Australian Test Team 2015

[Super Hans]

Given that the team is currently going through a rough time and we need to rebuild were do you see our team in 5 years? Who is the future that will make the team a powerhouse again? I would hope we look something like this

1. P.Hughes
2. S.Marsh
3. M.Marsh (vc)
4. U.Khwaja
5. M. Clarke (c)
6. S.Smith
7. T.Pain
8.----------
9. J.Hazelwood
10. T.Copeland
11. P.George

Couldn't think of a spinner to fill in number 8 so I have left that open.
I could see Aaron Finch or Cameron White coming in at number 3 but hopefully Mitch Marsh really develops into a superstar and leapfrogs them. Watson could still be in the team but I'm sure Hughes and Marsh will put enough pressure on him to take his spot. Clarke stay given that when he is 100% fit he is a super player but he does have questions over captaincy, who else really stands out as captain. Fast bowlers are solid and there should still be some younger bowlers pushing for spots.

I think the batting line up looks very solid and we all know Paine is a gun with the gloves. The bowling does look a bit suspect especially if we don't find amgood spinner. Did think of Okeefe but his age may be a worry. Thoughts?

 

[dan warna]

Clarke captaining....

Also Wade is a solid keeper also, if the selectors paid attention

Young Pattinson has big wraps on him if he can be fit also.

O'keefe from NSW has had a big few games and his form with bat and ball if continued will see him in the side, a spinner averaging 23 with the ball and 60 with the bat? I think he's about 24 or 25.

even if it evens down to 30 and 45 its still impressive and worthy of pursuing.

White if he captains needs to bat at 4 or 5, he's strugglng a bit this year with our openers not holding up so well since Rogers busted himself, and while sir david is still a gun, he's struggling a bit coming in earlier in the absence of Hodge and rogers.

 

[BarneyBent]

P. Hughes
N. Maddinson
U. Khawaja
S. Watson
M. Clarke
S. Smith
P. Nevill
S. O'Keefe
M. Starc
T. Copeland
J. Hazlewood

 

[Hellgood]

Shaun Marsh should be in there, but Mitch Marsh is struggling quite a lot at the moment (and is now injured and won't be back until Feburary). Whilst still young his batting this season has been pretty poor and his bowling is handy, but hasn't been troubling the opposition. Got a hell of a lot of talent and time so anything could happen I guess, but I think he seems to get hyped up a little too much. We all thought Moises Henriques was going to be the next huge thing and whilst he's become a handy player for NSW, he's not going to be a test prospect.

 

[Dude Lebowski]

P. Hughes
N. Maddinson
U. Khawaja
S. Watson
M. Clarke
S. Smith
P. Nevill
S. O'Keefe
M. Starc
T. Copeland
J. Hazlewood

I see what you did there. Why doesn't that surprise me.

 

[amer]

Hazlewood and Starc will be the opening bowling pair.

 

[BarneyBent]

I see what you did there. Why doesn't that surprise me.

Jealousy is a curse.

Seriously though, replace Nevill with Paine/Wade, Starc with Pattinson/George/McDermott/Siddle, Maddinson with Finch/Marsh (and a reshuffle of the order), and it's not too far off.

P. Hughes
S. Watson
U. Khawaja
A. Finch/S. Marsh (Marsh's FC form has sky-rocketed since moving down the order)
M. Clarke
S. Smith
T. Paine/M. Wade
S. O'Keefe
J. Pattinson
T. Copeland
J. Hazlewood

 

[Gazza_11]

P Hughes
S Watson
U Khawaja
M Clarke
C Ferguson
C White
M Wade
S Smith
P Siddle
P George
T Copeland

M Marsh
J Hazlewood
*several other talented young quicks*
Aaron Finch
Chris Lynn

 

[BarneyBent]

Smith at 8. Urgh.

 

[Axel.]

Hughes
Watson
Khawaja
White
Clarke
Smith
Paine
O'Keefe
George
Copeland
Hazlewood

 

[Rustin Cohle]

1. P.Hughes
2. S.Marsh
3. M.Marsh (vc)
4. U.Khwaja
5. M. Clarke (c)
6. M. North
7. S.Smith
8.T.Pain
9. J.Hazelwood
10. T.Copeland
11. P.George

efa...

 

[Damon_3388]

efa...

Indispensible all-rounder

 

[kingbet22]

P. Hughes
N. Maddinson
U. Khawaja
S. Watson
M. Clarke
S. Smith
P. Nevill
S. O'Keefe
M. Starc
T. Copeland
J. Hazlewood

awsome! lol bigfooty would be in meltdown with that team

 

[Hayesuel]

Serious question, when was the last time we had a selector from nsw on the panel?

 

[amer]

P. Hughes
N. Maddinson
U. Khawaja
S. Watson
M. Clarke
S. Smith
P. Nevill
S. O'Keefe
M. Starc
T. Copeland
J. Hazlewood

All jokes aside, replace Nevill with Paine and that's pretty much it.

 

[jimmy_clement#8]

Siddle will be 31, George and Copeland 29, Pattinson 25, Hazelwood and Starc 24. Shouldn't be an issue having three of those latter five, at least, come on strong and become geniune world-class quicks to join the veteran Siddle. I'd tip Hazlewood, Starc and George at this stage.

Time Paine would be the keeper no doubt, might even be captain.

Watson will be getting on, I'd have Hughes and Shaun Marsh in there.

Khawaja, Clarke's still going, Ferguson's in there as well.

So probably:

Hughes
Watson
S.Marsh
Clarke
Khawaja
Ferguson
Paine
O'Keefe
George
Hazlewood
Starc

Those on the bubble include: Pattinson, Siddle, Copeland, Wade, Smith, Mitchell Marsh, maybe a Cooper or Hill as well by then.

 

[Marstermind]

Given that we're about to get absolutely trounced in this Ashes series, I'd rather know the side for the Boxing Day Test in 2011. Not sure who we're playing even (India?) but you could argue that only Watson and Haddin would be totally secure from this current team. Clarke would most likely be there and only being retired off would prevent Katich, Hussey and Ponting. However, would Ponting be the skipper? Apart from that none of the others could mount a really convincing case.

 

[jimmy_clement#8]

Two things to consider though, it's all well and good dropping guys not getting it done, but you need guys underneath ripping up the Shield to make the change worthwhile.

One immediate one I'd be prepared to try, and is a good example of what I've just mentioned, is bringing in Trent Copeland. Our quicks aren't looking likely and this guy's doing really well for the Blues in the Shield.

Then you start looking at Khawaja, Marsh, Steve Smith, these kinda guys, providing their form warrants a promotion.

 

[Marstermind]

Two things to consider though, it's all well and good dropping guys not getting it done, but you need guys underneath ripping up the Shield to make the change worthwhile.

One immediate one I'd be prepared to try, and is a good example of what I've just mentioned, is bringing in Trent Copeland. Our quicks aren't looking likely and this guy's doing really well for the Blues in the Shield.

Then you start looking at Khawaja, Marsh, Steve Smith, these kinda guys, providing their form warrants a promotion.

That's why I said 2011 and not 2010. Let this series play out and if it goes the course it is currently on then I'd imagine a bit of a rebuild from scratch may be on the cards.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

That's why I said 2011 and not 2010. Let this series play out and if it goes the course it is currently on then I'd imagine a bit of a rebuild from scratch may be on the cards.

With these selectors, I expect to see North still in there. He's meant to be Clarke's hand-holder during the post-Punter transition.

 

[The Governor]

Here is my TEST TEAM for 2013.........

1) Shane Watson
2) Phil Hughes
3) Aaron Finch
4) Usman Khawaja
5) Cameron White (CAPTAIN)
6) Stephen Smith
7) Matthew Wade
8) Stephen O'Keefe
9) Peter Siddle
10) Josh Hazelwood
11) James Pattinson

12) Mitchell Starc

An attacking positive batsman who plays in a similar fashion to Ricky Ponting, RIchie Richardson and Ian Chappell must bat at first drop. Finch is the man. Even though he is struggling to come to terms with the extra attention from the opposition in Shield cricket, he will get through this period. He has all the shots for a number 3 batsman and he does not play with hard hands!!!!

 

[saint_larry]

Surely North will be there.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Here is my TEST TEAM for 2013.........

1) Shane Watson
2) Phil Hughes
3) Aaron Finch
4) Usman Khawaja
5) Cameron White (CAPTAIN)
6) Stephen Smith
7) Matthew Wade
8) Stephen O'Keefe
9) Peter Siddle
10) Josh Hazelwood
11) James Pattinson

12) Mitchell Starc

An attacking positive batsman who plays in a similar fashion to Ricky Ponting, RIchie Richardson and Ian Chappell must bat at first drop. Finch is the man. Even though he is struggling to come to terms with the extra attention from the opposition in Shield cricket, he will get through this period. He has all the shots for a number 3 batsman and he does not play with hard hands!!!!

Apart from Josh Hazelwood and possibly Hughes, and depending on Watson's ability to convert, this team looks like a compendium of ordinariness.

Perhaps I'm being unfair on Ussie.

 

[stickman11]

I'd like to see all the selectors dumped

New coach

Some young players. Talk about a need for a rebuild. Should have started years ago instead of playing hair hauritz and no-good north. While Katich played some good cricket, probably should have gone with a younger option and moving Watson to the top was pointless.

Had have kept with hughes, probably would have been firing at the moment.

 

[The Governor]

I'd like to see all the selectors dumped

New coach

Some young players. Talk about a need for a rebuild. Should have started years ago instead of playing hair hauritz and no-good north. While Katich played some good cricket, probably should have gone with a younger option and moving Watson to the top was pointless.

Had have kept with hughes, probably would have been firing at the moment.

All jokes aside, the decision to play Shane Watson as an opener was a great move. He has found his niche as a test batsman and there is no point in ruining it from a sportsman's point of view. He has an excellent offensive and defensive technique for an opening batsman who can set the tone of the innings.

Matty Hayden was our enforcer for 8 years and Shane Watson is the person who can fulfil that role. Hayden had the ability to dominate bowlers through his body language and his ability to score runs at a quick rate. And, a good number 3 batsman needs a good attacking opening batsman who can establish and maintain a good scoring rate.

Why don't you look at the pass number 3 and opener combinations [Hayden and Ponting, Slater and Boon, Greenidge and Viv Richards, Greenidge and Richie Richardson, Ian Chappell and Stackpole].

In reference to your comment about the need to rebuild, I have been blogging on this site for 3 years about the need to rebuild. The 2 Point Charlies (Hilditch, Cox and Boon) have went on a conservative 1980s English Selection path to top up the side when our pass champions have retired. If you look at pass history, this path is fraught with danger.

After the retirements of Chappell, Liillee and Marsh in 1984, the selectors did not go for youth against the all conquering West Indies in the 1984-85 season. The selectors went on a youth path during the 1984 WI tour and we were wallopped via the selection of Steve Smith, Dean Jones and Greg Ritchie. During the 84-85 season, the selectors went with the following lineups:

1st test match against the West Indies in Perth 1984
Wessels
Dyson
Wood
Hughes
Border
Yallop
Phillips
Lawson
Rackemann
Hogg
Alderman

This Dad's Army XI was walloped by the best West INdies side of all time. However, most of the batters (except for AB and Graeme Wood) signed up for the REbel Tour of South Africa. Wessels and Dyson had a good series against the Rebel South Africans whilst Graham Yallop struggled.

As Darren Lehmann said on SEN, the selectors should blood in the young batters into the side to give them test match exposure whilst Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey are still playing test cricket. If you were Stephen Smith, would you rather play alongisde Ricky Ponting or Marcus North?

In reference to a new coach, well there is a need to revamp the coaching structure to make sure the Australian coaching structure falls into line with the coaching structure adopted by AFL clubs where a Director of Coaching is appointed who is responsible for team scouting and the development and implementation of team strategies with the captain. Under the Coaching Director, the Head Coach will be appointed as the teacher. He will educate the players in line with the bowling, batting and fielding coaches to fast track the players' development.

With the Australian team having a sports science staff, the Sports Science Staff (Fitness and Physio personnel) will report to the Coaching Director.

Here is my model:

COACHING DIRECTOR: Steve Rixon
HEAD COACH: Troy Cooley
BATTING COACH: Barry Richards
FAST BOWLING COACH: Allan Donald or DAVID SAKER
FIELDING COACH: Mike Young
SPIN BOWLING COACH (Part time): SK WARNE

Tim Nielsen is the wrong man for the job at the minute. He is a good man manager of people, but he is not a tactician in a cricketer's bootlace.

Simon Katich should never have played test cricket in 2008. Hilditch and Hughes made a huge mistake even though Hughes goes on SEN to defend his tenure as a selector.

THE GOVERNOR