test team 2006

[rockdog]

1. M Hayden - coming to the end but still playing good cricket
2. M Hussey/J maher - couldn't decide,but has to be a true opener
3. R Ponting - Still averaging 50
4. M Love
5. M Clarke
6. S Katich
7. A. Gilchrist - Also considering retirement, but going well
8. S Warne - Has made an incredible comeback and playing in last series
9. B Lee - Is starting to lose pace and doesn't take enough wickets these days, could be dropped soon
10. J Gillespie - Plays when not injured
11. A Noffke

12th man batter - Brad Hodge/One of the openers
12th man Bowler - N Bracken - don't really like him but the selectors love him.

 

[lamby29]

Hayden
Marsh
Ponting
Clarke
Katich
Watson
Gilchrist (Crosthwaite next in line)
Warne
Lee
Noffke
Gillespie

 

[Russian]

Not bad... but Noffke would bat ahead of Gillespie. And that bowling spot is debatable - Inness and Rofe would push Noffke and I reckon one they'd both be ahead of Bracken (and they would both bat at #11). Jimmy Maher has to produce consistently ala Love, Lehmann to make the test team at his age IMO. Kruger is still a good chance to be the next opener - I believe he's injured atm

 

[corporal]

1. M Hayden
2. M Love
3. R Ponting
4. B Hodge
5. M Clarke
6. S Katich
7. C White
8. A Crosthwaite
9. M Nicholson
10. S Brant
11. M Inness

Batsmen 12th man: Sean Marsh
Bowler 12th man: Paul Rofe

 

[Russian]

Originally posted by lamby29
(Crosthwaite next in line)

#3 in his state atm, can't see him being #2 in the country in just 3 years

 

[vicpride99]

1.Hayden
2.Hussey
3.Pointing
4.Clark
5.Love
6.Katich
7.White
8.Lee
9.Noffke
10.Inness
11.Willams

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Re: Re: test team 2006

1. Hayden
2. Hussey
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. Katich
6. Cosgrove
7. White
8. Crosthwaite
9. Gillespie
10. Lee
11. Inness

12th man Rofe

 

[fitzmantle]

1. Hayden
2. Langer
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Lehman
6. Gilchrist
7. Warne
8. Lee
9. Bichel
10. Gillespie
11. McGrath

12th man Slater

 

[Darky]

Could Peter Roach "do a Healy" and come out of nowhere? Berry hasn't got long left, and Crosthwaite is no monty to step straight into the Vic side if Berry is injured/retires in the near future.

I think Bichel hasn't got long left as an international cricketer. Will play Shield cricket until he's 40 IMHO, and bowl very well, but unless he is at his absolute best is not an automatic international selection. I think guys like Noffke, Bracken, Rofe and maybe Nicholson, Inness & Cleary will provide better long-term value after the current front-liners retire.

Domenic Thornely will play for Australia, maybe after one of the openers calls it quits.

 

[hank_bulger]

1. M Hayden
2. J maher
3. R Ponting
4. M Love
5. M Clarke
6. S Katich
7. R Campbell
8. B Hogg
9. B Lee - Is starting to lose pace and doesn't take enough wickets these days, could be dropped soon
10. J Gillespie - Plays when not injured
11. N Bracken

12th Man: S Goodwin

 

[dr nick]

Hayden
Cowan / Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Clarke
Katich
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Gillespie
McGrath

i don't think we'll see a raft of changes (Cowan is a gee up by the way, i still think Langer will be there), particularly if we are successful, and i think McGrath will keep going barring injury until at least the 2007 WC. Compare the side we had 2-3 years ago. Barring injury and suspension, the regular side hasnt changed much at all.

2001 - 2004

In: Lehmann

Out: M.Waugh

so i don't think the side will be that different in 2006, and who knows, maybe Warne will not have retired and he'll be there in front of Hogg.

2004 - 2006

In: Clarke, Katich

Out: Lehmann, S. Waugh

 

[Darky]

I'm not one of these blokes that watches people put up their teams, points out the flaws, and then doesn't put up his own... but geez Brad Hogg....

In 2006, he'll be 35 years old and wouldn't get a game at a friggen park BBQ.

 

[DaveW]

Here's my effort:

Hayden
Maher
Ponting
Love
Clarke
Katich
Gilchrist
Warne
Noffke
Gillespie
Rofe

It's pretty hard to pick which of the 30 something batsmen - i.e. Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Gilchrist - will still be around and which will be gone in 2-3 years time.

Could easily have Hodge instead of Love or Hussey instead of Maher. The batting looks about as old as it does now, with the exception of Clarke. But I don't see any other young blood coming into the side in that time; if they did, they'd really be showing something at state level now. Mark Cosgrove and Shaun Marsh I think are our two of our best younger batsmen, but they've still got a way to go before getting a Test berth.

I expect Gilchrist will be around for a little while longer. If he does go in this time, I've thought for a while that Clingeleffer should be his successor. Unfortunately Haddin - who makes Gilly's glovework look masterful - would also be in contention because of his batting ability. I notice a few have gone for Crosthwaite, that would certainly be a quick rise to the top. Do you expect Berry to retire this season?

Bowling is hard... Gillespie may have retired by then thanks to all the injuries. Lee will certainly still be young enough and probably fit enough, but I just don't rate him, his form has been shocking for ages and he has to go eventually. Rofe and Noffke are our two best young bowling talents in my opinion, maybe Mitchell Johnson will also get over injuries and start to shine as well. No doubt Bracken will also be in contention, but I don't rate him either. I get the feeling that the selectors just don't like Inness though.

The spin bowling spot is difficult to pick too. How will Warne be after the year off? Will his shoulder last til 2006? Spin bowlers generally have a longer life than pace bowlers, so I think he might just carry on to 2006. Maybe Warne will have retired and MacGill will no longer be just an understudy. Maybe there'll be a young spinner in the side like Hauritz, White or Doherty...

Darky - I don't think Thornely has done a lot at shield level; in fact he struggles to get much of a go in the four day game. He'd be a good chance for a spot in the one-day side though.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by hank_bulger
12th Man: S Goodwin

I hope Simon isn't planning to give up football.

 

[Darky]

Originally posted by DaveW
.
Darky - I don't think Thornely has done a lot at shield level; in fact he struggles to get much of a go in the four day game. He'd be a good chance for a spot in the one-day side though.

At the moment, sure, he's no walk up start for even NSW... consider it a bolter... one emerges every few years.

But once he gets a chance, I think he's good enough. Guys like Gillespie and Slater also came out of friggen nowhere to get very healthy Test careers.

 

[Lidge]

1. Hayden
2. Love
3. Hodge
4. Ponting (c)
5. Katich
6. Clarke
7. Gilchrist
8. White
9. Lee
10.Gillespie
11.Inness

Spare fast bowlers: Rofe, Bracken, Noffke, Williams
Spare slow bowlers: Doherty, Hauritz, MacGill
Next in line batsman: M Hussey,
Next in line Wicket Keepers: Seccombe/Crossthwaite
Gone: Langer, Martyn, S Waugh, Lehmann, McGrath, Hogg, Warne, Bichel,

While Love doesn't play as an opener ATM, neither did Boonie or Langer originally. He's got the right technique & temperment to open IMO.

I reckon Ponting will drop down to No 4 (unusual for the Aussie skipper to bat 1st drop the past 30 years).

Have picked Hodge in 1st drop - but who ever has the best upcoming 18 months between him & Hussey will get this place in the side.

Gillespie I reckon will only play in Tests (in the not too distant future) to prolong his career.

Expect to see a left arm quickie in the side for variety after McGrath retires after next summer.

Am tipping Warnie to get his spot back but retire by 2006.

A fair few hypotheticals - but I'd be happy with that side.

 

[year of the roo]

1. Hayden
2. Hussey
3. Ponting
4. Hodge
5. Clarke
6. Katich/Cosgrove
7. Crosthwaite
8. White
9. Gillespie
10. Bracken
11. Tait

12th man - Katich/Cosgrove

 

[stmookeyj]

IDEALLY:

Hayden
M.Hussey
Ponting
Clarke
Cosgrove
Katich (Unfortunately)
Gilly
White
Lee
Dizzy
Rofe

BACKUPS: Love, Hodge, Marsh, Carseldine, Crossthwaite, Clingeleffer (if he can improve his batting), Watson, Hauritz, Bracken, Noffke, Johnson, Inness, Cleary, Tait, Doherty, Griffith, Symonds (if he can be consistent), Wright, Casson, North, Rogers, Williams, Worthington.

 

[The Passenger]

Originally posted by Darky


Domenic Thornely will play for Australia, maybe after one of the openers calls it quits.

hmmmm i really doubt it. he's a battler.



This is how I would see things looking like in 06/07, barring any major injury or complete drop (or increase) in form/performances.


Opening Batsmen

Matt Hayden (35 years old for 06/07 season) will still be around. He may be 35 years of age, but he's an extremely fit guy, so he looks the type that can play on for quite a while.

The other openers spot is a big concern. Justin Langer (36) will be spent as an international force, and the obvious replacements will come from either Michael Hussey (31) or Jimmy Maher (32). Definetaly don't think Maher will be upto test standard, however Hussey has the ability.

Other openers who'll still be hanging around but not quite good enough for internationals will be Scott Mueleman (26), Greg Mail (28) and Matthew Elliot (35 but i reckon he'll survive for a while longer. Mail may possibly be a bolter for the test team, but i would be suprised if it happened.

Look for a guy by the name of Ed Cowan (24) to start emerging as a serious shield force around this stage. He is an absolute gun, but the worst thing for him was the article from Matthews on the paper in the weekend, claiming he'll score 5000 test runs. Was a junior star, before fading for a season or two, but really hit his gear last season when he was one of Sydney's top scorers at 20 years old, and has gone from strength to strength this season.

The other guy who i feel will start emerging will be Callum Ferguson (22) - the man who will be the star of this season's Australia under 19 team. He, like Cowan, will still be little bit of Australian level for 06/07, but they'll start to make some waves around this period.

Due to their age, I'd say at the time Cowan or Ferguson will be fighting it out for first in line for an openers spot should one of Hussey or Hayden brake down. If Hussey didn't work, and Cowan or Ferguson weren't ready for it yet, I'd think the selectors may opt for Martin Love to open the batting rather than Maher.

*Just for those interested, I've known Cowan a lot longer than the article from Greg Matthews - he doesn't need cr@p like that been spoken about him. His performances that his shown is all one needs to know he's got the goods.


Middle Order Batsmen

from current group Ricky Ponting (32) will still be around and dominating the world batting at number 3. He will be continnue to be the captain of this side, and he'll probably still be in the team for another 2 to 3 years (possibly more) after this season IMO.

However Damien Martyn (35), Steve Waugh (42) and Darren Lehmann (36) would have all retired from international cricket.

This is probably where the biggest difference in the Australia team will come from - middle order batting.

ACB Lovechild Michael Clarke (25) will be a member of the team, consolidating his position at number 4 in the batting line-up, and an instant success in the international arena IMO.

Working out who will hold down the other two positions, is a much harder prospect. For me, it will come down to the experienced guys like Simon Katich (30), Brad Hodge (32) or Martin Love (32), and the young guys like Mark Cosgrove (22), Shane Watson (25) or Shaun Marsh (23). Aside from those six guys, I'd expect two middle age guys who have been on the scene for quite - Marcus North (27) and Michael Dighton (30) too really start pressing for higher honours around about this point in time.

I could almost garuantee 100% the number five and six spots of the Australian team will come from those eight cricketers. but which of the two is a massive mystery.

A few of the younger guys who would be beginning to make a name for themselves around about this stages would be Victorian Michael Harrison (21) and New South Welshman Dan Christian (23) and Michael Bright (23) and quite possibly WA batsmen Liam Davis (22). Probably from that group I reckon the most established players at this time would be either Bright or Davis.


Keeper

This one is an interesting one. If Adam Gilchrist (35) is sstill around, he is the automatic choice, unless something drastic happens to his cricket.

If he isn't around I'd expect Sean Clingellefer (26) to be the starting keeper for Australia, however would not be suprised to see quite a bit of pressure from Graham Manou (27) and perhaps even a bolt into the Australian team from Victorian youngster Adam Crosthwaite (21) although you'd more expect AC to come on around about 2-3 years later.

Brad Haddin (29) would still be around on the scene at this age, and if he can keep some momentum going, selectors may opt for his experience.


Spinners

If Shane Warne (37) was still around I'd be majorly shocked, and if he was still perfomring at his best, I'd be even more shocked.

The quality of spinners coming through is reasonably strong, however the two that stick out in my mind, and I think they'll both be ready for test cricket by 06/07 are Cameron White (23) and Beau Casson (24). I've not given White the biggest raps in the past in terms of his performance, but you can see that talent is there.

Casson likewise, hasn't produced the best performances so far, but there is an incredible amount of talent there.

One would also be inclined to think of guys like Nathan Hauritz (25) to be on the scene and be the main contendors.

Of the rest of the guys, I think Xavier Doherty (24) and Liam Zammtit (27) to have served a bit of a warning by this stage. There aren't many middle aged spinners coming through, outside of Zammitt, and he could very well be the main man by this stage, it will all depend on how he goes when getting his chance once MacGill goes by the wayside.

My prediction of the thread, however comes in this section - Beau Casson to be considered as one of the elite, if not the very elite, spinners in the world at one stage in his career. He's international career will probably start around 05/06/07 for mine, and he'll have a bit of a hard time early on, but after 18-24 months of international cricket he'll find his feet and be an absolute champion.


Quick Bowlers

Another hard area to predict what will happen, as of this is the most injury prone group of cricketers.

I think Glenn McGrath (36) will be gone by 06/07. I'd suggest he'll retire after the 2005 Ashes series, althoug he may play 05/06.

Likewise, Brad Williams (32) will not have an international career but will still be a vital member of whichever state squad he is in at the time. Andrew Bichel (36) will be well and truly gone.

I think both Jason Gillespie (31) and Brett Lee (30) will still be fit and around the scene, but I have serious doubts as to whether either one of them will still be an effective international bowlers.

Guys who have been around for a while now, that will start to come along than will be Paul Rofe (26), Matt Inness (28), Ashley Noffke (29) and Nathan Bracken (29)

So the three quick bowlers will most likely be coming from one of those six, but once again that is very hard to determine which one.

I also predict a few bolters will come into consideration around this time but won't quite be there yet. In this group would be Scott Brant (23), Mark Cleary (26) and Shaun Tait (24).

While also don't be suprised if a guy by the name of Aaron Bird (23) has started to make a few waves by the time, or during the, 2006/07 season comes around.



With all that said, I reckon this will be my team for the first test of the 06/07 Ashes series (barring injury):

Matthew Hayden (35)
Martin Love (32)
Ricky Ponting (32)
Michael Clarke (25)
Mark Cosgrove (22)+
Simon Katich (30)
Adam Gilchrist (35)*
Brett Lee (30)
Beau Casson (24)
Matthew Inness (28)+
Paul Rofe (26)
Shane Watson (25) - 12th man

*If retired, Sean Clingellefer (26)
+ lining up for test debut

I think Marsh will be putting major pressure on Cosgrove and Katich

I also think Inness would've forced his way into the team past Ashley Noffke, while Jason Gillespie's injuries have finally gotten the better of him.

 

[-WWJD-]

Great analysis. Can't say I disagree with much there...if anything at all. I just hope Greg Mail never dons the baggy green...I couldn't stand it. Has to be the most boring batsman since Lawry.

 

[The Passenger]

Originally posted by acg_204*
Great analysis. Can't say I disagree with much there...if anything at all. I just hope Greg Mail never dons the baggy green...I couldn't stand it. Has to be the most boring batsman since Lawry.

yea he is a pretty boring batsmen, which wouldn't sit too well with the current Australian philosophy.

If, and it's a big if, he ever got to represent Australia it would be more be the fact there are no other openers around rather than him actually being one of the best six batsmen in the land.

It would also be quite a story though, but he is only a moderately talented cricketer, and it would show what perserverance and mental ability can do for you.

He's just lucky he would have fallen in an era where Australia were waiting for two openers (IMO will be Ferguson and Cowan) to take over from Hayden and Langer.

 

[The Passenger]

two 16 year olds to keep your eyes peeled out for in the future are David Warner and Moises Henriques. Both 16 year olds, and have huge futures.

May have earned themselves a few second XI games in the time frame we're talking about, possibly even one or two FC games, but if you extend the time from by another three years, this would be about the time I can see these two emerging as big talents.

Unfortunately a lot can happen between 16 and 22 - especially the emergance of booze and women.

 

[DaveW]

Black Thunder, a couple of things:

Why do you rate Hussey ahead of Maher? They both average around the 40 mark in shield cricket. And I think Maher's recent form - in Australia - has been far superior.

And Zammit is a 1981-er. He's 22 now and will be 25 in 2006.

 

[pinkus maximus]

Great post Black Thunder.

From what i have seen so far i think Shaun Marsh is a certainty in 3 years.
Could you give us a bit more info on Liam Davis?
Also i noticed you left out Mitchell Johnson, Dennis Lillee loves this bloke, what do you think?
Also with the wicketkeeping i reckon Luke Ronchi might be in with a chance if he gets some game time

 

[Nandoz]

Originally posted by Black Thunder
two 16 year olds to keep your eyes peeled out for in the future are David Warner and Moises Henriques. Both 16 year olds, and have huge futures.

May have earned themselves a few second XI games in the time frame we're talking about, possibly even one or two FC games, but if you extend the time from by another three years, this would be about the time I can see these two emerging as big talents.

Unfortunately a lot can happen between 16 and 22 - especially the emergance of booze and women.

Got another one for you. He's also 16, watch out for Marc Murphy. Has Dean Jones written all over him, averaged over 60 with that bat at U16 Downling Shield, and was just chosen for the Victorian U17 Team to travel to Perth for the Aussie Championships.

I would be surprised if he eventually didnt get a game for Australia, he is a talent I have seen very few of, so watch out for him come maybe...06-07 possibly.