Australia Test squad - 2014
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I wonder if Mitch Marsh might get a run if they go with two spinners
LukeParkerno1
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Who is he replacing in the top 6?
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As long as Watson's fit to bowl he won't.
Watto to 3 and Marsh to 6?
Doolan and Shaun Marsh are injured and I'm actually not sure if Watto can bowl enough overs to be the third quick.
LukeParkerno1
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Yikes! Watson has been really good at 6, lets keep him there please. The option might be Steve Smith at 3?
Who else have we got to bat at 3?
Hughes would be the other possibility.
It would only be a two test thing if we play two spinners - which we won't in Australia or England (and probably wouldn't it Bird, Harris, Pattinson were fit) and because our two first choice number 3s aren't available.
LukeParkerno1
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Hughes is the single worst option. Steve Smith would do a job but I worry whether we are sort of forcing it on him. He is a gun, but he is only 12 months into his career.
I can't see how he's ready to bat in the top 6 in test matches. Or even at 7. I guess if they go with Starc and Johnson as two seamers it might be more likely that he'd jump Faulkner but really, just no, not yet.
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Watson injured again.
If he's not fit by the Pakistan series, what's everyone's line up?
I think Maxwell is probably the bloke to come in at 6, a better batsman than Faulkner and spin is valuable over there.
1. Rogers
2. Warner
3. Hughes
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Maxwell
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Pattinson
10. Bird
11. Lyon
If he's not fit by the Pakistan series, what's everyone's line up?
I think Maxwell is probably the bloke to come in at 6, a better batsman than Faulkner and spin is valuable over there.
1. Rogers
2. Warner
3. Hughes
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Maxwell
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Pattinson
10. Bird
11. Lyon
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Ugh. Dunno how a Bird, Johnson, Siddle attack would work. Especially if Watson is injured.
I'm not even sure if Bird will recover on time.
I don't envy the selectors for this tour. I can't pick a squad, or even the basis for one.
Play two spinners or not? If not, does that mean playing Maxwell or can Smith do the back-up spinner role (I think he is at least as dangerous a bowlers as Maxwell)?
If Lyon and O'Keefe play, does that mean playing Henriques - or going to a more tradition "six batsmen" structure (my favoured option, but selectors like all-rounders)?
Obviouly Warner plays, but he ha barely scored a Test run on pitches where the ball doesn't come onto the bat. South Africa was the first time he'd performed overseas.
As for the pacemen, can Siddle be picked if only two quicks are selected for the eleven (playing two front line spinners) given he isn't a strike bowler? On the other hand he can bowl a lot of overs reliably, so he can he be missing if only two quicks are in the eleven?
Which Johnson will turn up? He actually strung together two very good series (to my complete shock) but on lifeless pitches with no carry and a long time between then and the next series, can he be relied on?
And that is without the injuries, the Watson dilemma, the hole at number three, or a general inability in much of the side to play spin.
Play two spinners or not? If not, does that mean playing Maxwell or can Smith do the back-up spinner role (I think he is at least as dangerous a bowlers as Maxwell)?
If Lyon and O'Keefe play, does that mean playing Henriques - or going to a more tradition "six batsmen" structure (my favoured option, but selectors like all-rounders)?
Obviouly Warner plays, but he ha barely scored a Test run on pitches where the ball doesn't come onto the bat. South Africa was the first time he'd performed overseas.
As for the pacemen, can Siddle be picked if only two quicks are selected for the eleven (playing two front line spinners) given he isn't a strike bowler? On the other hand he can bowl a lot of overs reliably, so he can he be missing if only two quicks are in the eleven?
Which Johnson will turn up? He actually strung together two very good series (to my complete shock) but on lifeless pitches with no carry and a long time between then and the next series, can he be relied on?
And that is without the injuries, the Watson dilemma, the hole at number three, or a general inability in much of the side to play spin.
I'd like to see O'Keefe given a go but what that means for the rest of the team, I'm damned if I know. Could see Henriques being in there as a batting all-rounder but he's hardly a like for like in bowling terms and seems highly non-dangerous as a third seamer.
No fecking idea about Johnson, he's more relaxed with Harris alongside him as he likes to think of himself as a wingman rather than a leader of the attack. I wouldn't expect him to keep averaging seven wickets a match, that is unfair on him.
If we do go down the route of two spinners (assuming Bird, Watson and Doolan aren't fit)
1. Warner
2. Rogers
3. Hughes
4. Clarke*
5. Smith
6. M.Marsh/Henriques (only one makes the touring squad)
7. Haddin+
8. O'Keefe
9. Johnson
10. Siddle
11. Lyon
12. Maxwell
13. Faulkner
14. Starc/Sayers
Or if we go down the route of three quicks + Maxwell
1. Warner
2. Rogers
3. Hughes
4. Clarke*
5. Smith
6. Maxwell
7. Haddin+
8. Faulkner
9. Johnson
10. Siddle
11. Lyon
12. Starc/Sayers
13. Insert possible batsman
14. O'Keefe
I guess we could put Smith in at number 3 where he has recently batted for NSW but I would be reluctant to do that.
1. Warner
2. Rogers
3. Hughes
4. Clarke*
5. Smith
6. M.Marsh/Henriques (only one makes the touring squad)
7. Haddin+
8. O'Keefe
9. Johnson
10. Siddle
11. Lyon
12. Maxwell
13. Faulkner
14. Starc/Sayers
Or if we go down the route of three quicks + Maxwell
1. Warner
2. Rogers
3. Hughes
4. Clarke*
5. Smith
6. Maxwell
7. Haddin+
8. Faulkner
9. Johnson
10. Siddle
11. Lyon
12. Starc/Sayers
13. Insert possible batsman
14. O'Keefe
I guess we could put Smith in at number 3 where he has recently batted for NSW but I would be reluctant to do that.
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I think Hughes will still go on to play a lot of Test cricket. I'm not sure that Pakistan in the UAE would suit him at this stage though.
But that leaves the question of who is a better option, and I'm not finsing any certainties.
But that leaves the question of who is a better option, and I'm not finsing any certainties.
Considering the all-round frailties of our batting, there isn't any.
I'm not a huge fan of O'Keefe, but Faulkner as a test bowler has me less inspired. So I'd be more inclined to go with your first side.
Then again, I'd like to see Maxwell bat at 6 in the UAE.
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Two specialist spinners in our starting line up? No thanks. We're lucky to have one Test grade spinner at a time.
Maxwell/Clarke/Smith can suffice as Lyon's back up.
Maxwell/Clarke/Smith can suffice as Lyon's back up.
I'd probably agree on playing one spiner, but it has to be considered given the depleted pace attack and the nature of the venue. I'd probably be taking both Lyon and O'Keefe in the squad, but be expecting to only play Lyon.
I think we can safely assume Clarke will not bowl again, at least not in spells of more than 2-3 overs. And then only if the side has been in the field for a long time already.
Coults is injured as well
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