Test #5 - Changes

[Tulip]

What can you really say?

Just as we were starting to get a bit of confidence in our lineup, it all fell apart at the start and end of day 4.

Khawaja will certainly be in strife; another poor innings to add to the collection.

Smith really let himself down with the bat after some solid form, but he'll learn from it.

For me, no change. What's the point, you need stability in test cricket.

 

[Belnakor]

For me, no change. What's the point, you need stability in test cricket.

was an absolutely pathetic second half of the innings but in reality we've already made our bed, and its too late now.

4-0.

 

[PAFCsince1870]

I think there will be minimal changes for the last test over there but I expect Boof to really ring the changes for the first test here later in the year.

How much state cricket is played before the team is announced? I suspect half the spots in the XI will be up for grabs on current form.

 

[Slax]

Whilst we do need some stability in the test side you still can't ignore the fact that sometimes you have to make changes. The series is gone so we need to try and get something out of this test match.

For me 1 chagne
Out: Khawaja - how many chance can you give a bloke before you realise he just isn't up to it.
In: Wade/Hughes - Hughes did more in his matches than Khawaja has done. Would prefer Wade over either as he seems to at least put some value on his wicket or do we have our head in the sand thinking that because he is a keeper we can't pick him to play as a batsman.

Watson of course will be a question of fitness, if he can't bowl rest him.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

IN: Heart
OUT: Everyone

Am I doing it right?

 

[Kram]

No change to batting unless Watson can't bowl.

 

[bluespooner]

Out: Watson (form/injury), the two pie-chuckers that can't bowl on a seamer friendly wicket to tailenders i.e. Siddle and Bird
In: Agar (to bat at seven before Haddin), Starc and Faulkner.

Might as well just back the present batsmen in at this point, just so as there is no doubt in the selectors minds that they are not good enough. With Cowan and Hughes the only possible replacements, it's best just to hold your powder until they get back to Austalia when there should be three specialist batting positions up for grabs, with the only ones safe being Warner, Rogers and Clarke.

For the next Test:
Rogers
Warner
Khawaja
Clarke
Smith
Agar
Haddin
Faulkner
Starc
Harris
Lyon

 

[Underdog]

Despite an average of just 30, Warner in 4 innings was twice our highest scorer and is our 3rd best batsman on average behind Clarke and Rogers. This from a bloke with about as bad of a lead up as you could get.

WTF is the wrong with the rest of our batsmen?

 

[Milenko]

Anyone but Hughes.

 

[Coburghawk]

Out - Watson, Haddin & Bird
In - Faulkner, Wade & Starc

Time to build for the future Watson & Haddin have been horrible all series and are not the future. Time to give both these other guys a taste of Ashes cricket. Haddin short of an innings has been terrible keeping and batting even if Wade is not the long term future he can learn these conditions. Bird was just terrible.

 

[lewigie]

Cowan to 3?

 

[CAS79]

Watson out injured Hughes back. Smith to bowl more.

Khawaja and Hughes are batting for a future.

 

[Speck]

Warner
Rogers
Wade
Clarke
Smith
Watson/Faulkner
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Starc/Bird
Lyon

Khawaja has never proved a thing at this level and our next best batting option is Wade as a specialist batsmen. We must keep the batting order the same and provide some much needed stability.

 

[Globular]

Cowan to 3?

I'm surprised that he didn't play more than one test. I thought the whole reason for selecting him was that he was suited to English conditions. Also fought for his wicket and seemed to care in India when others didn't.

 

[lionbear]

I would send Harris and Haddin home:

Harris: No use risking him in a dead rubber, send him home now and have him primed for the first test in Aus.

Haddin: nothing to gain in a 35 year old keeping wicket, let Wade get some experience in an Ashes test, could be invaluable for 4 years time.

 

[Zach Package]

Faulker for Watson (assuming he won't bowl)
Starc for Harris (dead rubber, he's made of glass)

Warner
Rogers
Khawaja
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Faulkner
Starc
Siddle
Lyon
Bird


May as well experiment a bit

 

[The Speaker]

I would like to see us win. Since the start of the South Africa series we have failed to take far too many winning opportunities. We need it just to prove we can.

 

[Admiral Byng]

No change in the bowling attack.

Warner and Rogers to remain as openers, Clarke to remain in the middle order. Haddin by default because someone has to wear the gloves and his glove work the last two tests has been good enough.

Revolving door for the rest of batting line-up. Put the following names into a hat and pick any three to make up the numbers:
Watson
Cowan
Khawaja
Smith
Hughes

 

[JUBJUB]

Faulkner for Robot
Wade for gramps Haddin
Anyone than can catch for Smith

 

[TassieEagle]

I would say no changes, this series is gone. Tell Bird and Ussie they need to perform or be replaced in the home series.

If you had to have those two out I would say Starc for Bird and Cowan for Ussie.

 

[Globular]

Rogers
Warner
Cowan
Clarke
Smith
Khawaja
Haddin
Siddle
Harris/Faulkner/Starc - depending on how Harris pulls up
Lyon
Bird

Cowan in for Watto, could really be any batsman,I just like Cowan more than the others.
Faulkner for Harris, really just to give Harris a break and see what Faulkner can do at test level.

 

[james brayshaw]

What's with the calls for Wade? Haddin has been mostly fine this series. Wade can come back when he learns how to keep and starts scoring some runs.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Haddin: nothing to gain in a 35 year old keeping wicket, let Wade get some experience in an Ashes test, could be invaluable for 4 years time.

I would rather a keeper that doesn't drop the ball, Wade is useless. He is the WORST gloveman in the country and you want him keeping on a raging turner at the Oval...well I can see this ending well.

 

[The_Reaper]

We have a tour match against England A first don't we?

See who goes well in that

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

No change in the bowling attack.

Warner and Rogers to remain as openers, Clarke to remain in the middle order. Haddin by default because someone has to wear the gloves and his glove work the last two tests has been good enough.

Revolving door for the rest of batting line-up. Put the following names into a hat and pick any three to make up the numbers:
Watson
Cowan
Khawaja
Smith
Hughes

Agree with the bit in bold. I have toyed with the idea of Rogers at #3 and reviving the Warner/Cowan partnerhip as that sort of worked and something "sort of working" in this lineup is a valuable thing. But Warner/Rogers just worked too, and has to remain for a few games.
That means, no Cowan. He's an open or nothing proposition for mine.

#3 is a dog's breakfast. Part of the problem is the position has an almost mystical feel in Australia, and (like opening) only those that really want to play there tend to be successful there. We don't seem to have anybody who plays there regularly at state level and does well, nor anyone who desparately wants number three to be theirs (as Ponting did).
Given the lack of options keep Khawaja at three for The Oval and bring in Hughes; perhaps Wade; for Watson at six - presuming Watson is not 100% before the match.
If Doolan or Burns have a huge start to the Shield season they could possibly slot into #3 for Brisbane, but it has to be a very big start. Even Quiney if he really piles on the runs. Really, if anyone piles on the runs they could take any of 1,3,5 or 6.

I can understand people wanting to rest Harris for a dead rubber, but is still a Test match so we still want the best side out there that we can get. If he does pick up an injury that would be unfortunate, but there is time before the Brisbane Test.
Bird's second innings was not good, but it was no worse tha Starc regularly produces, so Bird remains in the side for mine. He could have had a couple despite not bowling well.