Aussie squad score (failure) update

[aussie1st]

1st Innings
Batting
Watson (6)
Katich (1)
Ferguson (7)
Khawaja (13)
Hussey (0)
North (17)
Hughes (2)
Smith (59)
Haddin (10)
Ponting (7)

Bowling
Bollinger 1/8 (5 overs)

So these sudden green tops and the usual from the collapso pair on a good MCG wicket makes for some dreadful reading for the Aussie starting 11 and potential replacements. Apart from Smith the rest only have 1 more innings before the Ashes.

aussie1st added 10 Minutes and 16 Seconds later...

Well Smith gone for 59 so all the squad members have played their first innings. Sounds like the pitch should get better for the Aus A members in the second dig so no excuses.

 

[Blues]

Very poor stuff from everyone on their first attempts. Lets hope the bowlers fair a bit better

It seems the SCG pitch is an absolute minefield. Tasmania also falling apart

 

[sifter132]

At least Mitch has scored big (81* thus far)

The 2nd innings of these 4 games is going to be HUGE.

 

[aussie1st]

Haha finally something positive, if Mitch spot wasn't secure it definitely is now with all the dodgy batters floating about.

Bollinger ended with 3 for 25 from 11 overs.

Into the 2nd innings already for the NSW game! Katich not opening, Watson still there with 13 so maybe things are starting to look up.

 

[TumTum]

Well it is difficult to score when the pitch is a mine field. And this is not a problem because batsmen of the current era have trouble facing swing, because in the past the swing was there but was non-threating (bit like swing at Headingley), compared to here where most the balls are unplayable.

 

[aussie1st]

Still does highlight the problems which faces our batsmen, when the ball is moving around we start running around like headless chicken. It is those players that make runs in these conditions who can be considered fighters. Khawaja did it at the Gabba with his 50, Hughes in very similar conditions to the Aus A game. and now Smith. Those players that always fail in these conditions aren't what you want in your national side unless you plan on only playing them on the flat tracks. Cameron White is the prime example, his ball could have been kept out as it certainly wasn't a jaffer that Ferguson got. His flaw outside offstump is a known weakness and again got shown up today. Haddin has got out in this fashion before as well but that was in an ODI.

 

[sifter132]

Still does highlight the problems which faces our batsmen, when the ball is moving around we start running around like headless chicken. It is those players that make runs in these conditions who can be considered fighters.

Yeah I think more generally, mental strength will be very important for the Aussies in this Ashes:
*Australia is being written off by everyone with a mouth seemingly - 'experts' and fans. Was this what it was like in the 80s? Because I've never heard such negativity and pessimism in the media and amongst fans. It's embarrassingly bad IMHO.
*none of the batsmen have any runs under their belt (except Clarke) which means their confidence won't be fantastic.
*wet weather may mean that a few of the pitches in the Tests are greener than normal.

Having a mentally resilient top 6 will be very important to combat those problems. Smith seems like the kind of guy that doesn't get too concerned. I'm liking him more and more.

 

[aussie1st]

Our top order certainly ain't heading into the first test with any form. So only the collapso pair and the contenders in the squad left to bat before the Ashes.

Watson 15
Katich 36
Ponting 27
Haddin 17

 

[angryangy]

Watson 5/39
Johnson 5/35

 

[angryangy]

tbh if the bowling is this devastating, the batting is fine.

 

[aussie1st]

Hussey 118
North 23* - So pretty much a 100
Khawaja golden duck
Ferguson 10

That leaves only Steven Smith to bat from the guys in the Ashes squad.
Whether you want Hussey dropped or not, you have to admire his fight. Don't like what he does in between his career saving 100s but it still shows fight in the man. Producing when it matters is what Khawaja and Ferguson need as they both missed a golden opportunity to put pressure on either North or Hussey.