Inquest....

[Rachael]

Well.. that was as lame a ODI performance from the world champions as I've followed in... well.. so long that I'd forgotten such ****-ups were possible. Some obvious individual culprits (the coach for selecting him, and Brett Lee for doing nothing to justify selection) spring to mind.. but is that it?

I was momentarily cheered when I heard that the Aussies had dropped their bits and pieces all-rounder for a proper 4th bowler.. and then gutted to see that they meant the show pony, rather than a frontline spinner, was to play alongside McGrath, Gillespie and Kasprowicz. Seemed daft at the time (given the nature of the pitch) and seems daft now.

One report in today's paper suggests that Lee's selection was based principally on fear of (and a plan to counter) Flintoff's destructive potential: I can't quite see that. Everyone seems to be agreed that the way to negate Flintoff is to ensure he has no room to swing his arms.. so the coach picks the wildest spatter-gun seamer this side of dear old Sami?

True to form... when a situation emerged that would have brought the best out of Warne, McGill or any other self-respecting slow bowler... the hothead served up rubbish.

So.. there may have been a tactical error.. but it always seemed to me that on a slow pitch... there was a distinct probability that the Aussie top order would be deeply uncomfortable... and I got the impression that was also borne out in play: Lehman alone seemed totally comfortable on a sticky wicket.. with all the others worrying when the ball didn't come onto the bat with the pace and bounce they like and with having to graft rather than carve out boundaries.

Doesn't bode well for the forthcoming tour to the sub-continent!

[Zainub]

Racheal,

It interesting you don't rate Watson - and you go as far as calling him a bit and peices all rounder. I know for sure that he is a quality batting option, and can bat well above sevon (which is where he does bat for Australia when he plays). His bowling is handy. Just to fill up a few overs. It is probably a shade more penetrative than Collingwood or McGrath's medium pacers, not to forget Ricckie Clarke.

I agree on Aussie not feeling comfortable when the ball doesn't come on, Ricky Ponting tends to be a really shaky starter against spinners. He has got out to Harbajjan and Kumble quite a few times. Darren Lehman and Damien Martyn are in my opinion most likely to score the bulk of the rums against the Indian, Lehman has exceptions skills against spin, and can really put you off by the stance he takes -- way way out side off stump. Marty on the other hand is the most patient of their line up, and will not get frusrated even during prolonged periods were runs scoring is slow. Some one like Langer or Hayden might be tempted to throw away their wickets if they are forced to bog down a bit. Not Damein Martyn. I think he recently scored the slowest or second most slowest hundred by an Aussie in Sri Lanka.

[Rachael]

How long has Watson been turning in decent performances? Straight question: I just don't know. My impression, though, is that he's still a long way short of being either a credible alternative to Martyn or Lehman with the bat.. or to Gillespie, McGrath or Kasprowicz with the ball.

On that basis.. he couldn't into the side with either his batting (unlike Lehman, who also bowls a bit) OR his bowling (unlike Warne, who also bats a bit).. so he's not really good enough to deserve inclusion for any one thing.. and in my book that is the very definition of a bits-n-pieces player.

I ask about his record because the above was equally true of one A. Flintoff not so long ago... and he's not turning out too badly now :-)

[Richard Jenkins]

Why was australia's performance lame? I reackon if you'd have said to Ponting or Vaughan "what would you like", 260-280 would have been the answer batting first on that pitch.
The best team on the day won.

Its not rocket science is it?
Both teams had periods were they played well/badly .

[Nikhil]

Rachel, I agree with you on one point. Playing Lee on this pitch (and on any pitch usually) was a mistake. He's a real show pony now. Has hardly any control over anything. His terrorising tactics are no more effective. Batsmen know there will be balls aplenty, which can be hit easily enough.

I hope they play him agaist India in all the matches. That would be a bonus, but I'm sure they won't .

[R W S]

1. Brad Hogg should have been chosen (but I heard on the radio he was injured).
2. Ponting should have turned to Lehmann/Symonds earlier.
3. Too much testosterone clouding decision making.
4. Poor fielding and a little bad luck that two catches dropped just short.
5. Should have got nearer 300 with so many batsmen getting a start
6. Warne should have played (he's been in England all year and plays one dayers for Hants)

[Andy Mellon]

Originally Posted by R W S

6. Warne should have played (he's been in England all year and plays one dayers for Hants)

Warne has been retired from ODIs for 2 years. Interestingly enough though, I was listening to TMS yesterday at lunch and they were talking to the Australia coach. As Brad Hogg was injured, they had asked Warney to play in the final if they made it, and apparently he had accepted the invitation to play if they made the final as 'a one-off' farewell in Australia's time of need. The coach did say, however, that Warne could not be convinced in the time they had following Hogg's withdrawal to play in the Semi-final.

[NZBeth]

Ponting is out with injury but back to the whole Lee debate, I think the problem with him is that he used to have a good bowl and now he's too predictable. The problem with a bowler is that you have to adapt and change your style once the batsman has figured you out. This problem is also seen in Adams drop from the SA team, he now plays for the A team because his bowling style (chinaman) was once SA's biggest secret weapon and now it's just over-done.

[Zainub]

NZ Beth, you're right about Lee, it seems he bowls just two lengths, he's either too short or too full - too predictable for top level batsmen these days, especially considering most wickets these days are batsmen friendly. Still it seems though for some reason the Aussie selectors have a lot of faith in him. I'm guessing they are going by the pace theory - for the mean while at least it seems so.

On Ponting though, there is no doubt that it's a serious blow. It always is for any side losing a top class batsmen, not to forget brilliant fielder and proactive captain all at the same time. But this will give a good chance to Brad Hodge who has been called up as his replacement. I've heard a lot about him. And it should be interesting to see how he takes this oppurtunity.

[Nikhil]

Lee is clearly not the bowler that he was before the injury last year. He was quite good in the world cup and was swinging the bowl. Now, there is something wrong with him (physically or with his action) that makes his bowling really easy to play for top bowlers. Add to this his lack of variations and you are basically looking at nothing but speed.

Brad Hodge may not get a game. I think Clarke is clearly the choice and I also think that's a good choice. Whatever I have seen him makes me think he will do good against spin.