Sportz,
I apologise if you thought I was having a go at you,because I certainly was not.It's good to converse with someone who knows their cricket,as you do.I went to high school with Thommo and Pascoe(real name Durtanovich,he changed it by deed poll)and played in the same team with them for 3 years.Needless to say we won the comp every one of those years.My point being,the fire and the will to get a batsman out or blast him out or just plain scare him out was paramount.You could be best mates off the field,but as soon as you put the pads on and took strike,they hated your guts!Lillee was the same.I have not seen that same passion in any of our strike bowlers since.Look at the way Vaughan has utilised the sub fielder rule to rest one of his quicks,why hasn't Ponting done same same?Look at the frustation coming out in Ponting with his huge "dummy spit"when Pratt ran him out.Look at the panic mode and media frenzy calling for changes to the team,aka Hussey for Hayden,Watson for Kaspa.
IMO it's the worst thing that could happen.Watson has not proven himself to be up to this level in the chances he has been given.Hussey is in good touch as evidenced by the one dayers and his average of 75 for Durham,but I just have this gut feeling that Matty Hayden is on the verge of a big score,and to change the team dramatically now would be handing the poms the urn on a platter.Our blokes have had 4 tests to have a look at reverse swing,Hussey and Watson have not.What they both fail?Flintoff and Pieterson would belt Watson out of the park.
If history is any indication,we are gone.33 tests at The Oval
results
Australia 6 wins
12 draws
15 losses
We have come this far with this squad so why lose faith in them now.They are all aware of what they are playing for,albeit some with their careers on the line,i would say let them go for it.It is the last throw of the dice.
Would be interested to hear your thoughts.