The Ashes squad

[Caesar]

I presume they're going into camp at some point.

 

[BarneyBent]

Seriously though...what is the point of a "squad" aside from the PR exercise?

Its not like they can't pull someone in that wasn't named in the squad...

They train, travel, dine, hang out, stay, etc, with each other.

 

[PUNTROADHAMMER]

Australian Test cricket is rapidly becoming an utter snore-fest and if the selectors don't see the light soon it will be a tragedy from which the game may never recover.

With this Ashes squad, once again, the selectors have had an air swing.

I'm not asking for a hit-and-giggle Test team but, f*&k me, something has to be done and it has to be done soon!!

Rodney Hogg should be putting his hand up for a position on the panel - no BS about him, doesn't care who's feelings he hurts.

Does anyone know who Andrew Hilditch answers to?

 

[pies_this_year]

They train, travel, dine, hang out, stay, etc, with each other.

Geez, they'll need a big restaurant to fit this squad in!

My point still remains though...Others can come into the team at the drop of a catch. If SOK goes well in Hobart (weather permitting) he still has a chance for test 2 (assuming hauritz fails.....good assumption).

 

[gbatman]

We are at home, we don't have to select players from that squad. Pain or Hughes could easily play at some stage. Picking a squad when you play in your home country is all about publicity and getting a group who will train together in place.

 

[gbatman]

Australian Test cricket is rapidly becoming an utter snore-fest and if the selectors don't see the light soon it will be a tragedy from which the game may never recover.

With this Ashes squad, once again, the selectors have had an air swing.

I'm not asking for a hit-and-giggle Test team but, f*&k me, something has to be done and it has to be done soon!!

Rodney Hogg should be putting his hand up for a position on the panel - no BS about him, doesn't care who's feelings he hurts.

Does anyone know who Andrew Hilditch answers to?[/quote]

That would be James Sutherland right?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

to be fair on Cal, in the past 3 years his average has been much healthier than his career average of 36 suggests, he was awful in his 2nd year

42 isn't healthy.

It just means you are good enough to hold your spot in the state side.

50+, with a swag of tons is healthy

 

[pies_this_year]

42 isn't healthy.

It just means you are good enough to hold your spot in the state side.

50+, with a swag of tons is healthy

Really? 42 is more than solid IMO.

 

[beez]

No real suprises, happy Khawaja got named and would love to see Ferguson in the XI.

 

[Caesar]

Really? 42 is more than solid IMO.

Solid for a state player. Not exactly pushing for Test selection.

North had a FC average of around 42 when he was selected, look where that got us.

 

[mattymac]

lol 17. bit of a nothing announcement really. confirms everything we already knew and clarifies nothing we didn't.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Really? 42 is more than solid IMO.

Solid for a state player. Not exactly pushing for Test selection.

North had a FC average of around 42 when he was selected, look where that got us.

Exactly - it's what a decent state cricketer should average. Not what they get in their best season.

I always use the example of guys like Law/Love/Hodge - these were guys who were constantly on the fringe of selection for a decade and not good enough when we were at our peak.

They all average around 50 in FC cricket.

The fact that guys like North/Ferguson are even considered is a blight on our batting depth.

 

[nobbyiscool]

i have a different view on the 17 man squad, i think theyve gone with that number (more than we took to england last time ) for one of two reasons - and neither of those are promotional.

the less likely possibility is that the selectors dont know who the best 11 is.

the other possibility, the one that i suspect, is that aside from paine, the selectors realised theyd get a caning from everyone if they announced the same 12. in announcing a squad like this they at least look like theyre looking ahead.

fergusons record doesnt earn him a spot.

doherty, despite the fact that i really like him (played one of my best ever innings against him as a junior 12 years ago!), is notan australian test player. shouldve been in the one day squad since hogg retired, but shouldnt be anywhere near a baggy green.

north is a passenger and hussey shouldve been chopped. normally im quick to jump on those who advocate dropping senior players because people get bored with the team when we're losing. but these two are letting us down enormously.

mcdonald and okeefe can consider themselves unlucky, and imnot at all sure that haddin is our best keeper/batsman at the moment.

for me:
katich
hughes
watson
ponting
clarke (kwahaja if clarke doesnt come up)
smith
paine
mcdonald
harris/johnson
hilfenhaus
bollinger

why the insistence on picking a specialist spinner? if we dont have a good one, dont pick one!

johnson gets a chance, but its a short leash. he has the potential to be a damaging bowler, but he leaks runs, and even worse is that he releases pressure. he doesnt bowl in partberships, its why he cant take the new ball.

i think people might criticise that side as being light on with batting - i dont agree at all, its solid down to 8. if anything, the bowling is the issue - but while hilf, doug, johnson, ronald, smith and watson isnt fearsome, i think its more than adequate.

 

[PUNTROADHAMMER]

Australian Test cricket is rapidly becoming an utter snore-fest and if the selectors don't see the light soon it will be a tragedy from which the game may never recover.

With this Ashes squad, once again, the selectors have had an air swing.

I'm not asking for a hit-and-giggle Test team but, f*&k me, something has to be done and it has to be done soon!!

Rodney Hogg should be putting his hand up for a position on the panel - no BS about him, doesn't care who's feelings he hurts.

Does anyone know who Andrew Hilditch answers to?[/quote]

That would be James Sutherland right?

Yes, but I was thinking more along the lines of the Board of Directors. Who are they? Test cricket is withering on the vine so why have we heard virtually nothing from them?

 

[pies_this_year]

Exactly - it's what a decent state cricketer should average. Not what they get in their best season.

I always use the example of guys like Law/Love/Hodge - these were guys who were constantly on the fringe of selection for a decade and not good enough when we were at our peak.

They all average around 50 in FC cricket.

The fact that guys like North/Ferguson are even considered is a blight on our batting depth.

Yeah well that's it though. There is no one else to take his position in the squad. Besides, Ferg is improving...His FC ave is on the way UP not down. Preferably you need to put two solid seasons at FC together before test selection is even considered....but desperate times....

 

[big_e]

Current board of directors (according to Wikipedia, anyway - I tried finding it on the CA website but it kept coming up blank):

• Jack Clarke (Chairman) (SA)
• Hon Dr John Bannon AO (SA)
• Earl Eddings (Vic)
• Wally Edwards (WA)
• Dr Harry Harinath (NSW)
• Tony Harrison (Tas)
• Matthew Hayden (Qld)
• The Hon Ian McLachlan AO (SA)
• Trevor O'Hoy (Vic)
• Bryan Phelan (Qld)
• Michael Silver (NSW)
• Geoff Tamblyn (Vic)
• Mark Taylor AO (NSW)
• David Williams (WA)

 

[MinerBoy]

When was the last time an Ashes squad had three spinners in it?

SK Warne = 3 not necessary.

 

[aussie1st]

for me:
katich
hughes
watson
ponting
clarke (kwahaja if clarke doesnt come up)
smith
paine
mcdonald
harris/johnson
hilfenhaus
bollinger
.

Don't think I could handle McDonald at 8 again or even Smith. If McDonald is going to be picked then he should be in the top 7.

 

[Shutty05]

i have a different view on the 17 man squad, i think theyve gone with that number (more than we took to england last time ) for one of two reasons - and neither of those are promotional.

the less likely possibility is that the selectors dont know who the best 11 is.

the other possibility, the one that i suspect, is that aside from paine, the selectors realised theyd get a caning from everyone if they announced the same 12. in announcing a squad like this they at least look like theyre looking ahead.

fergusons record doesnt earn him a spot.

doherty, despite the fact that i really like him (played one of my best ever innings against him as a junior 12 years ago!), is notan australian test player. shouldve been in the one day squad since hogg retired, but shouldnt be anywhere near a baggy green.

north is a passenger and hussey shouldve been chopped. normally im quick to jump on those who advocate dropping senior players because people get bored with the team when we're losing. but these two are letting us down enormously.

mcdonald and okeefe can consider themselves unlucky, and imnot at all sure that haddin is our best keeper/batsman at the moment.

for me:
katich
hughes
watson
ponting
clarke (kwahaja if clarke doesnt come up)
smith
paine
mcdonald
harris/johnson
hilfenhaus
bollinger

why the insistence on picking a specialist spinner? if we dont have a good one, dont pick one!

johnson gets a chance, but its a short leash. he has the potential to be a damaging bowler, but he leaks runs, and even worse is that he releases pressure. he doesnt bowl in partberships, its why he cant take the new ball.

i think people might criticise that side as being light on with batting - i dont agree at all, its solid down to 8. if anything, the bowling is the issue - but while hilf, doug, johnson, ronald, smith and watson isnt fearsome, i think its more than adequate.

If ponting doesnt bat at 3 he bats at 5 or 6 and why would Watson bat at 3 when you have kwahaja? he is a natural no. 3.

3 bowlers & 3 allrounders, will they take 20 wickets? im not sure

 

[The 747]

People getting way excited here. Barring injury it will be exactly the same team as usual.

 

[eddiesmith]

Pretty funny squad, on the top it looks like they are appealling to the masses, but it just shows the injury concerns. I think 7 spots are locked in

Watson, Ponting, Hussey, North, Haddin, Hilfenhaus, Johnson

Then the 2 injury concerns

Katich- Khawaja as cover
Clarke- Ferguson as cover

Then you have 3 fast bowlers fighting for the last spot with only 1 of them fully fit

Siddle, Bollinger and Harris

The spinners spot seems to be the only one genuinely up for grabs and Doherty would be a fantastic inclusion and a left arm spinner is what England, especially KP, cannot play

As for the size of the squad, as said before today, its all about getting all the arrangements in place, they now know any of those 17 could be heading to Brisbane so travel and uniforms, records? etc can be ready for any person chosen

 

[The Governor]

Well from that Squad my side would be

Katich
Watson
Ponting
Ferguson
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hilfy
Bollinger

Gee, I like your XI!

However, my Test XI from the Squad of 17 would be:

Simon Katich (The most overrated left hand opening batsman)
Shane Watson
Ricky (CAPTAIN)
Usman Khawaja
Michael Clarke
Stephen Smith
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Xavier Doherty
Ben Hilfenhauss

Ponting loves Siddle. He follows his instructions to the letter. Siddle can become a shock or stock bowler and he is into the opposition all the time.

Greg Chappell prefers to play a spinner at the Gabba for team balance. I would play Doherty and use Smith as a number 6 batsman and leg spin bowler.

Doherty is in the side ahead of Horror Hauritz. Gee, if Hauritz can get a game for Australia, I am 100 per cent certain that every off spin bowler in Australia can wear a Baggy Green Cap.

I have decided to bring in youth into the side for a simple reason. The introduction of Smith and Khawaja can push Clarke, Ponting and Watson out of their comfort zones.

 

[carloss]

17-man squad for the first Ashes Test?

Surely they mean for Ashes series don't they

 

[courtjester]

Simon Katich (The most overrated left hand opening batsman).

How do you figure? The fact that he has averaged 47, 51 and 49 in the last 3 years?

Ponting loves Siddle. He follows his instructions to the letter. Siddle can become a shock or stock bowler and he is into the opposition all the time.

How can he follow the captain's instructions when he sprays it everywhere?

Greg Chappell prefers to play a spinner at the Gabba for team balance. I would play Doherty and use Smith as a number 6 batsman and leg spin bowler.

Doherty is in the side ahead of Horror Hauritz. Gee, if Hauritz can get a game for Australia, I am 100 per cent certain that every off spin bowler in Australia can wear a Baggy Green Cap..

Gee, you write some crap. Doherty takes 4 wickets against Sri Lanka in a one dayer and suddenly he should be in the test team. Hauritz is not as bad as you say. He IS the best off-spinner in Australia, and at the moment is probably our best spin option. You underrate Hauritz. What you basically say is Hauritz is the worst off-spinner in Aust. Absurd! My preferred spin option is O'Keefe, because of his early record in FC and his age.

I have decided to bring in youth into the side for a simple reason. The introduction of Smith and Khawaja can push Clarke, Ponting and Watson out of their comfort zones.

Why do they need to be pushed out of their comfort zones? Ponting has a magnificent record, Clarke likewise and Watson is just hitting his straps as a test player. Why "push them out of their comfort zones"?

 

[The 747]

How can he follow the captain's instructions when he sprays it everywhere?

2 things:

1) Don't judge Test bowlers on their one day form. Siddle is no good at LOI he is a Test bowler.

2) As far as bowling to instruction, perhaps others know more than you do on this subject...