Australia Test squad - 2014

[PaddyO]

Because you felt bruised after coming up short in every argument?

You are the true internet hero. You own everyone.

Well done.

 

[Ian Dargie]

You are the true internet hero. You own everyone.

Well done.

How's it going? Tell me, have you decided whether performance should be a factor in selection or not?

You were having some difficulty making up your mind last time we chatted.

 

[PaddyO]

How's it going? Tell me, have you decided whether performance should be a factor in selection or not?

You were having some difficulty making up your mind last time we chatted.

Bravo oh internet hero. Bravo.

 

[Ian Dargie]

Bravo oh internet hero. Bravo.

Did you pipe up just to congratulate me?

If so, come back anytime.

 

[carnthemlions]

Why's that? We need to?

If someone wants to lock in Watson because he's 'good for 20-30', I'd suggest that invites a follow-up question. Is that now the threshold for being an automatic selection?

We need to stop having the debate as in Watto shouldn't be in the side.
I think we agree here.

 

[Ian Dargie]

We need to stop having the debate as in Watto shouldn't be in the side.

Why's that?

 

[frankrizzo]

Really? How so. Warner looks very assured against spin to me. Uses his feet really well and doesn't get pushed back onto his stumps like Watto does/will against decent spin.

He thumps spin on hard bouncy aus/SA pitches but warner has looked all at sea on slower tracks and big turning tracks in india/wi/eng.

I would say warner is like a lot of our blokes that way, on our pitches they just look to murder spinners but as soon as they get in spinning conditions which require them to actually have a game plan outside of hit and hope they look lost.

Warner or watto or any number of our blokes i would back them to give ashwin and jadeja a good old thump at home in a few months time but i wouldn't back any of them to average over 30 in india vs those same bowlers.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

1. Warner (not yet done a thing on low slow decks, India was horrid for him even against medium pace; but has done well in Aus and South Africa so deservedly keeps his spot and hopefully adjusts)
   
2. Hughes (don't want to play him, but you can only pick from what is available)
3. Rogers (yes, it breaks the opening partnership but it keeps Hughes and Watson away from starting against spin)
   
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Maxwell (don't want to play him, but you can only pick from what is available - basically as a batsman, Smith as the back-up spinner; could easily be Watson at #6 except, well, spinners)
   
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Starc (don't want to play him, but you can only pick from what is available and while conditions might favour two spinners Australia's options agains a team who can play spin do not - O'Keefe is no Herath)
   
10. Siddle (going to need to do a lot of work in both games)
    
11. Lyon (considered O'Keefe, as the bounce that Lyon uses won't be there, but keep Lyon at least for the first)

In short, we have maybe half a team for the conditions. And its not even likely to be rank turners, just low, slow, with moderate spin.

Could drop Starc, with Marsh at any of 6, 7 or 8.

I'd rather have the Rug than Starc at present as a second paceman.

 

[The_Reaper]

And that's a good thing?

No. But it's more than I expect from Hughes or Doolan

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I'd rather have the Rug than Starc at present as a second paceman.

Doug's not in the squad is he? I'd have him, Butterworth, Behrendorff, maybe Cutting or Bird ahead of Starc. But the squad is the squad.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Doug's not in the squad is he? I'd have him, Butterworth, Behrendorff, maybe Cutting or Bird ahead of Starc. But the squad is the squad.

No, he's not, I'm just whinging.

 

[Ian Dargie]

No. But it's more than I expect from Hughes or Doolan

You want to stick with Mr 20-30 while also drawing a line through all the alternatives.

That's nonsense. If Watson can't do better than that, we have to give other players an opportunity.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Watson ruled out of the UAE tour anyway now.

http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list...uae-tour-against-pakistan-with-injury-setback

Hilfenhaus called up as his replacement for the Tests.

The Tasmanian Tigers paceman took 21 wickets at an average of 34.47 last season in the Sheffield Shield and spent time training with Australia assistant coach Craig McDermott during the Australia A tour in Townsville last month.

 

[eth-dog]

Warner
Rogers
Doolan
Smith
Maxwell
M Marsh
Haddin (c, +)
Johnson
Starc
Lyon
Siddle

 

[Kyptastic]

Glad for Hilfy. Hopefully he gets at least one more test match so he can get off the 99 test wickets that he's currently on.

 

[The_Reaper]

Watson ruled out of the UAE tour anyway now.

http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list...uae-tour-against-pakistan-with-injury-setback

Hilfenhaus called up as his replacement for the Tests.

Good news for Marsh

 

[southernswannies]

Rogers
Warner
Doolan
Clarke/Maxwell
Smith
M. Marsh
Haddin
O'Keefe
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Lyon

Seriously lack of batting depth on the tour, no matter how much you want to believe Hughes has improved against spin.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Good news for Marsh

Too many all-rounders in the squad already, hope Hilfy gets to play so he can have a crack at 100 test wickets.

If Clarke doesn't play, the batting looks ordinary to put it mildly.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Glad for Hilfy. Hopefully he gets at least one more test match so he can get off the 99 test wickets that he's currently on.

Let him bat at three too!

 

[Phone]

Let him bat at three too!

he's no kane richardson

 

[Doodlesweaver]

he's no kane richardson

Neither is Kane these days...

 

[PaddyO]

If we play Siddle, Hilfy and Johnson together, FMD....

 

[Power Raid]

geez that is a second rank test side

I can't believe how shallow our batting line up is

 

[Ian Dargie]

Watson ruled out of the UAE tour anyway now.

So Marsh/Maxwell at No.6.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Have to assume Marsh/Maxwell at No.6?

Yep, you'd think so.