From: mikef@dph1.ucc.su.OZ.AU (Blind Boy Grunt)
Subject: Is Paul Reiffel injured? (& AUS/WI selections)
Organization: Dept Public Health, Sydney University
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 05:16:57 GMT

I noticed that Paul Reiffel was not in the Victorian XII named to play the
West Indies last weekend. Does anyone know why? I would have rated him as
having a big chance at being selected for the 3rd Test, but that seems not
to be the case now.

I guess Whitney is odds-on favourite now, especially since neither Julian
nor Chris Matthews staked big claims on the weekend, and also since
Dodemaide had limited (if any) opportunities in that game against the West
Indies. However, if Reiffel is fit I would name him as the replacement for
Whitney, who I *think* has not had much success at the MCG, and also
because I think that West Indies aren't that troubled by Whitney thesedays.

Australia's other selection problems were principally: who to choose 
between Jones & S.Waugh for one batting position, and whether Warne would
replace Mathews as spinner. I thought that a good score by Jones against
the WI this weekend would have got him in, but failing that I'd expect the
selectors to persist with Waugh, simply because of Jones' lack of
opportunities this season. Phil Wilkins (writer for the Sydney Morning
Herald) noted that Jones has only had 3 first class innings this season -
quite remarkable.

I disagree with Wilkins that S.Waugh has become an increasingly attractive
option since Bruce Reid's obligatory injury. I'd argue to the contrary,
Waugh is needed more so when Reid is *in* the team, because there is then
a higher than usual chance of a major strike bowler breaking down. In
Reid's absence, a fifth/sixth bowler is not so critical.

Note that M.Waugh and Damien Martyn confirmed their test sposts with
outstanding innings in the recent Shield games. Martyn scored 139 off 141
balls, moving from 52 to 108 with an amazing sequence of 14 consecutive
fours. M.Waugh scored 164 off 186 deliveries. I wish I had seen both of
those innings. :-(

Greg Mathews should probably keep his position for at least one more test,
since he performed creditably in the First Test.

The West Indies will probably persist with Simmons as opener, despite his
poor international batting form, simply because there is no stable
alternative. I think that either Logie or Adams could come in for
Patterson, even though this means that the WI will have *only* 3 frontline
pace bowlers. I think this enough, especially with the good recent form
of Hooper and Simmons with the ball, and their batting really needs more
depth. Williams should be retained as keeper, but #9 is a better position
for him to bat, behind Bishop. I would usually have promoted Ambrose 
ahead of Williams also, except that he seems in unusually poor form with the
bat.

My teams (in batting order) would then be:

Aus XII-

Taylor, Boon, M.Waugh, Martyn, S.Waugh, Border, Mathews, Healy, Reiffel
(or Whitney if Reiffel injured), Hughes, McDermott, Jones (12th).

WI XII-

Haynes, Simmons, Richardson, Lara, Arthurton, Adams, Hooper, Bishop (or
Patterson if Bishop injured), Williams, Ambrose, Walsh, Logie (12th).

PS I can't understand why Richardson bats at #4 in the ODers, surely
Simmons would be better down the order?

References:

Wilkins, P. I've forgotten the title. Sydney Morning Herald 19th Dec: I've
also forgotten the page numbers.

-- 
__
Michael Fahey         | Internet: mikef@dph1.health.su.oz.au
Dept of Public Health | UUCP: uunet!munnari.oz.au!dph1.health.su!mikef
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