if Usman wanted to be the opening partner with Warner then why not open in Sheffield shield cricket. He is to much of a disruption to the team these days to warrant selection in the test team. Langer would be more concerned about the overall squad harmony then bringing in a player who can make everyone else uneasy with his constant whining.

A bit of a clueless statement about his whining, he spoke for the team cause everyone else was to pussy to speak up, not whining if you ask me. Also quite honestly, an argument is there to say that Usman has been hard done by the selectors because of his race. At times I agree he hasn't been able to claim racism as the result of his non-selection because of poor form, but at other times like right now they can't justify why they haven't selected him. All I'm saying is if Usman was a white, more fit looking male selectors would be creaming themselves at his ability and taking him seriously. His selection would be unquestionable. Quite honestly if Usman was a white male he would likely be the captain right now, back in South Africa he was the only player in the team with the credentials to be able to captain Australia. Like Tim Paine was about 6 games back from close to a decade lay off. I actually sympathise with Usman a lot because he is being disadvantaged so much cause of prejudiced views.

 

[Sproj]

The problem is that Khawaja isn't an opener anymore. He's been batting in the middle order for Queensland for the last couple of years, and that's where his form has started to turn. Harris will be the opener with Warner if Pucovski isn't available.

The question becomes Head vs Wade vs Khawaja for the number 5 spot. Not sure which way they'll go as of yet, it may come down to who performs best in the possibles vs probables match leading in to the first Test in Brisbane.

Khawaja can still do the job as an opener and I think he averages something ridiculous like 97 when opening for Australia in tests in Australia. That probably isn't from many innings but out of him and Harris, I have a million times more confidence in Khawaja than I do in Harris.

It is just a shame Pucs isn't available because Australia has massive issues at opener. As much as I am pushing Khawaja's wheelbarrow here, I am not saying he should be first player picked, I just think he's the best of the poor available bunch. I'd even happily go Burns before Harris, I just don't rate Harris at all. If he does indeed get picked as he likely will though, I would love nothing more than to be proven wrong. I just suspect I won't be.

 

[mitch222]

A bit of a clueless statement about his whining, he spoke for the team cause everyone else was to pussy to speak up, not whining if you ask me. Also quite honestly, an argument is there to say that Usman has been hard done by the selectors because of his race. At times I agree he hasn't been able to claim racism as the result of his non-selection because of poor form, but at other times like right now they can't justify why they haven't selected him. All I'm saying is if Usman was a white, more fit looking male selectors would be creaming themselves at his ability and taking him seriously. His selection would be unquestionable. Quite honestly if Usman was a white male he would likely be the captain right now, back in South Africa he was the only player in the team with the credentials to be able to captain Australia. Like Tim Paine was about 6 games back from close to a decade lay off. I actually sympathise with Usman a lot because he is being disadvantaged so much cause of prejudiced views.

Paine was always only ever selected because he was a captain with morals that the team needed at the time. This added on to the fact that there was no decent wicketkeeper in the current setup made it very easy for them to continue picking him until further notice with no backlash for him not making runs.
They can easily justify not selecting him at the moment because he isn't an opener. He doesn't bat there in shield cricket and hasn't for a long time whereas Marcus Harris has and continues to do so. Harris was also the shield leader in runs last year for an opener. Now has Harris had his chances, yes he has and hasn't really made the most of them, but he has the runs and is the next best available opener. The argument would stand merit if he was trying out for 1st or 2nd drop but he isn't. Is he better than Travis Head to bat at 5 well its debatable considering Head was the second highest run score last year in Shield cricket so he does have the runs on the board to merit being selected. Its pretty simple, if he thinks he is good enough to open for Australia moving forward then why wouldn't he be opening for QLD in shield cricket to push his case.

 

[Accept]

Not really. Khawaja has performed at international level, had some absolute world class innings, Harris has failed every single chance he’s had, every single one.

Neither are great options, it's got to be said. But I'm not anticipating a tough series so carrying an opener who isn't up to Test level probably won't affect them greatly.

 

[Sproj]

Neither are great options, it's got to be said. But I'm not anticipating a tough series so carrying an opener who isn't up to Test level probably won't affect them greatly.

Agree with you there, neither are great options.