Dizzy's Done bye bye

[The Phantom Ram]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

Gillespie was getting his line the last test and was looking better... He had that dropped catch although that was by himself! He could come good this next test...

He didn't pick that up, you could tell by his face.

[acker]

How's Mick Lewis's county form ? I think he may ACB contracted ?

[Leafy Seadragon]

Seamer, agree that Gillespie should be rested and that SCG is the logical choice for the next test. Kaspa needs to find form as well though. Ah for the days of old when 1st class games abounded between tests.

I'm not so sure that Tait isn't worth the risk in the 4th test if McGrath isn't fit. Yes its a big risk playing both him and Lee - wasn't anyone else nervous about Lee's radar on the first day? But on current form, Tait probably couldn't do much worse than Gillespie (or probably even Kaspa) and if McGrath isn't fit, unless Gillespie or Kaspa shows form, who else is going to take the wickets or even bowl? Do we really risk only two quicks on a wicket that isn't a turner's paradise? Balance that with the obvious risk of an attack featuring Lee and out of form Kaspa & Gillespie or Tait?

Gees, if our batsmen can just get their acts together and take the pressure off a little, then I'm confident that ant of the Oz combinations could do the job...Ain't cricket fun?

[Seamer]

To be honest Leafy, i am not excactly happy with either Kaspa or Gillespie. I wouls only take Kaspa because he is fitter and can do a bit with the old ball. Tait would be an intersting option, but i would hesitate to throw him into the deep end in so important a game.
To be honest, the one guy i would choose ahead of Kaspa and Dizzy is the leading pace bowler in the Pura cup last season - Andy Bichel. Won't happen though.
Punter should have showed he had a little more confidence in Kaspa last test as he was underbowled. Got the important breakthroughs at the top, and was pulled off for the rest of the innings even though Lee was being belted for 7 runs an over.
In the second innings, he got the total of one over until he was put on at the very end when Flintoff was throwing caution to the wind and swinging hard with his eye in. I think Punters captaincy was terrible last test and he ultimately should shoulder the bulk of the responsibility for what happened.

[Leafy Seadragon]

Yeah, but Punter's captaincy is something that the team is generally good enough to overcome.

As for the third bowler, the question is who else other than Tait?

ps. not sure about your statement on Bichel being the leading pace bowler in the Pura Cup. I thought that Tait got more wickets at a lower average. What's the basis? Your opinion (not doubting it, I didn't see much of the Pura Cup)? Nothing to do with him being a banana-bender?

[Irish Left Armer]

Can you really afford to go in with 2 seamers without McGrath's consistency.

What if Lee bowls the same tripe he threw down on the first morning.