Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test (Official Ins: Watson, Hauritz, Hilfenhaus, Out: Krejza)

[fraser25]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

I agree with you reaper, if a spinner is selected Watson should be selected ahead of the worst middle order batsman, if that is Symonds then so be it. Sometimes I think people just like to use the term 'drop' for dramatic effect. However I don't think a spinner should be selected (not for the G anyway) and hence dont think Watson should be.

 

[chris86]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

To those wanting Katich dropped. . . can I just ask why? Hes been great since back into the team.

 

[SBI]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Mine would be:

Katich
Hayden (skin of his teeth selection - mainly because he plays well on BD)
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Lee
Krejza
Johnson
Bollinger/Hilfenhaus

Whichever of those two don't play can be 12th man.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Lot of very rash calls here, let me offer my opinion.

Firstly, Hayden will be in the side, he has a proven record at the MCG during the Boxing Day test and i dont think the selectors are (rightly so) going to blood a 20 year Hughes in the biggest test here for a few years. They only thing that may change that is if Hayden comes out tonight or tomorrow and announces his immediate retirement.

The batsmen didnt score enough runs, the Perth wicket gets better as the game goes on almost like Adelaide. Another 100 runs and we could have batted SA out of the game.

The bowling.

Lee and Johnson to play.

You'd be tempted to play Hauritz but id go with Krezja again.

I dont think the selectors will play 2 left armers. The reason being is if both dont get any swing back into the right hander then the batsmen can leave the ball all day.

I'd play Hilfenhaus as we need a bowler he has the ability to swing the ball.

I'd give him the new ball as well with Lee.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Watson should be in the team so we have 5 bowling options.
Why? because we dont have 4 test class bowlers especially if a spinner is selected.

You are suggesting that we should drop a batsman who has made runs because our bowlers struggled.

That's absurd.

Instead of re-jigging our top six to include a different fifth bowler, how about we look at our four specialist bowlers?

If our best four bowlers aren't up to it, do you really think that adding a fifth is going to make the difference?

See the job Kallis did for SAF with the ball? Watson can do that for us.

Spurious comparison.

Who else will you drop? Hussey or Clarke?

Hey, it's your argument.

All I'm saying is that we shouldn't drop a number six who has the second-best Test batting average in the world over the past two years.

If you want Watson in the top six, you'll have to drop a batsman.

Are you really going to drop the one with the best average over the past two years?

That doesn't make much sense to me.

Like it or not. Symonds is selected as an allrounder. His batting is not better than Hussey or Clarkes

He has the second-best Test batting average in the world over the past two years.

He holds his spot on his batting alone.

How can you dispute this?

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

I agree with you reaper, if a spinner is selected Watson should be selected ahead of the worst middle order batsman, if that is Symonds then so be it.

Well, it's not Symonds.

Not based on Test averages over the past two years.

Would you drop Hussey to accommodate Watson?

How about Clarke or Ponting?

Sometimes I think people just like to use the term 'drop' for dramatic effect.

Er, not really.

When someone is removed from the team, they are dropped.

What do you want people to say?

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Lot of very rash calls here, let me offer my opinion.

Firstly, Hayden will be in the side, he has a proven record at the MCG during the Boxing Day test and i dont think the selectors are (rightly so) going to blood a 20 year Hughes in the biggest test here for a few years. They only thing that may change that is if Hayden comes out tonight or tomorrow and announces his immediate retirement.

The batsmen didnt score enough runs, the Perth wicket gets better as the game goes on almost like Adelaide. Another 100 runs and we could have batted SA out of the game.

The bowling.

Lee and Johnson to play.

You'd be tempted to play Hauritz but id go with Krezja again.

I dont think the selectors will play 2 left armers. The reason being is if both dont get any swing back into the right hander then the batsmen can leave the ball all day.

I'd play Hilfenhaus as we need a bowler he has the ability to swing the ball.

I'd give him the new ball as well with Lee.

In summary...

IN: Hilfenhaus OUT: Siddle

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Gunnar Longshanks is the only one seemingly speaking much logic here.

There is no case at all to play Watson. None at all. His bowling is not good enough to warrant a specialist bowling spot so i dont see how his going to bolster your bowling to such a degree that we can take 20 wickets.

The batsmen probably didnt score enough runs but at the end of the day all bowlers bar Johnson were ordinary. In that sense you'd drop Siddle first and debut a quick performing well at domestic cricket. There are 3 or 4 of them that could each make strong cases for selection as they are all taking wickets.

There would be a case to drop Krezja for Hauritz as the latter is more economical and impressed all with his drift and flight in Adelaide. It is worth noting in the 2nd test match of that game Haurtiz bowled 24 overs for 30 odd runs.

At this stage it seems the SA's plan is to hold out at one end will Krezja is on and attack at the offspinners end.

Im not fussed whether or not we drop Krezja but my gut feel is that he will probably play.

McGain is due to start bowling again in Janurary and you'd presume all things being equal that he'd be selected on the SA tour.

In that sense our current spinners are just really keeping the seat warm.

People cannot fall into the trap of simply adding more bowlers to our side (ie, Watson) to counter a poorly performing bowling lineup.

Lee and Johnson have the runs on the board. We also cant fall into the trap of playing part timers and using them as anything other then partnership breakers.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

In summary...

IN: Hilfenhaus OUT: Siddle

Basically yeah.

That isnt a slight on Siddle, his a young bowler and he showed a bit of improvement during the game.

Unfortunately at this stage he is unable to keep it as tight as one would want at test level. However, he is a very promising bowler.

Hilfenhaus by all accounts is having a solid season so why not give him a gig and see what his got. Id rather have these problems with bowling now rather then in England.

This is the first test of basically a 6 match test series, there is no need to panic.

 

[rickyp]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

I heard he fell into a weird cosmic abyss, like Ozzie Smith in that episode of The Simpsons where Mr Burns buys a bunch of Major League baseball stars for the plant softball team.

I love you Gunnar, that Simpsons reference nearly launched me out of my chair, seriously made my night.

On the topic,

I'd like a few changes, however I can only see one possibility, Watson for Symonds. However even this is unlikely.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Gunnar Longshanks is the only one seemingly speaking much logic here.

Touching.

There is no case at all to play Watson. None at all. His bowling is not good enough to warrant a specialist bowling spot so i dont see how his going to bolster your bowling to such a degree that we can take 20 wickets.

The best argument for Watson is that he is actually part of our best attack.

That's not necessarily my view, but that's the best argument available to those who love Watson.

Certainly, picking him in the top six can't be justified.

The batsmen probably didnt score enough runs but at the end of the day all bowlers bar Johnson were ordinary. In that sense you'd drop Siddle first and debut a quick performing well at domestic cricket. There are 3 or 4 of them that could each make strong cases for selection as they are all taking wickets.

Agreed.

Bollinger and Hilfenhaus loom as good candidates.

People cannot fall into the trap of simply adding more bowlers to our side (ie, Watson) to counter a poorly performing bowling lineup.

It's like, "our best four-man bowling attack isn't good enough, so let's drop a batsman to accommodate someone even lower down in that pecking order."

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

That isnt a slight on Siddle, his a young bowler and he showed a bit of improvement during the game.

Unfortunately at this stage he is unable to keep it as tight as one would want at test level. However, he is a very promising bowler.

Would you go so far as to say that it was a mistake to pick him?

Hilfenhaus by all accounts is having a solid season so why not give him a gig and see what his got. Id rather have these problems with bowling now rather then in England.

What about Bollinger?

The Bald Eagle?

Then we can talk about "champagne cricket".

This is the first test of basically a 6 match test series, there is no need to panic.

Not panic.

But if we go to Melbourne with the same side and get the same outcome, it will have been a massive screw-up.

 

[SBI]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

I dont think the selectors will play 2 left armers. The reason being is if both dont get any swing back into the right hander then the batsmen can leave the ball all day.

I'd play Hilfenhaus as we need a bowler he has the ability to swing the ball.

I'd give him the new ball as well with Lee.

Interesting.

I don't get the whole argument that we can't play two lefties - it is hardly any different to playing two right-armers against a team full of left-handers.

There's a space for two different types of left arm bowlers. Johnson doesn't rely on swing for his wickets, and I'm assuming Bollinger isn't the type of bowler to push it away from the right hander for all his wickets.

Considering we don't have a genuine swing bowler, I wouldn't really mind who plays out of Dougie or Hilf considering we're gonna get a typical dead MCG wicket.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Its more to the reason that Watson is really necessary in the side
Look at Kallis (nothing special as a bowler) and his useful performance in this match with the ball.

If Symonds isn't bowling when he is supposedly in the team as an allrounder then it is inevitable that his spot will come under question. His brain fades after making good starts aren't helping him either as when Australia lose, its the batsmen who stuff up good starts that get the blame (think Damien Martyn)

I would say that Symonds is a better bat then Watson but the question stands, is the difference in batting enough to offset Watson's superior bowling?

Why is Symonds in the equation. In my whole lifetime we've rarely ever played 5 bowlers (did in India) and I'm 51. Symonds, as stated by the selectors, is there as a no.6 batsman not as an all-rounder. Also stated by Neilsen last week that Watson is way behind him in the pecking order. He makes runs, consistent runs, as seen by his average of over 60 in the last 2 years, and people want him replaced by someone who averages 19. If Watson replaces him he bats at 6 with that 19 average, which weakens batting, and doesn't bowl well enough to cover for it. Tell me how much Watson would've helped in Perth. Tell me how many times we took 20 wickets in India with 5 bowlers in the side. Maybe with a the wicket Melbourne's been at times play Watson at 8 for Krejza.

 

[JedMack]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

I think Hilfenhaus is the bowler that warrants selection for Boxing Day. He has performed consistently at domestic level and looks like he has more improvement in him.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

I love you Gunnar...

Touching.

I'd like a few changes, however I can only see one possibility, Watson for Symonds. However even this is unlikely.

How about replacing Siddle with a bowler who has been bowling well domestically?

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

I think Hilfenhaus is the bowler that warrants selection for Boxing Day. He has performed consistently at domestic level and looks like he has more improvement in him.

What about the Bald Eagle?

Or Dirty Dirk Nannes?

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

As i said, there are 3 or 4 seamers who are all making strong cases for selection. I dont mind really who is picked from that group whether its Bollinger, Hilfenhaus, Nannes or Geeves.

I just made a judgement that may influence the selection. If you have 2 left armers and the ball isnt swinging its pretty hard to get LBW's to the right hander. So that MAY cross Bollinger out.

But thats only minor theorizing, i dont really mind which one debuts. I spose if anything, the success Johnson has had may encourage the selectors to go with another left armer to exploit that angle across the batsmen.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Anyone know when the squad is announced?

 

[SBI]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Wouldn't be comfortable with Geeves in the side. Far too likely to go for a mountain of runs and is just another hit-the-deck bowler.

 

[happy_eagle]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Okay this is what i think
Personally i think Hayden needs to be dropepd, but i dont think the selectors will
Hussey needs some more confidence. I think he should open. If i remember well he started his international career opening, and did a very good job

M.Hussey
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
D.Hussey
Symonds
Haddin
Lee
Johnson
Bollinger
Siddle/Tait/Hilf

Still spinning options in hussey, symonds and clarke

 

[rickyp]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

How about replacing Siddle with a bowler who has been bowling well domestically?

Yeah fair call, I'd like to see Hilfenhaus given a go, but I'm afraid that in a test if he isn't getting good ball movement, he will become cannon fodder. I suppose that can't be worse than Siddle in the current test though...

 

[Jimthegreat]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

Interesting.

I don't get the whole argument that we can't play two lefties - it is hardly any different to playing two right-armers against a team full of left-handers.

There's a space for two different types of left arm bowlers. Johnson doesn't rely on swing for his wickets, and I'm assuming Bollinger isn't the type of bowler to push it away from the right hander for all his wickets.

Considering we don't have a genuine swing bowler, I wouldn't really mind who plays out of Dougie or Hilf considering we're gonna get a typical dead MCG wicket.

Wickets seamed about quite a bit this year. Look how low scoring
the Vic V WA game was. A real low scorer.

Klinger
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Watson
Johnson
McGoffin
Hifhenhaus

Time to overhaul the Bowling. Without a spinner Watson plays.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

As i said, there are 3 or 4 seamers who are all making strong cases for selection. I dont mind really who is picked from that group whether its Bollinger, Hilfenhaus, Nannes or Geeves.

I reckon it's probably out of Hilfenhaus and Bollinger.

I just made a judgement that may influence the selection.

I didn't know you had that kind of clout.

If you have 2 left armers and the ball isnt swinging its pretty hard to get LBW's to the right hander. So that MAY cross Bollinger out.

Fair stretch, that.

He was in the touring party to India, and took 6-for today.

 

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

Re: Australian XII for the Boxing Day Test

There is no need to have Hussey opening. That is to drastic. We are 1 - 0 down, sure, but there is no need to start having to call in a "Broken Arrow" airstrike.

Just need to regroup.

Hayden will have till the end of the SCG match (Unless he announces his retirement, he may do a deal with selectors, who knows)

The bowling lineup will be re-tweaked and we'l' go back into the ring and have another swing and hopefully come out with the points.