The battle to be the next Australian quick

[Quagmire]

Yes Lee has not be great in the ashes but since the 2005 ashes he has been very good in test

Test series

England in Aus - 5 matches, 20 wickets at 33.20 bb 4/47
West Indies in Aus - 3 matches, 18 wickets at 20.94, bb 5/30
South Africa in Aus - 3 matches, 13 wickets at 32.38, bb 5/93
Australia in SAF - 3 matehs, 17 wickets at 19.52, 5-69

Lee is genuine wicket taker and a handy bat. Tait is in the same catergory.

Tait's pura cup season

SA vs Vic
1st inn - 1/77 off 24 overs - N.Jewell LBW 5
2nd inn - 1/77 off 19 overs - D.Hussey caught 42

SA vs WA
1st inn - 5/43 off 22.4 - D.Bandy cb 0, M.North cb 12, A.Heal c 1, S.Magoffin b 0

SA vs TAS
1st inn - 4/74 off 31.5 - T.Paine b 2, M.Dighton c 27, B.Geeves lbw 1, A.Griffith c 45
2nd inn - 4/59 off 11.4 - M. Di Venuto lbw 2, B.Drew c 0, G.Bailey c 47, Geeves b 0

SA vs NSW
1st inn - 4/94 off 25 - P.Jaques c 44, E.Cowan cb 29, D.Thornely lbw 9, B.Casson lbw 11
2nd inn - 4/46 off 10.5 - P.Jaques lbw 0, E.Cowan lbw 0, B.Casson cb 7, A.O'Brien c 16

SA vs TAS
1st inn - 0/71 off 23
2nd inn - 0/47 off 10

SA vs NSW
1st inn - 4/70 off 18 - G.Mail cb 7, M.Henriques b 8, B.Casson lbw 0, M.Nicholson c 0
2nd inn - 1/39 off 13.3 - A.O'Brien c 10

The thing about Tait is that he can take bags of wickets. one five wicket haul and five four wicket hauls in 11 innings.

[greg]

Originally Posted by Wiljoy

Australia has so much talent in the ranks,it must be frightening for the other cricketing nations.

So much talent they didn't get picked for the final when England's young gun Plunkett ripped you apart.

[Wanderer]

Is it fair to call Tait a "little injury prone"? http://content-rsa.cricinfo.com/aust...ry/298444.html Seems like Hilfenhaus may just have moved up the pecking order...On the other hand, both Lee and Tait could be fit by September. Nice little selection "crisis" the Aussie selectors have.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

Tait to me is another Lee - and as I can take or leave Lee he really does not impress me much. Lee however has changed his action somewhat and is looking like a better bowler - so is this Mr Cooley's contribution?

I agree. One or the other but not both at the same time

Originally Posted by Quagmire

Since McGrath has retired from test cricket there is currently Lee and Clark already in the side but there are three young candiates, who have all been impressive this year in either domestic or ODI matches.

I think all bets are off and it will come down to who shows early form next season as they wouldn't have played for ten months. Brett Lee is 31, there has to be doubts if he will come back the same player. If he has lost his pace, then he is finished. McGill is way past his best but if he makes the team, i won't be surprised if the Indians put him to the sword next summer.

So Australia has a dubious Lee, a legspinner that should be considering retirement, a relatively inexperienced Clarke, and three greenhorns in Tait, Hilfenhaus and Johnson to fill the enormous boots of McGrath and Warne.The pressure will be huge on the new guys, and i have doubts whether they can all handle it. I don't share the optimism of others here. I think Australia is going to have a decidedly beatable look about them after next summer's test series.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Seamer

I think Australia is going to have a decidedly beatable look about them after next summer's test series.

Australia may look more beatable with McGrath and Warne gone, but the Aussie batsmen will still post large scores, that have to be got.

You could be right - but I would not place my money either way.

Lee and Tait alone with be more than a handfull at their pace, I would forget the odd spells of not being accurate.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Australia may look more beatable with McGrath and Warne gone, but the Aussie batsmen will still post large scores, that have to be got.

That can all change if the bowlers start conceding heaps of runs and putting the batters under pressure. The big problem is that Johnson, Tait and Watson and Lee drop their bundle under pressure - Australia has not had such an inexperienced, easily rattled bowling line up in my lifetime to be honest.
Australia has certainly got the talent no doubt, but temperament is the often the deciding factor on which team wins or loses.

[acker]

Australia's about due for another wonder kid like Hookes, Warne or Ponting.

[Warne]

Originally Posted by greg

I'm not scared.How many test wickets do they have so far?

Anyway we have Plunkett,Broad and a fully fit Anderson to throw into the test side so we have a few decent youngsters too.

Yes, you're never scared of Australia, you only lose 0-5.

[Warne]

Lee
Tait
Johnson
Clark

& occasional spin of Symonds. Batsmen will long for pavilion with 2 bowlers bowling above 95 mph.

[Speedboy Salesman]

Originally Posted by Warne

Batsmen will long for pavilion with 2 bowlers bowling above 95 mph.

It doesn't matter if it's 95mph, if it's wayward, spraying around and going to the boundary for 4. You got to get it on target, something Tait has struggled to do. To be honest, I could stand there if someone bowled 95 mph if it was being sprayed around and flying down the legside to the boundary. MacGill the new no.1 Australian spinner, has only a couple of years in him, and is no Warne. I don't know much of Hilfenhaus and Johnson, I've seen them only in a couple of games, and they looked very prone to losing their rhythm (naturally) when confronted with pressure. The one who has to show the others in the Test arena is Clark. I know it's a big task for the man, but I personally feel he can be the difference maker. He bowled very well in the Ashes 2006/07 in Australia, and he has English county cricket experience with his friend Warne at Hampshire, last time Tait was in England county cricket, he didn't play that well I think.