Changes for Perth

[Jimthegreat]

But the 6,7 & 8 isn't the best one we could be playing.

I'd have different bowlers too, for the reason that they can bowl. I'd like Copeland, Cameron and O'Keefe to join Harris in the attack personally. Like another batsman too...Ferguson, D.Hussey in the 12. Then we can decide what we need with a better choice available on the day.

 

[Cousin Jed]

Mark Cameron seems to get alot of love, but he looks a pretty average bowler to me

 

[Bradesmaen]

Well said. I would have much prefered the three you named at 6. Our batting looks even weaker now. Smith isn't good enough to bat in the top 6 and he isn't a front line bowler. I have a feeling he's going to be a very good player for Australia one day but I don't think he should be getting a game until we are confident enough to put him in front of Haddin.

Poor comment. Smith bats at #4 for NSW and has done a bloody good job, apart from his recent form which is lacking. Like Phil Hughes hes picked more on promise that he will return to his best rather than picking him on his current form.

I'm actually starting to get fed up with the idiots in the media and around here that keep thinking of Smith as a spinner first, batsman second. He is a batsman first by a long long long long long long long way then a part time spinner. He will bowl more for NSW than he will for Aus until he gets his spinning working perfectly.

 

[BarneyBent]

Mark Cameron seems to get alot of love, but he looks a pretty average bowler to me

He has a very good record, but I have reservations about his ability to take it to the next level. Accurate without being a metronome, quick without being express, moves it a bit without being prodigious. Good, but a bit vanilla. I'd be looking elsewhere.

Also, regarding Smith's selection, super-excited for the bloke, but personally I don't think he has the maturity yet (definitely has the talent/ability though). That said, Khawaja, White and Ferguson are in solid-but-not-outstanding form while Marsh is performing in FC cricket for the first time in his life. At least Smith's bowling is looking bloody good right now.

 

[Phone]

since when has being an average bowler stopped someone from being selected for Australia?

 

[The_Reaper]

Mark Cameron seems to get alot of love, but he looks a pretty average bowler to me

But given the current environment and lack of test class bowlers, Cameron deserves consideration.

After Copeland of course.

 

[Chris25]

I don't quite get the Cameron love on this board. Nothing really special about him, just like the bowlers we seem to be rotating in and out of the side at the moment.

People seem to be forgetting about George. He did debut for a reason, and has been impressive in his 3 Shield games so far this season. Both him and Copeland should be talked about, and although I doubt it will happen during this series hopefully for the next one they are both picked alongside of Harris.

 

[dan warna]

Swap Finch for M. Hussey and Siddle for Herrick and play the Vics in the third test

and we'll take O'Keefe, apparently Hauritz is ahead of him, so he's not needed in NSW...

 

[Damon_3388]

and we'll take O'Keefe, apparently Hauritz is ahead of him, so he's not needed in NSW...

But won't O'Keefe then be stuck behind Victoria's plethora of spin bowling talents, those same ones that Test player Michael Beer couldn't get a game in front of?

 

[dan warna]

But won't O'Keefe then be stuck behind Victoria's plethora of spin bowling talents, those same ones that Test player Michael Beer couldn't get a game in front of?

Well McBain, when not staring on the Simpson has been the best spinner on form for the past 3 or 4 seasons in state cricket. I think beer was looking at another season behind McGain who has been auto selection.

I guess if he chose to stay, he'd be playing for Victoria now, and getting FC cricket instead of test cricket

The Vics have been fairly good at poaching talent over the years in d.hussey and Wade, moss for a while, siddons and lehmann in previous years.

O'keefe's numbers are pretty solid, 50 plus with the bat and sub 25 with the ball....even if it evens out to 40/30, that puts him in the Andrew McDonald frame of form, and thats still impressive for a spinner, middle order bat.

We'll take him!

 

[Badesumofu]

Well, batting prodigy Michael Hill was out LBW to Strauss - his third ever FC wicket. In better news, the three bowlers in line to replace Broad have gotten 1 wicket for the match between them so far. In worse news that's also the number of wickets the bowlers coming into our side have taken between them so far this series.

Interesting times.

Smith bowled really well for NSW in the Shield match. I think he will be played as frontline spinner and bat at 7. That's probably a good choice until SOK can come into the team. Can you just pick a guy who isn't getting a game in the Shield? Maybe. Still, he will now that Smith is in the Test team.

Copeland's numbers really are special and it does seem that every time I look at a score sheet for a FC match he's in, that he has awesome figures. Maybe he'll be in the frame to debut on Boxing Day after Mitch struggles to keep the ball on the pitch in Perth, Hilfenhaus keeps it tight but struggles to take wickets without anyone to do the same at the other end, and Harris breaks down. I'm tipping Smith to take wickets with Hilf bowling at the other end. He'll go for some runs too, but the English won't give him enough respect, and they'll get out when he bowls the odd jaffa.

Edit: meanwhile, McKay and Herrick put on 81 runs in the last 5.4 overs of the day. Strauss went for 51 from 4 overs.

 

[Phone]

you know now that i've had a day to think about this...while the selection of Beer is dire. Doherty's selection was still worse. At least Beer isn't a proven failure at FC level yet.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Well, batting prodigy Michael Hill was out LBW to Strauss - his third ever FC wicket. In better news, the three bowlers in line to replace Broad have gotten 1 wicket for the match between them so far. In worse news that's also the number of wickets the bowlers coming into our side have taken between them so far this series.

Interesting times.

Smith bowled really well for NSW in the Shield match. I think he will be played as frontline spinner and bat at 7. That's probably a good choice until SOK can come into the team. Can you just pick a guy who isn't getting a game in the Shield? Maybe. Still, he will now that Smith is in the Test team.

Copeland's numbers really are special and it does seem that every time I look at a score sheet for a FC match he's in, that he has awesome figures. Maybe he'll be in the frame to debut on Boxing Day after Mitch struggles to keep the ball on the pitch in Perth, Hilfenhaus keeps it tight but struggles to take wickets without anyone to do the same at the other end, and Harris breaks down. I'm tipping Smith to take wickets with Hilf bowling at the other end. He'll go for some runs too, but the English won't give him enough respect, and they'll get out when he bowls the odd jaffa.

Beer is going to play according to Hilditch so one of the quicks will miss. You assume Harris will play and the fact that Johnson was rested from the Shield game means he'll play too (ouch). Leaves Hilfenhaus and Siddle for the 12th man duties. I prefer Hilfenhaus but the twats (selectors) have a man love for Siddle so one of our more accurate bowlers will probably miss for one that bowls right arm poo.

 

[Badesumofu]

Where did Hilditch say that Beer is definitely in? I didn't see it in the squad announcement.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Where did Hilditch say that Beer is definitely in? I didn't see it in the squad announcement.

Heard it mentioned on the ABC today when the commentators were discussing Beer.

 

[Groucho]

Beer is going to play according to Hilditch so one of the quicks will miss. You assume Harris will play and the fact that Johnson was rested from the Shield game means he'll play too (ouch). Leaves Hilfenhaus and Siddle for the 12th man duties. I prefer Hilfenhaus but the twats (selectors) have a man love for Siddle so one of our more accurate bowlers will probably miss for one that bowls right arm poo.

While I think that Siddle will be 12th man I reckon Hilfenhaus bowled absolute tripe in Brisbane for the most part.

 

[sydney_crow]

1. Hughes
2. Hussey
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Watson
7. Haddin
8. Johnston
9. Harris
10. Krezja
11. Copeland

Hussey back to his original role in FC cricket as an opener
Back Hughes' talent to re-establish himself
Smith in place of North to add youth, fielding talent and all-round talents
Watson to play as true all-rounder
Johnston still our best bet bringing variety to the attack (LH), pace and some lower order batting depth
Harris someone reliable in the attack (same role as Hilfenhaus, Siddle play)
Krezja is the best spinner in the country and on that basis must play
Copeland appears to be an actual wicket taker

 

[Bucking Beads]

I still don't believe Copeland hasn't been given a chnace, he hasn't even been mentioned by these selectors.

 

[Tom12]

1. Hughes
2. Hussey
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Watson
7. Haddin
8. Johnston
9. Harris
10. Krezja
11. Copeland

Hussey back to his original role in FC cricket as an opener
Back Hughes' talent to re-establish himself
Smith in place of North to add youth, fielding talent and all-round talents
Watson to play as true all-rounder
Johnston still our best bet bringing variety to the attack (LH), pace and some lower order batting depth
Harris someone reliable in the attack (same role as Hilfenhaus, Siddle play)
Krezja is the best spinner in the country and on that basis must play
Copeland appears to be an actual wicket taker

Krezja was barely getting FC games a month or so ago, it's the same thing all over again.
There is no stand out spinner, probably none up to test level bar Hauritz who is solid at best.
North is the best slow option with the ball, and that was evident when watching him bowl in comparison to Doherty. That becomes irrelevant though doesn't it if he can't hold form with the bat.

 

[Badesumofu]

Yeah, people suggesting Krezja are clearly not aware of how he has been bowling for Tassie lately. He's not in the frame at all, and rightly so. If he can get back to his best, he may well get another run.

I think O'Keefe would be a better option than Beer. Smith bowled really well for NSW in their recent win over SA, and he got some runs in the second innings as well. Really nice drift, flight and turn. I would pick him and bat him at 6 or 7, and play four quicks. Then I'd probably drop the worst performing of them for Melbourne and Sydney and put O'Keefe in - he'll have a real chance to prove he's up to it on those grounds. If there are two quicks deserving of being dropper or Harris breaks down, I'd also put Copeland in.

 

[Spudregus_87]

Will never happen, but here's who I think the selectors should play next up:

Phil Hughes
Shane Watson
Michael Clarke*
Usman Khawaja
Michael Hussey
David Hussey
Brad Haddin+
Steve O'Keefe/Jason Krezja
Ryan Harris
Ben Hilfenhaus
Trent Copeland

OUT: Katich, Ponting, North, Doherty, Siddle & Bollinger.
IN: Hughes, Khawaja, D.Hussey, O'Keefe/Krezja, Hilfenhaus & Copeland.

Would still love to see the above XI take the pitch in Perth, although I'd play Marsh ahead of Hughes and O'Keefe ahead of Krezja (given how apparently poor he's been bowling of late).

Shaun Marsh
Shane Watson
Michael Clarke*
Usman Khawaja
Michael Hussey
David Hussey
Brad Haddin+
Steve O'Keefe
Ryan Harris
Ben Hilfenhaus
Trent Copeland

Would improve our batting & bowling significantly...

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Khawaja smacked a century today against SA. Sure, it's a one day match and on a small ground, in conditions that were ideal for batting. Nonetheless, it would have been a nice little confidence booster. Just what you'd want before rocking up to Perth to join the Test squad. Shame they selected Hughes instead. I guess an average of 23 and a lone 50 for the season really impressed the selectors.

Idiots.

Nice to see Nic Maddison score a few runs, too. Looks like the Blues have unearthed another gem. No idea how they keep doing it.

 

[djrossie16]

My ideal team

Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja
Haddin
O'Keefe
Harris
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

What I think they'll do

Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Smith
Johnson
Beer
Harris/Siddle
Hilfenhaus

 

[Tom12]

Did Strauss get much swing?

 

[Blue Dimension]

The Smith/O'keefe combination worked well for Australia A. Would have liked to have seen them go with that for the last 3 tests. Unfortunately though O'keefe playing second XI because of Hauritz and Smith would not have done him any favours.