Aussie 16 - 2017

[Oldhasbeen]

The word is that Finn will be in the Lions squad, to be announced on Monday. It might also be wise to have a couple of batsmen with Test experience in the Lions team for when, sorry if, one or more of our batmen prove themselves "unselectable" as Ballance did last year.

[Andy]

I agree with old has been's comments. I have never seen anything in Ball to justify his selection and to date Crane is all hype over actual performances. Would have preferred Leach as spinner. Balance is in because he is a close friend of Root, Rashid is not hence his absence.

Leach is a chucker? I have to say, Porter and Cook could be looking at call ups next season.

[ytsejam]

Some strange choices in that squad and a few "lucky players" who have been selected. No big surprise that Westley isn't in the squad but do Vince or Ballance really deserve yet another chance ahead of him though? and as for Crane?!!....
Luckily the Aussies are in a poor state with their test side at the moment so I think it will be a competitive and close series.

[Oldhasbeen]

I agree with old has been's comments. I have never seen anything in Ball to justify his selection and to date Crane is all hype over actual performances. Would have preferred Leach as spinner. Balance is in because he is a close friend of Root, Rashid is not hence his absence.

Leach is a chucker? I have to say, Porter and Cook could be looking at call ups next season.

I though Leach had resolved the issues about his action. Surely he'll be in the Lions squad.
And surely Jamie and Tom will be with him. Not that I expect Aus to be great for either, but they deserve to be given a chance there.

[IlfordEagle]

Leach's action looked ok for Somerset at Chelmsford the other week, saw Vince v us back in May & he looked more like a Club player than a Div 1 batsman - very lucky to go, Hales not good enough either ,he is a 1 day player only.

[Oldhasbeen]

Nasser (on Sky) and Aggers (on the Beeb) both asked some piercing questions:
 - if Mo broke a finger the day before the first test, would we REALLY chuck in Crane?
-  In the first two tests of the summer, Balance has appeared to change nothing in the technique that's failed abysmally against quality bowling before (average under 20 in his last 12 tests)- what don't we know?
-  We're rewarding Vince for NOT being n the Test side over the summer! Why? James Whittaker asserted that Vince's technique will suit Aussie pitches well, but didn't explain why ... I'd have thought that the fast, bouncy Aussie pitches would be the worst place for a batter who cant stop flicking outside off......

Fortunate that the Aussies aren't that great either at the moment, so I can't see a 5-0 drubbing UNLESS the halfwit  Stokes drops out over, er, "legal issues"

[squarelegumpire]

Agree with ‘oldhasbeen’! Think Vince is a very, very lucky chap to have been chosen. As for Ballance...... well, on the evidence of this week you have to think he knows where some bodies are buried. Porter and Cook were all over him.

Don’t think Cook will get a Lions call up yet; wait until he’s finished Uni in 2019. Porter I would think must be going, plus Lawrence. Suspect, sadly, that Browne’s ship has sailed.

[nat]

Agree with ‘oldhasbeen’! Think Vince is a very, very lucky chap to have been chosen. As for Ballance...... well, on the evidence of this week you have to think he knows where some bodies are buried. Porter and Cook were all over him.

Don’t think Cook will get a Lions call up yet; wait until he’s finished Uni in 2019. Porter I would think must be going, plus Lawrence. Suspect, sadly, that Browne’s ship has sailed.

Vince may be lucky but I have a hunch he will be successful, more successful than others. I get the impression with him that he gets bored easily and goes hard at the ball. A moving ball is his weakness but in Oz it doesn't move so much.

[Oldhasbeen]

Agree with ‘oldhasbeen’! Think Vince is a very, very lucky chap to have been chosen. As for Ballance...... well, on the evidence of this week you have to think he knows where some bodies are buried. Porter and Cook were all over him.

Don’t think Cook will get a Lions call up yet; wait until he’s finished Uni in 2019. Porter I would think must be going, plus Lawrence. Suspect, sadly, that Browne’s ship has sailed.

Vince may be lucky but I have a hunch he will be successful, more successful than others. I get the impression with him that he gets bored easily and goes hard at the ball. A moving ball is his weakness but in Oz it doesn't move so much.

YOU may be right about Vince's weaknesses Nat. When I saw him play for Hants a few years ago he looked classy.
But even if he is better on hard, fast and true wickets, having no alternative number 3 or opener in the squad strikes me as insane. Unless, of course, that the selectors STIll think Ballance is a number 3?

[Andy]

Re Browne (and Porter). It is often the case that one's 'stock' rises from being outside a failing England team.

[IlfordEagle]

Nick Browne is a solid & reliable opener who bats with great concentration, has a decent defence but does not often play attacking innings although he bats according to the situation & for the teams needs. He would need to up his game another level which I think he can do but certainly for next year will probably strive to ensure he passes 1,000 FC runs for us, he had a sticky start this year but grafted hard & it paid off for him & the team. His is one of the first names on the team sheet for me.

[nat]

NB plays the game to his limitations and good luck to him. Not quite good enough for England ... yet.

[neil]

Still a chance for Tom?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-4934902/England-plan-life-without-Ben-Stokes.html

[Oldhasbeen]

Still a chance for Tom?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-4934902/England-plan-life-without-Ben-Stokes.html

Unusually thoughtful article from the overpriced bog roll that is the Daily Mail.
As far as a like for like replacements go, the best allrounders (Mo, Woakes, Overton C) are already in the England squad. The only other seam bowling all rounder who comes to mind is Rikki Clark, OAP; most obvious spinning all rounders are Liam Dawson & Fatty Patel. (Have I missed anyone?) None inspire me greatly, I'd probably go for a batsman.
IMHO the mond likely replacement in the XI  for the first test is Overton, batting at 9, with Woakes, No, and JB moving up the order.

[Oldhasbeen]

Watched the one-day test yesterday. AmI the only one asking how a pie-chucker like Ball gets on the plane ahead of Plunkett, with his genuine pace, fine fielding and useful low-order hitting.?
I thought Tom Curran's blowing was encouraging