TOPIC:

As it appears from all indications that Shane Watson will retain his place for the 1st ashes test starting tonight, could somebody please tell me how a 34 year old with a test batting average of 35 and a bowling average of 33 in 58 tests spanning 10 years can be selected ahead of a 23 year old all rounder who scored 169 and took wickets in recent county game and is showing that he is a very promising all rounder?

In other words what does Mitch Marsh have to do to get in the team. Move to NSW perhaps????

agree mike...i reckon he'll last 2 tests max...then again he's likely to come out and make a hundred and take 5 wickets to make a mockery of us all...

mikeh wrote: As it appears from all indications that Shane Watson will retain his place for the 1st ashes test starting tonight, could somebody please tell me how a 34 year old with a test batting average of 35 and a bowling average of 33 in 58 tests spanning 10 years can be selected ahead of a 23 year old all rounder who scored 169 and took wickets in recent county game and is showing that he is a very promising all rounder?

In other words what does Mitch Marsh have to do to get in the team. Move to NSW perhaps????

Get himself in a KFC add, that way the sponsor will demand that he is in the team. Watson is a pin up boy of the media / sponsors, thats all that matters

mikeh wrote: As it appears from all indications that Shane Watson will retain his place for the 1st ashes test starting tonight, could somebody please tell me how a 34 year old with a test batting average of 35 and a bowling average of 33 in 58 tests spanning 10 years can be selected ahead of a 23 year old all rounder who scored 169 and took wickets in recent county game and is showing that he is a very promising all rounder?

In other words what does Mitch Marsh have to do to get in the team. Move to NSW perhaps????

Your last four words sum it up.

BC wrote: agree mike...i reckon he'll last 2 tests max...then again he's likely to come out and make a hundred and take 5 wickets to make a mockery of us all...

I don't think it will make a mockery of us. His next 12 games would probably be non events, but he'll survive on one good game a season.

If that first session is anything to go by we might be in for a tough Ashes series. I reckon I could count on one hand how many deliveries would have actually hit the stumps and not 1 Yorker bowled at all... fark me!

Beasley Hutton wrote: If that first session is anything to go by we might be in for a tough Ashes series. I reckon I could count on one hand how many deliveries would have actually hit the stumps and not 1 Yorker bowled at all... fark me!

None of the fast bowlers have hit a decent length yet. Root is making them pay. Interesting that Watson hasn't had a bowl yet

mikeh wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote: If that first session is anything to go by we might be in for a tough Ashes series. I reckon I could count on one hand how many deliveries would have actually hit the stumps and not 1 Yorker bowled at all... fark me!

None of the fast bowlers have hit a decent length yet. Root is making them pay. Interesting that Watson hasn't had a bowl yet

Still only a handful of balls would have gone on to hit the stumps halfway thru day 1 ...complete garbage so far

It is a very slow pitch -- as the series goes on they will realise it is difficult to blast out batsman in England. Bradman always preferred batting in England for this very reason. Lyon may came into his own later.

I'm afraid to say that Urnie may return to England because Harris has pulled the pin - quite simply we now have no-one able to move the Duke ball off the pitch & in the air.

Two entirely different balls & pitches Sherlock