***Official*** 2nd Test at the Adelaide Oval

[silentstriker]

Horses for courses, simply. It'd be like if Stuart MacGill took 7 wickets in Adelaide, and the WACA looked to be a traditional Perth wicket and was rock hard and quick and offered nothing for the spinners. They'd drop him for someone like Clark.

Obviously Clark will be unlucky to get dropped, but if they want to pick MacGill because of the surface they have to drop someone, and it'd be extremely harsh to drop Lee after one poor test when he led the attack last summer in McGrath's absence. I'm pretty sure Clark knows that he's done enough to keep himself in the minds of the selectors now, and if he gets dropped for MacGill it'll only be a temporary thing.

I dunno, if MacGill takes 7 wickets, I'd keep him even at Perth...until he proves he can't.

 

[silentstriker]

IMO you pick your best horses regardless of the courses, with very few exceptions.

 

[social]

There's no way they will pick five bowlers, it'd be stupid.

There's two options as far as I can see, which are to go in with the same team, or to drop a batsman and a bowler for Watson and MacGill. Clarke and Clark the obvious choices to go, but it's plausible that they'd get rid of Martyn or Lee.

I doubt they'll bring in Watson without the second spinner after Clarke made runs, though they would have picked him without MacGill in Brisbane. Personally I'm leaning towards them keeping the same side.

Clarke hasn't done enough for mine and with it being a back-to-back test, I think they should include Watson for a bit of back-up bowling at his expense.

 

[oz_fan]

I'd play Watson with MacGill in Adelaide. There's an argument for dropping Lee and keeping Clark, but Adelaide won't crack up like Brisbane.

In any case, whoever isn't picked for the 11 is hard done by IMO. Everyone in consideration deserves to play.

Thats what I'd do as well. Agreed that anyone who misses out is unlucky.

 

[Matteh]

I dunno, if MacGill takes 7 wickets, I'd keep him even at Perth...until he proves he can't.

I didn't know you were a 90s England selector...

 

[age_master]

In any case, whoever isn't picked for the 11 is hard done by IMO. Everyone in consideration deserves to play.

Yep, dont evny the selectors this time round.

 

[Laurrz]

Watson ruled out of Adelaide

Shane Watson has been ruled out of the second Test against England at Adelaide.

"Shane Watson continued his rehabilitation this afternoon," Alex Kountouris, the Australia physiotherapist said. "The outcome was that his hamstring injury is still not fully recovered and it was decided that the second Test would be too early a return in the circumstances. His rehabilitation will continue with a view to him being available for selection for the third Test in Perth."

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausveng/content/current/story/270055.html

 

[Matt79]

Makes things simpler and probably spells the death knell for MacGill's hopes of playing at Adelaide.

I think Clarke needs to do more in Adelaide to justify continuing to retain his spot ahead of Watson once Watson is fit again. Yes he got a 50, but it was out of a score of 9/602 after Ponting, Langer and Hussey had comprehensively beaten the fight out of the English attack. I mean Lee got 45* and Clark 39, so I don't think one nicely made 50 is enough to justify holding out the one real option for a test standard allrounder.

 

[oz_fan]

Watson ruled out of Adelaide

Shane Watson has been ruled out of the second Test against England at Adelaide.

"Shane Watson continued his rehabilitation this afternoon," Alex Kountouris, the Australia physiotherapist said. "The outcome was that his hamstring injury is still not fully recovered and it was decided that the second Test would be too early a return in the circumstances. His rehabilitation will continue with a view to him being available for selection for the third Test in Perth."

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausveng/content/current/story/270055.html

That will make it a lot easier for the selectors. They'll want three pace bowlers so Clark will definately play and I doubt they'll go with five specialist bowlers so Clarke will stay in the team, with MacGill the unlucky one to miss out.

 

[Matt79]

Clarke might get to bowl again, but he won't want to mess up his average!

 

[GIMH]

Monty must play

 

[Matt79]

^ You need to update your location to read - Ashes holder for another week or three max...

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Watson ruled out of Adelaide

Shane Watson has been ruled out of the second Test against England at Adelaide.

"Shane Watson continued his rehabilitation this afternoon," Alex Kountouris, the Australia physiotherapist said. "The outcome was that his hamstring injury is still not fully recovered and it was decided that the second Test would be too early a return in the circumstances. His rehabilitation will continue with a view to him being available for selection for the third Test in Perth."

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ausveng/content/current/story/270055.html

 

[Dravid]

I'm hoping Monty gets a go in this game. The bowling was poor in the first match and a change needed.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

He'll probably play in Perth, if the wicket is anything like it has been. Two spinners and five bowlers will be necessary to take 20 on that track.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I would doubt even Dunc would be pig-headed enough to leave Monty out at Adelaide. I'd presume it'd be at Anderson's expense. As awful as Harmison was, he was actually more economical than Jimmy in Brisbane & potentially is the better bowler.

I'd make sure he knew he was on his last chance though. If he performs anywhere near as badly again he should be out. We don't want to make the same mistake as Australia did with Dizzy last year.

I know it's easy to be wise after the event, but looking at the sort of surfaces that we're likely to be bowling on I can't help but think Broad or Tremlett might've had more success than Anderson or Plunkett will. Both tall & can get decent bounce (like Clark) &, in Tremlett's case, appreciably quicker as a bonus too.

 

[Tomm NCCC]

This is what I'm expecting

------------
Jones
Giles
Harmison
Hoggard
Panesar

Anderson will be the man to miss out, England will stick with Harmison

 

[silentstriker]

I didn't know you were a 90s England selector...

If he keeps taking 7 wickets a game, why would you drop him? If he fails consistently on certain types of pitches, then you decide to only play him on certain pitches. But after the guy takes 7 wickets, you have got to give him that chance IMO.

 

[PhoenixFire]

On current form, Harmison > Anderson. Drop Anderson for Monty I say.

 

[Matteh]

On current form, Harmison > Anderson. Drop Anderson for Monty I say.

Otherway around tbh.