TOPIC:

For my own interest I knocked out a list of the batting averages for all the Australian players who have played in one or both tests so far.

Apart from Michael Clarke all the recognized batsmen have very modest averages. All the bowlers have good to very good averages.

My personal thoughts with regards to the listed players are:

1. Watson. A talented player with both bat & ball who has underachieved greatly with the bat. Should be averaging 10 runs higher per inning. At 32 will probably never fully realize his potential. If not for his bowling, his place in the side would probably be in jeopardy. Looks frustratingly good at the crease but always seems to get out after doing all the hard work.

2. Rogers. Has only played 3 test matches so requires more opportunities to be fairly assessed. Made a good half century in the first test. Looked far from impressive in the second test, with a horrible leave in the second innings. The selectors will probably bite the bullet & leave him in the side

3. Cowan. Has had 18 tests to prove his worth & only averages low 30's. Was very loose in the first test & rightly dropped. Given Khawaja's improvement in the Second innings of the Second test, is unlikely to be selected again for this series.

4. Kwawaja. Very impressive effort in the second innings, more so given his horrible shot in the first innings. Probably worth giving him the remaining 3 tests to prove if he can follow up.

5. Hughes. Looked horrible in the second test after his impressive 81 in the first test. Very hard to overlook that 81, but he has had 26 tests & only averages 32. I would give him 2 more tests to see which way his form goes.

6. Clarke. Stands head & shoulders above any other batsman in the side. Is probably the only player who would get a spot in the England side. Burdened with an underperforming side, has struggled to put significant runs on the board. Looked better in the Second Test but got out to 2 disappointing shots. Cannot do it all on his own.

7. Smith. Made a valuable half Century in the First test, but was disappointing in this test. I don't think really fits into the side as a specialist batsman only. Bowled some useful spin but was a little erratic. Unless he can improve his control as a spinner or tighten up his batting, Australia would be better served picking a better specialist batsman or genuine all rounder.

8. Haddin. Averages a respectable 35 in tests. His gutsy 71 in the first test showed he is capable of playing a responsible innings. He has made a couple of costly errors in not going for a couple of catches that went between him & second slip. I still think he is a better keeper than Wade.

9. Agar. After a Cinderella First test, the Poms have tightened up on him. He looked reasonably unthreatening with the ball in this test. I would hate the selectors to dump him to go back to Lyon or Doherty. I think the selectors should run with him for the remainder of this series at least.

10. Siddle. An honest team man who gives his all with both bat & ball. Was a little off in the Second test after a brilliant first test. He would be one of the first players I would pick in this side.

11. Pattinson. Surprisingly disappointing with the ball in this series so far. Seemed a little off in the first test & totally lost it in the first innings of the second test. He would have to do a lot wrong for me to even consider dropping him. He is very important to Australia's medium to long term plans while they rebuild this side.

12. Harris. Honest like Siddle, gives his all. Welcome return to the side with 7 wickets.

13. Starc. Was a little stiff to be dropped after taking 5 wickets in the first test.

Australia has a good depth of quality bowlers & will probably rotate them throughout the series.


Australian batting averages
Player Tests Innings Runs Average

Watson 43 79 2689 34.92
Rogers 3 6 108 18
Cowan 18 32 1001 31.28
Khawaja 7 13 331 30.09
Hughes 26 49 1535 32.65
Clarke 94 158 7377 51.58
Smith 9 18 493 29
Haddin 46 77 2394 34.69
Agar 2 4 130 32.5
Siddle 43 62 820 15.18
Pattinson 12 18 331 30.09
Harris 13 20 238 18.3
Starc 10 16 328 27.33

Good summation pup. I agree with most of what you say, but I'd be a bit harder on Clark and Watson. Bite the bullet and get rid of Watson - apart from not reaching his potential, he has showed he's not a real team man and my opinion is that he plays for himself. Clark - I can't put my finger on it, but he just doesn't seem to be captain material to me.

puppy wrote: For my own interest I knocked out a list of the batting averages for all the Australian players who have played in one or both tests so far.

Apart from Michael Clarke all the recognized batsmen have very modest averages. All the bowlers have good to very good averages.

My personal thoughts with regards to the listed players are:

1. Watson. A talented player with both bat & ball who has underachieved greatly with the bat. Should be averaging 10 runs higher per inning. At 32 will probably never fully realize his potential. If not for his bowling, his place in the side would probably be in jeopardy. Looks frustratingly good at the crease but always seems to get out after doing all the hard work.

2. Rogers. Has only played 3 test matches so requires more opportunities to be fairly assessed. Made a good half century in the first test. Looked far from impressive in the second test, with a horrible leave in the second innings. The selectors will probably bite the bullet & leave him in the side

3. Cowan. Has had 18 tests to prove his worth & only averages low 30's. Was very loose in the first test & rightly dropped. Given Khawaja's improvement in the Second innings of the Second test, is unlikely to be selected again for this series.

4. Kwawaja. Very impressive effort in the second innings, more so given his horrible shot in the first innings. Probably worth giving him the remaining 3 tests to prove if he can follow up.

5. Hughes. Looked horrible in the second test after his impressive 81 in the first test. Very hard to overlook that 81, but he has had 26 tests & only averages 32. I would give him 2 more tests to see which way his form goes.

6. Clarke. Stands head & shoulders above any other batsman in the side. Is probably the only player who would get a spot in the England side. Burdened with an underperforming side, has struggled to put significant runs on the board. Looked better in the Second Test but got out to 2 disappointing shots. Cannot do it all on his own.

7. Smith. Made a valuable half Century in the First test, but was disappointing in this test. I don't think really fits into the side as a specialist batsman only. Bowled some useful spin but was a little erratic. Unless he can improve his control as a spinner or tighten up his batting, Australia would be better served picking a better specialist batsman or genuine all rounder.

8. Haddin. Averages a respectable 35 in tests. His gutsy 71 in the first test showed he is capable of playing a responsible innings. He has made a couple of costly errors in not going for a couple of catches that went between him & second slip. I still think he is a better keeper than Wade.

9. Agar. After a Cinderella First test, the Poms have tightened up on him. He looked reasonably unthreatening with the ball in this test. I would hate the selectors to dump him to go back to Lyon or Doherty. I think the selectors should run with him for the remainder of this series at least.

10. Siddle. An honest team man who gives his all with both bat & ball. Was a little off in the Second test after a brilliant first test. He would be one of the first players I would pick in this side.

11. Pattinson. Surprisingly disappointing with the ball in this series so far. Seemed a little off in the first test & totally lost it in the first innings of the second test. He would have to do a lot wrong for me to even consider dropping him. He is very important to Australia's medium to long term plans while they rebuild this side.

12. Harris. Honest like Siddle, gives his all. Welcome return to the side with 7 wickets.

13. Starc. Was a little stiff to be dropped after taking 5 wickets in the first test.

Australia has a good depth of quality bowlers & will probably rotate them throughout the series.


Australian batting averages
Player Tests Innings Runs Average

Watson 43 79 2689 34.92
Rogers 3 6 108 18
Cowan 18 32 1001 31.28
Khawaja 7 13 331 30.09
Hughes 26 49 1535 32.65
Clarke 94 158 7377 51.58
Smith 9 18 493 29
Haddin 46 77 2394 34.69
Agar 2 4 130 32.5
Siddle 43 62 820 15.18
Pattinson 12 18 331 30.09
Harris 13 20 238 18.3
Starc 10 16 328 27.33

Great summation there. Watson, like ya said,should/could have been up there with the great all rounders of the game, IF he had got it all together

Puppy(or anyone else) do you think that Warner should come back into the side at number 6 in the next test if he makes some runs in South Africa? Despite his shortcomings he does seem to have the ability to take the game up to the English bowlers? Unlike a lot of our other batsmen.

mikeh wrote: Puppy(or anyone else) do you think that Warner should come back into the side at number 6 in the next test if he makes some runs in South Africa? Despite his shortcomings he does seem to have the ability to take the game up to the English bowlers? Unlike a lot of our other batsmen.

Mikeh, I think it sends the wrong message to the players if he was brought back into the team so soon after his recent behaviour. I would have him sit out this series but keep the door open for the return series in Australia depending on his form & attitude. I think Australia consider him an important part of their plans to rebuild this side & at 26 he potentially has many good years of test cricket in front of him. He is good enough to open the batting (an obvious replacement for Watson if he doesn't lift his game)or at number 6 (if Hughes or Smith are moved on). His 180 against India in Australia was a breath taking knock & show cased his prodigious talent.

More bad news for Australia with Pattinson suffering an early stage stress fracture in his lower back & being ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes series in England. It will be interesting to see who the selectors bring in to replace him.

I'd bring in Faulkner for Pattinson, drop Watson & bring in Warner to open.

58shark wrote: Good summation pup. I agree with most of what you say, but I'd be a bit harder on Clark and Watson. Bite the bullet and get rid of Watson - apart from not reaching his potential, he has showed he's not a real team man and my opinion is that he plays for himself. Clark - I can't put my finger on it, but he just doesn't seem to be captain material to me.

58S I am sure we all saw Clark's batting averages per batting position. The fact that it appears that he has chosen to bat in his best position rather than what is probably best for the team is very illuminating.

For what it is worth, I would have gone for Tim Paine as wicket keeper.

Know one can be serious about bringing Warner back in! He didn't even open in the Bulawayo match and made no runs in both innings. He shouldn't even be in the Oz A side.
Adam Voges should be in to replace Hughes. How that bloke continues to get a game mystifies me. He is the most uncoordinated batsmen I've seen and has no idea how to protect his wicket other than to go the tonk outside off stump.

Warner averages 40 in Test cricket, if he can get them off to a flyer & put the pressure back on the poms who knows..plus he owes AUS cricket big time & he would love nothing more than to pay them back for his bad behaviour..