They better not be taking that refugee from Queensland

[manoj_admlab]

By Peter Badel February 01, 2009 http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24988964-23212,00.html CRICKET legend Jeff Thomson has blasted Australia's bowling stocks, saying the South Africa will continue to feast on an attack he rates no better than a "third-grade club side". With Ricky Ponting's pace options at crisis point following Stuart Clark's injury setback last Thursday, Thomson believes Australia will struggle to take the required 20 wickets to win a Test on their tour of South Africa. Thomson took particular aim at off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, tour hopeful Shaun Tait and spearhead Mitchell Johnson. Australia head abroad in a fortnight confronting the grim reality that not one of their frontline quicks - including Johnson, Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger - has bowled a ball in Test cricket on South African soil. Clark was the exception, having routed the Proteas with 20 wickets at 15.85 in his maiden Test series in 2006. But his elbow injury has left Australia at the mercy of a South African side already buoyed by the absence of Brett Lee, who is recovering from stress fractures in his foot. Thomson was dismayed when Australia took just two wickets in their crushing one-day loss last Monday and predicted more pain for Ponting's bowlers in South Africa. The bowlers fared little better in Perth on Friday night. "From what I saw of the Australian attack the other day, what they bowled was absolute crap. "Every one of them was terrible," said Thomson, Dennis Lillee's partner in crime during a career that reaped 200 Test scalps at 28.01. "It looked like South Africa was playing a third-grade club attack. I'm not the only one who thinks that. What I saw the other night was just gun-barrel bowling. There was no creativity. "Nobody likes bowling on a flat wicket with no swing, but that wicket (in Adelaide) the other night showed how wanting our bowling attack is. "You have to be able to perform when the wicket isn't doing too much and South Africa showed them up the other night. "The South African wickets are very similar to here, but they'd want to have something up their sleeve because at the moment how are they going to take 20 wickets to win a Test? We took two in 50 overs the other day, so maybe if we bowl 250 overs we'll get 10 wickets." National selectors are expected to take one spinner to South Africa but Thomson insists they can't pick Hauritz. He also canned Tait's selection prospects and said Johnson was showing signs of burnout after a gruelling summer in which he carried Australia's Test attack. "You can't pick Shaun Tait, seriously. He runs out of puff in a limited-overs match. No way," Thomson said. "They better not be taking that refugee from Queensland that plays in Sydney. Nathan Hauritz should be called Nathan Horror. Does he spin the ball? They have to take Jason Krejza, at least he turns the ball. "Mitchell Johnson looks tired. He's bowling so round-arm at the moment you may as well call him Mitchell Malinga (a reference to Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga)." Thomson hopes selectors take Tasmanian quick Ben Hilfenhaus and Queensland's Ashley Noffke on tour.

[King]

They better not be taking that refugee from Queensland :haha::haha::haha::haha::haha: Straight shooting at its best by Thomson. Although his comments at times are lunatic we'll have to agree this Aussies attack is no first class and not of international standard. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24988964-23212,00.html?from=public_rss

They're a bunch of third-graders: Jeff Thomson By Peter Badel February 01, 2009 CRICKET legend Jeff Thomson has blasted Australia's bowling stocks, saying the South Africa will continue to feast on an attack he rates no better than a "third-grade club side". With Ricky Ponting's pace options at crisis point following Stuart Clark's injury setback last Thursday, Thomson believes Australia will struggle to take the required 20 wickets to win a Test on their tour of South Africa. Thomson took particular aim at off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, tour hopeful Shaun Tait and spearhead Mitchell Johnson. Australia head abroad in a fortnight confronting the grim reality that not one of their frontline quicks - including Johnson, Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger - has bowled a ball in Test cricket on South African soil. Clark was the exception, having routed the Proteas with 20 wickets at 15.85 in his maiden Test series in 2006. But his elbow injury has left Australia at the mercy of a South African side already buoyed by the absence of Brett Lee, who is recovering from stress fractures in his foot. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Join foxsports.com.au on Sunday for the LIVE BLOG of the first ODI between Australia and New Zealand. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomson was dismayed when Australia took just two wickets in their crushing one-day loss last Monday and predicted more pain for Ponting's bowlers in South Africa. The bowlers fared little better in Perth on Friday night. "From what I saw of the Australian attack the other day, what they bowled was absolute crap. "Every one of them was terrible," said Thomson, Dennis Lillee's partner in crime during a career that reaped 200 Test scalps at 28.01. "It looked like South Africa was playing a third-grade club attack. I'm not the only one who thinks that. What I saw the other night was just gun-barrel bowling. There was no creativity. "Nobody likes bowling on a flat wicket with no swing, but that wicket (in Adelaide) the other night showed how wanting our bowling attack is. "You have to be able to perform when the wicket isn't doing too much and South Africa showed them up the other night. "The South African wickets are very similar to here, but they'd want to have something up their sleeve because at the moment how are they going to take 20 wickets to win a Test? We took two in 50 overs the other day, so maybe if we bowl 250 overs we'll get 10 wickets." National selectors are expected to take one spinner to South Africa but Thomson insists they can't pick Hauritz. He also canned Tait's selection prospects and said Johnson was showing signs of burnout after a gruelling summer in which he carried Australia's Test attack. "You can't pick Shaun Tait, seriously. He runs out of puff in a limited-overs match. No way," Thomson said. "They better not be taking that refugee from Queensland that plays in Sydney. Nathan Hauritz should be called Nathan Horror. Does he spin the ball? They have to take Jason Krejza, at least he turns the ball. "Mitchell Johnson looks tired. He's bowling so round-arm at the moment you may as well call him Mitchell Malinga (a reference to Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga)." Thomson hopes selectors take Tasmanian quick Ben Hilfenhaus and Queensland's Ashley Noffke on tour.

[Mr. Wicket]

I love Thomson's comments. The man should be on radio or TV! Anyone remember his classic description of Shane Watson? - "not worth an all-rounder's assh*le"

[Sachinism]

Wow Thomson really lashing out at Aussie players that description of Shane Watson is a bit OTT, innit?

[King]

Not sure if you folks know it but the Aussie selection is very political. Usually they pick players from NSW and the players from rest of the zones don't quite get a good look in. The Victorians were livid when NSW picked McCullum for the Twenty20 finals. If you thought Indian selection board is biased towards a zone or two Aussie one is extremely biased. They can still pick a decent side but the politics stops the best Aussie players from representing their country.

[EnterTheVoid]

They better not be taking that refugee from Queensland that plays in Sydney. Did he really say that? OMG, what balls this guy has