Langer Vs Jaques, battle of the openers

[Quagmire]

The Ashes this year will be an interesting series. Langer Vs Jaques



Who Should Open the Batting?



Jaques has a test average of 32 from three innings and a high score of 66, he has had a brilliant first class career with a average of 58.54 from 149 innings with a high score of 244. One thing that he has on his side is that he is 27 years old when Langer is a lot older.



Langer has been one of the best opening batsman that Australia has seen and his partnership with Hayden has been one of the greatest opening partnerships of all time if not the greatest. With a test batting average of 45.36 from 173 innings with a high score of 250 he has had a great test career. Also he has had a very good First Class career with a batting average of 50.77 from 511 innings with a high score of 342 which he just made this season in county cricket.



Both Jaques and Langer have been in good form this year in the off season in England. Jaques has an average of just over 100 and Langer has an average just over 130.

[Ernest]

From an Aussie point of view I thnk I would play Langer without a doubt.

He is proven and am sure England would rather see a newbie opening with Hayden with a top score of 66, than a tried and trusted Langer.

I thnk it is different with batsmen - they seem to last a lot longer than bowlers.

The odd thing about this thread is although I know Hayden has scored runs since the 2005 Ashes, I would have thought back then that it would have been "who would have been opening with Langer"

In fact with respect to Hayden he has not face anyone the like of Flintoff or harmison since July/Augusr 2005 so I wonder if he still carries any scars.

[dreinked]

i would play langer...

[Quagmire]

He's batted against Ntini, Pollock (who is as good a bowler but past his prime, he was once unplayable). Thats about it really

[vvvrulz]

Langer, for his experience.

He has been one of the truly consistent performers for the Aussies, but seemed to fall under the radar with Ponting's heroics and the emergence of Hussey. Jacques has potential for sure, but in my opinion, he should be testing Hayden's spot more so than Langers.

[mudney]

Ntini is about the hardest bowler Hayden would have had to face since the Ashes. I would still back Hayden and Langer to do a job on England (I'm from England as well). Jaques may have an excellent first class record, and scores heaps of runs in the county championship, but that doesn't automatically translate into international success. OK so this is a far fetched comparison, but Ramprakash scored, and still does score, lots of runs in our domestic system but couldn't do it at international level. Trescothick averaged 32 or something stupid before entering international cricket, and he averages 44 at that top level. I think against Englands bowlers, Jaques could have a very tough time with his inexperience, and I would root for the experience, at least for the first couple of tests, and if it doesn't work out, then try Jaques.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Quagmire

He's batted against Ntini, Pollock (who is as good a bowler but past his prime, he was once unplayable). Thats about it really

Yep Ntini is a class bowler but IMO Pollock is past his sell by date, he has been a great but like Botham before him he is staying much to long - Bothan and Lillee looked pathetic the last time I watched them play in an Ashes match.

That's well of topic I am still not convinced about Hayden, like Lara he may be carrying scars of the England pace attack.

I think Langer is a must if he is not played and Hayden does not come of, - even the best batsman in the World (Ponting) won't be enough to stop England - that's how high I rate langer as an opener.

[Vrock]

Langer looked very impressive for Somerset, sadly he only got his majority of games in one-day cricket but he showed he can still play all the shots.

Jacques is having another good season with plenty of runs coming off the bat, another guy that Australia have let mature before coming into the side permanently.

I would stick with Langer, as most have said on this thread for the experience, it's priceless.

[Colourful Chaddi]

It suprises me that there is a thread on this matter, Langer is diffinatly a better choice as an opener compared to Jacques. Langer was by far the best Australian batsman last Ashes.

If there was an injury to any of the Aussie openers then Hussey would act as an opener instead of Jacques.

[Paoli]

Langer as well. I've often said he is in that basket of 'one bad series and you're out of here' but he hasn't failed for Australia in a long time. He's a fighter, and normally has success against England. That's why Langer should play. Him and Hayden work very well together so there is no point breaking up something so succesful.