Hogg or McGain?

[Aurelius]

Just a quick aside- Gilchrist took an amazing catch to dismiss How in the T20. I challenge Rachael to see that catch and say that he's not a good 'keeper.

[Rachael]

Even Geraint Jones took the occasional blinder

[acker]

Originally Posted by Rachael

Even Geraint Jones took the occasional blinder

Greatest "Papuan New Guinean" cricketer playing the game.

I hope the ECB is kicking some back some funding to PNG for game development, after stealing their prized fruit

[Aurelius]

Kerry O'Keeffe weighed in on the spin debate here:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22905633-5003413,00.html

I think you'll notice one conspicous absence. Yes, it definitely looks like the future is in finger-spin, unless we unearth another good leggie. Either that, or we could just play four quicks plus Cameron White... nahhh.

[draexem]

Originally Posted by Aurelius

Kerry O'Keeffe weighed in on the spin debate here... etc

I disagree with Kerry O'Keefe. He talks about Cullen Bailey not being in the frame at the moment, but then ranks Dan Cullen 5. Really, those two are about on par with one another at the moment, but Cullen Bailey's got far more potential than Dan does so really Bailey should be ahead. I agree with his statement that Heal's the form young spinner in Australia at the moment, but spinners are generally late bloomers (MacGill and Warne were exceptions, Hogg and McGain's late arrivals on the scene are more the norm). I remember a spin mentor reporting in the press that usually spinners are still learning the basics up until at least their mid-twenties, so it's definately too early to be commenting that the future looks to be finger tweakers for Australia. My money is still heavily on Bailey to be the best young spinner in Australia in 4 or 5 years... unless Doran gets his act together.

[Aurelius]

...so it's definately too early to be commenting that the future looks to be finger tweakers for Australia. My money is still heavily on Bailey to be the best young spinner in Australia in 4 or 5 years... unless Doran gets his act together.

Good point draexem. But I really wouldn't count on Doran to do much- as I understand it he's a specialist no. 10 who only really bowls when the opposition racks up 400. Outside of Heal, Bailey and Cullen, Hauritz could do a job in the one-dayers, and Xavier Doherty's a very long shot, but he's really going to have to lift his game.

As an aside- can anyone see Bailey moving to another state in the next couple of years? Tasmania and Queensland really have big holes in their spin departments. With Cullen already entrenched in South Australia, a move up north or down south might be on the cards.

[Quagmire]

I remember reading that Terry Jennar who we all know as the spin doctor has been working with Bailey and said when Warne retired not to put him in untill he develops. He has the ability to take wickets but being a young leggie he also goes for a lot of runs. He will be Australia's long term hope because off spin bowlers are not worth playing unless they are in the sub continant or they can legally move the ball both ways. Dan Cullen is not a test cricketer he bowling in one dimentional and Bailey has the varienty and the coaching to become a very good spin bowler. He has 55 wickets at 43.56 from 19 matches in his first class career but his is only 22 years old and most legspinners develop later than other bowlers because of the difficulty in bowling legspin. Baileys high bowling average can be half ignored because with now former captain Darren Lehmann nearly 90% of the time having a very attacking field when using Bailey because of his ability to take wickets. Being a young legspin bowler it can be a hard thing with some captains but the attacking style of Lehmann was a very good thing to have on his side. Nothing better being a spin bowler and the captain throw you the ball and say dont worry about the runs just get wickets buddy. Being a Victorian I would love to see Bailey come across to the Vics because of the oppitunities that he would get here.

[Seamer]

Harbhajan has weighed into the debate by giving Hogg a nice sledge

Cricinfo - Harbhajan wants Hogg to play at MCG

The Indians are spooked by Hogg as far as i am concerned as is one of the few spin bowlers going around that trouble them. Interesting that a "big mouth" like Harbhajan Singh, who is not even a batsman, would be willing to tempt fate and Karma by firing him up.

Bring Hogg on is all i can say.

[Aurelius]

I had the exact same thought Seamer. It did sound suspiciously like psychological warfare from Harbhajan, who doesn't seem to be quite as good at it as Steve Waugh was. All I can say is- "I Really, Really Don't Want Harbhajan to Play At the MCG."

By the way, it doesn't sound like Cullen Bailey has any intention of moving to another state. I guess he's banking on Cullen's poor form to get more opportunities for the Redbacks- which really isn't much of a gamble at all.

[Quagmire]

Maybe Bailey realises that he has to beat Dan Cullen, more of a challenge than just moving state. If he wants to live his dream of playing for Australia he has to beat someone to get in the state side first.