Changes For the sydney test

[eddiesmith]

Want me to give you the honest answer- he is the only one that has an inch of captaining ability. Plus for a one off test with nothing to lose, it is well worth the punt. Worst comes to worse, we pick another captain for the next series anyway. I have dropped Watson to 3 to protect him somewhat, I'd be happy to drop him to 4 to do the same thing. I personally don't want him bowling much.

Whats the bloody point then of giving anyone but Ponting the captaincy for his farewell test? Gives them 7 months to find a real alternative

 

[LukeParkerno1]

what makes you think he is a full time openeri find it even more funnier anyone would pick him ahead of those 2 any where in the squad.

I have not picked Cosgrove- I have actually gone with Phil Jaques and Nic Maddinson.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Whats the bloody point then of giving anyone but Ponting the captaincy for his farewell test? Gives them 7 months to find a real alternative

Prepare for life after Ponting. Watson is a high risk-high reward choice and I would like to see how he goes in the role and a dead rubber is a perfect opportunity for this!

 

[Damon_3388]

Can someone explain this assertion to me, given that Cosgrove has opened in only one Shield match this season and batted at number 5 in his other five Shield matches?

Well, best potential Test opener at the moment (Philip Hughes floundering, Nic Maddinson being too raw), seeing as people don't like Shaun Marsh's prospects in that role.

 

[djrossie16]

Yep I agree on this one Watson at the moment looks like the best bet for future captain. I've disliked him massively in the past. But he is one of the few that seems to have some toughness at the moment. Maybe it's the overcoming of all that adversity or whatever. But he looks like he's always learning.

Watson
Katich (on one leg don't care!)
Ponting (last test perhaps)
Hussey (Australia's best batsman deserves the no 4 slot)
Khawaja (Due a shot let's see how he goes on his home patch)
Clarke (Needs a kick up the arse - let's see how he perform here)
Haddin
Hauritz (strengthens bowling and batting mistake to drop)
Johnson
Harris
Siddle (don't really like his bowling but performed well)

 

[Bomber Bears]

I dont think Watson has any brains really. Good cricketer but doesnt seem all that smart. Wouldnt want him captain

 

[Rookie]

C Lynn

Lynn! Now there's a player who is drastically underrated by this board. Personally I rate him a year or two behind Khawaja, but with almost as much talent. Give him another year or two to find some consistency (must be hard carrying a weak Queensland batting lineup at his age) and he'll be a permanent fixture in our middle order.

Not even close for selection in Sydney though.


I think, for the sake of the present and the future, Khawaja must play. Our batting has been insipid and it's obvious we need a change or two. Hughes will be persisted with and Ponting and Clarke will play despite my feelings, so Smith looks the man most likely to make way in the top six. But does Smith drop to eight, or do we play Hauritz? If you persist with Hughes, you persist with Smith. So maybe Smith will play as the spinner. Or, more likely, the only change will be Hilfenhaus for whatever other spinner is the flavor of the month. Beer, Hauritz, whoever.

Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Smith (or Khawaja)
Haddin
Hauritz / Beer (or Smith)
Johnson
Harris
Siddle

Gotta give Khawaja a taste of it. Clearly more deserving than Hughes and Smith. But doubt the selectors will act.

 

[FreoBulldog]

I dont think Watson has any brains really. Good cricketer but doesnt seem all that smart. Wouldnt want him captain

He's also afraid of ghosts.

 

[LITTLE STINGA]

I dont think Watson has any brains really. Good cricketer but doesnt seem all that smart. Wouldnt want him captain

Our lack of leadership is a real problem. Our next captain needs to be a certainty to be in the team and ATM only Watson, Hussey and Haddin are certainties.

The stupid vodafone ad where Watson belts a granny over the fence has turned me off him as a captain. YOUR MY HERO WATSON!

Hussey was lucky to remain in the team prior to the ashes, which leaves only Haddin.

A big name batsman has to be made the scapegoat for our woeful batting displays and Clarke has to be that man, if he isn't then the selectors have to resign. The 2 batsman next in line Khawja and Ferguson must play.

Ponting needs to make Sydney his swan song while he still has some dignity left, if he plays on it will be a massive mistake, he is no leader and he is fast becoming a hack with the bat.

I would put White in for some much needed leadership.

 

[RooBoyz24]

Lets all be honest they WILL never DROP Clarke NEVER.Why they wont drop him cos he is the future Captain(Selectors thoughts).To me they need to make a stand and show that no one is safe.White wont get a gig cos they dont want him in the Test Team.To be honest i cant see anyone that can take over from Ponting.I can not see anyone standing up.M Hussey no cos of age,Haddin No,Watson Maybe,I have no idea how would take over.Good luck on that 1.

 

[Yoda_]

Lynn! Now there's a player who is drastically underrated by this board. Personally I rate him a year or two behind Khawaja, but with almost as much talent. Give him another year or two to find some consistency (must be hard carrying a weak Queensland batting lineup at his age) and he'll be a permanent fixture in our middle order.

Not even close for selection in Sydney though.

Just on Chris Lynn

I was going to start a thread about some of the Domestic players to watch out for at the start of the summer, the names I had pencilled in from each state were:

Aaron Finch (Vic)
Chris Lunn (Qld)
Wes Robinson (WA)
James Faulkner (Tas)

Just some of the names that I had penciled in that are very talented young cricketers that should be pushing forward for higher honours (Aus A/Aus) in the near future.

 

[XFactor1979]

whatever it is ryan harris wont be there

 

[jefffff34]

Looks as if Harris is crocked so he will be out. Hilfenhaus has to go, two wickets in the best part of five bowling innings at about 130 each is horrible. He is not troubling the batsmen at all.

Anyone that thinks Beer is missing out on Sydney is kidding themselves, he wouldn't still be with the squad would he? He'd be getting ready for the Big Bash.


1. Watson
2. Marsh
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. M.Hussey
6. D.Hussey
7. Haddin
8. Smith
9. Johnson
10. Siddle
11. Beer

12th man. J.Pattinson

That is what I believe the selectors will go with if it is spin friendly.

If it is, M.Hussey to open, Watson to 5 as well so he can bowl more.

 

[Cleavy]

Bollinger a chance for recall?

 

[FRUMPY]

out: Punter (get him healed up for ODI and ready for World Cup), hughes, smith, Hilfy
In: Kawaja, White, Katich (think he is available), Bolinger

 

[XFactor1979]

Bollinger a chance for recall?

oh yeh... i forgot about him...

 

[mediumsizered]

1. Maddinson (why the hell not, home pitch punt on the best opener we have seen in a few years)
2. Phil Jaques (purely as I fail to see another opener in form)
3. Shane Watson (capt.)
4. Mke Hussey (farewell test)- replaced by Usman Khawaja at the next series
5. Ricky Ponting (farewell test)- replaced by Mark Cosgrove at the next series.
6. Michael Clarke
7. Brad Haddin
8. Trent Copeland
9. Cameron Boyce
10. Mitchell Johnson
11. Ryan Harris
12th Josh Hazelwood/James Pattinson/Peter Siddle

So you would make Siddle 12th man & pick an uncapped quick when Siddle has been the best performed quick in the current test (even prior to taking wickets yesterday & today he bowled much better on Day 1 than Johnson, Hilfenhaus & the now injured again Harris).

FWIW, picking Boyce would be akin to the Aussie selectors picking Beer. There is no justification for Boyce's selection, other than him being a spin bowler (he bowled reasonably well in last season's shield final, but has not backed up that performance).

 

[Axel.]

Hughes
Watson
Khawaja
White (c)
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Beer
Copeland

12th man - Smith

 

[BarneyBent]

So you would make Siddle 12th man & pick an uncapped quick when Siddle has been the best performed quick in the current test (even prior to taking wickets yesterday & today, he bowled much better on Day 1 than Johnson, Hilfenhaus & the now injured again Harris).

FWIW, picking Boyce would be akin to the Aussie selectors picking Beer. There is no justification for Boyce's selection, other than him being a spin bowler (he bowled reasonably well in last season's shield final, but has not backed up that performance).

Picking Boyce would be worse than picking Beer IMO. Boyce is a good prospect, but he is far too young and inexperienced. Smith is as good, if not better, and can bat.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

So you would make Siddle 12th man & pick an uncapped quick when Siddle has been the best performed quick in the current test (even prior to taking wickets yesterday & today he bowled much better on Day 1 than Johnson, Hilfenhaus & the now injured again Harris).

FWIW, picking Boyce would be akin to the Aussie selectors picking Beer. There is no justification for Boyce's selection, other than him being a spin bowler (he bowled reasonably well in last season's shield final, but has not backed up that performance).

Piss Johnson off for Sidde then, not fussed either way. Both are as erratic as each other really lets be honest here.

I want a leg spinner, as simply put as that. Boyce is the best one in Shield cricket (Smith is a batsman) so in a dead rubber is there a reason why we can't punt on a young leggie.

 

[mediumsizered]

Piss Johnson off for Sidde then, not fussed either way. Both are as erratic as each other really lets be honest here.

I want a leg spinner, as simply put as that. Boyce is the best one in Shield cricket (Smith is a batsman) so in a dead rubber is there a reason why we can't punt on a young leggie.

How about we try picking bowlers who we know can take bags of wickets e.g. Johnson & Siddle, instead of picking any random NSW quick. You do realise that Australia's recent dominance was not built around New South Welshmen, but a spread of crickets from several states e.g. McGrath, Warne, Hayden, Ponting & Gilchrist.

I reiterate, there is no justification for selecting Boyce. He has done nothing to suggest he is going to be a consistent wicket-taker. Yes he is a good leg-spinner, but nowhere near ready for Test cricket.

 

[Yoda_]

You do realise that Australia's recent dominance was not built around New South Welshmen, but a spread of crickets from several states e.g. McGrath, Warne, Hayden, Ponting & Gilchrist.

Well actually

Last time I checked, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Doug Bollinger Hauritz and McGill as spin options (post Warne) were all from NSW

and while we are at it..

Don't put up Hayden, Ponting & Gilchrist if you are talking about bowlers.

 

[ROSEMVP]

imo this would be our best attack

Okeefe/Holland
Siddle
Harris
Mckay

 

[Yoda_]

I want a leg spinner, as simply put as that. Boyce is the best one in Shield cricket (Smith is a batsman) so in a dead rubber is there a reason why we can't punt on a young leggie.

I want a spinner, does not neccesarily need to be a leg spinner.

Stephen O'Keefe ok with you?

And Steve Smith, as good as he will be, is simply not good enough as a batsmen to be considered in the top 6, and his bowling leaves a lot to be desired at test level.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Copeland takes bags of wickets, especially at the SCG where the next test is being played. Johnson barely takes bags...gets a bag last test but bowled dog rubbish again after bowling dog rubbish in Brisbane. As I said, erratic. Same with Siddle although has been betetr than Mitch, 2 6 for's but only 13 wickets for the series.

I want a leg spinner, as frank as that. Leggies get more wickets than an average offie.