Kallis yes, but Watson? I'm not sure he'd get in the England side, his bowling is ok but never going to be any better and his batting the same. He's a one day player that ended up as an opener because there was no one else. I'd still rather have Collingwood, his batting his better and he's worth a wicket or two in the field.
The Ashes 2010/11
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Kallis yes, but Watson? I'm not sure he'd get in the England side, his bowling is ok but never going to be any better and his batting the same. He's a one day player that ended up as an opener because there was no one else. I'd still rather have Collingwood, his batting his better and he's worth a wicket or two in the field.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I thought Watson was a walking wicket at first, but he's impressed me this series. He's a very improved batsman who doesn't play across his pads any more. He looked poor against Swann yesterday, though: going hard at the ball with the bat is not the way to survive on a turning wicket. And he gets wickets regularly, like Kallis: a couple a game at an average of 30, which is more than enough for a fifth bowler.
On balance I'd take Watson over Collingwood for his bowling.
On balance I'd take Watson over Collingwood for his bowling.
Idaho
blah blah blah
I just don't agree with the mentality that says 'no-one else does this, therefore we shouldn't'. Cricket is a simple game, disguised as a complicated one. If our top order are firing, then we need to make sure we have a bowling attack to square the circle. 7s, 8s and 9s should be able to block, partner a specialist batsmen or have the occassional cameo 50. Anything more than that is a bonus. I don't want the bowlers picked on batting ability. I want wicket-takers. The solution to a fragile top order is not a weakened bowling attack.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
It's mentally good for the opposition to know that they're only two wickets away from the tail with just three down. In turn that puts pressure on the top six. I can see any captain being nervous of a tail starting at seven.
Two words:
Conversion rate.
50's do not win or save test matches.
Oh and his bowling is a bit shit, but then again he's not the only one in baggy green who can be accused of that at the moment. He's ok.
Yes I think so, but mainly because there is no one else. Would Watson get in the team if they still had Langer and Hayden?
ETA: Actually thinking about it, he'd get the number 6 slot instead of North, where for me he is ideally suited.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Nah. If he scores a fifty every time he bats, that's job done.
Late-career Allan Border hardly scored any centuries but still averaged over fifty. Averages don't lie, particularly with opening batsmen who face the new ball every innings, and Watson's average as opener is very good indeed.
Streathamite
ideological dogmatist
I agree with all of this, and I'd add that when england are doing badly, he's the one player I'd bet on to roll up his sleeves, grit his teeth and dig in, which is why he's so often got us out of holes entirely of our own making
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Nobody but nobody better touch one selection hair on Collingwood's head
I dunno. My other perennial favourite Bell starts to actually perform so well that people leave him alone for a change and so they pick on Collingwood instead.
It is the lot of the sixth-best batsman in any team to prop up the bar at the last chance saloon. Collingwood has his own tankard. He'll be ok.
London_Calling
Pleasant and unpatronising
Oh yes, 'dig in', 'play for the shirt', 'passion'.
/King Kev
/King Kev
leave the brigadier alone! he's shit hot in a crisis, shit hot inthe field, and brings an interesting alternative as a 5th bowler.
and wasn't it just total quality when kp took that slimy little prick clarke's wicket last ball. class!
and wasn't it just total quality when kp took that slimy little prick clarke's wicket last ball. class!
just cos. and he tried it on when cook caught him - no way did he not know he'd blatantly hit the ball with his bat, he started to walk then decided to be said slimy prick. you could see he knew it too by the body language when he moped off. and he's australian. that kind of behaviour - it's just not cricket, is it?
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Batsmen don't walk any more. I can't think of a single walker now. The last one was probably Lara, who said he couldn't help it – he could never hide his disgust at having got out.
TrippyLondoner
Well-Known Member
Idaho
blah blah blah
Personally I find all this needlessly venomous stuff to be not cricket. Cricket is about having respect within a competitive spirited game. I love the banter but frankly find it a bit embarrassing when people take the banter side of it that seriously.
It's about beating Australia.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I've never really got banter, whether in sports or anything else. I used to kind of play along with it as it seemed like the thing to do. Can't be bothered pretending any more.
Idaho
blah blah blah
And how does someone anonymously and pointlessly calling a sportsman a slimy prick in any way contribute to that beating or the enjoyment of that beating?
Where did I say that it did?
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Gilchrist always walked, even when he was given not out.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Like Lara then. Funny how it's the very best who were the walkers!
Atherton probably set the standard for England (of never walking). I wouldn't be surprised if they were all under team orders never to walk now.
liquidlunch
fargonebeauty
guess what???Rain forecast all day today.Bad luck boys,so near yet so far
DrRingDing
'anti-human wanker'
The sky is looking pretty blue this morning in Adelaide 
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I used to hate it when England got away with one through the weather (which is, obviously, more common in the UK). Very unsatisfactory. Highly unsatistactory. As good as a defeat, in fact. No good at all.
DrRingDing
'anti-human wanker'
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Can't see anything, drrd.
DrRingDing
'anti-human wanker'
It's bright and sunny in Adelaide...for now.
Swann and Pietersen to bowl with 7 men around the bat first thing.
Swann and Pietersen to bowl with 7 men around the bat first thing.
