Test Squad v. Pakistan

[Selective Retention]

http://www.cricket.com.au/news-display/Aus-Test-squad-for-VB-Pakistan-Series/21298

The 14-man squad is:

Ricky Ponting(c) TAS 35
Michael Clarke (vc) NSW 29
Doug Bollinger NSW 28
Brad Haddin NSW 32
Ryan Harris QLD 30
Nathan Hauritz NSW 28
Ben Hilfenhaus TAS 27
Mike Hussey WA 35
Mitchell Johnson WA 28
Simon Katich NSW 34
Usman Khawaja NSW 23
Marcus North WA 30
Steven Smith NSW 21
Shane Watson NSW 29

Usman has jumped the queue a little bit, but he undoubtedly has talent.

Hilfy back in the squad and Steve Smith still hanging around hovering over North.

 

[peternorth]

subscribed

Usman the next clarke?

 

[J Selwood14]

hopefully Khawaja can get a game

 

[J Selwood14]

Simon Katich NSW 34
Shane Watson NSW 29
Ricky Ponting(c) TAS 35
Michael Clarke (vc) NSW 29
Mike Hussey WA 35
Marcus North WA 30
Brad Haddin NSW 32
Mitchell Johnson WA 28
Nathan Hauritz NSW 28
Doug Bollinger NSW 28
Ben Hilfenhaus TAS 27

Ryan Harris QLD 30
Usman Khawaja NSW 23
Steven Smith NSW 21

 

[Phone]

Aside from Bailey and Klinger, and we all know he won't ever get picked unless injures/shock retirements hit, I don't see who Usman has skipped. Maybe White too.

Hope Hilf gets picked in front of Harris, but knowing the selectors he'll get picked for the tests if he has a decent OD series.

 

[Cousin Jed]

If Hilfenhaus is considered ready to bowl in tests, he'll be picked ahead of Harris. Especially in England.

Drummond will be happy about Usman....

 

[Selective Retention]

Aside from Bailey and Klinger, and we all know he won't ever get picked unless injures/shock retirements hit, I don't see who Usman has skipped. Maybe White too.

Hope Hilf gets picked in front of Harris, but knowing the selectors he'll get picked for the tests if he has a decent OD series.

Bailey was the one I had in mind. The selectors justification was that Khawaja can open so that is fair enough I guess.

I'm not really sure on Hilfy after the lay off. The main reason to play him would be to get him fit for the ashes and that is not exactly respecting Pakistan a hell of a lot.

Haddin is still in doubt too.

Vics already ringing up SEN complaining If you picked your own youngsters instead of recruiting Rogers, Wright etc you might get a young player or two picked on potential.

 

[jefffff34]

WTF does White have to do? Move to Albury? FFS.

 

[JUBJUB]

So Osama got his baggy green when he got his NSW cap I gather.
Richard Chee Que can't be too far from debuting for Australia.

 

[Cousin Jed]

If Cameron White could open, he would be in the squad.

Fact is, he can't.

 

[Phone]

Alternatively, if White was a bit better at FC cricket, he would be in the squad.

 

[Drummond]

If Hilfenhaus is considered ready to bowl in tests, he'll be picked ahead of Harris. Especially in England.

Drummond will be happy about Usman....

TOO RIGHT!!! Awesome news!!!

Go Usman you little star! Well done Aussie selectors for looking to the future, he's got such a bright one. Had a ripping FC season, it's not like they're just picking him on potential, he had a great season and deserved the nod.

Pumped!!

 

[eddiesmith]

Interesting team selection...

Of course it doesnt matter who they choose against Pakistan

 

[dan warna]

you clearly haven't seen white's form in FC cricket with the bat over the last 4 or 5 seasons have you if you are critical of him?

Shane watson is from NSW now? has he abandoned QLD?

And wade is clearly the premier FC wicket keeper in Australia, to take all those catchers with such a terrible bowling attack from victoria, he must be a star

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Looking at the ages of our squads, I hope that Khawaja gets a game in the starting 11.

Though I know he won't.

I still feel like North is there under false pretences,

 

[amer]

Usman to gun it up in England.

 

[Phone]

you clearly haven't seen white's form in FC cricket with the bat over the last 4 or 5 seasons have you if you are critical of him?

White in FC cricket since the 2006 country season

(not counting his tests in India and two matches in Pakistan in 07 which I presume are A team matches; he only made 186 runs in 10 innings anyway)

4435 runs from 52 matches and 91 innings (11 not outs) at an average of 55 and 14 centuries.

Pretty decent. Admittedly 10 of those centuries and 2273 of those runs came from the 41 innings he played for Somerset and against div 2 county teams in 06 and 07. He averaged 64 during those two seasons including 921 runs at 70 in 16 innings at the Somerset home ground Taunton which is one of the flattest in the country.

Since that 06 county season, White has made 2162 runs in 28 FC matches (50 innings, 5 not outs) played in Australia with only 4 centuries. However he has made 14 scores above 50 in that time. So he has an average of 48 for matches in Australia during that time. Pretty decent but the lack of big scores is a worry.

For comparison, Usman has scored 1388 runs in 18 matches since his 07-08 debut, with 31 innings played and two not-outs so an average 47. He's made 5 centuries in that time, in 76 FC matches in Australia White has made the exact amount of centuries.

So really, it's pretty close. But Usman is younger (although age shouldn't factor in because White is what 27-28?) has shown a better ability to make centuries imo.

Plus as mentioned Usman can cover more batting positions so he's a more useful reserve batsman than White. If Usman was coming straight into the team it's a 50/50 argument, but he's not. Klinger has much more of a case than White does when it comes to being a reserve batsman.

Shane watson is from NSW now? has he abandoned QLD?

Moved last year. Hasn't played a game for NSW though, and I don't think he will in the upcoming years. I imagine that whenever the domestic season is on, if Watson isn't playing for Australia, he'll be rested from state duties anyway. He might play in the champions league if we make it, but I wouldn't like that if he didn't play any BigBash games.

 

[Selective Retention]

You are not allowed to play in the champions league if you didn't play a game in the big bash.

It's interesting Pietersen has left his county in England because he couldn't bother commuting from London and as yet hasn't bothered to join a new one.

 

[danielnajdek]

Would just like to say well done to my fellow Vics for getting into the squad. Well done fellas and good luck in England.

 

[Selective Retention]

Marcus North is from Pakenham

 

[Phone]

Was wondering why that squad looked so good.....

 

[eddiesmith]

You are not allowed to play in the champions league if you didn't play a game in the big bash.

It's interesting Pietersen has left his county in England because he couldn't bother commuting from London and as yet hasn't bothered to join a new one.

Yes you are, you just have to be a member of the squad before the big bash

 

[Bomber Bears]

So Osama got his baggy green when he got his NSW cap I gather.
Richard Chee Que can't be too far from debuting for Australia.

Classy

Usman is a gun. Arguably a better prospect than Hughes, very sound technique and could very well be our Ponting replacement at number 3.

 

[KennyHuntersBlues]

white, bailey, d.hussey and wade need to move to n.s.w

 

[western royboy]

So Osama got his baggy green when he got his NSW cap I gather.
Richard Chee Que can't be too far from debuting for Australia.

Well if he does get game that will make it 4 players from Randwick- Petersham in the same side which would be a massive achievement;

Katich
Hauritz
Khawaja

Well done wicks or randy petes!