1st Test line up

[DaveW]

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Waugh
Katich
Gilchrist
Bichel
Gillespie
Williams
MacGill
Bracken

In: Gillespie, MacGill
Out: Lee, Hogg

edit: Oops, its a 12

 

[Zeke]

Lose Williams, bring in Wright.

 

[bluechampion]

line-up.

I agree.

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Waugh
Katich
Gilchrist
Bichel
Gillespie
Williams
MacGill
12th - Bracken

However, this summer looms as an interesting one. Hodge and Clarke have serious claims to a spot in the team. Love could be a chance also, and maybe Mike Hussey. Lehmann is the incumbent.

The bowling stocks are also up for a shake-up. The amount of injuries already sustained, and the packed international schedual over the next year means that a lot of bowlers are going to get a look-in at international level (to keep the senior bowlers fit and fresh).

Bracken, Williams, Innes, Rofe, Noffke... maybe White, or some other bolter. They will, form and fitness permitting, get a chance to display their wares at international level alongside Lee, Bichel, McGrath, Gillespie and MacGill.

I think that the next year should be one of renewal, insofar as the line-up is concerned. With the change of era's (Waugh to Ponting), the Aussie team should look to the future and see what talent is out-there. A period of transition, if you will.

 

[DaveW]

Sorry - that's the actual squad, not a speculative one.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,7992172-23212,00.html

 

[My North]

Originally posted by Zeke
Lose Williams, bring in Wright.

I heard that Wright is injured and cant bowl. He will be able to play as a batsemen as that what he doing for Tassie

 

[My North]

The Selectors should play the left arm bowlers. Bracken will have a good series against the india.

 

[Jars458]

NW Bracken 7 242.4 74 586 16 36.62 5-47 1 - 91.0 2.41 NSW

That was Brackens Pura Cup record from last year. Ordinary at best nad behind about 25 other bpwlers

How he can get picked on that form is staggering to me

Its a real slap in the face for many other first class bowlers.

You can't pick him just because he is a left armer. If that was the case Harrity would have played test cricket for Australia.

Sometimes you just shake your head.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by Jars458
You can't pick him just because he is a left armer.

That's not the reason he got selected.

 

[stmookeyj]

From the time Dizzy made his comeback last week, you just knew that was going to be the squad.

BTW: Ther will be a near riot if Bic gets ousted by Bracken!

 

[Zeke]

Originally posted by My North
I heard that Wright is injured and cant bowl. He will be able to play as a batsemen as that what he doing for Tassie

You heard wrong.

 

[stmookeyj]

Originally posted by Zeke
You heard wrong.

He's confused Wright with the other W, Shane Watson.

 

[skipper kelly]

Is Lee injured or dropped?

 

[llosis]

Originally posted by skipper kelly
Is Lee injured or dropped?

Injured. Side strain in the second test v Zim, then had ankle surgery. Out for at least the first two tests, probably longer.

 

[Russian]

Originally posted by Zeke
Lose Williams, bring in Wright.

Here's my top 10 quickies in both games:

Test:
Gillespie
McGrath
Bichel
Lee
Williams
Inness
Rofe
Noffke
Bracken
Wright

1 Day:
Lee
McGrath
Gillespie
Bracken
Williams
Bichel
Cleary
Wright
Tait
Noffke

Then there's the all rounders - Watson/Moss/Harvey/Harvey

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by Jars458
NW Bracken 7 242.4 74 586 16 36.62 5-47 1 - 91.0 2.41 NSW

That was Brackens Pura Cup record from last year. Ordinary at best nad behind about 25 other bpwlers

How he can get picked on that form is staggering to me

Its a real slap in the face for many other first class bowlers.

You can't pick him just because he is a left armer. If that was the case Harrity would have played test cricket for Australia.

Sometimes you just shake your head.

Agree 100%.

Bracken may be a handy ODI bowler, but is a joke he is in the Test-12, let alone even considered for the team. He better be 12th man!

Will be interesting to see how the selectors structure the batting line-up for the Sri Lankan tour, given Steve Waugh's retirement. Personally I think Martyn needs to be dropped down the order where he is more effective in getting runs, so would go for the following:

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Lehmann
Martyn
Katich

Given they maintain their form, Love & Clarke deserve to go as reserves.

 

[Daveo Plonk]

How G. Blewett has failed to regain his spot I'll never know. Australia's classiest batsman by a country mile (in the M. Waugh league), with an unparalled record in domestic cricket since being dropped. And why was he dropped in the first instance? Couple of bad tests? Then what's Langer doing in the squad? Or Martyn? Or Hayden for that matter? And we won't mention S. Waugh. He must have done something to realy annoy someone (other than keep Punter out for so long).

Anyone got the inside on this?

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by Daveo Plonk
How G. Blewett has failed to regain his spot I'll never know. Australia's classiest batsman by a country mile (in the M. Waugh league), with an unparalled record in domestic cricket since being dropped. And why was he dropped in the first instance? Couple of bad tests? Then what's Langer doing in the squad? Or Martyn? Or Hayden for that matter? And we won't mention S. Waugh. He must have done something to realy annoy someone (other than keep Punter out for so long).

Anyone got the inside on this?

I'm a big fan of Blewett's too. But really, he was lucky to last as long as he did.

40+ Tests. An average in the low to mid 30s.

He followed up his two centuries in his first two Tests with only two more for the rest of his career - the last of which was in 1997.

Says it all really. It was more than a "couple of bad tests".

Don't expect to see Blewett playing for Australia again.

 

[Daveo Plonk]

40+ Tests. An average in the low to mid 30s.

He followed up his two centuries in his first two Tests with only two more for the rest of his career - the last of which was in 1997.

Says it all really. It was more than a "couple of bad tests".

[/B][/QUOTE]

I don't believe this does say it all. 15 halfies, brilliant fielding, and an underutilised all-rounder. Dont forget he's taken 133 wickets at 40-odd in domestic 4-day.

 

[pazza]

Bracken must be 12th man, particularly for a Brisbane test!

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by Daveo Plonk
I don't believe this does say it all. 15 halfies, brilliant fielding, and an underutilised all-rounder. Dont forget he's taken 133 wickets at 40-odd in domestic 4-day.

Blewett was a top order batsman who simply didn't do enough.

Good fielding is a trait of all the Australian players and with the quality of the Australian bowling, of course Blewett's will be underutilised.

It isn't really up for conjecture - Blewett was a massive underachiever at Test level. His batting was horribly shaky towards the end. The fluent strokeplay had disappeared. It was either cheap dismissals or long, dour, scratchy innings from Gregory B.

 

[Daveo Plonk]

Originally posted by DaveW

It isn't really up for conjecture - Blewett was a massive underachiever at Test level. His batting was horribly shaky towards the end. The fluent strokeplay had disappeared. It was either cheap dismissals or long, dour, scratchy innings from Gregory B.

Perhaps I didn't make my point clearly enough. The thrust was that Blewett showed enough talent to be selected, and, subsequent to being dropped, has consistently produced on the paddock. Why was he never given a second chance a la Hayden, Langer, S. Waugh et al?

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by Daveo Plonk
Perhaps I didn't make my point clearly enough. The thrust was that Blewett showed enough talent to be selected, and, subsequent to being dropped, has consistently produced on the paddock. Why was he never given a second chance a la Hayden, Langer, S. Waugh et al?

There hasn't been a spot for him.

The only players who have had form lapses worthy of being dropped in that time are: Slater - who Langer makeshift for one Test and but scored a ton, could hardly replace Langer after that, and Mark Waugh's forced retirement because Lehmann's form was just too irresistable.

I think Blewett harmed his chances by going back to number three. Australia's middle order has always been very secure.

Who exactly do you think should make way for Blewett?

 

[pazza]

If Langer doesn't pull his finger out this series, the opening spot becomes available

 

[Zed's Dead]

Blewett had a couple of chances, one when he was at number 6 and then he couldn't play spin. And then he came back as a number 3/opener and was scratchy especially with spin & slow pitches. He has had his time.

 

[Daveo Plonk]

Originally posted by DaveW
There hasn't been a spot for him.

The only players who have had form lapses worthy of being dropped in that time are: Slater - who Langer makeshift for one Test and but scored a ton, could hardly replace Langer after that, and Mark Waugh's forced retirement because Lehmann's form was just too irresistable.

I think Blewett harmed his chances by going back to number three. Australia's middle order has always been very secure.

Who exactly do you think should make way for Blewett?

I suspect you're right about going first drop. There have been a couple of opportunities. But especially I was absolutely amazed that Blewett didn't make the all-rounders spot in the world cup! That was the most ridiculous selection decision I've ever seen (even if it was successful.)