Ashes squad 2005

[usalion]

Put this in the thread on the WACA test, but here's my take on who we should take to England in June:

Not totally up on current wicket keepers at state level, so leaving that one open- want the two allrounders in Watson and Symonds for some flexibility in the team.

Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Clarke, Katich, Symonds, Watson, Gilchrist, xxx (Best Shield WK), Warne, White, Kasper, Gillespie, McGrath and Bichel

Those of you who have read my posts know that I rate Bret Lee very low- no place for him....

[Russian]

The 5 extras:

Lee
Katich
Seccombe (unless one of the youngsters starts getting regular games between now and then)
Watson
MacGill

[Darky]

The 5 extras:

Lee
Katich
Seccombe (unless one of the youngsters starts getting regular games between now and then)
Watson
MacGill

Pretty much agree with those five in addition to the incumbent 11, with Lee's spot probably the most debatable.

[The invisible mullet]

I think Tait will get a touring kit (and Lee). Can't see Symonds or Watson in the touring side.

[rosewarne]

The 16 man squad will be:
Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Lehmann, Clarke, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie, Kasprowizc, McGrath, Lee, Katich,Tait, McGill and Watson. I don't think they'll take a back-up keeper with them. If they did, Brad Haddin would be the best choice ahead of Wade Seccomb who is injured at the moment. In that case, one of Watson or Tait would be left out.

[guess_who]

I think Tait will be taken on tour, as will White/Hauritz perhaps over Macgilla to add the element of youth. The Wicket keeper position is tough, maybe we go for Haddin or Secombe but I think we need a back up full time keeper, my choice would be Haddin.

[rosewarne]

I think Tait will be taken on tour, as will White/Hauritz perhaps over Macgilla to add the element of youth. The Wicket keeper position is tough, maybe we go for Haddin or Secombe but I think we need a back up full time keeper, my choice would be Haddin.
I reckon MacGill will get the nod over White and Hauritz. Well, that's if the selectors come to their senses which may not happen.

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

I reckon MacGill will get the nod over White and Hauritz. Well, that's if the selectors come to their senses which may not happen.doubt it i rekon itll be Hauritz/White over Macgill because he wasnt selected on the tour of India so i cant see him going to England.

[rosewarne]

doubt it i rekon itll be Hauritz/White over Macgill because he wasnt selected on the tour of India so i cant see him going to England.
It will be an absolute joke if it is. Hauritz record for Queensland is nothing short of disgraceful and White needs to develop a lot more than he has. MacGill is a world class leg spinner.

[usalion]

Well, we usually take two spinners. I agfree Magill has done the business before, but in picking White am thinking the selectors might like to the period AW (After Warne). Haurtiz has been crap[ since coming back from India (and I am a Queensland barracker- pains me to say that about ANY Bull).

Wicketkeeper- if Gilly's knees are giving problems, as someone suggested elsewhere, then now is the time to have a reserve keeper- a 3 month tour calls for time off, especially with the 5 tests crammed into a nine or ten week period. Who of the wicket keepers at state level is showing the form with the gloves? Seecombe getting on in years- why not go for the younger guys? I don't rate Haddin behind the stumps- good bat, but a liability with the gloves, IMHO. (Based on reading reports rather than seeing him, I hasten to add)

Allrounders- I still reckon the squad would benefit by having both Symonds and Watson in it- Symonds because he does have experience, is perhaps the best fielder in Oz and can paste the bowling all over the p[ark. I'd take Watson along, simply as experience for the NEXT Ashes tour- he SHOULD be a fixture in the team by that time, and can get some experience of English pitches this tour.

Plus, if picked, both could take some overs from the pace group.

Just my two cents- and a lot can happen in six months.

[Russian]

Wicketkeeper- if Gilly's knees are giving problems, as someone suggested elsewhere, then now is the time to have a reserve keeper- a 3 month tour calls for time off, especially with the 5 tests crammed into a nine or ten week period. Who of the wicket keepers at state level is showing the form with the gloves? Seecombe getting on in years- why not go for the younger guys? I don't rate Haddin behind the stumps- good bat, but a liability with the gloves, IMHO. (Based on reading reports rather than seeing him, I hasten to add)Manou isn't much better than Haddin and his batting's worse, Clingeleffer is the only other young one and until today he'd done nothing all year with the bat but his glovework is pretty good. Hartley, Ronchi and Crosthwaite are still number 2 Pura Cup keepers

[apollo_creed]

Shaun Tait is all about the future.

Another dominant performance 4/17, two furniture removals.

He will go.

[ben.carbonaro]

It will be an absolute joke if it is. Hauritz record for Queensland is nothing short of disgraceful and White needs to develop a lot more than he has. MacGill is a world class leg spinner.

First-class level yeah it is crap, but he is performing well as usual at ING Cup level. Personally, I think if Hauritz wants more of a chance of breaking into the test team, he needs to move away from Brisbane because pithces there are not conjusive to spin. The role he plays on the Queensland Pura Cup side is basically just to bowl some overs here and there to give the fast bowlers a rest. He needs to move to South Australia or a another state where good quality pitches which are conjusive to spin and don't come around once in a blue moon.

[Cleavy]

I guess there's always a chance of having one of the State keepers playing some form of cricket in England at the time, and being available for a call up in order to rest Gilchrist.

[sinepari]

I wouldnt be surprised to see either Rogers or M.hussey on the tour either.

[ben.carbonaro]

I wouldnt be surprised to see either Rogers or M.hussey on the tour either.

Very true, I agree with you there and have northing but praise as well as respect for both of these guys. Hussey has been one of my favourite for a long time and have chatted to him a couple of times, really positive about his chances of playing for his country.

Rogers is certainly held in high regards, as several of the selectors have mentioned his name in the last few weeks. Only need to watch the cricket show on day of the current test to hear Dave Boon mention his name and that if he continues to perform for Western Australia, a test spot may beckon.

[Minkus_Swan]

I wouldnt be surprised to see either Rogers or M.hussey on the tour either.

I think that they will be in England at the time - playing county cricket, but not as part of the tour party. I think we'll take only one reserve batsman - Katich. If Boof does get dropped/not selected for the Ashes - Brad Hodge will take the reserve spot.

My selections for the rest of the tour will be: Brett Lee, Shane Watson, Stuart MacGill and another fast bowler. Either Nathan Bracken or Shaun Tait.

[dr nick]

Hayden
Langer
*Ponting
Martyn
Lehmann
Clarke
+Gilchrist
Warne
Gillespie
Kasprowicz
McGrath
+Haddin
Lee
Watson
MacGill
Katich
------
Thats my tip for the touring XVI - the biggest uncertainties IMO being MacGill (might have been pidgeon-holed) and Lehmann depending how he goes in the next two tests. I think if he makes way for Katich he will slip right out of the squad.

[Ricketts]

my 5 extras:

Lee
Tait
Katich :)
Haddin
MacGill

maybe lehmann wont be there, in which case id go for Watson.

[Johnson#26]

The 5 extras:

Lee
Katich
Seccombe (unless one of the youngsters starts getting regular games between now and then)
Watson
MacGill

Agreed, but swap Lee for Bichel. That is the better team.

[pazza]

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Hodge
Katich
Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
White
Lee
Tait
Kasprowicz
Gillespie
McGrath

Katich or Hodge can do a job as the back-up keeper if required

[bunsen burner]

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Katich
Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
Gillespie
Kasprowicz
McGrath

Hodge
Lee
Tait
Watson

Lehmann - depends how he plays in the next two tests (if he plays). I'd lean towards dropping him now but if he performs well in the next two tests he should get a spot on the tour leaving Watson at home and Katich as backup. If he doesn't perform I think there will be no way he'll make the tour.

Tait - must go on tour. Looks like the only young quick we have that really looks promising.

Bichel - no chance.

MacGill - we'll never play two leg spinners in England. If Warne gets injured we should fly him over. No point having a guy on tour when the only chance he'll play will be if Warne gets injured

White/Hauritz - neither are good enough at the moment and there's no point letting them think they're on the cusp of being international standard.

Haddin - once again not quite good enough. Most likely will never play test cricket. No point in having him all tour as backup when he isn't an up and coming. Fly him over if Gilly goes down.

Elliott - sadly there are people who still think Elliott should be in the team. No.

Watson - just scapes in for me. Good to see how he goes in a tour game.

[sinepari]

Well going on what ive been told by some connected ppl, the selectors are very closely looking at hussey and rogers. Hussey has an absolutely fantastic record in England. Rogers did very well while he was there last year for a short period before succumbing to injury.
I really rate watson, but im not sure if the selectors will take an allrounder, it doesnt have the same benifits as playing an allrounder in india would. In india watson could have played as the 3rd quick to allow for 2 spinners, but in England im not so sure. I really hope to see him on the tour tho.

[Black Thunder]

i think you guys aren't picking enough players. It's a three month tour, and last time round we had 21 matches - 10 one-day matches (7 ODI's), 4 three-day matches, 2 four-day matches, and 5 test matches. We also took 18 guys last time round, and i think that is a more suitable number.

This time round we have 22, potentially 23 matches if we make the One Day Series final, which i presume we will given Bangladesh are involved in it. We have 12 or 13 one-day matches (9 or 10 of which are ODI's), 1 twenty20 match, 2 two-day matches, 2 three-day matches, and 5 test matches. Personally, i preffered the previous tour schedule because there are too many one dayers this time round. So there could be as much as 49 days of cricket depending on the lengths of the tests, so i think they'd be a little silly to not take 18.


Anyway, they might only be taking 16 this year..... i'm not sure, having heard anything on that.

If it were 16 and they were leaving tomorrow this would be my squad:
Matt Hayden
Justin Langer
Ricky Ponting (c)
Damien Martyn
Darren Lehmann
Michael Clarke
Adam Gilchrist
Shane Warne
Jason Gillespie
Michael Kasprowicz
Glenn McGrath

Simon Katich
Brett Lee
Shaun Tait
Andrew Symonds
Brad Hogg
(the last two are only there because there good ODI cricketers, and are handy in the longer version)

17th touring man: Wade Seccombe
18th touring man: Stuart MacGill
19th touring man: Brad Hodge

I'd like to let it being known as well i'd prefer to take both MacGill and Hodge before both Symonds and Hogg, but given the latter two are good One-Day players they are required players in the Ashes squad of 16.

If we take any more than 16, the first thing we need is a replacement keeper (I'm actually considering taking a keeper even if we only take 16). Hopefully we do take 19 (more than originally intended) and therefore can take MacGill and Hodge anyway.


Of course many things can happen over the course of this summer though. Guys still with a chance of going:
Shane Watson - big threat to both Symonds and Hodge.
Chris Rogers - would be good to take another specialist opener, but we'll have to see.
Martin Love - been thereabouts for a while, could get there.
Sean Clingellefer - the best young keeper with any runs on the board currently (pardon the pun).
Paul Rofe - big raps for this guy, just needs to keep plugging away.
Ashley Noffke - Has to pull his finger out though. Everyone knows the ability he has but he's just going very poorly. Went on the last tour.
Nathan Hauritz & Cameron White - either of these two could get in before Hogg and/or MacGill depending on form this season.
Nathan Bracken - don't rate him particularly highly but you got admit he's having a huge season, even without the 7/4.
Brad Williams - coming back from injury, and it'll be interesting to see how he goes. The biggest outsider of the lot, but that is mainly due to him being injured and not lack of talent or performances.

Really can't see anyone from outside of the those ten, putting in the performances good enough to catch the selectors in such a short time frame......

[bunsen burner]

Why are you including ODI players? The test and ODI squads are completely separate. If Symonds and Hogg make the Ashes squad, their ODI ability wouldn't be considered.

I'd say a 15 or 16 man squad will be picked. Two back up batsmen, two back up bowlers and a back up spinner and possibly an allrounder. These days we tend not to take back up keepers on tour as it better to have them playing domestic and able to be flown in if needed. I'd be thinking the same with an extra spinner this tour on the grounds that a) England doesn't have a lot of turning pitches, and b) No young spinner is enough of a standout to warrant taking them on tour just to give them experience. A spinner will most likely only play if Warne is injured. Better to fly tham in if needed and have them playing Pura Cup.

[Black Thunder]

A spinner will most likely only play if Warne is injured. Better to fly tham in if needed and have them playing Pura Cup.
Except the Sheffield Shield isn't on while were on the Ashes tour :p

anyway, i'd like them to just take 18 or 19 guys and keep them for the entire 3 months. Can't hurt.

If guys have county contracts and there not in a team for a particular game, then i'm sure it can be arranged to have them play the odd county game or two to make sure there getting consistent cricket in.

[bunsen burner]

anyway, i'd like them to just take 18 or 19 guys and keep them for the entire 3 months. Can't hurt.

I think it's a bad move. Tait yes, Hodge yes, White and Hauritz no. Mediocrity shouldn't be reward with a tour. White and hauritz haven't come along as well as they might have and it would be couter productive to give them the wrong message.

[bunsen burner]

Except the Sheffield Shield isn't on while were on the Ashes tour :p

Good point, but even better if some of our fringe players have county contracts.

[Black Thunder]

I think it's a bad move. Tait yes, Hodge yes, White and Hauritz no. Mediocrity shouldn't be reward with a tour. White and hauritz haven't come along as well as they might have and it would be couter productive to give them the wrong message.
yeah true, but i didn't have White and Hauritz in my 19 man touring team and unless they really put in some top performances this season they wouldn't get into it.

[usalion]

anyway, i'd like them to just take 18 or 19 guys and keep them for the entire 3 months. Can't hurt.

Hmmmm, mark that one down to my memory- I was thinking a squad of 16. Makes it a bit more to add in- of course there will be guys jusat there for the one dayers, because it is set out that way.
I'll have to check out Hussey and Rogers- sound like they could be a chance- looking to get younger blood in there.

If guys have county contracts and there not in a team for a particular game, then i'm sure it can be arranged to have them play the odd county game or two to make sure there getting consistent cricket in.[/QUOTE]

Didn't think the counties would go for a player who was touring, unless it was a short tour. Maybe they'd take a flier on an Aussie, but if he was touring, he wouldn't likely be released for county games- could play up until the time the tour started.

My memory is also that guys have been pulled in for tour matches from Lancashire League and the like- am I correct or is my time away from Oz dulling the senses? Talking about a one or two match call up to fill in for someone needing a rest....

And as for matches played, didn't the Invincibles play 30-odd in a 5 month tour? Just shows all the extra cricket being played around the world. Also the advantage of jets.....

[eddiesmith]

Well seeing as White has found some form, 11 wickets this week alone, he should go ahead of MacGill.

Hodge and Harvs I think should be backups but stay with their counties as they are both are great players in England. If an all rounder is needed I think Harvs would be a good choice as if they pick on it would be for this tour only and he kicks ass on English pitches

If players play County then I would leave them there and take about 2 players around who arent playing county. With the size of England they can get a backup player at a max of 4 hours, most likely less. If they arent playing that day elsewhere they can come to the ground and leave if not required

Give up on Symonds, he was tried and sucked

Bowlers in order
Warne
McGrath
Kasper
Gillespie
Lee- Not really but he plays for NSW
Tait/Lewis- Bichel is out of favour
White- He is hitting form and should be considered, atleast for the one day side
MacGill
Hauritz- Sucks but plays for QLD

All rounders
Watson
Harvey
Symonds- Not likely

Wicket Keepers
Gilchrist
Seccombe- Depends on how much rest Gilly needs in the matches. Pick Seccombe if you dont need a batsman
Haddin- ********test keeper in the country by far (yes worse than manou) and concedes to much but plays for NSW and made some runs at some stage apparently
Crosthwaite- Long shot but damn good gloveman and only just started his FC career in terms of batting

Batting
Ponting
Hayden
Langer
Martyn
Lehman- Those calling for him to be dropped are as stupid as people come
Clarke
Katich
Hodge- Would have him as a spare but release him to his county side

Those are all in order of preference as to who should be picked first. Not all would go obviously but they should be the options.

Go the 15 man touring party and 3-4 reserves on stand by in the county scene
Ponting
Hayden
Langer
Martyn
Lehman
Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
Gillespie
Kasper
McGrath
Lee
Watson
Seccombe
Katich

Reserves on County duty
Hodge
Harvs
Hussey
Any bowlers in county cricket

[Black Thunder]

Haddin- ********test keeper in the country by far (yes worse than manou) and concedes to much but plays for NSW and made some runs at some stage apparently

apparently made some runs yesterday and the day before, and not having a bad season either.........

[bunsen burner]

Hodge and Harvs I think should be backups but stay with their counties as they are both are great players in England. If an all rounder is needed I think Harvs would be a good choice as if they pick on it would be for this tour only and he kicks ass on English pitchesAre you on drugs? Do you really think Hrvey has a chance in hell of playing test cricket?

ps It seems some have trouble separating the test and ODI sides. The Ashes squad is for test match cricket only. They do not pick players for the Ashes squad based on ODI performances as some have suggested on here already.

Lehman- Those calling for him to be dropped are as stupid as people come How so? 34 years old, not performing, taking undisciplined risks and a suitable replacement waiting in the wings.

For a person who thinks Ian Harvey should play in test team, it's a bit rich to call anyone else stupid.

[Ricketts]

Give up on Symonds, he was tried and sucked



Yet you want "Harvs."


:rolleyes:

[eddiesmith]

I said Harvs should be in a the backup players who are playing County cricket. About 19th on the list. Its not that stupid considering he bowls well on english pitches and this is only if they feel they need an allrounder (which is unlikely) and Watson gets injured. I was only listing possibilities

Wow, Lehman has only averaged 41 in the last year, shocking indeed and the bloke people want to replace him averaged, 42 in that same time. Definately calls for a replacement. Lehman only won the series in Sri Lanka along with Martyn, Katich has won Australia nothing. There are plenty of players in the Australian team in the last 5 years who have gone more than 7 tests without a century and not even made a decent score which Lehman has atleast done twice in that period. Get over it

[DIG]

The 5 extra:

Lee
Katich
Tait
Haddin
MacGill

I'd love to see MacGill tour - if Warney gets injured i'd rather see a potential matchwinner like him come in than Hauritz or White (remember the last test in India? Who knows, we might've won that if MacGill had played instead of Hauritz).

But it's less than likely.

They'll take Boof to England too, unless he loses the plot between now and then, in which case Hodge might get a look in.

[eddiesmith]

The 5 extra:

Lee
Katich
Tait
Haddin
MacGill


Why dont you just take the NSW side?

[m.diddy]

Mine would be
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Lehmann
Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
Gillespie
Kasper
McGrath
Lee

Katich (no brainer)
Haddin (has to be the back up keeper)
Hodge (went to India only problem is they may go for youth or more bowlers)
Hauritz - I just don't think the selectors like Magilla

Also most players will be over there anyway playing county cricket, wont they?

[m.diddy]

Why dont you just take the NSW side?
tait plays for Sa

[DIG]

Why dont you just take the NSW side?
oh have a cry. Those 5 were just the extra squad members i'd take - I wasn't thinking of the states when i picked them, it's irrelevant. Do you seriously think the selectors would say "oh wait no we can't take Hodge cos he's Victorian" ?

Hangon you probably do.

[Ricketts]

Why dont you just take the NSW side?

Because then we'd have to put up with your whining.

:rolleyes:

[eddiesmith]

Cant you people take a joke?

[Ricketts]

Cant you people take a joke?

Oh dont worry ES, i understood your joke, it's just that i have this disease that makes me try to shut down poor attempts at humour.

[Black Thunder]

If we take seperate 16 man test and one day legs of the tour:

One Day leg:
:: Ricky Ponting (c)
:: +Adam Gilchrist (vc)
:: Matt Hayden
:: Damien Martyn
:: Darren Lehmann
:: Michael Clarke
:: Andrew Symonds
:: Brad Hogg
:: Jason Gillespie
:: Michael Kasprowicz
:: Glenn McGrath
:: Simon Katich
:: +Brad Haddin
:: Shane Watson
:: Brett Lee
:: Shaun Tait
plus standy cricketers currently playing county cricket (mainly Mike Hussey, Ian Harvey and Andy Bichel if he goes again)

Test match leg:
:: Ricky Ponting (c)
:: +Adam Gilchrist (vc)
:: Matt Hayden
:: Justin Langer
:: Damien Martyn
:: Darren Lehmann
:: Michael Clarke
:: Shane Warne
:: Jason Gillespie
:: Michael Kasprowicz
:: Glenn McGrath
:: Simon Katich
:: +Wade Seccombe
:: Stuart MacGill
:: Brett Lee
:: Shaun Tait
plus standby cricketrs playing county cricket (mainly Brad Hodge, Paul Rofe, Ashley Noffke or Andy Bichel but not sure if the three quick bowlers will be over there.....)

[Cleavy]

I guess with the ODI squad, we can afford to take a few rookies and blood them in the games against Bangladesh

[Black Thunder]

I guess with the ODI squad, we can afford to take a few rookies and blood them in the games against Bangladesh
probably can but Australia has never been known to really do that.

[Cleavy]

probably can but Australia has never been known to really do that.

(a) gotta start planning for WC2007 at some point
(b) Brett Lee will be taking someone's spot ;)

[bunsen burner]

gotta start planning for WC2007 at some point
i'd say they already have. I'd say Bevan was dropped because they felt he and others wouldn't be around in 2007. Rather than drop a heap of players at the same time they have opted to stagger retirements. Smart move I think.

[waspy]

Looking at this thread there were a number of people who didn't include Watson and MacGill in the test squad....after the SCG test, who thinks they deserve a spot in the squad?

I think the squad should go something like:
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Gilchrist
Martyn
Lehmann
Katich
Clarke
Watson
McGrath
Gillespie
Kasper
Lee
Tait
Warne
MacGill

If a 2nd keeper is picked, I'd expect it to be Haddin but not sure who I'd omit. I kept Lehmann because of his great experience in England and I think 5 quicks is the way to go. That way bowlers can be rested if needed later in the tour if there is a dead rubber(s ;)).

[CharlieG]

I think that Lehmann will go to New Zealand, where his ability to seize the moment will determine if he gets a ticket to England. If he doesn't, Hodge will go as the 7th specialist batsman.

MacGill will go, and Watson most likely as well. Hard to say what they'll do with Lee - you'd hope they'd go with someone who has done something in the past year, but you never know.

[Darky]

i'd say they already have. I'd say Bevan was dropped because they felt he and others wouldn't be around in 2007. Rather than drop a heap of players at the same time they have opted to stagger retirements. Smart move I think.


Not only that, but you're always better off looking into the future while well on top, not waiting until you've bottomed out.

Easier to blood guys like Watson, Clarke, Katich, <whoever> in an otherwise settled and successful line up. In hindsight, Bevan would be 37 at the 2007 WC and was the player least able to dominate an attack, as consistent and effective as he has been.

[you idiot sheehan]

It'd be a good bet that the Ashes squad will consist of the incumbent XI plus a couple youngsters. They always do that with tours. Of course, there is still the New Zealand tour to go before the Ashes and a few things will take their course there too. For the first test, MacGill will go out for Lee and Watson for Katich or Lehman. The selectors were looking for any way possible to drop Kasper for Lee and they found their way out by picking Watson and MacGill in the interim. In the meantime they've had a look at Watson. Yeah, he's a bit wet between the ears and could do with a haircut, but he'll be a good prospect.

So, The Ashes squad will be:

Ponting (c)
Gilchrist (vc)
Hayden
Langer
Martyn
Lehman
Warne
Lee
Gillespie
McGrath
..................................
MacGill - They'll be reluctant to take him but I think he'll go. I can only see him playing in that last test at The Oval where it is usually dry and flat.

Kaper - Obvious

Katich - Appears to be the favoured number 7 batsman. However, should Lehman fail in New Zealand and not even go, Katich would be in the XI and this spot would be White's.

Watson - One of the youngsters I was talking about. Again, he would only play if MacGill played, just like the Sydney test.

Reserve keeper - have no idea what the selectors think. I tell you what though, it would be a great chance to take someone like Crosthwaite. He's got great hands, a very good batsman, and you can tell he just loves cricket. If things pan out the right way he could be the next test keeper.

The reason why I put White in Katich's spot is because players like Hodge and Elliot will already be playing over there. They wouldn't waste those guys' time by putting them on the tour. White would go as an allrounder.

[Homer Jnr]

Why all this hype over Crosthwaite? He is on a level pegging with Hartley and Rnnchi with the gloves, but the other two ******** all over with the bat. Who cares if he loves the game? Why would they be playing state cricket if they didnt love the game?

[eddiesmith]

How do you know they ******** over Crosthwaite with the bat? He hasnt had many chances to bat in the one dayers and has never played a first class game. His last one day innings won Victoria the game againt the scum up North

[Star]

How do you know they ******** over Crosthwaite with the bat? He hasnt had many chances to bat in the one dayers and has never played a first class game. His last one day innings won Victoria the game againt the scum up North

Didn't see that coming... :D

[eddiesmith]

Didn't see that coming... :D

I'd still love to know what Crosthwaite did that makes him the most hated player in the world, except for play for Victoria? Or maybe thats it. Hes a Victorian which is not accepted around here

[Homer Jnr]

I'd still love to know what Crosthwaite did that makes him the most hated player in the world, except for play for Victoria? Or maybe thats it. Hes a Victorian which is not accepted around here

Any young player is fine in my books. But to have this one talented youngster pushed so hard by a vocal group grows awfully tiring. To suggest he may even go as the back-up keeper on the ashes tour is plain crap, and its that stuff that ********es people off.

I'm more than happy to sit back and let the kid and his counterparts get some more experience and game-time before I can categorically take a side on the subject, but I dont need to hear how good he is everytime I open bigfooty up.

[Cleavy]

do we really need to take a huge squad? most of the names touted as reserve players (those outside the starting XI) would have county contracts or be playing some form of cricket in England, wouldn't they?

[eddiesmith]

thats why you can take some youngsters i.e Crosthwaite, White, Tait on tour whilst Hodge, Hussey's, MacGill, Lee etc play county cricket

Victorians dont talk up Crosthwaite as much as the ******** coming from the west about Ronchi

[Homer Jnr]

I'll be honest, the whole next keeper thing is a bit old now. Gilly is in fine form and won't be going anywhere for around 3 years, so all contenders have suitable time to stake their claim.

[eddiesmith]

Exactly, but try telling that to the Ronchi fan club. Haddin will go to England because he is the NSW keeper, no other reason

[Darky]

Exactly, but try telling that to the Ronchi fan club. Haddin will go to England because he is the NSW keeper, no other reason

Maybe because he's the only state keeper solidly entrenched in his spot, other than Manou who is rubbish.

Seccombe I don't think has played yet this season, Vic and WA can't decide who their #1 keeper is, and Clingeleffer gets dropped for ING games because he can't bat.

Haddin is batting well which, like it or not, is a big consideration when it comes to national honours. Hartley, Crosthwaite and Ronchi can all bat but have maybe half a dozen F/C games between them, and SFA chance of touring England. I don't even think it's a given that Australia will take two keepers... any of these blokes could do themselves a favour by signing up for a county or minor league side for 2005, just to keep their options open, but that's all it'd be.

[eddiesmith]

The one thing I find suprising is NO australian keeper plays County Cricket. So that takes away the luxury of having one over there. I doubt Gilly will play every game especially the tour matche which is when they like to play a reserve keeper. Berry played a game on the 97 tour so they generally have 2 keepers over there. Because its the off season they may take more because they know they aint keeping them from playing.

[eddiesmith]

One last thing on Crosthwaite, it is far to early to judge his batting. He has only failed once in his career

M I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct St
8 4 3 57 54* 57.00 121.27 0 1 9 1

How anyone can judge a batsman who has been out once and had one opportunity to makes runs and did so and won the game