Changes for the Second Test @ The Adelaide Oval

[360noscope]

Thought it may be worth starting a thread on this.

Even though the first test isn't over, most of us would have a fair idea of who is performing and who isn't.

I think that North should be given next innings and one more test before he is dropped. If he fails in Adelaide then he should be dropped for Ferguson IMO.

Johnson is lucky that there isn't many more fast bowlers to choose from. He obviously has potential but if he doesn't perform then something must change.

 

[The Governor]

OUT: Marcus North, Ben Hilfenhauss and Mitchell Johnson

IN: Cameron White, Doug Bollinger and Clint MacKay

And, if the selectors are more worried about the long term future of Michael Clarke, they should rest him for the 2nd test match on Friday. In his place, I would not bring in Ferguson or Khawaja. I would bring in David Hussey.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

OUT: Marcus North, Ben Hilfenhauss and Mitchell Johnson

IN: Cameron White, Doug Bollinger and Clint MacKay

And, if the selectors are more worried about the long term future of Michael Clarke, they should rest him for the 2nd test match on Friday. In his place, I would not bring in Ferguson or Khawaja. I would bring in David Hussey.

Clint McKay????? WTF has Ryan Harris done to deserve being overlooked for Mckay?

 

[360noscope]

Haha forgot Bollinger.

 

[gbatman]

OUT: North, Johnson

IN: Smith, Harris

On their last chance: Hilfenhaus

 

[Selective Retention]

Personally I wouldn't have had Siddle or Hussey in the first test side.

I'd say a lot of others would have been in the same boat.

Selections not really the problem in this case.

Reality called and we just aren't good enough at the moment, regardless of changes.

Soon as the middle order collapse reveals its head, series over.

 

[gbatman]

What's going on with Brett Lee? Is he fit? Has he still got it?

 

[360noscope]

What's going on with Brett Lee? Is he fit? Has he still got it?

He may come back but you would have to say that injuries and general wear and tear have got the better of him.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Personally I wouldn't have had Siddle or Hussey in the first test side.

I'd say a lot of others would have been in the same boat.

Selections not really the problem in this case.

Reality called and we just aren't good enough at the moment, regardless of changes.

Soon as the middle order collapse reveals its head, series over.

Unfortunately it does feel like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic. The players have no faith in themselves and why the hell would they?

 

[Cleavy]

What's going on with Brett Lee? Is he fit? Has he still got it?

he's retired from Tests

 

[HSSB]

he's retired from Tests

since when?

 

[Subprime]

Unfortunately the middle order prospects all failed in the shield this weekend so North will probably hold his spot.

Johnson should be dropped, he's out of form in all facets of the game. Bollinger in for him.

Doherty was ok but I'd be tempted to shore up the batting and bring in White for him. North, White and Katich to bowl 20 overs a day on the Adelaide road.

 

[The Governor]

Clint McKay????? WTF has Ryan Harris done to deserve being overlooked for Mckay?

Clint Mackay is a stock bowler who can dry up the runs from one end. He can perform the Glen McGrath and Stuart Clark role. He took a bag of 4 wickets against Queensland in a current Shield game at the MCG.

Doug the Rug comes into the side for the erratic Mitchell Johnson. Mitchell Johnson reminds me of former Western Australian and Tasmanian left arm fast bowler Chris Matthews. Matthews had the X factor. He was a decent lower order batsman at number 8 and he had the talent to take wickets. However, he was the poor man's version of Wasim Akram. When he had a bad day, he produced a bad spell of bowling that was in a similar vein to Mitchell Johnson.

Ryan Harris misses out. MacKay has the height to create a disturbing line and length to the opposing batsmen. And, he can dry up the runs from one end of the ground.

 

[Ghostwriter]

What's going on with Brett Lee? Is he fit? Has he still got it?

His file is stamped 'never to play Test Cricket for Australia again'.

 

[360noscope]

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/brett-lee-retires-from-test-cricket/story-e6frg1wu-1225833407938

Brett Lee retired Feb. this year.

 

[Jono_Brown90]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke/Kawajha (See if Clarkes fit)
Hussey
Smith (in for North) However if Clarke is unfit and Usman comes in they will keep North.
Haddin
Harris
Doherty
Siddle
Bollinger


Still not convinced about Siddle, He got the hat trick and good on him but he is still too inconsistent much like Johnson, He has the points on the board now so has a few tests to keep showing form.

 

[frankrizzo]

Clint Mackay is a stock bowler who can dry up the runs from one end. He can perform the Glen McGrath and Stuart Clark role. He took a bag of 4 wickets against Queensland in a current Shield game at the MCG.

Doug the Rug comes into the side for the erratic Mitchell Johnson. Mitchell Johnson reminds me of former Western Australian and Tasmanian left arm fast bowler Chris Matthews. Matthews had the X factor. He was a decent lower order batsman at number 8 and he had the talent to take wickets. However, he was the poor man's version of Wasim Akram. When he had a bad day, he produced a bad spell of bowling that was in a similar vein to Mitchell Johnson.

Ryan Harris misses out. MacKay has the height to create a disturbing line and length to the opposing batsmen. And, he can dry up the runs from one end of the ground.

So with an nonperforming bowling lineup we play a SLA to keep runs down and a stock bowler in mckay in a 4 man attack?

Would put a ridiculous amount of pressure on the other two bowlers to take wickets not to mention on a pitch like adelaide nobody is going to keep the runs down that much, you need wickets at some point.

Remember this is in a series we have to actually win not draw....

 

[Rookie]

Realistically, there are only several changes that are possible / likely, and no matter what you think should happen, the selectors are unlikely to make a decision that isn't one of the following:

Bollinger or Harris in, for Johnson or Hilfenhaus. Bollinger would be the first picked but I Harris is the best performing quick in Australia at the moment.

Khawaja in for Clarke (if injured) or North. Ferguson won't get picked; it was Usman who was on standby for Pup in this test match.

Smith in for Clarke (if injured) or North. Khawaja seems next in line, but to be honest Smith is the only batsman earmarked in the 17 who seems in any sort of form. Smith's bowling might be handy in Adelaide, especially seeing today has proven that we are incapable of taking 20 wickets.

Those are your options. If Clarke is injured, I reckon Usman will come in. If Clarke is fit, the selectors might consider dropping North for Smith. I can't see them bringing in Bollinger or Harris sadly.

 

[360noscope]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke/Kawajha (See if Clarkes fit)
Hussey
Smith (in for North) However if Clarke is unfit and Usman comes in they will keep North.
Haddin
Harris
Doherty
Siddle
Bollinger


Still not convinced about Siddle, He got the hat trick and good on him but he is still too inconsistent much like Johnson, He has the points on the board now so has a few tests to keep showing form.

Why would the selectors drop a player who has taken a hat-trick and six wickets though. Just no logic behind it.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Katich
Hughes
Watson
Hussey
Clarke
Ponting
Haddin
Harris
Doherty
Bollinger
Hilfenhaus

Mckay

 

[HSSB]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke/Kawajha (See if Clarkes fit)
Hussey
Smith (in for North) However if Clarke is unfit and Usman comes in they will keep North.
Haddin
Harris
Doherty
Siddle
Bollinger


Still not convinced about Siddle, He got the hat trick and good on him but he is still too inconsistent much like Johnson, He has the points on the board now so has a few tests to keep showing form.

Khawaja made 17 today

 

[Jimthegreat]

In: White, Bollinger, Harris

Out: North, Johnson and any one of the other quicks.

Harris took 4/41 today on top of his 9 wickets haul the last time. He is really in-form. Must play as must Bollinger. We cannot continue to have our current bowlers snatch defeat, or a draw, from the jaws of supposedly inevitable victory as they have so many times in the last couple of years. 1/305 is simply not good enough at any time.

 

[Jono_Brown90]

Why would the selectors drop a player who has taken a hat-trick and six wickets though. Just no logic behind it.

He has probably sured up his spot for this series and thats fair enough, but i still dont think his performances are consistent enough for test cricket.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Why would the selectors drop a player who has taken a hat-trick and six wickets though. Just no logic behind it.

And they won't and fair enough but it's no different to North, one great spell every 5 Tests to shore up his spot then bowls sh1t the rest of the time. Similar to North making 100 amongst a million low scores to keep his spot. Unless it's consistent it just papers over cracks, which actually makes things worse for the side. I expect a similar effort (not necessarily "6-for) so even if he gets just one wicket it still keeps pressure on the batsmen.

 

[andrew coombs]

Johnson is bowling terribly and must go, probably to be replaced by Bollinger. North is probably in the gun but may be saved by the fact that he is a better bowler than White.