Australian Cricket - Crisis, What Crisis ??

[malo]

I like him too. Can bowl 140+ and take wickets - surprised how often he's underbowled actually.

Then again, is he a better bet than Faulkner?

Mitch - http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/co...72450.html

or James - http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/co...70484.html

Yeah, as much as I hate to say it (coming from tassie), Marsh has just got more penetration than Faulkner for Test cricket.  James is just too slow & doesn't do enough with it for the long form of the game.  Batting wise, they're probably on a par.  Mind you, neither of them are good enough to bat #6 in the test side ATM.  Puts an awful lot of pressure on your top 5, particularly without the likes of Johnson, Starc, Harris to bolster runs from the tail !

What's the answer ?  I don't know.  If Marsh can get it up to averaging over 30 with the bat, he's probably doing enough to keep his spot.  Flintoff only averaged 31.....and 32 with the ball, on the back on one decent series.  good solid test all-rounders are about the same mark, 30 with both.

On another note, hopefully Patto can steam in & get his pace up in the 2nd test in NZ......and that Bird can bowl with in a lot better grouping than he did in the 1st !

cheers

Mal.