Team for the 1st test Australia vs Sri lanka (Hobart)

[Carbine Chaos]

I think people are forgetting how valuable Watson can be with the bat.

Once he is back in with some continuity and clarity of position he'll be in our top few bats again.

 

[Bucking Beads]

The fact that he has the support of Ricky Ponting for a start.

Yeah and his buddy Shane Warne. What a crock. Quiney opens the batting in shield cricket anyway.

 

[Phone]

i remember last year when it was so great we were dropping hughes and finally getting a real opener in there.........

 

[iluvparis]

I think people are forgetting how valuable Watson can be with the bat.

Once he is back in with some continuity and clarity of position he'll be in our top few bats again.

No - we are remebering how average he has been with the bat over the last 18 months. He is barely test quality with the bat outside a brief period and it is a joke that he bats any higher than 6.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

No - we are remebering how average he has been with the bat over the last 18 months. He is barely test quality with the bat outside a brief period and it is a joke that he bats any higher than 6.

I want Watson at 6 as well, purely because his bowling is so valuable.

But he is easily Test quality with the bat. Whether or not he uses this talent all the time is the debatable aspect...

 

[holybishop]

The only reason I'd keep Watson is because of his bowling. He's a genuine wicket taker, he even has more 5-for's than hundreds, and the selectors have made it clear he needs to bowl to keep his spot in the side. Watson's ideal position would be 6 because it would allow him to bowl effectively while reducing how much it compromises his batting, but Clarke is near useless anywhere other than 5 and moving Hussey from 6 considering his age and questionable form before the SA tests could be fatal to his good form.

 

[i_hate_scams]

clarke has got a sore back and was told to rest from the BB this weekend, hastings as well.

hazlewood has got a sore foot (not sure how he didnt even play) and will be out of action for 4 weeks.

 

[Cleavy]

let's see what they come up with when they name the squad tomorrow...

 

[The_Reaper]

So Hazlewood and Hastings are injured?

What's wrong with our bowlers?

 

[Scotland]

Never fear, Moises Henriques will save the day.

 

[amer]

Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
Wade
Siddle
Cutting
Starc
Lyon

Quiney isn't good enough, we are wasting our time with old bastards and blokes who can't make runs against good attacks when they actually give a shit. Doolan and Hughes are the best performed players domestically, and it's understandable that Khawaja's name is being thrown around because of his ability against a backdrop of zero domestic talent. Pick the best one and persist until an outcome is clear. Rinse, repeat. It's not up to us. They should know how to bloody identify the best available batsman.

We need to get past this pattern of selecting blokes who don't have anything about them and who haven't done what is required to put it together. I call it the baffling ****** pattern. Doherty was one of the all time worst selections. Why did Andrew Symonds play injured against South Africa a few years back? How did Marcus North stay in the side for so long? Why has Ben Hilfenhaus, for all his talent, been given so many chances when he clearly doesn't do what is required to put his game together? Low arm, no variation, bullshit. He was a far better bowler at 23. Injuries or what, it doesn't matter. Not doing what is required, move him on. And how the hell did Hastings get a cap when there is nothing in his bowling to say he'll make it at test level? This worries the hell out of me, it says our selectors aren't looking at cricketers, they're looking at numbers.

Cutting is performing with bat and ball and is a better cricketer than Hastings. He's not in the same class as Pattinson or Cummins but is decent. Should play, probably won't. Can't wait to see Hilfenhaus take another dashing couple of 4fers, go to India and get absolutely walloped all over the ground. We'll sit there watching the urn remain in England and wish those half a dozen tests had been put into a bloke who could actually provide cover at this level.

 

[Fart Cummings]

Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Clarke-Has to move up hes one of the best in the world!
Hussey-till he retires then Usman
Watson-would be happy with him to ave an average of 35-40 here with bowling average under 30
Wade
Siddle
Starc
Bird
Lyon

 

[Zach Package]

I'd run with this

Warner
Cowan

Lock and load these two, they haven't really had that big opening stanza yet this summer, but they compliment each other really well, and I don't like change for the sake of change. Warner may never be as consistent as we want, but like a Jayasuria, sehwag or McCullum, he can pop a teams bubble very quickly and can take a game away from you before you know it. Cowan is pretty much the perfect foil, he's got an interesting technique, but he makes it work for him, and loves the scrap (something you can't really say about the rest of the top 7)

Doolan
Clarke
Hussey
Watson
Wade

I think the selectors will pick Hughes (which I'm fine with to be honest) but I'd go doolan here for a number of reasons.
He's in ripping form (so is Hughes).
Right handed bat (pick Hughes and you get 5 lefties in the top 7, which is pretty ridiculous).
He's a natural no. 3 (to be honest it's not a big deal, but if you add Hughes to the mix you then have essentially 4 opening bats)
The other big change in there is Watson to 6, which I think maximizes his potential as a bowler (when he builds some fitness) and also as a batsmen. For me he hasn't found a method for the top order in test matches, it's all well and good for the one day game, but even when he was in form, I think he still struggles with picking his spots and pacing his innings. Add to that what Ian Chappell said about his modes of dismissal and I think there's also a minor technical issue there also (he does tend to lunge forward a lot). I think he'd benefit hugely from the older ball, and he plays spin decently well as well which is always a quality you want in your no. 6.

Siddle
Cutting
Starc
Lyon
Siddle is a no brainer, starc was our best player in Perth, and Lyon is esconsed so there's one spot there up for grabs.
The selectors could stick with Johnson, but frankly I didn't think he deserved to play in Perth, and this is the 11 blokes I think can do the job in Hobart.
Therefore I've gone with Cutting here, he's bowling (and batting) very well at the moment, he's aggressive, and I reckon he (along with starc) he could really unsettle the Sri Lankans with some short stuff.

Not relevant to this test, but this time next year I hope guys like Burns, Maddinson, Keath, McDermott, Faulkner and Patterson are really starting to kick the door down, and guys like Hughes, Henriques, Bird, hazlewood and Cummins can continue to put up big numbers.

Apologies for what ended up being fairly rant-ish

 

[The 747]

Hughes for Ponting

Siddle for Hastings

Hilf for Johnson

Lock it in

 

[demon21]

Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
Wade
Siddle
Cutting
Starc
Lyon

Quiney isn't good enough, we are wasting our time with old bastards and blokes who can't make runs against good attacks when they actually give a shit. Doolan and Hughes are the best performed players domestically, and it's understandable that Khawaja's name is being thrown around because of his ability against a backdrop of zero domestic talent. Pick the best one and persist until an outcome is clear. Rinse, repeat. It's not up to us. They should know how to bloody identify the best available batsman.

We need to get past this pattern of selecting blokes who don't have anything about them and who haven't done what is required to put it together. I call it the baffling ****** pattern. Doherty was one of the all time worst selections. Why did Andrew Symonds play injured against South Africa a few years back? How did Marcus North stay in the side for so long? Why has Ben Hilfenhaus, for all his talent, been given so many chances when he clearly doesn't do what is required to put his game together? Low arm, no variation, bullshit. He was a far better bowler at 23. Injuries or what, it doesn't matter. Not doing what is required, move him on. And how the hell did Hastings get a cap when there is nothing in his bowling to say he'll make it at test level? This worries the hell out of me, it says our selectors aren't looking at cricketers, they're looking at numbers.

Cutting is performing with bat and ball and is a better cricketer than Hastings. He's not in the same class as Pattinson or Cummins but is decent. Should play, probably won't. Can't wait to see Hilfenhaus take another dashing couple of 4fers, go to India and get absolutely walloped all over the ground. We'll sit there watching the urn remain in England and wish those half a dozen tests had been put into a bloke who could actually provide cover at this level.

Since Hilf has been back in the Aus team he has taking 40 odd wickets at an Avg of under 22 and u dont think that is good enough and should be moved on, No doubt he had a few poor test matches but i dont think we should put a line through him.

I think if Aus are to beat Eng in Eng Hilf could play a massive part with his swing plus he keeps it tight if not getting wickets.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Talk of moving Watson to 4 isn't far enough down the order IMO. He will still need to have the pads on as soon as we get off the field. Moving him to 6 would be ideal.

 

[Selective Retention]

So Hazlewood and Hastings are injured?

What's wrong with our bowlers?

It's almost comical proportions now.

Have to wonder how paranoid the CA physios have become though. Any soreness, even stuff that doesn't show up in scans, earns them a stint on the sidelines. They'll miss a month with a broken finger nail soon.

 

[The_Reaper]

It's almost comical proportions now.

Have to wonder how paranoid the CA physios have become though. Any soreness, even stuff that doesn't show up in scans, earns them a stint on the sidelines. They'll miss a month with a broken finger nail soon.

I'm amazed Hazlewood has broken down from bowling in the nets.

 

[Bucking Beads]

I'm amazed Hazlewood has broken down from bowling in the nets.

He has a sore foot and it is the same foot that he had stress fractures in. They are just being overly cautious I would say.

 

[maxy87]

Hussey is in the twilight of his career. 6 is a good spot for him as he is still useful there and brings experience. As I have said in other threads, the new guy will have to come in at 3 and be exposed to what should be the standard they face for a good 5-7 years at least. The issue is whether the selectors will keep the faith if they start slowly. Our new top order bat will benefit from an extended run without fear of being thrown out straight away. Alastair Cook for example was persevered with despite rocky form from a young age and look at him now. If we are to build a side that will be competitive wherever we play this needs to happen. Even Quiney at 30 odd could give 4-5 of solid service if that's they way the go for Hobart. Just five them an extended run

 

[Suckling2Gunston]

Warner - can't understand why people want him sent down the order
Cowan - still have question about him but willing to give another go, definitely running out of chances
Hughes - is scoring runs and has taken on board comments about why he was dropped and lost his contract. Age on his side and could also replace Cowan if he continues to struggle
Hussey - we're not making the most of him at 6
Clarke - regardless of the calls plays his best cricket at 5 so leave him there
Watson - not that I want him in the team at all but they will pick him.
Wade -
Starc - did enough in Perth to get another go
Siddle -
Lyon -
Hilfenhaus - home pitch and conditions in Hobart will suit a lot more than Adelaide.
---
Bird - 12th man

Uhh, don't want to alarm you but Cowan had a better series than Warner did.

 

[amer]

Hussey won't make it to the Ashes.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Hussey won't make it to the Ashes.

He most definitely will.

 

[amer]

He most definitely will.

It depends actually - wasn't there to be a tour of India early next year?

 

[Carbine Chaos]

It depends actually - wasn't there to be a tour of India early next year?

I think there is, yeah.

Ashes are, what, July next year? Hussey will still be a vital member of the team then.