Changes For the sydney test

[TigerGlory]

Hussey, Watson and Haddin all deserve their spots on form, otherwise the top order can all get stuffed and find some form.

Clarke comes back in when he makes run in the Shield. But not as captain. Haddin as a temp captain until White becomes a regular.

Shaun Marsh
Shane Watson
Cameron White
Michael Hussey
Callum Ferguson
Phil Hughes
Brad Haddin* +
Steve Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Clint McKay
Mitchell Starc

Think we should persist with Hughes and let him feel comfortable with his batting. Shouldnt feel as much pressure down the order than he would opening. Send him back to an opener when he finds some form and let Watson bat at 3 or 4.

Not sure if Starc is fit, might have heard something about him not being fit. Steve Smith should just focus on his bowling and not worry about batting at all for now, but a real solid tail that bats right down to Johnson. Would be keen to see Khawaja and Finch come in to the side too at a later date.

 

[GameOver]

Merv Hughes is not the man to bring back in to the selection panel. Heard him talking a few weeks back and the usual caller rang the radio station and asked about Hodge (we're all sick of this being brought up). Hughes went on the defensive straight away and said Hodge was no good in big games and that was why he never got a go... Actually, come to think of it, apply that mentality and all of a sudden Hughes is back playing grade cricket where he belongs.

 

[FD2646]

We need now to focus on the next 4 years plus - I say this because in 4 years time we will have the best chance to reclaim the ashes. Guys like Copeland, Tim Paine, the Marsh brothers, O'Keefe, Maddinson, Lynn, young Davis (best record at U/19 champs - quick bowler) need to be blooded sooner rather than later to give us the best chance. Tough calls to be made on punter, Michael Clarke (who should also not get anywhere near a T20 side), Hussey need to be made soon irrespective of their form as none will be playing in the next Australian Ashes series.

 

[The Passenger]

Ideally you want experience in an ashes test

David Hussey
2010/11: 468 @ 47
2009/10: 970 @ 57
2008/09: 522 @ 40
2007/08: 1008 @ 56
2006/07: 911 @ 53

Not to mention his stack of County runs

don't worry about the country runs.

dave hussey is almost certainly going to take over jamie siddons as the best batsmen never to have played test cricket.

ok michael hussey has done very well in this series, but jeez he was lucky not to get dropped twelve months ago.

i thought dave hussey should've come in for last years 2009/10 home summer series. and given the way north was batting last summer, he should've been replaced straight away by steve smith or khawaja for the touring tests we played, starting in NZ (when smith was in good form and would've had his best chance of suceeding on the back of a great shield season). i know smith got a couple of games there, but he should've been playing as a batting all rounder.

this also would've had us in the position of having michael hussey on the fringes (if he hadn't retired which i don't think he would've) and being able to bring in an experienced campaigner for this ashes series should our batting need bolstering. which, as it turns out, we certainly did.

but that's all hindsight, and it may not have turned out much differently....

ideally ponting and clarke's form wouldn't have turn to such dire straits (they're not even in poor form. they're in downright horrible form) which has in turn put so much pressure on the rest of the middle order and north wasn't able to hold up and his replacement smith hasn't done much better.

 

[aneale]

Hughes
Katich (for now)
Khawaja
Hussey
Ponting
Watson
Haddin
Smith/O'Keefe
Siddle
Copeland
George

Johnson (12th)

Hughes stays, If Katich is fit i'd recall him for this test only, Ponting drops to 5 in what should be his last test in Australia at the very least. Clarke is dropped, no form. Watson in his true postion as a batting allrounder who is too natural a stroke player to open. Haddin bats above the spinner, WTF whoever decides the batting line up based this on, is beyond me.

Siddle stays in for his MCG game, but he needs to demonstrate the ability to get fired up for something other than his birthday and his home test. Johnson is a waste of space at the SCG (and MCG for that matter), no point playing him with his slinging skiddy wide crap. Copeland (195cm) and George (203) come in to extract some bounce out of the wicket on a pitch that will suit them more others.

Given it's Sydney, maybe not play George and play another spinner and tell Watson to expect to bowl more, hence playing him at 6 as well.

 

[djrossie16]

Now they have both played 4 test matches, 1 of them played 1 v Pakistan and 3 tests at home, the other 4 tests in India

Cameron White- Batting average of 30, 5 wickets @ 68
Steven Smith- Batting average of 23, 3 wickets @ 51

Now of course we all remember the argument used every time someone suggests White for the test team and that was how terrible he was when batting at no8 in India...

I'd like to see both playing for Australia at some stage

 

[FD2646]

We need now to focus on the next 4 years plus - I say this because in 4 years time we will have the best chance to reclaim the ashes. Guys like Copeland, Tim Paine, the Marsh brothers, O'Keefe, Maddinson, Lynn, young Davis (best record at U/19 champs - quick bowler) need to be blooded sooner rather than later to give us the best chance. Tough calls to be made on punter, Michael Clarke (who should also not get anywhere near a T20 side), Hussey need to be made soon irrespective of their form as none will be playing in the next Australian Ashes series.

Hazelwood should also be in this mix of players.

 

[GameOver]

Shaun Marsh
Shane Watson
Cameron White
Michael Hussey
Callum Ferguson
Phil Hughes
Brad Haddin* +
Steve Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Clint McKay
Mitchell Starc

Too many changes at once.

Replacements from 4th test:

Hughes -> Khawaja
Harris -> Bollinger if fit, otherwise it may have to be a McKay/ Copeland/ George.

Hilf hasn't got the wickets but has bowled reasonably well. Johnson is the worry. Got the ball to move in Perth test, but other than he has been useless. Too often picks up his wickets with ordinary balls and leaks a lot of runs.

I didn't agree with the original selection of Smith and still haven't seen the talent at international level, however, he does have talent and they should stick with him. Need to use him more as a bowling option though as he's not the best #6 going around. He needs to bowl in the 5th test come days 4 & 5.

McKay isn't the answer and neither is Starc.

There are plenty of others that will get their opportunity over time. Starc, Pattinson, Lynn, Maddinson to name a few.

Our bowling stocks are thin at the moment. I think the answer is another bowler to hold down an end and take the odd wicket with some change of pace. Unfortunately, that player has been injured: Andrew McDonald.

 

[matty p]

Watson
Marsh
Khawaja
Ferguson
M. Hussey
White (c)
Paine
O'Keefe/Hauritz
Johnson
Copeland
Bollinger

So thats:
In - Marsh, Khawaja, Ferguson, White, Paine, O'Keefe/Hauritz, Copeland, Bollinger
Out: Hughes, Ponting, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Harris

I'd rather O'Keefe than Hauritz because O'Keefe is the future but Hauritz's form is demanding of a spot in the XI so it'd harsh not to play him.

 

[legend166]

If it's a typical SCG pitch I wouldn't mind this:

Watson
Hughes
Khawaja
Ponting
Hussey
Haddin
Smith
O'Keefe/Hauritz
Johnson
Siddle
Copeland

I'm leaning towards Hauritz for that other spinner spot, because I think an off spin/leg spin combo would do well.

 

[BUBBALOUIS]

Watson
Marsh
Khawaja
Ferguson
M. Hussey
White (c)
Paine
O'Keefe/Hauritz
Johnson
Copeland
Bollinger

So thats:
In - Marsh, Khawaja, Ferguson, White, Paine, O'Keefe/Hauritz, Copeland, Bollinger
Out: Hughes, Ponting, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Harris

I'd rather O'Keefe than Hauritz because O'Keefe is the future but Hauritz's form is demanding of a spot in the XI so it'd harsh not to play him.

Hahahahahahahaha, so you would drop Siddle after being the only bowler to look like taking a wicket for us, on top of taking two catches and batting better than most of our top order, you wouldnt be related to Andrew Hilditch would you?

 

[Outshined]

If it's a typical SCG pitch I wouldn't mind this:

Watson
Hughes
Khawaja
Ponting
Hussey
Haddin
Smith
O'Keefe/Hauritz
Johnson
Siddle
Copeland

I'm leaning towards Hauritz for that other spinner spot, because I think an off spin/leg spin combo would do well.

Good team. Only change could possibly be Hilfenhaus for Johnson, leaving Siddle as the strike bowler and obviously Clarke for Ponting if Ricky's finger isn't right.

 

[matty p]

Hahahahahahahaha, so you would drop Siddle after being the only bowler to look like taking a wicket for us, on top of taking two catches and batting better than most of our top order, you wouldnt be related to Andrew Hilditch would you?

We already know what he's capable of, and he's certainly never going to win us matches single-handedly. We need to find out what everyone else is capable of since it's a dead-rubber. If no one else is up to Siddle's standard then so be it, he comes in for the next series.

And considering Hilditch loves Siddle, how would me dropping Siddle lead you to any sort of conclusion that I'm related to him? I have the complete opposite team to what Hilditch would have.

 

[lemon chicken]

Khawaja for Clarke, Katich for Harris, O'Keefe for Johnson,


Hughes (only if Katich is playing, cant have 2 shot players opening)
Katich
Ponting (farewell game)
Khawaja
Hussey
Watson (has to bowl more)
Haddin
Smith
O'Keefe
Siddle
Hilf



Not a Hughes fan but he stays until somebody else makes some runs.

 

[matty p]

Why are some people dropping Johnson? He is the ONLY match-winner in our team. If he fires, we win.

 

[The Governor]

I'm not sure why any of that is relevant.

You seem to be missing the theme. Andrew Mark Jefferson Hilditch was not up to the mark when he was given a chance to represent his country!!

PERIOD

 

[The Governor]

Aaron Finch - 324 runs @ 29.45
Nick Maddinson - 365 runs @ 52.14
Chris Lynn - 461 runs @ 51.22
Cam White - 114 runs @ 28.50

Can you please stop with this Finch & White nonsense - and that goes for ringing up SEN too...

I have every right to voice my opinion on SEN!!!

Why don't you ring up SEN and have your say?

People forget that selectors look at the way a batsman or bowler approaches his innnings. They look at his decision making acquisition skills and his attacking and defensive technique. Does he have the decision making skills to execute the right choices when a bowler poses a question to him by bowling a series of great deliveries.

I would be prepared to say that Maddison is a better opening bat than Hughes. Hughes is a lost cause. I would also be prepared to say that the NSW selectors should give Dave Warner more 4 day games ahead of Phil Hughes. Warner has a better batting technique than Hughes.

If the selectors are game enough, they should pick Alex Keath for the Sydney Test match to replace Michael Clarke. There is no harm in forcing the Victorian Selectors to pick him. Back in 1991, the Australian selectors named an Australian B side to tour Zimbabwe. Mark Taylor was captain and John Benaud was the tour manager. Benaud picked SK Warne for the Australia B side and after SK Warne took a bag of wickets and impressed Mark Taylor, the Victorian cricket hierachy had to pick SK Warne for Shield cricket.

When young talent is there for the taking, the selectors have to make a bold selection move for the long term future of the test side. India picked a 16 year old Sachin Tendulkar to play test cricket in 1991 whilst Pakistan picked a 20 year old Wasim Akram to play for Pakistan back in 1985 on the basis of a couple of cricket games in Pakistan.

If Australian cricket wants to get back into the groove, risks have to be taken by picking players based on instinct.

THE GOV

 

[Daytripper]

I have every right to voice my opinion on SEN!!!

Why don't you ring up SEN and have your say?

People forget that selectors look at the way a batsman or bowler approaches his innnings. They look at his decision making acquisition skills and his attacking and defensive technique. Does he have the decision making skills to execute the right choices when a bowler poses a question to him by bowling a series of great deliveries.

Well, based on Finch's and White's terrible batting average at Shield level you would have to say they've failed that test, wouldn't you ?

 

[The Governor]

Well, based on Finch's and White's terrible batting average at Shield level you would have to say they've failed that test, wouldn't you ?

Risks have to be taken to rebuild the test side.

Was not SK Warne's selection a risky selection back in 1991? He did not take a bag of wickets for Victoria at all!! His selection was based on gut instinct!!

How about Ian Healy's selection back in 1988? GS Chappell only picked him after seeing him play for Queensland in 4 Shield games.

How about Glen McGrath's selection back in November 1993? The late Bill O'Reilly was calling him to be selected to tour ENgland in 1993 and the selectors picked him for the New Zealand test series in Australia back in 1993.

My argument is based on the process of scoring runs and taking wickets. The selectors do not look at the stats. If the youngster has the talent to make the grade, the selectors will pick him.

Finally, how about Neil Harvey back in 1948? He was picked by Jack Ryder and Sir Donald Bradman after a handful of Shield games for Victoria.

I think you should read up on how our pass Australian test sides were built from the 1950s to 2000.

THE GOV

 

[pluga_4]

ok, so we are 2-1 down and can still salvage a 2-2 drawn series.

the question is do we make a few wholesale changes or not.

*harris goes out because of injury (probably frees up a spot for a specialist spinner in sydney or dare i say it move smith to the specialist spinner spot freeing up a batting spot)

*hilfenhaus position must be in some doubt and i'd prefer doug the rug back.

*hughes - do we persist with him and then he can play shield cricket for the remainder of the summer or do we bring katich back for a farewell test

*ponting deserves the right to play a farewell test if thats what its going to be.

*do we tell hussey its going to be his last test so he doesn't get pushed.

*what do we do with clarke? i'd say keep him in for sydney then we have 9 months to worry what we will do with the test team from there.

at the end of the day it'll be tough going in the interim as we have good quality opposition ahead and we don't have the cattle currently.

we'll be back at the top, just may take some time

 

[Daytripper]

Risks have to be taken to rebuild the test side.

Was not SK Warne's selection a risky selection back in 1991? He did not take a bag of wickets for Victoria at all!! His selection was based on gut instinct!!

How about Ian Healy's selection back in 1988? GS Chappell only picked him after seeing him play for Queensland in 4 Shield games.

How about Glen McGrath's selection back in November 1993? The late Bill O'Reilly was calling him to be selected to tour ENgland in 1993 and the selectors picked him for the New Zealand test series in Australia back in 1993.

My argument is based on the process of scoring runs and taking wickets. The selectors do not look at the stats. If the youngster has the talent to make the grade, the selectors will pick him.

Finally, how about Neil Harvey back in 1948? He was picked by Jack Ryder and Sir Donald Bradman after a handful of Shield games for Victoria.

I think you should read up on how our pass Australian test sides were built from the 1950s to 2000.

THE GOV

Great - lets pick Lynn and Maddinson then.

Your obsession with Finch and White is ridiculous. White especially. He has been in the system for a few years now yet his bowling is still bog ordinary and his batting as evidenced by his average is also not really there either.

Finch is youngish (24) but really needs to improve on his 29 average this season to even be considered.

On what basis would you choose Finch and White over Lynn and Maddinson ?

It certainly isn't on performance plus according to you we should be going for youth and White fails on that score as well.

Take the Victorian goggles off and start looking around the country.

Look forward to hearing you again tonight....

 

[eagles06]

1. Katich
2. Watson
3. Khawaja
4. Ponting
5. Hussey
6. Marsh
7. Haddin
8. O'Keefe
9. Johnson
10. Siddle
11. Swan

 

[BUBBALOUIS]

We already know what he's capable of, and he's certainly never going to win us matches single-handedly. We need to find out what everyone else is capable of since it's a dead-rubber. If no one else is up to Siddle's standard then so be it, he comes in for the next series.

And considering Hilditch loves Siddle, how would me dropping Siddle lead you to any sort of conclusion that I'm related to him? I have the complete opposite team to what Hilditch would have.

Siddle can be a matchwinner , if we can have someone, anyone really at the other end who can support him, but your right he is never going to take 10 wickets in an innings, his hat trick and six wickets in the first test should have set us up for victory

Siddle is still young, so dropping him for another young fast bowler who hasnt performed as well as him at first class level seems absurd

Siddle was our best performer in the test just gone, he is young and he has a never say die attitude, yep would be really smart to drop him

 

[Cotchin 9]

1. Wesley Robinson/Katich (if fit)
2. Shane Watson
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Clarke (reluctantly)
5. Mike Hussey
6. Usman Khawaja
7. Brad Haddin
8. Steve Smith
9. Mitch Johnson
10. Trent Copeland
11. Doug Bollinger (?)

 

[Knight Ryders]

Has anyone raised the prospect of Paine as an opener?

Not sure on his numbers but purely based on technique, I think he could do the job with success. Haddin still to wicket keep if that was the case.