What will we do with Katich?

[Hellgood]

Does he deserve to come straight back in to the test team for the Sri Lanka series? He is still probably the best option, but I think we would be going in the wrong direction if we continue to pick him. Hughes or Marsh would be the logical replacement, but Ed Cowan definitely deserves to be mentioned in this discussion. Maybe Cowans a bit too old for the selectors if we are going for youth. It's a tough call to make, but I think he should be advised to retire from international cricket. We've got to see what Hughes can become or what Marsh can do at international level and theres no point in not doing it now.

Thoughts?

 

[Rookie]

Will Katich's future depend on what Hussey and Haddin do next?

Very little point Ricky sticking around if there isn't some new blood to nurture. But who?

Katich is as old as Hussey but Hussey has the dual advantage of a) having no logical replacement and b) having showed tremendous form this summer.

My thought is that Katich will be replaced by Hughes for Sri Lanka in the first attempt to renew the lineup (we'll bat Hughes Watson Khawaja Clarke Ponting Hussey Haddin) or that if the selectors are keen on dropping Watson down the order (which I don't believe they are) then Katich and Hussey might be fighting for the same spot.

They're both almost 36, we can't keep both of them and Ponting and still hope to rebuild.

Katich should be let go and the evergreen Hussey kept around for another season if he wishes and if he sustains his Ashes form. It's absolutely imperative blokes like Khawaja and Hughes are playing test cricket ASAP.

 

[aussierulesrules]

I wouldn't have said Hughes after his horrible Ashes campaign, but now that he looks to be back in form, it might be the best time to have him in there, to see if he does well in tests again when he's actually in form.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

I wouldn't have said Hughes after his horrible Ashes campaign, but now that he looks to be back in form, it might be the best time to have him in there, to see if he does well in tests again when he's actually in form.

Katich has been in far better form than either Punter or Hussey for the past two years but I'm sure if anyone is dropped it will be him.

Hughes is always turned to when injuries happen, so I see no reason why they would suddenly give Marsh a go in the test squad. He was in ridiculously better form than either Smith or Hughes over summer, they could have called him into the squad for the Perth test [which would have been a reasonable call] and they didn't.

I don't see him as a test player and it seems the selectors don't either.

 

[frankrizzo]

katich is one of those players you don't mind having around the team as he ages.

He is still making runs and he's a great team man who the younger generation seem to respect.

Of course with all that in mind he will be the one older player our selectors do sack out of the blue.

 

[Father Jack]

some older players must go, there is no point them sticking around.

Ponting
Hussey
Katich

I'd keep one of them. And I know who that would be.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

some older players must go, there is no point them sticking around.

Ponting
Hussey
Katich

I'd keep one of them. And I know who that would be.

Hussey? He'd be mine.

Not sure why Ponting would make the Test team with his performances in the last year, nobody is sacred from being dropped surely?

 

[Rookie]

some older players must go, there is no point them sticking around.

Ponting
Hussey
Katich

I'd keep one of them. And I know who that would be.

Agree that at least one needs to go immediately, and probably two by the end of 2011.

I think the selectors have made it pretty clear that a) Hughes is the future and b) Ponting is free to stay on as a player.

All this looks bad for Katich.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

IMHO, Katich should play. He's the incumbent and deserves to keep his spot. I'd like to see Watson move down to 4, pushing Clarke and Hussey to 5 and 6. That would leave an openers position available for either Hughes or Khawaja. I know that Ussie isn't strictly speaking an opener. But he's our next number 3, and I think he needs to be in the team getting experience. If/when Ponting fails, it will be less of an adjustment.

Given he picked up his form towards the end of the season, I wouldn't object to keeping Hughes in the side. But I think he's better off getting more runs under his belt and building his confidence.

As for Steve Smith...

 

[Father Jack]

Hussey? He'd be mine.

Not sure why Ponting would make the Test team with his performances in the last year, nobody is sacred from being dropped surely?

He has shown he isn't completely past it, and I really do think he'd be useful in this transition phase in that Clarke will need help to get established.

And Ponting is one of the very best batsmen this country has ever produced, I don't think he has completely lost it just it.

 

[The_Reaper]

IMHO, Katich should play. He's the incumbent and deserves to keep his spot. I'd like to see Watson move down to 4, pushing Clarke and Hussey to 5 and 6. That would leave an openers position available for either Hughes or Khawaja. I know that Ussie isn't strictly speaking an opener. But he's our next number 3, and I think he needs to be in the team getting experience. If/when Ponting fails, it will be less of an adjustment.

Given he picked up his form towards the end of the season, I wouldn't object to keeping Hughes in the side. But I think he's better off getting more runs under his belt and building his confidence.

As for Steve Smith...

Khawaja can open and was an opener in junior and grade cricket.

The only reason that he doesn't open for NSW is because of Hughes, Katich, Jaques, Warner, Watson.

 

[The Governor]

Katich should be forced to retire from international cricket to allow his knowledge and experience to be passed on at shield level.

With Ricky calling it quits as captain, the selectors have an opportunity to make the hard decisions. THe 3 Incompetent monkeys who stuffed up Australian cricket with pitiful excuses that include the exceptional young talent was not around in 2007 should be sacked to make way for 3 new selectors under GS Chappell. Trevor Hohns would make an excellent replacement for the Golden Retriever who runs his solicitors practice in Adelaide.

The opportunity is present to retire Hussey, Haddin and Katich for young talent in the batting order. With Ponting, Clarke and Watson as the core group of senior batters in the lineup, there are 3 vacancies up for grabs. And, it is a wonderful opportunity for GS Chappell to plan for the 2013 Ashes series and beyond and the 2015 World Cup.

There is no point in the selectors picking Katich, Hussey and Haddin after the World CUp. Will they be around in 2013? If the selectors continue with these older players, they will deny a young player like Finch, Paine and Khawaja a chance to play for Australian in the 50 over one day format and in all future test matches!!

I have blogged on this forum for 3 years that the selectors should bring in youth to plan for the long term future. The path of topping up the side with mature age experienced batsmen is fraught with danger and the results are on the board.

Katich should be forced into test retirement whilst Hussey and Haddin should receive their super cheques from Cricket Australia.

Here is my TEST XI for the 1st test match against Sri Lanka.

Shane Watson (VC)
Usman Khawaja
Aaron Finch
Ricky Ponting
Michael CLarke (CAPTAIN)
Mitchell Marsh
Tim Paine
Stephen Smith
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Johnson
Josh Hazlewood


50 OVER XI

Shane Watson
Tim Paine
Aaron Finch
Michael Clarke (CAPTAIN)
Cameron White
Stephen Smith
Jon Hastings
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Josh Hazlewood

THE GOV

 

[The Passenger]

Here is my TEST XI for the 1st test match against Sri Lanka.

Shane Watson (VC)
Usman Khawaja
Aaron Finch
Ricky Ponting
Michael CLarke (CAPTAIN)
Mitchell Marsh
Tim Paine
Stephen Smith
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Johnson
Josh Hazlewood

where's that double face palm photo i just saw.... hazlewood can barely walk at the moment....

wouldn't mind seeing marsh score more than one hundred. talent is there no doubt (for both).

 

[djrossie16]

An attacking team for Sri Lanka

Watson
Hussey
Khawaja
Ponting
Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
O'Keefe
Harris/George
Copeland

 

[Bomber Bears]

Katich should be forced to retire from international cricket to allow his knowledge and experience to be passed on at shield level.

With Ricky calling it quits as captain, the selectors have an opportunity to make the hard decisions. THe 3 Incompetent monkeys who stuffed up Australian cricket with pitiful excuses that include the exceptional young talent was not around in 2007 should be sacked to make way for 3 new selectors under GS Chappell. Trevor Hohns would make an excellent replacement for the Golden Retriever who runs his solicitors practice in Adelaide.

The opportunity is present to retire Hussey, Haddin and Katich for young talent in the batting order. With Ponting, Clarke and Watson as the core group of senior batters in the lineup, there are 3 vacancies up for grabs. And, it is a wonderful opportunity for GS Chappell to plan for the 2013 Ashes series and beyond and the 2015 World Cup.

There is no point in the selectors picking Katich, Hussey and Haddin after the World CUp. Will they be around in 2013? If the selectors continue with these older players, they will deny a young player like Finch, Paine and Khawaja a chance to play for Australian in the 50 over one day format and in all future test matches!!

I have blogged on this forum for 3 years that the selectors should bring in youth to plan for the long term future. The path of topping up the side with mature age experienced batsmen is fraught with danger and the results are on the board.

Katich should be forced into test retirement whilst Hussey and Haddin should receive their super cheques from Cricket Australia.

Here is my TEST XI for the 1st test match against Sri Lanka.

Shane Watson (VC)
Usman Khawaja
Aaron Finch
Ricky Ponting
Michael CLarke (CAPTAIN)
Mitchell Marsh
Tim Paine
Stephen Smith
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Johnson
Josh Hazlewood

50 OVER XI

Shane Watson
Tim Paine
Aaron Finch
Michael Clarke (CAPTAIN)
Cameron White
Stephen Smith
Jon Hastings
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Josh Hazlewood

THE GOV

Yeah, nah

Hussey had a run of three good tests in 3 years and looks like extending his career 2 years, be interesting how he goes.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Yeah, nah

Hussey had a run of three good tests in 3 years and looks like extending his career 2 years, be interesting how he goes.

Punter hasn't even had that and he will get to choose when he leaves.

 

[Bomber Bears]

I know.

Katich has been the best performed of them over the past couple of years, and looked in great touch after the achiles lay off. He'll be the one shafted, no doubt

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Here is my TEST XI for the 1st test match against Sri Lanka.

Shane Watson (VC)
Usman Khawaja
Aaron Finch
Ricky Ponting
Michael CLarke (CAPTAIN)
Mitchell Marsh
Tim Paine
Stephen Smith
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Johnson
Josh Hazlewood

Is that the same Aaron Finch that has only one first-class century to his name, and a rather uninspiring average of 35?

Yeah, nah.

If we are going to have a token 'fatty' in the team, I'd rather Mark Cosgrove.

 

[King Elvis]

I love the guy, but probably time for him to move on from international cricket.

He should still be playing, but they should've dropped Hussey a year ago, and North a year before that.

Katich goes now, Hussey at the end of this Summer (if not before), Punter likely the Summer after that (if not before).

Need to make hard calls and stagger these retirements.

 

[Badesumofu]

Gee, I wonder what State the guy who picked Finch and Hazelwood for the Test team is from.

 

[Bomber Bears]

Gee, I wonder what State the guy who picked Finch and Hazelwood for the Test team is from.

Don't know, they're from different states.

Although if Hazlewood gets fit again he's arguably the best of our bowling prospects, was going pretty well (although not yet international good) as a 19/20 year old last year.

 

[Team DJ]

I would say that at least 3 of him, Ponting, Hussey and Haddin must all go.
The next WC is 4 years away (if ever again), the next Ashes 2 years away.
There is no point in picking these guys for another 16-12 months as chances are none will be there for the next major series that anyone cares about. You may as well blood some young blood and given them 2 full years of test cricket to get ready for the next meaningful series.

Test
Watson
Marsh
Khwaja
Ferguson
Clarke (c)
Ponting
Paine (wk vc)
Copeland
Lyon
Siddle
Pattinson
12th Smith

Around the mark:
Hughes Maddison Lynn Wade MMarsh OKeefe Hastings Starc Hazlewood George

 

[damochandler]

Katich should be forced to retire from international cricket to allow his knowledge and experience to be passed on at shield level.

With Ricky calling it quits as captain, the selectors have an opportunity to make the hard decisions. THe 3 Incompetent monkeys who stuffed up Australian cricket with pitiful excuses that include the exceptional young talent was not around in 2007 should be sacked to make way for 3 new selectors under GS Chappell. Trevor Hohns would make an excellent replacement for the Golden Retriever who runs his solicitors practice in Adelaide.

The opportunity is present to retire Hussey, Haddin and Katich for young talent in the batting order. With Ponting, Clarke and Watson as the core group of senior batters in the lineup, there are 3 vacancies up for grabs. And, it is a wonderful opportunity for GS Chappell to plan for the 2013 Ashes series and beyond and the 2015 World Cup.

There is no point in the selectors picking Katich, Hussey and Haddin after the World CUp. Will they be around in 2013? If the selectors continue with these older players, they will deny a young player like Finch, Paine and Khawaja a chance to play for Australian in the 50 over one day format and in all future test matches!!

I have blogged on this forum for 3 years that the selectors should bring in youth to plan for the long term future. The path of topping up the side with mature age experienced batsmen is fraught with danger and the results are on the board.

Katich should be forced into test retirement whilst Hussey and Haddin should receive their super cheques from Cricket Australia.

Here is my TEST XI for the 1st test match against Sri Lanka.

Shane Watson (VC)
Usman Khawaja
Aaron Finch
Ricky Ponting
Michael CLarke (CAPTAIN)
Mitchell Marsh
Tim Paine
Stephen Smith
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Johnson
Josh Hazlewood


50 OVER XI

Shane Watson
Tim Paine
Aaron Finch
Michael Clarke (CAPTAIN)
Cameron White
Stephen Smith
Jon Hastings
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Josh Hazlewood

THE GOV

you change your mind like you change your underwear

it's all good having a you policy. but it has to be logical

mitchell marsh. what has he done this season other than being injured. he has scored 1 100 that's it

Aaron finch. you do realize 20/20 cricket doesn't count towards your first class stats

stephen smith is useless

 

[frankrizzo]

You sometimes feel that any random from the forum could do a better job than the current selectors...then you read a post by The Governor...

 

[cynical]

katich has to play until someone else with hair on their chest is able to replace him