Mitchell Johnson

[acker]

Originally Posted by draexem

With Symonds due back into the Australian team, there'll be no room for White. White seems to be a bit of a flat-track slogger at the moment, and I'd rather have Watson and Hayden open and shift Gilly down the order than have White at no.7. He's too one-paced with the bat.

I'm disgusted the way that Ponting, Hussey and Buchanan handled White during the recent ODI's he was in. They did'nt give him enough time bowling, sure he was getting pasted but so were the bowlers they opted over him for.
And he was allways coming to the crease during a crisis or to late with to few runs on the board because of some statistically greedy earlier batsmens self preserving very self centered low risk crease occupation.

[draexem]

Originally Posted by acker

I'm disgusted the way that Ponting, Hussey and Buchanan handled White during the recent ODI's he was in. They did'nt give him enough time bowling, sure he was getting pasted but so were the bowlers they opted over him for.
And he was allways coming to the crease during a crisis or to late with to few runs on the board because of some statistically greedy earlier batsmens self preserving very self centered low risk crease occupation.

I agree, he didn't get enough of a bowl. I think he has the potential to become a pretty devastating bowler, and I was really disappointed to hear that he's concentrating more on his batting than his bowling. I think he offers the Australian team much more if he works on his bowling. And his bowling needs a LOT of work.

Concerning his batting, the jury is still out. In the CB series, there was one innings where he came in where Australia only needed about 4 runs an over off the last ten to win. White got out going for the big shot (again) and it sparked a mini-collapse. It wasn't very responsible batting. He seems too one-paced at the moment, his fielding is great though. He'll definately be in the Australian team in the future, I'd earmark him as a direct replacement for Symonds once he retires.

[acker]

Those holding the cheque book at the Australian Cricket Board beleive they dont need to be spending money on a full time pace bowling or spin bowling coach. Just look at the recent ridiculous situation where Troy Cooley was bowling coach full time of the test team but was redundant as bowling coach during the one dayers and the world cup, until belated intervention from Ricky Ponting.
Now we have the situation where Cooley is trying to help spinner Brad Hogg, could'nt the ACB organise a Terry Jenner, Kerry O Keefe, Ravi Shastri or maybe a recently retired Shane Warne to assist the spinner.
Is James Sutherland CEO of the ACB, Montgomery Burns long lost son ?

[darksideofthemoon]

I still think this is the best Australian team I have seen.

Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting, Clarke, Symonds, Hussey, White, Lee, Bracken, Hilfenhaus and Mitchell.

[Nostromo]

Originally Posted by darksideofthemoon

I still think this is the best Australian team I have seen.

Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting, Clarke, Symonds, Hussey, White, Lee, Bracken, Hilfenhaus and Mitchell.

Pity then that a couple of them missed the bus!

[darksideofthemoon]

yes they just carrried out rotating players. I doubt if that group of players will ever play together as a team again. Ponting loves Watson and Tait.

[draexem]

I think Hilfenhaus is improving very quickly, and we'll see him in Australian colours soon enough. In fact, I'd have him infront of BOTH Johnson and Tait for the test team. However, he wasn't really setting the domestic comp on fire last year, in the shorter form of the game anyway, but he's come a long way since then and Australia has high hopes for him. The reason Tait is in the World Cup team is because, in the 50 over game, he's had 4 consecutive years averaging less than 22 with the ball. With a list-A record of 42 matches, 76 wickets at an average of 23, he could no longer be denied a spot in the national team.

[darksideofthemoon]

What will he be like out of Australia?