Pakistan v Australia, 2nd Test, Abu Dhabi, 30 October - 3 November, 2014

Changes are needed in the Australian team as there were too many non-contributors in this first match.

Doolan and Marsh need to go, O'Keefe did nothing much and probably should go; and Siddle may need to be 'managed' out of another energy-sapping match. I think one of the latter two will probably stay and the other will be twelfth.

IMO Hughes, Maxwell, and perhaps Hilfenhaus (who will at least bowl straight, and show stamina) should replace the dropped/rested players.

Rogers
Warner
Hughes
Smith
Clarke
Maxwell
Haddin
Johnson
Lyon
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

O'Keefe

Damn, the cupboard is bare when Con and NoShow are real chances to play in T2. You can mark both down for 2 low scores each and no wickets if they do play.

I think they're both certainties, although I do not disagree with your forecast.

I see no point in playing Doolan or Marsh again at this time.

They'll play Marsh as they want five bowlers and balance in the attack on these wickets and the heat. 

Rogers
Warner
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
Marsh
Maxwell
Haddin
Johnson
Lyon
Hilfenhaus




Paksters should be unchanged. The only doubt would be Hafeez with his ankle injury.

Deck chairs....

Aye, MrK, but at least Milf is a workhorse that Pup can turn to to give Midge a rest.

I'd rather phews than no show....have no idea why he is on tour...give phews the gloves and drop Haddin (I can now see Skully choking on morning tea currant bun)

Haddin is well past it with the bat. Last years Ashes is looking like the aberration in an otherwise mediocre career with the bat.

frightening
don't think im game to watch this one

JGK wrote:Haddin is well past it with the bat.   Last years Ashes is looking like the aberration in an otherwise mediocre career with the bat.  

Averages 26 with the bat outside Australia. That's for his entire career. FTB.

horace wrote:I'd rather phews than no show....have no idea why he is on tour...give phews the gloves and drop Haddin (I can now see Skully choking on morning tea currant bun)

Have to agree there Horace. No show is just not test material although its getting harder to see who is.

I feel quite ill that some of the wise Aus heads of this forum actually condone Fuse's possible selection in the XI. The guy is a complete and utter fraud beyond the Adelaide Oval.

Rogers can't go around forever

skully wrote:I feel quite ill that some of the wise Aus heads of this forum actually condone Fuse's possible selection in the XI. The guy is a complete and utter fraud beyond the Adelaide Oval.

I am a Hughes hater not a Hughes hugger but I am beginning to think he is the only option. Plus he can bowl spin, can't he?

I remember Merv Hughes bowling the occasional leg break as a slower ball. Dunno about Phil Hughes though.


In 111 FC matches, he has bowled a total of 24 deliveries.

skully wrote:I feel quite ill that some of the wise Aus heads of this forum actually condone Fuse's possible selection in the XI. The guy is a complete and utter fraud beyond the Adelaide Oval.

not condoned, but inevitable

WideWally wrote:I remember Merv Hughes bowling the occasional leg break as a slower ball. Dunno about Phil Hughes though.


In 111 FC matches, he has bowled a total of 24 deliveries.

Kim Hughes too.

WideWally wrote:I remember Merv Hughes bowling the occasional leg break as a slower ball. Dunno about Phil Hughes though.


In 111 FC matches, he has bowled a total of 24 deliveries.

How many wickets?

the fuse should replace Haddit...he has kept before

Nath wrote:Rogers can't go around forever

Old Max Klinger, Pete Nevill, Rob Quiney and Jordan Silk are technically sounder and are better prospects than the lamentable Fuse.

Boof is spot on

" Not for the first time during his tenure as Australia's coach, Darren Lehmann has sat in the rooms and watched his batsmen give up their wickets by missing straight balls. After the loss in Chester-le-Street last year, which confirmed England had won the Ashes series, a furious Lehmann pointed out that too many men had failed to get their bat in the way of straight ones, often from the fast bowlers.

It was a more genial Lehmann who fronted the media after Pakistan defeated Australia in Dubai, but there was a similar bewilderment at the way his batsmen had been dismissed. This time, though, it was largely through spin, and Zulfiqar Babar in particular was the beneficiary of Australia's apparent conviction that the ball would turn, when in fact it was often skidding straight on."

------------------------------------------------

A mental fragility to facing spin is the problem. Play the ball on it's merits, not on what you think it will do. The Wackies played many off the pitch, watching it closely. Fundamentals let Aus down.

The good old nude ball. Terrify the opposition prior with talk of raging turners or a new unplayable player/mystery ball, then aim straight at middle stump.

Anyone want to suggest a radically new Oz side, bearing in mind we've only got the torro whacko to go on.

Bradman wrote:The good old nude ball.  Terrify the opposition prior with talk of raging turners or a new unplayable player/mystery ball, then aim straight at middle stump.

Anyone want to suggest a radically new Oz side, bearing in mind we've only got the torro whacko to go on.

D'oh has been bowling those for years

There's nothing to worry about. The batters have been practising against spinners..............








Ours.

Bradman wrote:There's nothing to worry about.  The batters have been practising against spinners..............








Ours.

Good move. They should be good at playing the straight one.