Ponting's replacement

[Pevers-Legend]

Hughes at no.3 makes the most sense.

Watson is a natural no. 4

 

[matty p]

I'd pick Hughes. He's in awesome form right now and deserves another crack. Let's face it, he's the best domestic batsman in the country.

Put him in at 3 or 4 where he doesn't have the pressure of the new ball.

Warner
Cowan
Watson
Hughes
Clarke
Hussey
Wade

Looks like a solid lineup.

Khawaja would be my next choice if Watson gets injured again. In saying all this though, I have a sneaky feeling they're gonna pick Doolan.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

I would watch that porno.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

The other option (though given his non-selection for AUS A makes it highly unlikely) is Joe Burns

Unfortunately not having the best summer though

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Would be quite happy to see the following for the first test against the rankings booster Sri Lankans...

Watson at 6 mainly because I think his bowling is much better than his batting. Meh, if you wanted the order to be Watson, Clarke, Hussey it wouldn't bother me too much.

Ed Cowan
David Warner
Phillip Hughes
Michael Clarke (c)
Mike Hussey
Shane Watson
Chris Hartley (+)
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Starc
Ben Hilfenhaus
Nathan Lyon

 

[Super Hans]

I would watch that porno.

Two guys one cup?

 

[Black Diamond]

Number four is the position we have most struggled to fill over the years. During Ponting and Clarke's captaincy we have had Martyn, Hodge, Hussey, Clarke and Ponting in the role. Martyn is the only one who really looked at home, and even he took a little while to settle after Mark Waugh.

I honestly think we should just pick the best number four from state cricket. Right now, that is Stephen Smith.

It won't be a popular suggestion, but at the moment everybody else in the batting lineup is settled. If Hussey and Clarke both move up the order that means two players in good form have to readjust. Smith is a natural at second drop in my opinion and the best of the current Shield cricketers for the job.

 

[Scotland]

I vote Marcus North on the Mitch Johnson principle.

 

[BACCS]

It'll be Hughes. Heard Malcolm Conn say the other day that the selectors were deciding between Quiney and Hughes to replace Watto, dependent on how they went in the Aussie A game. Quiney scored 85, Hughes failed.

He is in superb batting form atm and should be first picked by a mile.

 

[thecatattack]

Usman Khawaja

 

[damochandler]

it should be same for same. if one of our openers were out of touch, yes bring in hughs. they should bring in a middle order player to replace him

 

[Xtreme]

Clarke should elevate his game to a bigger level by batting third . The rest can sort itself out.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

A lot may depend on where they want Watson to bat.
If he goes to #3 it will probably be Khawaja, if Watson goes into #6 it will be Hughes.

Maybe:
Warner
Hughes
Cowan
Clarke
Hussey
Watson

 

[Super Hans]

A lot may depend on where they want Watson to bat.
If he goes to #3 it will probably be Khawaja, if Watson goes into #6 it will be Hughes.

Maybe:
Warner
Hughes
Cowan
Clarke
Hussey
Watson

I'd keep Cowan opening. Much more suited to taking the shine off the new ball. Want a more attacking batsman at 3. Either Hughes or Watson.

 

[Belnakor]

It'll be Hughes. Heard Malcolm Conn say the other day that the selectors were deciding between Quiney and Hughes to replace Watto, dependent on how they went in the Aussie A game. Quiney scored 85, Hughes failed.

He is in superb batting form atm and should be first picked by a mile.

agree. imo Hughes could use a shift down the order. Doesn't make sense to me why he plays as an opener.

 

[The 747]

Who is the form batsman from NSW?

 

[Fastback]

Should have made it a poll. It'll be Hughes.

Think you're right, he seems to have worked v hard on his technique and has the hunger.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I'd keep Cowan opening. Much more suited to taking the shine off the new ball. Want a more attacking batsman at 3. Either Hughes or Watson.

I can understand that, and had to stop and think a bit. I just feel that Cowan might be more adaptable, and Hughes more comfortable opening. Its a gut feel thing though, without (obviously) knowing either man so I'm clearly not claiming to be "right".

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Doolan is 27. Khawaja 25. Hughes 23.

As much as I'd love to see another Tasmanian replace him, Hughes or Khawaja seem the likely candidates.

Whoever they pick needs to be backed in and given a decent crack, like Cowan has. Leaning towards Ussie myself, I feel he'd be more reliable in England next year.

 

[ClokesShankedIt]

I haven't been following him, but if Hughes has tightened up his technique - and the stats suggest that he has - then I'd bring him in.

I'd also afford him the opportunity to be eased into the batting lineup that Ponting and Clarke enjoyed down the order.

For Sri Lanka:

Warner
Cowan
Watson
Clarke
Hughes
Huss
Wade

After that maybe swap Hughes and Watson or wait until Huss goes for a reshuffle.

 

[HawkintheTuarts]

I don't see how its a huge shift for Clarke and Hussey to move up the order 1 spot to accommodate Watson at 6. At least then they can use this Sri Lanka series to experiment see how Clarke can do up the order like people have been suggesting. I think whoever comes in should bat at #3 or #6, depending on Watson.

I think the former Cockroaches will have first chance. Unfortunately UK's last match has dropped his average down heaps which means Hughes with his 100 has to be in front. Personal bias says Khawaja though.

Ferguson and Doolan have been the form "Shielders". Guess any of the two could get a go, not sure why Doolan is loved more than Ferguson, they seem about equal albeit Ferguson has played more FC matches.

Some other names to suggest, if NSP are "blooding" youngsters like Hazelwood, then why not a young batsman like Joe Burns, Moises Henriques or Travis Head. Henriques is even playing for NSW, perfect.

Completely out of left-field but what about resurrecting the dead careers of some of the oldies like David Hussey or Chris Rogers?

 

[Bradesmaen]

Doolan was picked at 6 for the A team and batted below McDonald. That says to me the selectors just picked him to make up the numbers because he had been scoring runs, not because he was in their long term plans at all.

Since that game he failed x 2 against SA, and had a decent knock against WA. With shield cricket finished until after the big bash I doubt he has done enough to convince selectors.

I tend to think that Hughes and Khawaja would benefit from longer in the wilderness.

They could back their initial judgement on Quiney and give him another go against SL

Wait what? Doolan never played SA.. it was on at the same time as the South Africa tour match.

 

[Gak Attack]

If Watson is happy to I would have him at 4. Bring in Hughes to bat at 3.

 

[Selective Retention]

Wait what? Doolan never played SA.. it was on at the same time as the South Africa tour match.

Should read qld, getting embarassing losses mixed up.

 

[Phone]

It amuses me that people are talking about how if Hughes has changed his technique and fixed it up, bring him back, but no-one is saying bring Usman back if has tightened up his technique. it's like you guys still think because he's a crap t20 player he has a perfect test match technique or something. anyway, from what i've seen this season, usman has not done anything about being unable to respond if you consistently bowl a tight line and length around off-stump (eg proper test match bowling). That time he went over a hour without scoring a single during one of his 50's in the recent nsw match a prime example. I still don't see Usman anywhere near the test team, and am quite hopeful Doolan is in front of him.