Aust v NZ, 1st Test, Gabba

[AndyP]

Lehmann in, Katich out ... again

November 9, 2004

Simon Katich has lost a close call for the final batting place to Darren Lehmann for the first Test against New Zealand at the Gabba, starting on November 18. Katich, who filled in for the injured Ricky Ponting at No. 3 in India, was dropped as the selectors recalled Lehmann and retained Michael Clarke.

Shane Warne's broken thumb has healed well enough for him to replace the offspinner Nathan Hauritz in the 12-man squad. Warne missed the final Test at Mumbai when he was injured in the nets, but he has taken 75 wickets at 25 against New Zealand and expects to play with minimal pain. Brett Lee, who will bowl for New South Wales against the tourists tomorrow, was also selected.

Katich is the loser for the second time this year after being cut for the all-round skills of Andrew Symonds in the first two Tests in Sri Lanka. The calmest of the top order in India, Katich scored 276 runs at 39.42, including 99 in the second innings at Nagpur. "We have every faith in Simon, and are very confident that he will play in the Australian Test team again in the not too distant future," Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, said. "He has done very well on those occasions when he has been called upon, and it was a very hard decision to make."

Hohns said the form of Lehmann, the stand-in vice-captain when Ponting was absent, had been consistent over the past 12 months while Clarke was rewarded for his 400 runs at 57.14 in his first four Tests. "Darren is a highly-respected, experienced campaigner and is still our preferred choice at this stage, as long as his injured hamstring is fully recovered." Lehmann limped off during the third match of the series at Nagpur and will have to pass a fitness test to play in Brisbane.

Nathan Hauritz, who took five wickets on debut including Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman in the second innings at Mumbai, performed well in India, but Hohns said "it was only natural" that Warne would return.

Australia Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann (subject to fitness), Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee.

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Interesting decision to drop Katich over Lehmann, not that I am upset it.

Don't know why they keep bothering with Lee. Send him back to the Pura Cup so he can at least have a bowl. Tait might be a better option anyway, until Lee proves himself.

I'm glad that Warney will be playing up here, as we have missed him a few times at the Gabba.

[3oneday]

Andy,

Maybe they should drop Martyn instead :P :P



Pete

[Jarro]

i really think they stuffed up here, katich should have held his place in my opinion

[AndyP]

Maybe they should drop Martyn instead :P :P

I'm prepared to be patient, and wait for his next failure.

Who were you dropping then, jarro? Lehmann?

[Jarro]

Who were you dropping then, jarro? Lehmann?

yep. i think Lehman is ready to go. If he was saying that he would gladly step down rather than take the place of a young up'n'comer .. then he's not in the right frame of mind mentally .. he's having doubts He's played well in India, as have most of the batsman .. but i think it might be time for him to give it away.

[AndyP]

yep. i think Lehman is ready to go. If he was saying that he would gladly step down rather than take the place of a young up'n'comer .. then he's not in the right frame of mind mentally .. he's having doubts

I think you will find that those weren't his words, and the media made more of it than what it actually was.

I thought Lehmann might go as well, thus ending his test career.

[Jarro]

is anyone going to any(all) of the days play here in Brissy

i was thinking i wouldn't mind going along for a squiz ... drink some warm beers and run across the field

[markTHEblake]

not advisable Jarro, appareently your all shrivelled up.

[McMw]

so how's the media rating the kiwi's chances???
we expecting a decent series this time around???

[Iain]

is anyone going to any(all) of the days play here in Brissy

i was thinking i wouldn't mind going along for a squiz ... drink some warm beers and run across the field

I'd be keen Jarro, give me a call and we can compare roster's.....

Iain

[Jarro]

is anyone going to any(all) of the days play here in Brissy

i was thinking i wouldn't mind going along for a squiz ... drink some warm beers and run across the field

I'd be keen Jarro, give me a call and we can compare roster's.....

Iain

will do

[AndyP]

is anyone going to any(all) of the days play here in Brissy

i was thinking i wouldn't mind going along for a squiz ... drink some warm beers and run across the field

I will be there on the Saturday, which I doubt would suit you shift workers.

I will also be sitting in the Gabba Trust area (best seats in the house), which won't allow you hooligans in anyway. :P

-----

Has anyone been practicing there 15° arm bend bowl, now that they have changed the rules?
Although, apparently most of us were chucking the ball before anyway.

[Jarro]

Has anyone been practicing there 15° arm bend bowl, now that they have changed the rules?
Although, apparently most of us were chucking the ball before anyway.

did anyone see Ricky Ponting on Sunrise this morning they were talking about Murali and his action ..... punter was less than impressed with the new rule change

when are they gonna bite the bullet and just ban Murali full-stop

[Fishman Dan]

Dunno - is there a word in Tamil for "f'ken cheat"? I think until they work out these little mis-translations, we will continue to see these confusing issues occurring.

[AndyP]

when are they gonna bite the bullet and just ban Murali full-stop

Quite the opposite. Isn't his doosra allowed now?
Dirty little Motherchucker.


BTW jarro, what do you want to go to the test for? You're a big pyjama cricket fan. Might be a bit boring for you, mate.

[Jarro]

BTW jarro, what do you want to go to the test for? You're a big pyjama cricket fan. Might be a bit boring for you, mate.

i'm a cricket fan full-stop AndyP .... i'll watch any form of cricket

[Bruce]

With the Doosra now back in play, Murali has continued work on his "Eeti" * delivery.

Having lobbied to change the rules on straightening to 15* there is no reason to suggest that further lobbying will not allow further straightening. It is common knowledge that most bowlers straighten their arm by as much as 120* but only Murali gets singled out because of his success. The Eeti is coming along really well. I saw him practicing it yesterday and he hit double top 4 out of every 6 deliveries.

The ICC have set up a further investigative panel and have referred the question of adding flights to the ball to their rules committee.

*Eeti is tamil for Javelin (I am told)

[AndyP]

This supposed "nice guy" really is a nasty piece of work.
http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...15NOV2004.html
He figures he has got the green light to say whatever he wants now.

McGrath has picked this season's "target". I'm a bit over this now.
http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...15NOV2004.html

The way the Kiwis went against NSW, Saturday may be the last day's play.

[Jarro]

i wouldn't underestimate the kiwis AndyP .. they always lift when they play against us .. i'm tipping it to be a pretty close series

[AndyP]

i wouldn't underestimate the kiwis AndyP .. they always lift when they play against us .. i'm tipping it to be a pretty close series

Aussies in control in the first session: 2/67

Jarro, I think the Aussies may have underestimated the Kiwis previously. They will have learnt from that.

Although I hope Martyn struggles against the Kiwis again like he did last time. Fleming has him figured out.

[McMw]

Although I hope Martyn struggles against the Kiwis again like he did last time. Fleming has him figured out.

[Jarro]

geez the kiwi bowling attack looks pretty thin i think the Aussie batsman are licking their lips already .. won't be long now, 6/206 .. the kiwis won't be in much longer

[McMw]

• Bowling O M R W
  McGrath 22 3 56 0 (2nb)
  Gillespie 22 6 61 1
  Kasprowicz 20 5 54 3 (2nb)
  Warne 22 2 65 2 (1w)
  Lehmann 4 0 12 0

when was the last time McGrath went wicketless the whole day???

I know it's happen a few (rare) times....and he's always come back the next day with a vengance....
here's hoping for a quick end to the NZ innings tomorrow morning...

[AndyP]

I'm hoping that the Aussies knock them over this morning, then start to rack up a big total (Martyn gets a duck). Then declare sometime tomorrow (while I am there), and then get stuck into their top order by the end of the day.

All to maximise my viewing pleasure, of course.

Did any of you other gents decide if you were going or not?

when was the last time McGrath went wicketless the whole day???

As long as the other bowlers are taking wickets, I'm sure he wouldn't be too worried about having a wicketless day.

[Fishman Dan]

Ponting is dead set a terrible captain.

From 5/138 to 8/300+ - this tactic of bowling Warne until he explodes is ridiculous. He's not finding edges or creating chances, and now the No.10 has carved him over Long Off.

I've said it before, i'll say it again - Michael "The Future of Australian Cricket" Clarke will dig us out of the hole that Ricky Ponting will create for us.