Team for Hobart.

[bunsen burner]

Don't disagree. But people seem to ignore A) He's doing a very decent job and B) There's no other spinners* when they criticise him

*Don't say Krejza.

He's been serviceable but people are just saying that if he's the best we've got then we can't be very good. It's not his fault and people are merely pointing out "how it rolls".

 

[legend166]

Why are some people acting like Clarke hasn't scored runs in years? Sure, he's not having the best summer, but over 2007, 08 and 09 he scored over 2000 runs at an average of 55. Even this summer hasn't been the worst, he's still averaging 40.

 

[Zeke]

I agree with the Cotch...

Bolinger and Hilfenhaus should be fighting for number 11, Haddin will play but I would love to see paine play a home test to let haddin know he has to work for his spot.

Bollinger has comfortably leap frogged Siddle.

It's Siddle v Hilfy now, I would say.

 

[bunsen burner]

Ponting has played unfit in this Test, so I don't think that will stop him for the next.

Hussey and Haddin aren't going anywhere.

North is the only one who's in slight danger. Even then, the most obvious replacement - Ferguson - is injured. Bailey, Dave Hussey and Cosgrove were mediocre last season and Voges was terrible. The only player to really put his hand up, and hold his form, is Klinger, and I just don't think the selectors are interested in him.

Ferguson. He's my bet for next captain.

 

[Spikey]

But Benn rolled us for 150 and single-handedly got his team back into the match. Something Hauritz has (to my knowledge) not even done in state cricket.

You're not a real spinner unless you can turn or win a game when the wicket is turning.

True. But what did Benn do in the other 4 innings? 6 wickets in 4 innings...

You're not a match-winning spinner if you don't do that. I'm not calling Hauritz a match-winning spinner. I'm disagreeing with the stupid comment 'Any team with Hauritz isn't a good team.' cause it's...stupid.

 

[DIG]

North will be dropped. In worse form than Hughes was when he was dropped in England.

If katich is still out, they should consider white.

If katich is fit then play Hughes at 6. He'll be "protected" there and still see 2nd new balls. There's no way the preferred top 5 will change around for him.

Yeah he's an opener but most of them are playing out of their supposed best positions anyway!

 

[hoggy34]

In: Katich & Klinger

Out: North & Hughes

 

[bunsen burner]

True. But what did Benn do in the other 4 innings? 6 wickets in 4 innings...

I'm not saying he's a good bowler but he did do what a spinner should do. You used stats to back up your stance and that is flawed.

'Any team with Hauritz isn't a good team.' cause it's...stupid.

It's a reasonable comment. He's really a state cricketer but he's the best we got at the moment. To his credit he has played okay.

 

[bunsen burner]

North will be dropped. In worse form than Hughes was when he was dropped in England.

If katich is still out, they should consider white.

If katich is fit then play Hughes at 6. He'll be "protected" there and still see 2nd new balls. There's no way the preferred top 5 will change around for him.

Most of them are playing out of their supposed best positions anyway!

Hughes wasn't dropped on form. He was dropped because he had a weakness. Apples to oranges, but Hughes has to stay and if Katich comes back, North has to go.

 

[Kong]

To those mentioning Hilfenhaus, I heard that he's apparently out for the rest of the Summer.

 

[Spikey]

I'm not saying he's a good bowler but he did do what a spinner should do. You used stats to back up your stance and that is flawed.

Not at all, if anything the statistics prove my point. Benn had one good innings and was useless for the other 4. Hauritz was consistent throughout the series. I'm not arguing Hauritz is amazing and will go down in history, but he does a decent enough job and gets undeserved criticism.

It's a reasonable comment. He's really a state cricketer but he's the best we got at the moment. To his credit he has played okay.

He averages 31 in test cricket. To say we can't be considered a good team because he's in it is stupid.

 

[Wally Carter]

Why have Clarke at 4, all he's done this summer is imitate a specialist fielder (and pretty badly at that), he can't bowl and even some of the bowlers are averaging better with the bat than him. Give him a test or two off so he and his husband Lara can go and work on their lost car keys story.

Very talented, but soft, cricketer.

He fails in Hobart and it's goodbye as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Spikey]

If Clarke hadn't averaged 56 since the 06 Ashes I might even agree that he should be dropped after one summer of averaging 42.

 

[bus24]

North should be dumped. Wouldn't mind seeing Haddin given the arse as well, but he seems to be entrenched in the boys club, so don't see it happening.

Ideally (if you wanted to keep Hughes in) you'd probably bring Katich back in for North and move Robot to 6 - but you don't want to mess with Watsons superb form. Despite being an utter flog, he's done an exceptional job opening the batting.

So maybe you bring in Katich and another middle order batsman to replace Hughes and North. Not to get too excited over a bit of shit and giggle T20, but Shaun Marsh looked in great nick tonight. So maybe he's an option.

Would love to see Haddin punted though. Complete and utter tit.

 

[bunsen burner]

Not at all, if anything the statistics prove my point. Benn had one good innings and was useless for the other 4. Hauritz was consistent throughout the series. I'm not arguing Hauritz is amazing and will go down in history, but he does a decent enough job and gets undeserved criticism.



He averages 31 in test cricket. To say we can't be considered a good team because he's in it is stupid.

Err, champ, you claimed Hairitz's stats are better than Benn's so therefore he is better. You didn't even consider anything that is non-statistical.

If it's about stats then why are they considering playing the 20 yo Smith? Could it be the selectors highly value the ability to bowl out teams and believe hauritz will not develop that capability?

I'm not convinced you understand what the role is of a good spinner. Another quick could get the returns that he has got. Obviously there's something alse they want from a spinner.

disclaimer: Yes, of course I know Ponting thinks a spinners role is to maintain the over rate.

 

[ROOTA#6]

Clarke is a front runner and has shown a few times this summer that he does not have the ability/concentration to fight his way through tough periods when the team needs him. Actually when I think about it Watson is about the only bloke who has shown that he can do this lately. Where is the fighting spirit of a Langer or Steve Waugh. They would have gritted their teeth and weathered the storm day 1. Marcus North is supposed to be our fighter but he just goes too hard at the ball all the time and the bowler is always a chance to get him out. If I was picking a Test side I would be looking around the Shield scene for a gritty type player who could compliment our shot makers

 

[legend166]

Very talented, but soft, cricketer.

He fails in Hobart and it's goodbye as far as I'm concerned.

Why are some people acting like Clarke hasn't scored runs in years? Sure, he's not having the best summer, but over 2007, 08 and 09 he scored over 2000 runs at an average of 55. Even this summer hasn't been the worst, he's still averaging 40.

....

 

[CAS79]

People going overboard with the changes really.

Watson
Katich (He'll be fit for this)
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Klinger
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle (Assuming Hilf is not fit)
Bollinger
12: Geeves... save an air fare.

 

[larrikin]

They like Marsh and he's in form. There was a rumour going around (and was mentioned on ABC) that if they thought ponting was in serious doubt for Boxing Day Marsh would've been added to the squad rather than Hughes.

Not sure of the validity of it, but if you're looking at middle order batsmen he has to be a chance.

 

[Plugger35]

People going overboard with the changes really.

Watson
Katich (He'll be fit for this)
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Klinger
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle (Assuming Hilf is not fit)
Bollinger
12: Geeves... save an air fare.

I'd go with pretty much the same side, although I think North will stay in the team for Hobart and probably deserves one more opportunity to keep his spot.

If North is axed I'd like to see Cosgrove replace him. He's been in great form for SA and will also give us the overweight Darren Lehmann/Jesse Ryder style cult hero that the team badly needs.

 

[Cotchin 9]

IN: Katich, Bailey
OUT: Snorkel, Hughes

1. SR Watson
2. SM Katich
3. RT Ponting
4. MEK Hussey
5. MJ Clarke
6. GJ Bailey
7. BJ Haddin
8. NM Hauritz
9. MG Johnson
10. PM Siddle
11. DE Bollinger

Don't want the Snorkel to go, but his form of late hasn't set the world on fire.

 

[wavefall21]

If I had my way (even thought it's unrealistic) I'd love to see this team on the park

Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Katich
Clarke
Klinger
Smith
Paine
Johnson
Siddle (would drop him for Hilfy if fit)
Bollinger

It will never happen cos that number of changes is impossible, but I love the blend of youth and experience and it's about looking to the future, the days of picking players on repuation are absolutely gone in my book

 

[bus24]

Katich into the middle order wouldn't be the worst thing I suppose.

Heaven knows we need some strength, grit and fight in there.

 

[Cotchin 9]

Selectors will make one or two changes, tops.

You won't see Steve Smith get a game, Ponting/Katich/Hughes to the middle order, etc, etc.

 

[Thommo 42]

How could anyone push for the retention of Hughes based on his efforts in this test?

Literally looked completely out of his depth.