Phabulous Phil Jaques was Australia’s opening batsman.
He wasn’t perfect, his technique was similar to a drunken squash player, he lost patience at times we wished he wouldn’t, and he wasn’t pretty, in any way.
But he made runs, a hundred in his last innings, and he averaged 47 and we were starting to like him.
Mostly.
The Krab Katich however, had been tried, and tried, and tried.
The selectors kept him on as long as they could, then eventually with a heavy heart they got rid of him, but now he is back, and he has entrenched himself into the top order like a tick with the 2 hundreds on his matthew hayden is injured tour.
Now it seems that in India the Krab is to be Hayden’s partner.
For the last and most important warm up game, katich has been chosen.
If that isn’t saying what i think it is saying, then it’s no more cheese and crackers for Jaques.
He has been usurped by his team mate, his friend, his fellow weirdly techniqued batsman.
Why?
Did Jaques underperform?
In the Windies he made one hundred, and one 70odd, to Katich’s two hundreds.
Is it because Katich is a better player of spin?
Perhaps…
Is it because Katich can bowl something resembling spin?
Possibly…
Is it because the selectors have a hard on for Katich that could bring down sky scrapers.
You bet it is.
Sorry Phabulous, you thought you were the new opener, it looks as if you were warming the seat for the Krab’s magnificent return.
Agreed. I dont think Phil will play the openers role.Hopefully Katto gets some runs today to seal the deal.But it is hugely unfair to Jaques cuz I think he can handle the spinners. At least he should be given the chance to prove that he can?
Katich was always going to be picked. Or at least, it should have been the case that he was always going to be picked. He’s batted well in India in 2004, and he’s coming off consecutive hundreds. I think that the selectors were thinking along these lines, even if the media weren’t.Go Kato.
I think its negative move by the selectors, coz they are feeling vulnerable about the side with all these first-timers. And we all know that the Kat won’t budge once he gets out there, even if he stops everyone else from having a bat – which is more than likely. Even if he scores at one run every four overs. the Kat is very dogged.
The Krab will be selected as the second spinner behind Clarke. Now that Bryce is out there is no way that they will select Krazy
Damith, I thought Jaques played murali quite well in Australia. Rusty, it just seems like a defensive move, even if it was always on the cards.
Exactly my point. Although the goggle eyed one was not at his best, playing your debut against him is not easy and he played him splendidly.Rather unfair. Katto dint impress today either. Scratched around a bit.HLs to be up soon.