World Cup Squad

[Hellgood]

Well now after tonight is over (thankyou Mr Watson), the World Cup Squad is going to be picked. How much would performances tonight count given todays game was basically billed as a WC playoff between certain players. Which players do you think destroyed their chances and which did enough to keep in that squad? I don't think there will be any surprises (ie. Hodge in, Haddin missing out) but Paine would be a certainty as a backup after tonight.

From the players who played tonight, I think the ones that disappointed were:

Bollinger - was terrible, shocking control, got belted all over the park at a military medium pace, can't field. Surely can't be in after that.

Doherty - still might make it, but just does not look threatening and good players of spin will destroy him, one good point was his catching

Johnson - bowled terribly, nearly missed the pitch against a no.11, two wickets papers over the cracks, probably doesn't deserve to be in the squad, but it's hard to see him missing out with no other bowlers really pushing for selection

On form I would not take Steve Smith (although he bowled alright tonight) is being picked on potential which is all well and good, but this is a World Cup and David Hussey can play the nomad batsman + occasional bowler role much better. By doing this we could bring in a pure batsman (Marsh or Ferguson) into the team to shore up a fairly shaky batting lineup when early wickets fall.

Your thoughts?

 

[Yoda_]

Squad of 15 yeah.. ?

Would look something like this:

Shane Watson
Brad Haddin
Ricky Ponting/Michael Clarke (captain)
Michael Clarke/Michael Hussey
Cameron White
David Hussey
Steve Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Xavier Doherety
Peter Siddle
Brett Lee
-----------
Tim Paine
Dan Christian
Doug Bollinger

A meh team.. havent really thought about it too much. Ill get back to you.

 

[Gazza_11]

Shane Watson
Brad Haddin
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Cameron White
David Hussey
Michael Hussey
Brett Lee
Mitchell Johnson
Nathan Hauritz
John Hastings
-----------
Tim Paine
Brad Hodge
Xavier Doherty
Peter Siddle

 

[HugeJohnson]

We simply can not afford to take an average plodder like Shane Watson. If he played for any state other than NSW no one would even be talking about him as a candidate. Its been shown over and over that his body simply can not stand up to the rigors of international cricket.

 

[mattymac]

1.Shane Watson
2.Brad Haddin
3.Ricky Ponting
4.Brad Hodge
5.Michael Clarke
6.Michael Hussey
7.Callum Ferguson
8.Mitchell Johnson
9.Brett Lee
10.Xavier Doherty
11.Shaun Tait
-----------
Cameron White
Dan Christian
James Hopes
Steve Smith

 

[J Selwood14]

We simply can not afford to take an average plodder like Shane Watson. If he played for any state other than NSW no one would even be talking about him as a candidate. Its been shown over and over that his body simply can not stand up to the rigors of international cricket.

lol?

 

[dan warna]

why do people continually leave white out of the 50 over game?

averages 38 and 85% SR. I can't think of a time where he's played to protect his average in ODI's, does the needful and accelerates after 10 balls or so.

That and watson and hussey kept us from being even more humiliated i the ashes that we would have been.

 

[fishguts]

lol?

Not familiar with sarcasm?

 

[Tyberious Funk]

The problem with Watson's heroic innings is that it didn't really help the selectors with any choices. D.Hussey is probably the guy on the periphery, and he didn't get a chance to bat! And the bowlers... Tait didn't even play, while Bollinger was clearly underdone and Johnson was his typical self... bowled tripe, but got some wickets.

Personally, I came away with a couple of conclusions...

Paine should play ahead of Haddin. If the selectors want to take a backup keeper, then by all means keep Haddin in the squad. But I'd play Paine as first choice keeper. The few extra runs that Haddin might be worth with the bat are not worth the misses behind the stumps. Chances of the selectors actually doing this? About zero.

Clarke should captain the side ahead of Ponting. Assuming the selectors want to play both (and they will), Clarke is tactically superior to Ponting. Let Ricky focus on his batting. Chance of the selectors doing this? Less than zero.

Smith bats like a child that has accidently wandered into the mens dressing room and been told to pad up. He took a few wickets, which was nice. And I don't mind giving him an extended chance AFTER the World Cup. But for now, we should be focusing on the best possible team, irrespective of age and "potential". Again, the chance of the selectors doing this? Close to zero.

Lee wasn't exactly back to his best, but he wasn't far off. Based on his career record, and his performances to date, he probably deserves to be the first bowler selected.

Will need to think a bit further before deciding on what my final squad would actually be...

 

[1990crow]

Paine (wk)
Watson
Clarke/Ponting (c)
Clarke/Ponting
White
Hussey
Christian
Johnson
Lee
Hauritz
Tait

Extras: Haddin, Smith, Doherty and David Hussey

 

[Tyberious Funk]

My basic team;

1. Shane Watson
2. Tim Paine
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Brad Hodge
5. Michael Clarke
6. Michael Hussey
7. Cameron White
8. Mitchell Johnson
9. Brett Lee
10. Xavier Doherty
11. Shaun Tait
-----------------

Not convinced about Tait, but he has a few more games to get his fitness up to scratch. He can be a match winner on his day. If he doesn't come up in time, I believe we can replace him the squad on the grounds of him being "injured". Not convinced about Johnson, either. But not really sure who else.

The rest of the squad;

12. Dan Christian / James Hopes

I think these two are competing for the second allrounders position. Christian is the better batsman, but I think Hopes is a better bowler. I think I'd go with Christian.

13. Nathan Hauritz

I think we'll need an extra spinner in the subcontinent and I'd play Hauritz ahead of Smith.

14. Callum Ferguson / Brad Haddin / Sean Marsh

Depends on whether the selectors want a backup keeper or an extra bat. I'd probably go with Ferguson.

15. Another quick bowler...

Errr... starting to get thin with ideas here. People forget that Bollinger has a great record, he's just badly underdone at the moment. Like Tait, I'd probably select him... if he doesn't come up in time, I think we can replace him on the grounds of being injured.

Anyway... that's my squad. I don't think the real squad will look anything like it, though. The selectors seem deadset against Hodge and Hauritz, and smitten with Smith and D.Hussey. And there is no way they'd drop Haddin.

 

[aussierulesrules]

The problem with Watson's heroic innings is that it didn't really help the selectors with any choices. D.Hussey is probably the guy on the periphery, and he didn't get a chance to bat! And the bowlers... Tait didn't even play, while Bollinger was clearly underdone and Johnson was his typical self... bowled tripe, but got some wickets.

Personally, I came away with a couple of conclusions...

Paine should play ahead of Haddin. If the selectors want to take a backup keeper, then by all means keep Haddin in the squad. But I'd play Paine as first choice keeper. The few extra runs that Haddin might be worth with the bat are not worth the misses behind the stumps. Chances of the selectors actually doing this? About zero.

Clarke should captain the side ahead of Ponting. Assuming the selectors want to play both (and they will), Clarke is tactically superior to Ponting. Let Ricky focus on his batting. Chance of the selectors doing this? Less than zero.

Smith bats like a child that has accidently wandered into the mens dressing room and been told to pad up. He took a few wickets, which was nice. And I don't mind giving him an extended chance AFTER the World Cup. But for now, we should be focusing on the best possible team, irrespective of age and "potential". Again, the chance of the selectors doing this? Close to zero.

Lee wasn't exactly back to his best, but he wasn't far off. Based on his career record, and his performances to date, he probably deserves to be the first bowler selected.

Hard to argue with any of that. Although if they wanted to see how D Hussey went with the bat, they could have put him in at the drop of pretty much any wicket. But then again, they already know how he bats and he even made a century in his last one day game for Australia and has incredibly not been given a chance since (till yesterday).
Maybe they'd already made up their minds after he bowled, when he got 2 for, which could have been 5 for, had Haddin not missed two stumpings and a catch.
Our biggest selection dilemma seems to be with the fast bowling. Yesterday didn't help much. And it could be a risk to take both Lee and Tait, who both have a history of breaking down. You'd probably need to have some back-up for them. Harris and McKay missing is a big blow, as they both average under 20 in ODI's with the ball.
It will be very interesting to see which "all-rounders" they take. Christian has performed best this summer, but he's just injured his hammy, so they might not want to risk him. Hopes has also performed really well in recent weeks and was very stiff to have been omitted from the team last year and Hastings was in the team at the start of the summer, but has only just come back from injury.
With the slower wickets over there they would have loved to have had McKay (who has great changes of pace and an ODI bowling average of 19), so they may consider taking Hastings, who also has several different slower balls and can also slog. Otherwise, having an all-out pace attack may not get us too far on the Sub-Continent. I very much doubt they'll use up a spot in the squad for Siddle, as some have suggested.

 

[BarneyBent]

Batsmen: Watson, Ponting, Clarke, White, Mike Hussey, Smith, (Dave Hussey, Dan Christian)
Keepers: Haddin, Paine
Bowlers: Lee, Johnson, Doherty, Pattinson, (Hauritz)

 

[Rookie]

Haddin
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
White
M.Hussey
Smith
Johnson
Lee
Hauritz
Bollinger

Selectors will also take: Dussey, Paine, Siddle, Doherty

I'd take:
Paine - the chances of Haddin missing a ball and taking it in the face on the subcontinent are extremely high.
Marsh / Ferguson - Marsh has the form, and can open. I see Haddin opening as a weak link, Marsh and Watson opening with Smith carrying drinks makes sense. Given the lack of bowling options I understand the selector's
choice of Dussey, just don't agree with it. I'd be tempted to take Christian instead but he hasn't been flagged by selectors so hardly worth considering.
Hastings - not sold on this last spot, need someone who can keep it tight. Bollinger and Lee are now our best two fit ODI pacemen (Harris #1 and McKay #3). Siddle most likely however. Tait too injury prone. Nannes perfect but again, won't be considered.
Doherty - I reckon Doherty will be the first one picked, but I'd prefer Hauritz. The temptation here will be to back Smith and Hauritz and forget the second spinner, and instead take a fifth seamer as insurance. Possibly Tait, Siddle etc.

 

[Selective Retention]

Watson, Haddin, Ponting, Clarke, White, Mussey, Dussey, Johnson, Hauritz, Lee, Tait

Paine Smith Siddle Bollinger

That's my guess at what it will be, not what I think it should be.

 

[Eth]

Watson
Haddin
Ponting (C)
Clarke
White
M.Hussey
Ferguson
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Tait
------------
Smith
Hodge
Bollinger
D.Hussey

Of course, that will never happen.

 

[courtjester]

If we want to take the best team we possibly could (and surely we do?), it would look like this wouldn't it?

1. Shane Watson
2. Tim Paine
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Clarke
5. Brad Hodge
6. Cam White
7. Mike Hussey
8. James Hopes
9. Andrew McDonald
10. Nathan Hauritz
11. Brett Lee

Squad members:
Haddin/Ferguson
Dave Hussey/Steve Smith
Fast bowler
Fast bowler or Dan Christian

Comments:

Haddin has lost something behind the stumps. Missing three stumpings is too much. Could go as a specialist bat and back up keeper.

Hodge is in the best 6 one day batsmen in Australia. We want to win the World Cup. He is better than Ferguson or Marsh. He should play.

Hopes is an outstanding one day cricketer and incredibly underrated. Offers more than Smith with the bat and the ball.

Hauritz our number 1 spinner. Smith as back up.

Feel we may not need 3 express quicks in India. Would play Lee, with McDonald eek, the other bowlers being Hopes, Watson and Hauritz. Watson, McDonald and Hopes will bowl well in India.

We wont win if we take Lee, Johnson and Tait to the subcontinent. McDonald, Hopes and Watson will do far better there.

 

[aussierulesrules]

If you're picking those who are ruled out with injury (McDonald) then surely Harris and McKay would be ahead of McDonald (although you could do much worse, on his brilliant form this summer).

 

[Axel.]

I'd go with three quicks plus Watson if we need that extra bowler. One specialist spinner in Doherty and another decent backup with Hussey or Smith. Personally i'd pick Hauritz but he'll probably never play again. Batting line up to go through some changes with in form players coming into the squad with the likes of Hodge, Christian and Paine.

Paine (wk)
Watson
Hodge
White
Clarke (c)
M.Hussey
D.Hussey/Smith
Christian
Johnson
Lee
Doherty
--------
Ferguson
Finch
Tait
Pattinson

 

[aussie1st]

I

Hodge is in the best 6 one day batsmen in Australia. We want to win the World Cup. He is better than Ferguson or Marsh. He should play.

White has made his name at 5 no point moving him and Hussey is our best number 6. So if Hodge is in the side it would be at 7 and hes definitely not the best number 7 going around. Ferguson or Christian would be the best guys for number 7, Ferguson for his ability to score at a run a ball and Christian for his big hitting. If Hodge is in the side he should be at opener or 3.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Here is the squad of 30 they have to choose from:

Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (vc), Doug Bollinger, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, Brad Hodge, James Hopes, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Andrew McDonald, Clint McKay, Stephen O'Keefe, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

Our best squad, IMO. Clarke misses out because of his ordinary form at the moment and the fact that Hodge is better. Dave Hussey gets in ahead of him to bat lower down and smash sixes, which Clarke generally doesn't do and to bowl, which Clarke isn't doing much at the moment:
S WATSON
T PAINE
R PONTING (a risk on recent form, though and lack of matches)
B HODGE
C WHITE
M HUSSEY
D HUSSEY
D CHRISTIAN (If fit, or else HOPES OR HASTINGS)
N HAURITZ/S SMITH
B LEE
M JOHNSON/ TAIT

B HADDIN
D BOLLINGER
N HAURITZ/S SMITH
M JOHNSON/ TAIT

What I think they'll do:

S WATSON
B HADDIN
R PONTING
M CLARKE
C WHITE
M HUSSEY
D HUSSEY
S SMITH/ X DOHERTY
M JOHNSON
B LEE
S TAIT

T PAINE
S SMITH/ X DOHERTY
D BOLLINGER OR J HASTINGS OR D CHRISTIAN OR J HOPES

 

[aussierulesrules]

White has made his name at 5 no point moving him and Hussey is our best number 6. So if Hodge is in the side it would be at 7 and hes definitely not the best number 7 going around. Ferguson or Christian would be the best guys for number 7, Ferguson for his ability to score at a run a ball and Christian for his big hitting. If Hodge is in the side he should be at opener or 3.

Not that I think he would bat at 7, but how on Earth do you figure that Ferguson would be better than Hodge at 7? Hodge scores more quickly than Ferguson (in the past 12 months, if not overall) and has the ability to hit huge sixes, which I haven't seen Ferguson do. On those small grounds over there he'd be looking to put them out of the park.
How many innings like these ones, where he hit 4 sixes and multiple fours in each one (all from this season) has Ferguson played? And there are plenty more like them:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/21/3072378.htm

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket...up-one-day-match/story-e6frf3kl-1225939659935

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/cricket/hodges-century-thwarts-warriors-20101009-16cys.html

This is what our team will be missing out on, if he's not selected for the World Cup (which we seem to want to win, as evidenced by the selections of Lee and D Hussey).
CRAZY.

 

[dan warna]

Grats on the carry smith, you were carried in the tests undeservedly and now your carried in the ODI squad undeservedly.

Love the D.hussey and but he's not in the best 15 ODI players in Oz.

 

[The Governor]

1) Shane Watson
2) Aaron Finch
3) RICKY (CAPTAIN)
4) Cameron White
5) TIm Paine
6) Michael Hussey
7) Stephen Smith
8) Brett Lee
9) Nathan Hauritz
10) Shaun Tait
11) Dirk Nannes

12) Peter Siddle
13) David Hussey
14) James Hopes
15) Brad Hodge

The Happy Hooker would not select this squad in heart beat!!

He is a gutless wonder whilst Teflon Nielsen is just a gopher who loves to live in denial.

THE GOV

 

[aussie1st]

Not that I think he would bat at 7, but how on Earth do you figure that Ferguson would be better than Hodge at 7? Hodge scores more quickly than Ferguson (in the past 12 months, if not overall) and has the ability to hit huge sixes, which I haven't seen Ferguson do. On those small grounds over there he'd be looking to put them out of the park.
How many innings like these ones, where he hit 4 sixes and multiple fours in each one (all from this season) has Ferguson played? And there are plenty more like them:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/21/3072378.htm

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket...up-one-day-match/story-e6frf3kl-1225939659935

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/cricket/hodges-century-thwarts-warriors-20101009-16cys.html

This is what our team will be missing out on, if he's not selected for the World Cup (which we seem to want to win, as evidenced by the selections of Lee and D Hussey).
CRAZY.

And you will notice will all the matches you point out that Hodge was set. How is that relevant to number 6/7? You do realize a number 7 shouldn't be coming in the 10th over of a match. He should be in there in the 40th or even later. Hodge needs time to get in before he goes big, Ferguson is able to hit the singles and fours from ball one similar to what we saw Hussey do. Ferguson is proven at doing this, he averaged 50 batting 6 or 7, in the two games Hodge was tried there he scored 20 runs at a strike rate of 55.