Your Australia Test XI

Remove this Banner Ad

No love for Beer? Despite the understandable angst surrounding his seemingly premature selection, he is a fine spinner, and showed signs today (even with his one mistake).

Anyway, to answer your question...

Shaun Marsh
Tim Paine (+)
Usman Khawaja
Michael Clarke (c)
Mike Hussey
Shane Watson
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Michael Beer
Trent Copeland
12th - Clint McKay

I like Haddin at 7, and would keep him in the lower order even if Paine comes in. Paine and Marsh are both capable of opening, and should be doing so for their states. Watson drops down due to poor conversion.
 
I would love this...

Mark Cosgrove
Phil Hughes
Usman Khawaja
Shaun Marsh
Callum Ferguson
Andrew McDonald
Tim Paine
Steve O'Keefe
Ryan Harris
Trent Copeland
Peter George

Nic Maddinson
Steve Smith
James Pattinson
James Faulkner

Now that is a team I could actually get behind. Maybe Australia A at least...
 

Log in to remove this ad.

PumpyChowdown said:
Openers

1. Maddinson - Katich is just about done, time to really bite the bullet and inject the best youth.
2. Hughes - All the talent in the world, but some obvious flaws which I expect he'll overcome.

Middle Order

3. Khawaja - Has the runs on the board, best state batsmen of the last couple of years and impressive Test debut.
4. Clarke - Will be a long term Captain and will turn this current form slump around.
5. Hussey - Deserves one more season, though now very long in the tooth - provides excellent experience and leadership.
6. Watson - Solid batsmen but will never be a star, drop down the order and perhaps increase his very good bowling.

Wicket Keeper

7. Haddin - No reason to be dropped...yet. Paine must be breathing down his neck though.

Allrounder

8. Faulkner - Best all-round prospect in the country along with Steve Smith - could probably interchange with Smith depending on the pitch.

Bowlers

9. Johnson - Needs consistency but extremely damaging when on and can bat well.
10. Hauritz - I looked at all the younger prospects and no one stacks up at the moment - still our best spin option and batting has improved to be almost an allrounder.
11. Copeland - Clearly our next fast bowler.

This side has a good mix of youth and experience, can bat down to 10 to provide excellent depth. Strike bowling is perhaps be a little thin and if that's the case, then Siddle/Hilfy could come in in place of Faulkner/Smith.
Click to expand...

Not a bad team at all, I would probably swap Maddinson for Ponting, give Clarke the captaincy, and have Ponting bat at 5 or 6 with Watson opening. Ponting is a good captain, but would rather see him concentrate on his batting for his last year or two in test cricket. Might free him up a bit.
 
Change it NOW: put players in instead of Pretty boys

Cosgrove
Katich/Watson
Kawaja
Hussey M
Watson /Hughes
Haddin(Cptn)
Bailey VC
Paine
Pattinson
Johnson
O'Keefe
George

If Katich is not playing Watson to open Hughes at 6

Marsh,Ferguson, Smith, Voges, North should never get a look in, too weak and over promoted considering their talent or lack of,(no Match winners)

Maddinson will be OK, maybe special
Beaton will be OK maybe special
 
If you're making your 11 for our next test match vs Bangladesh or Sri Lanka and you don't pick two spinners, you've almost got to pick Smith at 6 (and hence the reason why I think we're picking Smith at 6 currently) - we simply won't win test matches on the subcontinent on many of the pitches without a second spinner. For the Sri Lankan tour, what I'd like to see is:

Hughes - must persist.
Watson - prefer him at 4.
Khawaja - future gun
Clarke - like it or lump it, he'll captain the side in Sri Lanka
M. Hussey
Smith - I'd prefer D.Hussey, Marsh/Ferguson, etc, but we need at least two spinners
Haddin
O'Keefe - or Hauritz
Johnson
Siddle
Copeland / Bollinger

Honestly think two seamers and Watson will likely be sufficient on some of the pitches we'll play on. Australian selectors rarely choose two spinners which is why I've got Smith at 6 - we'll need the second spin option. However if the selectors wanted to sure up the batting:

Katich
Hughes
Khawaja
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
O'Keefe
Hauritz / Beer
Johnson / Siddle
Bollinger / Hilfenhaus / Copeland

O'Keefe has bowled well to Sri Lankans before (admittedly in the top end tour) and I think he'd bowl better than Hauritz or Beer on the subcontinent. We may as well utilize Watson's bowling by dropping him to 4 (or lower) and playing him as the third seamer.

Seriously, if we go in with three quicks and Watson on an absolute dustbowl but only play the one spinner I'll be furious.
 
Katich (c) (Only as interim captain until Clarke finds form/somebody else steps up)
Watson
Khawaja
Clarke
Hussey (as soon as his form slumps again, gone)
Ponting (two series to find form or else gone)
Anyone but Haddin
Johnson (as with Ponting)
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

----------------

Next bats in line:
Opener to replace Katich: Dunno
Middle-order to replace Ponting and Hussey: White and dunno

:thumbsu:
 
A few possible lineups:

1) Maddinson/Lynn (the problem with getting these two in is that there would be two inexperienced openers - a potentially risky maneuver)
2) Hughes
3) Khawaja
4) Watson (has been more productive around here for QLD/NSW)
5) Hussey
6) Clarke (and possibly Ponting and White, but Clarke is probably the best option, in light of age, fitness, technique, etc)
7) Haddin
8) Johnson (have to include him because he is our designated attack leader, capable of getting wickets on any surface - but I wish he was more consistent)
9) Hauritz (our best performed spinner - can also bat and field)/Butterworth (WACA only)
10) Copeland (would be our stock bowler, constricting the runs)
11) 'horses for courses' (best bowler for best conditions - Siddle at the MCG, Bollinger at the SCG, maybe Hilfenhaus in Hobart, maybe O'Keefe in the sub-continent, etc)

You could also replace Hauritz for somebody like Butterworth when we play in the WACA. His seamers are useful and he can bat too (though I don't know what his WACA record is like).

Another lineup:
1) Watson
2) Hughes
3) Khawaja
4) Marsh
5) Hussey
6) Clarke
7) Haddin
8) Johnson
9) Hauritz/Butterworth at WACA
10) Copeland
11) 'horses for courses'

This way, you don't have two inexperienced openers. As soon as Hussey retires, Maddinson and Lynn will hopefully be ready to go and Hughes will have more Test experience under his belt. Marsh is the best-performing high-middle order batsman that there is.

My 3rd preferred one:
1) Klinger (has been in outstanding FC form recently)
2) Hughes
3) Khawaja
4) Watson
5) Hussey
6) Clarke
7) Haddin
8) Johnson
9) Hauritz/Butterworth at WACA
10) Copeland
11) 'horses for courses'

Klinger could come in, do a job for up to five years whilst Watson goes down the order, then as soon as Hussey retires, Ferguson can slot in at #6 whilst Clarke moves up to #5. Then when Klinger goes, hopefully Maddinson/Lynn will be ready.

Players that I have not considered:
Paine: Second-choice behind Haddin.
Smith: Enormously talented, but currently just a bits-and-pieces player.
Pattinson/Hazlewood/Hastings/George: Horses-for-courses selections at best and even then I'd prefer more established bowlers if possible.
Swan/Harris: Swan is aging and would be a horses-for-courses selection at best, whilst Harris has the survivability of Ledley King. Perhaps he should retire to focus on ODI's, where he will likely be at his damaging best.
Faulkner: Needs more time at FC level.
Starc: Not good enough at FC level.
McKay: His role is filled by Copeland. Maybe he could replace Copeland if he is injured. He also bowls a little too short to be effective at the WACA.
Robinson: Klinger is a better candidate.
Cosgrove: Lousy fitness + undisciplined + not the best performing opener + manufactured opener
Beer: Technically good, but probably needs to prove himself at the FC level.
David Hussey: Would have to be an instant hit and even if he was, he would probably leave in a few years. We don't need more chopping and changing.
Katich: Age and injury are a factor. Klinger would be a better candidate.
Bailey: Awful FC season.
McDonald: Excellent FC form, but he is currently injured, is approaching 30 and strikes as one of those players who could be just another bits-and-pieces player in FC cricket. His batting technique didn't convince, whilst his bowling is usually fairly miserly, but not particularly quick or incisive.
 
Marsh
Watson
Khwaja
Hussey
Ponting
White
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Hilfy
Beer

We need to get a specialist number 6 in. White has proven in the one dayers he can handle pressure and seems to bat well when under pressure in Shield cricket. I would like to see some young pace bowlers coming into the side. Pattinson and Hazlewood would probably be the pick of them if they are fit. M Clarke has failed too many times under pressure, Smith is a joke.
 
Marsh
Maddison
Khawaja
Ponting
Hussey
Watson
Paine
Johnson
Siddle
????? a young gun fast bowler not Hilf
Beer

Clarke back in FC cricket till he starts making runs again (this will never happen)
 
Being a Chelsea supporter suprises me you dont have any mercenaries
A few possible lineups:

1) Maddinson/Lynn (the problem with getting these two in is that there would be two inexperienced openers - a potentially risky maneuver) to early for both Cosgrove, Katich, Klinger,
2) Hughes (needs to get SS Runs)
3) Khawaja (OK)
4) Watson (has been more productive around here for QLD/NSW) (OK)
5) Hussey (getting on)
6) Clarke (and possibly Ponting and White, but Clarke is probably the best option, in light of age, fitness, technique, etc)( Should never play for Australia again)
7) Haddin (Manou best keeper, but Paine younger)
8) Johnson (have to include him because he is our designated attack leader, capable of getting wickets on any surface - but I wish he was more consistent) (agree)
9) Hauritz (our best performed spinner - can also bat and field)/Butterworth (WACA only) Agree
10) Copeland (would be our stock bowler, constricting the runs) George possible
11) 'horses for courses' (best bowler for best conditions - Siddle at the MCG, Bollinger at the SCG, maybe Hilfenhaus in Hobart, maybe O'Keefe in the sub-continent, etc) Agree

You could also replace Hauritz for somebody like Butterworth when we play in the WACA. His seamers are useful and he can bat too (though I don't know what his WACA record is like).agree

Another lineup:
1) Watson
2) Katich,Cosgrove,(for either Watson or Katich)
3) Khawaja (ok)
4) Hussey M
5) Watson,Marsh (not good enough)
6) Ponting (next 3 tests) then Hughes (if he makes runs)
7) Haddin
8) Johnson
9) Hauritz/Butterworth at WACA
10) Copeland
11) 'horses for courses'

This way, you don't have two inexperienced openers. As soon as Hussey retires, Maddinson and Lynn will hopefully be ready to go and Hughes will have more (SS experience )Test experience under his belt??. Marsh is the best-performing high-middle order batsman that there is. (Marsh overated)

Klinger could come in, do a job for up to five years whilst Watson goes down the order, then as soon as Hussey retires, Ferguson can slot in at #6 (Overated)whilst Clarke moves up to #5.(should not be there) Then when Klinger goes, hopefully Maddinson/Lynn will be ready.

Players that I have not considered:
Paine: Second-choice behind Haddin.
Smith: Enormously talented, but currently just a bits-and-pieces player.(overated and over hyped)
Pattinson/Hazlewood/Hastings/George: Horses-for-courses selections at best and even then I'd prefer more established bowlers if possible.
Swan/Harris: Swan is aging and would be a horses-for-courses selection at best, whilst Harris has the survivability of Ledley King. Perhaps he should retire to focus on ODI's, where he will likely be at his damaging best. (Both aged)
Faulkner: Needs more time at FC level.
Starc: Not good enough at FC level.
McKay: His role is filled by Copeland. Maybe he could replace Copeland if he is injured. He also bowls a little too short to be effective at the WACA.
Robinson: Klinger is a better candidate.
Cosgrove: Lousy fitness + undisciplined + not the best performing opener + manufactured opener (Opened for SA makes runs anywhere especially when he opens or 3 check stats) can’t see how you are unfit and undisciplined if you played 8 seasons of SS and does not seem to get injured.
Beer: Technically good, but probably needs to prove himself at the FC level.
David Hussey: Would have to be an instant hit and even if he was, he would probably leave in a few years. We don't need more chopping and changing.
Katich: Age and injury are a factor. Klinger would be a better candidate. (Thought Klinger would have got a game this year, disappointed he didn’t)
Bailey: Awful FC season. Bailey Better captain material than most worth considering in any form.(.just as captain)
McDonald: Excellent FC form, but he is currently injured, is approaching 30 and strikes as one of those players who could be just another bits-and-pieces player in FC cricket. His batting technique didn't convince, whilst his bowling is usually fairly miserly, but not particularly quick or incisive.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Katich
Hughes
Khawaja
Watson
Clarke (c)
Hussey
Haddin
O'Keefe
Copeland
Siddle
Johnson/Bollinger (Obv if johnson he's further up the order) - Hilf in contention in England/SAf/NZ but no where else

Pattinson and Hazlewood are a while off yet, as is Maddinson, Hill and Smith really

Haddin will eventually be replaced by one of Paine or Wade, personally I hope Wade improves his glovework enough to justify being selected ahead of Paine, who's neither a great keeper or batsmen.

Katich and Hussey to be replaced over the next two years, hopefully an opener puts his hand up, and Hussey could be any of White Smith Ferg Marsh Lynn, depending on if they can show some decent form in the Shield (enough to turn around mediocre careers in the cases of Marsh and Ferg)
 
Gavin Excell said:
just out of interest why do people support Hughes?

Has ordinary average, technique and temperament.

His spot is iffy
Click to expand...

Would agree on two points, but an FC average of 50 and Test average over 40 at his age is not "ordinary"
 
My Test XI for 1st Test v SL:

Hughes
Katich
Khawaja
Clarke
M.Hussey
Watson
Paine
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Beer
Siddle

Bollinger (12th)
 
DaRick said:
Cosgrove: Lousy fitness + undisciplined + not the best performing opener + manufactured opener
Click to expand...

Wait, what?

Cosgrove is a natural opening batsman, a large part of his inconsistency with the Redbacks was due to them not playing him where he is most comfortable. You just have to look at what he did with Glamorgan to see what happens when you show faith in him. And stats would suggest that he is in fact the best performing opener.

He wont get picked for Australia, but I do enjoy the fact that I'm not the only one talking him up anymore.
 
Chris25 said:
Wait, what?

Cosgrove is a natural opening batsman, a large part of his inconsistency with the Redbacks was due to them not playing him where he is most comfortable. You just have to look at what he did with Glamorgan to see what happens when you show faith in him. And stats would suggest that he is in fact the best performing opener.
Click to expand...

Hmm...perhaps I was wrong, but he was always compared to Darren Lehmann, was he not? Partially for his size, but also for where he batted? Admittedly, he is a bit more versatile than Lehmann (who hardly ever opened). He also averages around 42-43 this season there (unless I'm much mistaken). Klinger averages more at #3 (arguably a more difficult position) and has opened in the past, unless I'm much mistaken.
 
Watson
Hughes (Katich if fit, Hughes needs more Shield cricket)
Khawaja
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Hauritz (O'Keefe if NSW would play him)
Johnson
Harris
Copeland

Apologies to Bollinger, Smith and Hilfenhaus with Maddinson and Pattinson waiting in the wings.
 
Haven't read entire thread, but my thoughts

Haddin (give up the keeping and become a specialist batsman, sangakkara esk)
Hughes/Maddinson/Cosgrove (H/M raw and look good, but if hughes can't fix his deficiencies, not worth persisting with. If both are too raw, would be awesome fun watching cosgrove open)
Khawaja (gun)
Clarke (too good a batsman to not get over slump.)
Hussey
Watson (focus on bowling more)
Paine (Specialist Keeper)
Hauritz (deserves to be in the side based on form)
Hilfenhaus/Siddle/Johnson/Bollinger (depending on form, conditioning, pitch and temperament)
Harris (assuming injury free)
Copeland (never seen him bowl but sounds good)
 
Before naming my TEST XI, David Saker made an interesting point in today's Age. He made the comment that our batsmen are the problem. It appears that our batters do not know how to build an innings and they do not know where their off stump is. They seem to be playing with HARD HANDS and they want to hit every ball to the boundary instead of working the ball for singles.

Back in the late 80s and 90s, England were in a similar situation to us. Their batsmen were being dismissed in a similar fashion to our batters of today. They were fishing at balls outside off stump and playing with hard hands. They wanted to score runs in a test match environment by taking a one day attitude to batting.

Hence, it makes you wonder if our test batters need to play more Shield Cricket and whether CA need to adopt a professional approach in a similar manner to AFL clubs. Our test cricketers are professional sportsmen who are getting paid mega bucks to play for Australia. Yet, they do not behave like an AFL footballer who attends training sessions during the season from Monday to Friday.

Would not it be better for CA to establish a base for our test cricketers in Australia during the cricket season where they can review their pass performances and prepare for the up and coming shield games and test matches? With the AB field being the base for our Cricket Academy, I think Brisbane would be an excellent home base for our test squad to train and review their performances in the lead up to test matches etc.

We are lagging behind the eight ball at the minute whilst England, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka have made gigantic leaps in their preparation fo test cricket. It is up to us to make a step forward and defy the traditional cricket conventions of the pass. We did it in the 80s when dear old Bobby Simpson was appointed coach and we introduced an AIS Cricket Academy in Adelaide in 1987. Did not other nations laugh at us?

Here is my TEST XI

Mark Cosgrove
Shane Watson
Usman Khawaja
Ricky Ponting (CAPTAIN)
Michael CLarke
Aaron Finch
Tim Paine
Stephen Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
James Pattinson

THE GOV
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Australia test squad for NZ tour
Replies
18
Views
615
Gough
Gough
1990crow
  • Poll
Test World Test XI vs Australia
Replies
7
Views
903
samFFC
samFFC
Gough
  • Poll
2nd Test New Zealand v Australia March 8-12 0830hrs @ Hagley Oval
140 141 142 143 144
Replies
4K
Views
52K
JackOutback
JackOutback
Gough
  • Poll
1st Test New Zealand v Australia Feb 29-Mar 4 0830hrs @ the Basin Reserve
123 124 125 126 127
Replies
3K
Views
55K
Art Vandelay_
Art Vandelay_
Gough
  • Poll
2nd Test Australia v West Indies Jan 25-29 1430hrs @ the Gabba
192 193 194 195 196
Replies
5K
Views
88K
BGman
BGman
Gough
  • Poll
Third Test Australia v Pakistan Jan 3-7 1000hrs @ the SCG
167 168 169 170 171
Replies
4K
Views
79K
Tonga Bob
Tonga Bob
Gough
  • Poll
2nd Test Australia v Pakistan Dec 26--30 1000hrs @ the MCG
184 185 186 187 188
Replies
5K
Views
88K
Manbearpig77
M

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top