@Cultured Bogan said:@smeghead said:Worse thing that has ever happened to the state of Australian cricket is having Merv Hughes as a selector.
Johnson and Siddle in front of Bollinger is a complete joke. Bollinger at 70% fitness offers more than Siddle in career best form
They show way too much inconsistency. Doherty gets picked ahead of Hauritz, though North still retains his place despite showing less value to the side than Hauritz. Siddle hasn't played a test in months, and Johnson retains his spot on one first class match.
If they want to be taken seriously, they'll punt North for Uzi and pick Bolly ahead of Siddle (Merv was definitely wearing his Bushrangers cap when he picked Siddle.)
Merv was sacked as a selector, so he didnt pick this side.
At the moment it is Jamie Cox, David Boon, Andrew Hilditch and Greg Chappell…. Notice how, barring Chappell they are all opening batsman? No wonder they can't identify the right bowlers for our side!
But you two are right, I can't belive the inconsistency/hypocrisy of these selections!
They didnt want to mess with an out of form middle order because it has been our middle order for so long, yet they select Doherty and Siddle who I believe are inferior bowlers to the guys they replaced.
They talk about experience when keeping Hussey and North whilst dropping Hughes and not picking Khawaja, yet that means nothing when they pick Doherty.
They talk about technical issues when they dropped Hughes yet both Hussey and North have technical issues with Hussey playing spin/not knowing his off stump and North outside off stump. Ponting has had a technical problem with his front foot his whole career but has worked around it. Even Watson and Katich had problems with LBW when they began as openers, but they were given a shot.
Our best bowler Bollinger gets a bowl in the Shield after his injury, yet it is seen as not enough to pick him, meanwhile Clarke was going to be given until the toss to be declared fit, he probably still isnt 100% now.
Siddle has also spent nearly a year out with injury, but that is seen as more favourable then Bollinger missing a few weeks.
And then as has been said before, they retain an out of form Hussey and North for a couple of years, yet they drop the likes of Hughes and Hauritz after a couple of bad games. Plus Bollinger for no real reason!