Australia Test squad - 2014

[LukeParkerno1]

Maxwell is not petrified enough of any bowling. Hence the brain farts.

Yes but I worry about Hughes against spin, he is still getting out to spin all the time

 

[The_Reaper]

Wouldthey consider giving Smith a go at captaincy? Haddin is there anyway, so he can always help.

Lehmann said Haddin would captain.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Lehmann said Haddin would captain.

Yes just read it. Actually a bit surprised, this would be the perfect opportunity to trial a new captain. We know what Haddin and to and extent Watson can do.

 

[bird_man]

Would seem strange not to give the VC the job when the captain is out... Will be interesting to see what happens with the lineup if Clarke doesn't play though. Hughes has a massive weakness against spin and I'm not sure Maxwell is the right replacement for a reliable Clarke.

Judging from a few quotes from Rod Marsh and Lehman, I have a feeling the selectors are really putting the heat on Maxwell to try and get his head straight though which may mean he isn't far off a recall.

Rogers
Warner
Doolan
Smith
Watson
Maxwell/Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
O'Keefe
Siddle
Lyon

 

[The_Reaper]

Would seem strange not to give the VC the job when the captain is out... Will be interesting to see what happens with the lineup if Clarke doesn't play though. Hughes has a massive weakness against spin and I'm not sure Maxwell is the right replacement for a reliable Clarke.

Judging from a few quotes from Rod Marsh and Lehman, I have a feeling the selectors are really putting the heat on Maxwell to try and get his head straight though which may mean he isn't far off a recall.

Rogers
Warner
Doolan
Smith
Watson
Maxwell/Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
O'Keefe
Siddle
Lyon

From Marsh's comments about Maxwell

"He hasn't done enough to warrant selection". "He is the x-factor". "He has a very good record against Ajmal". "Technically I think he's a very fine batsman". "Technically I don't think he's a fine bowler". "He could play both Test matches". "He could play no Test matches".

To me that sounds like he was a hail mary option if Clarke didn't get up.

Ajmal's suspension might change that

 

[PaddyO]

If Clarke doesn't play, they've gotta play a proper middle order batsman, surely. Not MMarsh or Maxwell together.

 

[western royboy]

If Clarke doesn't play, they've gotta play a proper middle order batsman, surely. Not MMarsh or Maxwell together.

Fairly slim shady batting line up sans Clarke

 

[bird_man]

If Clarke doesn't play, they've gotta play a proper middle order batsman, surely. Not MMarsh or Maxwell together.

Who are you thinking?

 

[western royboy]

Who are you thinking?

Warner
Rogers
Doolan
Watson
Smith
Marsh / Maxwell
Haddin (c)
Johnson
Starc
Siddle
Lyon / O'Keefe

That's what they'll go with.

 

[bird_man]

Warner
Rogers
Doolan
Watson
Smith
Marsh / Maxwell
Haddin (c)
Johnson
Starc
Siddle
Lyon / O'Keefe

That's what they'll go with.

Lyon will definitely play, if O'Keefe plays it will be at the expense of Siddle or Starc. And if you have Marsh and Watson in your side I'd expect to see both spinners.

 

[western royboy]

Lyon will definitely play, if O'Keefe plays it will be at the expense of Siddle or Starc. And if you have Marsh and Watson in your side I'd expect to see both spinners.

Lyon and O'Keefe is a closer call than most think. Watson is no guarantee to bowl. If they want a second spinner, Maxwell will play instead of Marsh.

 

[bird_man]

Lyon and O'Keefe is a closer call than most think. Watson is no guarantee to bowl. If they want a second spinner, Maxwell will play instead of Marsh.

While I agree that Maxwell might be he second spinner, I can't see Lyon not getting a game, why would you drop him?

 

[Cleavy]

If you're playing both left arm seamers (Johnson and Starc), you would definitely want an off spinner to bowl into the footmarks

 

[frankrizzo]

Lyon and O'Keefe is a closer call than most think.

Really?

Our selectors already treated lyon poorly at the start of the tour to england after he bowled well at the back end of the indian tour, surely they understand that an offie bowling mostly in australia with 100+ wickets@32 is a more than decent test match bowler.

Lyon ain't shane warne but he is clearly our best test spinner and shouldn't have been left out for doherty,agar and now possibly o keefe.

p.s. I know you have inside info so what you're saying is a worry, it was boof and marsh that dumped lyon in england but i assume it's our new head selector and not boof that doesn't rate lyon?

 

[southernswannies]

This is mirroring the India series last year too much. Maxwell around the squad and an all rounder who isn't ready for Test cricket (Henriques/Marsh).

We don't need either in the team. It really isn't a great position that we may have to dump Hughes in the middle order where he struggled with and ultimately fell out of form. Then again, it's not like SMarsh or Lynn could be called upon...

 

[The_Reaper]

While I agree that Maxwell might be he second spinner, I can't see Lyon not getting a game, why would you drop him?

Pakistan have a lot of right handers in their batting lineup and have struggled against the left handed spinners recently

 

[The_Reaper]

This is mirroring the India series last year too much. Maxwell around the squad and an all rounder who isn't ready for Test cricket (Henriques/Marsh).

We don't need either in the team. It really isn't a great position that we may have to dump Hughes in the middle order where he struggled with and ultimately fell out of form. Then again, it's not like SMarsh or Lynn could be called upon...

Marsh is injured. Otherwise he'd probably be in the team for the first test

 

[southernswannies]

Marsh is injured. Otherwise he'd probably be in the team for the first test

That's why I said he (and Lynn) can't be called up due to injury. Shortage of batsmen is becoming apparent, even when Marsh is so high up the list and attention being diverted away from the fact that Doolan may not last.

 

[The_Reaper]

That's why I said he (and Lynn) can't be called up due to injury. Shortage of batsmen is becoming apparent, even when Marsh is so high up the list and attention being diverted away from the fact that Doolan may not last.

Lynn is injured?

For how long?

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Lyon and O'Keefe is a closer call than most think. Watson is no guarantee to bowl. If they want a second spinner, Maxwell will play instead of Marsh.

If Watson is not a guarantee to bowl, have you heard anything on whether they will play him as a batsman only?

 

[PaddyO]

Who are you thinking?

It's time!

 

[western royboy]

If Watson is not a guarantee to bowl, have you heard anything on whether they will play him as a batsman only?

That's why he's in my side - if Clarke is out its a yes

 

[bird_man]

Pakistan have a lot of right handers in their batting lineup and have struggled against the left handed spinners recently

Which is why O'Keefe is a big chance to play... But it wont be at the expense of Lyon IMO.

 

[carnthemlions]

Warner
Rogers
Doolan
Watson
Smith
Marsh / Maxwell
Haddin (c)
Johnson
Starc
Siddle
Lyon / O'Keefe

That's what they'll go with.

There's a fair case for moving Smith up the order if Clarke is out. I'd be very nervous with the spinners likely to be on early- even with no Ajmal.

If Watson is not a guarantee to bowl, have you heard anything on whether they will play him as a batsman only?

No bowl, no play for Watto.

 

[The_Reaper]

There's a fair case for moving Smith up the order if Clarke is out. I'd be very nervous with the spinners likely to be on early- even with no Ajmal.

No bowl, no play for Watto.

The question nobody wants to have to answer- on a turner who do you back at number 3 - Watson, Hughes or Doolan?