Gillespie's bowling becoming a concern.

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Seamer

Oh and to get back on topic - Gillespie 0-42 off seven 1 English wicket at an average of over 300. Kasprowicz 2-42, Lee 5-41. I think we may have our bowlers worked out now for the first test McGrath, Kaspa, Lee, Warne

I think he may get one more chance in the final ODI, but he's not showing any signs of getting it right. If he doesn't pull out something special in the next game, I think he'll have had his chips as far as a place in the test team is concerned. At the moment, I'd love to see him opening in the first test. Strauss might get some runs!

[Leafy Seadragon]

I'm still not convinced that the Aussies won't be opening the first test as they finished their last. I don't disagree with most of the comments on this thread so far, except maybe Seamer I would have pushed the English side of things far further, including recognition that success of a few had hidden fundamental flaws in the Oz system, etc...

Dizzy's bowling is a concern, but I am still hopeful (some might say desperate) that he'll get it right come the first test. Strangely enough, I think the four day warn-up match is pretty well all that matters from here. Presumably Dizzy will be given the chance to wind up and have a final crack at getting rid of the cobwebs. If it looks like he has, then I think that he'll line up in the first test. If anything I think Kaspa's return to some form (assuming he'd ever lost any) would probably increase this likelihood, as possibly also would Punter's.

I like the appearance that the English have targeted Gillespie - that's assuming that the commentators have at least managed to get this right (there's always a first). I'm still bemused as to why people seem to put so much faith in ODI performance as an indicator for tests. Chalk and cheese. If a bowler's out of sorts, like Gillepsie, or a batsman out of touch (Ponting pre-yesterday), these are notable, but there's not the opportunity to build the innings or bowl yourself back into form. Bring on the real cricket I say (and no, that's not an excuse for the Aussies if they don't win the ODI series - that would still suck)

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Leafy Seadragon

I'm still not convinced that the Aussies won't be opening the first test as they finished their last. I don't disagree with most of the comments on this thread so far, except maybe Seamer )

Fair enough Leafy. But what i have pointed out is commonly accepted. His pace is down, the ball is scrambled when it leaves his hand, he is getting no movement off the pitch on helpful wickts, has the sole wicket of a tailender while conceding 300+ runs, the English are playing him with ease, he has had over a month to get it right even though these problems have existed for a long time now, and is getting exposed by quality batsmen.

Originally Posted by Leafy Seadragon

Dizzy's bowling is a concern, but I am still hopeful (some might say desperate) that he'll get it right come the first test. )

Well i hope this is not South Australian parochialism coming through - because he is a New South Welshman.

Originally Posted by Leafy Seadragon

Strangely enough, I think the four day warn-up match is pretty well all that matters from here. Presumably Dizzy will be given the chance to wind up and have a final crack at getting rid of the cobwebs. )

No, the true test for Dizzy was in the ODI's against quality English test batsmen, not against a lowly placed county team. According to the English members of this board, Durham (i think that is who it is) are one of the weakest county teams. Even getting a ten wicket haul will prove nothing. He has to perform against the best to prove anything.

Originally Posted by Leafy Seadragon

If it looks like he has, then I think that he'll line up in the first test. If anything I think Kaspa's return to some form (assuming he'd ever lost any) would probably increase this likelihood, as possibly also would Punter's.)

You may be right Leafy. Though i should hope the selectors will have woken up and smelt the roses by now.

Originally Posted by Leafy Seadragon

I like the appearance that the English have targeted Gillespie - that's assuming that the commentators have at least managed to get this right (there's always a first). I'm still bemused as to why people seem to put so much faith in ODI performance as an indicator for tests. Chalk and cheese. )

Normally so. But his loss of pace, lack of ability in keeping the seam upright, getting nothing out of helpful wickets and all the other points i have noted above will carry into the tests. Ponting's problem was being out of touch, nothing more. Gillespie problems are far deeper, perhaps too deep for him to ever come back. Hope i am wrong, but i have a feeling i may be right.

[Leafy Seadragon]

Firstly - apologies for the delay in responding. Life caught up with me.

Originally Posted by Seamer

Well i hope this is not South Australian parochialism coming through - because he is a New South Welshman.

As am I by birth and I grew up in Queensland. Parochialism doesn't really come in to it. I do admit a leaning to SA players, but that's largely because they are the ones I get the opportunity to see most. The reason for my comments are two-fold. I think Gillespie on form, running into the wicket is one of the best sights in world cricket. When he's bowling well, he has a great action to watch. Unfortunately this has been missing for a while. As Holding (I think) rightly points out, Gillespie's bowling too much with the shoulder and not enough from the body. The second point is that I think that Dizzy will struggle to get back into the team if he's dropped at this point. As one of our finest players over the past decade, I think that this would be a pity. Having said that, that's the way it is with the Oz selectors and rightly so on past performance.

Originally Posted by Seamer

the true test for Dizzy was in the ODI's against quality English test batsmen, not against a lowly placed county team...Even getting a ten wicket haul will prove nothing. He has to perform against the best to prove anything.

On this point I disagree. Gillespie's problem is one of rhythm (although I hear some suggestion that his wrist may be troubling him). Bowling 3/4/5/6 over spells is not the way for any bowler to get rhythm back, yet this is the way of ODIs. The point I was alluding to was that if Gillespie can't find his rhythm in a longer match (admittedly only three days, not four as I thought), then taking him into the first test is a big risk. If he does find it, I suspect that the selectors will have faith and pitch him into the first test. Whether he finds that rhythm against a 2nd rate county side or England in ODIs is almost irrelevant. The important thing is whether its happening. Given the amount of net bowling he has presumably done in the last month, I suspect that he might struggle to miraculously flip the switch. I'm hoping he does for the reasons listed above.

Originally Posted by Seamer

But his loss of pace, lack of ability in keeping the seam upright, getting nothing out of helpful wickets and all the other points i have noted above will carry into the tests...Gillespie problems are far deeper, perhaps too deep for him to ever come back

I think all his problems are linked to a lack of rhythm. Because he doesn't have that rhythm, he's generating pace (what there is of it) almost entirely from the shoulder, rather than from a transfer of upper body energy into the smooth action he normally relies on. I agree with Holding that his shoulder is probably tired because he's been doing this for a while. I don't agree with Holding that the solution is upper body strength. Gillespie's never had it and if he's going to rely on it in the future, then I think his test career is pretty limited if not over. He needs to find rhythm and he needs to find it now. His chances are unfortunately for all of us I think, looking slimmer by the day...

[Aussie-Yank]

I think the inclusion of Kasper in the last ODI, all be due to the injury to Watson is going to cause Dizzy the most problems. It puts the two bowlers head to head - ODI vs Test I think is irrelevant here as both there test records are fairly identical. If Watson is still unavailable, then Kasper will play again and once again he will be bowling head to head and if Dizzy bowls poorly again this will put the selection decision between Dizzy and Lee - I am not a Lee fan, but I think I would prefer an inform (Well as close as you could call Lee in Form) to an out of form Dizzy.

Which means I would suspect that Australia's pace attack against the County side will have those three in it with McGrath being rested - may be even Tait having a look in (But doubt it).

I would not mind Andy Bichell being here at the moment, I still think he is a better bowler and better bat than Dizzy and Kasper - then again I am biased towards Queensland Players

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Leafy Seadragon

The point I was alluding to was that if Gillespie can't find his rhythm in a longer match (admittedly only three days, not four as I thought), then taking him into the first test is a big risk. If he does find it, I suspect that the selectors will have faith and pitch him into the first test. Whether he finds that rhythm against a 2nd rate county side or England in ODIs is almost irrelevant. The important thing is whether its happening.

Yeah, if he bowls pants and picks up a stack of lucky wickets, I don't think the selectors will be fooled. If he bowls beautifully for 1-50 he'll probably be in for the test. Seamer thinks it's more than loss of form for Dizzy, and I'm not one to argue as I'm sure Seamer has watched Gillespie a hell of a lot more than I have. But I agree that, if he find his rhythm in the three-day game, he will probably be given the nod.

[Notts Exile]

Apparently he's just dropped a very straightforward catch at fine leg! Vaughan gets a reprieve. Gillespie really isn't having a good time of it!

[redback]

he has bowled well so far 8 overs 20 for not many

[Seamer]

Improved performance, statistically. 3-44 including clean bowling an on-fire Petersen. But Lee has looked the far better and in form bowler. Assuming the Aussie selectores are not stupid enough to go into the first test with 3 specialist openers and no specialist change bowlers, I don't think Dizzy has done enough to avoid losing his spot to Lee. The question is not Kaspa vs Gillespie, but rather, Gillespie vs Lee.
McGrath, Lee, Kaspa and Warne lookes the smart money in my opinion.

[R W S]

Originally Posted by The Guardian Newspaper

16th over: England 60-2 (Strauss 36, Pietersen 4) It's a big day for Pietersen, but it's a big day for Gillespie too. My spies tell me that Australia are going to bite the bullet and pick him for the Tests come what may, but another bad day here and his confidence will be at rock-bottom heading to Lord's next week.

This was written by Lawrence Booth - who writes for wisden as well - today in his over-by-over commentary here