Australian XI for first test at the Gabba? [Archive]

lionlova

14th November 2006, 18:01

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting (c)
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Watson
7. Gilchrist
8. Warne
9. Lee
10. Clark
11. McGrath

Yeh, my lineup would be pretty much the same, but still not sure who gets it between Clark, Tait, Johnson and Bracken. IMO, I would go with Bracken.

Warwick

14th November 2006, 18:04

I'm tipping Lee to be player of the series and expecting Martyn to have a huge summer. He is one of my all time favourite players and he is an absolute gun. It will be great to see Hussey spend a bit of time in the test team as well.

roostersgal4eva

14th November 2006, 18:32

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting (c)
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Watson
7. Gilchrist
8. Warne
9. Lee
10. Braken
11. McGrath

:(

The Flying Belgian

14th November 2006, 20:18

Can't split Bracken and Johnson. Tait's too hit and miss, and although Slark blitzed them in S. Africa, I'm just not a fan. I'd probably go for Johnson on his home pitch.

Grimreepah

15th November 2006, 13:56

My lineup (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6223472&postcount=90)

konstas_87

15th November 2006, 13:59

johnson has barely proven himself in ODIs IMO i dont know why every1 is considering him for tests.
as far as im concerned hes a certainty in a 20-20 but thats about it.

Bracken/Clark is the only 50-50 for the first test at the gabba.

Id love to see Clarkey (michael) back in the side but the selectors seem hell-bent on developing the all-rounder so unless Marto has a poor few innings i cant see it happening soon.

POBT

15th November 2006, 14:28

I would choose Tait. His domestic form is pretty impressive and I think he brings a lot of mongrel to the side. His erratic bowling doesn't worry me so much if Watson is in the side as another bowler.

The Flying Belgian

15th November 2006, 15:14

johnson has barely proven himself in ODIs IMO i dont know why every1 is considering him for tests.
as far as im concerned hes a certainty in a 20-20 but thats about it.

Either had Lee when he was called up.

I'm a big believer for bowlers that current form is what to look for. Not so much with batsmen, due to the differing nature of their crafts.

I'm certainly not being biased. I'm a big Bracken fan. I just think Johnson's got a good head of steam up atm.

Sherman_11

15th November 2006, 15:26

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting (c)
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Gilchrist
7. Watson
8. Warne
9. Lee
10. McGrath
11. Bracken

Warwick

15th November 2006, 16:27

My lineup (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6223472&postcount=90)
Don't rate Watson Grim?

Grimreepah

15th November 2006, 16:36

Don't rate Watson Grim?

I think in the Test team you have to make the side as either a batsmen or a bowler, not an allrounder. Watson is not too far off making the side as a batsman, but there are others in front of him.

konstas_87

15th November 2006, 17:11

I think in the Test team you have to make the side as either a batsmen or a bowler, not an allrounder. Watson is not too far off making the side as a batsman, but there are others in front of him.

i agree. its nice to have an alrounder in the side but UNLIKE ODIs, that alrounder has to be good enough as a batsmen or bowler without taking into account the other 1.

konstas_87

15th November 2006, 17:12

Either had Lee when he was called up.

I'm a big believer for bowlers that current form is what to look for. Not so much with batsmen, due to the differing nature of their crafts.

I'm certainly not being biased. I'm a big Bracken fan. I just think Johnson's got a good head of steam up atm.

yeh but brett lee was sending them down consistently at 155kph.
im biased, brett lee is close to my favourite player, closely followed by gilly and punter.

roostersgal4eva

15th November 2006, 17:17

I think in the Test team you have to make the side as either a batsmen or a bowler, not an allrounder. Watson is not too far off making the side as a batsman, but there are others in front of him.
people forget watson is still learning his craft - he will be our allrounder just not this second

As much as Id love my sig to be right - ive resigned myself to the fact that it wont be and not even taity will get a go - it will be either johnson or bracken

Homer Jnr

15th November 2006, 17:55

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Watson
7. Gilchrist
8. Lee
9. Warne
10. Johnson
11. McGrath

12th. Tait

Johnson, Martyn, Langer and Watson are the only players in any semblence of danger.

Johnson, Tait, Bracken, Clark and MacGill will fight for Number 10.

Clarke and Hodge are the likely types for 4 and 6 if Marto and Watson have absolute shockers. And possibly Symonds for the all-rounder role.

Jacques has just come out of a fairly worrying form slump which gained speed during the Blues visit up here and Andy Bichel dominated him. But he has found his touch, so the knocking on the door continues.

Warwick

15th November 2006, 19:06

I don't think McGrath is safe for the entire summer either. He has not played at the top level for a while, and he is not getting any younger.

roostersgal4eva

16th November 2006, 11:04

looks like they will make thier choice on the moring of the test

Ricky Ponting ©
Adam Gilchrist (vc)
Stuart Clark
Matthew Hayden
Mike Hussey
Mitchell Johnson
Justin Langer
Brett Lee
Damien Martyn
Glen McGrath
Shaun Tait :)
Shane Warne
Shane Watson

SA vs England becomes more improtant than ever...GO TAITY!

POBT

17th November 2006, 08:41

looks like they will make thier choice on the moring of the test

They'll make it before then I suspect. I actually think they have the pecking order sorted out now. I think it is Johnson then Clark then Tait. I really believe the selectors have fallen for Johnson. I'm not sure his record is quite up to the others right now but the selectors would love how consistently he is bowling at the moment and how he has stepped up with aplomb to each level of cricket over the past 12 months.

The wildcard (is there a player more suited to that description?) is Tait. Tait's performance in the next couple of days is the only thing that can change the pecking order IMO. I think it will only take one of those brilliant 3-4 wicket (plus a bit of drawn blood!) spells to convince the selectors to give him a crack.

roostersgal4eva

17th November 2006, 22:35

Tait had 1/11 in a firey spell today - Boof dropped Cook on Tait'ys bowling and should of had 2/11

Snuka

18th November 2006, 12:58

And Shane 'Jonathon Brown' Watson does a hamstring....The guys cursed!

footy_rulz

18th November 2006, 13:03

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting (c)
4. Hodge
5. Hussey
6. Clarke
7. Gilchrist
8. Warne
9. Lee
10. Tait
11. McGrath

12. Clark

Homer Jnr

20th November 2006, 08:26

If Watson doesn't play, Tait will struggle to play.

Clark seems the option, but I'm on the Johnson wagon.

Snuka

21st November 2006, 01:53

As much i'd love to see Watson get a guersney (being a Qlder of course) i'd hope that we wouldn't play him injured. If he's not 100% that would be bloody silly IMO, especially since we want him to bowl too.

I was wondering actually why we even need an allrounder. Our top 5 is the world's best by a little way...add Gilly to that and do we need another batsmen?

How about this one...devastating bowling attack.

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Gilchrist
7. Lee
8. Warne
9. Tait
10. Johnson
11. McGrath

POBT

21st November 2006, 07:23

As much i'd love to see Watson get a guersney (being a Qlder of course) i'd hope that we wouldn't play him injured. If he's not 100% that would be bloody silly IMO, especially since we want him to bowl too.

Was just going to post the same thing. As much as I'd like to be cheering for him Thursday, it just seems too risky. The risk that he couldn't bowl is one thing but the risk that he might not be able to bat swings it.

I was wondering actually why we even need an allrounder. Our top 5 is the world's best by a little way...add Gilly to that and do we need another batsmen?

How about this one...devastating bowling attack.

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Gilchrist
7. Lee
8. Warne
9. Tait
10. Johnson
11. McGrath

There's more than a few "experts" saying this. I don't think it is a bad idea although Gilly's form is a bit inconsistent these days. If you could rely on Gilly of old, then I'd be all over it!

Grimreepah

21st November 2006, 09:22

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Gilchrist
7. Lee
8. Warne
9. Tait
10. Johnson
11. McGrath

I don't mind it Snuka. I believe that we have got to get Tait in there somehow. McGrath is more line and length wear you down, Johnson has yet to prove himself, and Lee is over rated. Tait is the one fast bowler that could destroy England, and while he might need two keepers, he does consistently gets wickets.

footy_paul

21st November 2006, 12:08

lionlova

21st November 2006, 17:31

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Clarke (of the pup variety
7. Gilchrist
8. Lee
9. Warne
10. Johnson
11. McGrath

12. Tait, i dont like clark by the way i reckon he looks like an arrogant prick

Really? I think of him as the opposite. He seems like one of the nicer and more approachable guys from the team.

Snuka

22nd November 2006, 01:11

Just read on ABC online that Watson definitely not playing and M Clarke sure to get a run. Not sure if he's the next best bat in Australia but selectors do love the pup.

Grimreepah

3rd January 2007, 21:29

I'm tipping Lee to be player of the series and expecting Martyn to have a huge summer.

Oops:D

Warwick

4th January 2007, 14:57

Oops:D
The ol' kiss of death again.

I was a huge fan of Marto, one of my favourite players and just loved watching him bat. Very similar to Mark Waugh.

I'm not too disappointed he retired early in the series, considering his replacement.

I did think Clark would play well this summer after watching a lot of him in SAfrica. That's why i definately had him in my team above the likes of Johnson and Tait. Although, i also said this, which cancels that out as well:

I don't think McGrath is safe for the entire summer either. He has not played at the top level for a while, and he is not getting any younger.

POBT

4th January 2007, 15:22

I did think Clark would play well this summer after watching a lot of him in SAfrica. That's why i definately had him in my team above the likes of Johnson and Tait.

I genuinely think that Johnson or Tait would have been preferred to Clark by the selectors had Watson been fit. We can't say how those guys would have gone had they been selected but given Clark is now spoken about as leading our attack until the next Ashes, things have worked out OK!

Clark's performance looks very good on paper but the thing I have enjoyed most is his ability to get crucial wickets with good balls. He's been the one to break partnerships or dismiss a batsman on a roll. The thing that worries me most about the retirements of Warne and McGrath is that not having anyone to get the vital breakthrough when the game is getting away from us. Clark is showing that ability. Even if his average ends up being closer to 30 than 20, if he always retains the ability to take the key wicket, he will be a really valuable bowler for us.