1st Test - Australia v India at Melbourne Dec 26-30, 2011

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

1. Warner
2. Watson
3. Marsh
4. Ponting
5. Clarke
6. Hussey
7. Haddin
8. Harris
9. Siddle
10.Pattinson
11.Lyon

A few notes:

1) This is Pontings last series. I keep him in, out of respect, and let him finish in Australia. It is known this is his last series. Unless he has a bradman like series where he hits multiple hundreds, he finishes.
2) Harris in. If Harris isnt fit then well, I dont know, I wouldnt go for for Starc though. PRobably Copeland next
3) Hughes Dropped, Starc Dropped
4) Khawaja also dropped but is next batsman in line.
5) Also would be happy to replace Haddin if had a respectable in form keeper.

 

[lockyno1]

yeh, he couldn't get a game for the Blues so he had to move to Tassie

Has proven NSW wrong by moving him, not his fault your side played Greg f..king Mail!

 

[Twizzle]

Harris is out for the summer, no point in putting him in your team.

Looks like Cummins will be gone for a while too.

Wonder of its too soon to blood Hazlewood

 

[hineyrulz]

Cowan is almost 30, with an average under 40. I'd rather stick with the younger bloke with a far superior record.

It's not like Uzi has been an outright failure, he's got starts looked good and not converted. Todays shot was poor but no worse than Pontings or the captains. I just think we should be looking to the future, if Ponting and Huss were scoring runs we wouldn't be talking about them and rightly so. But right now they are being carried and pontings case it's seemed like forever, i'd rather carry a few younger guys with an eye to the future. Rather than carry a guy who doesn't know when to give it away........

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Praveen Kumar impressed me in England (may have just been relative because of how badly all the other Indian bowlers were going after ZaK got injured), will he be around for Australia?

No he's not coming, either is their impressive young quick Aaron, both are injured. They are bringing Ravi Ashwin the offspinner who took a couple of 5fors and scored a hundred in his first series. Off spinners though usually struggle here though b

 

[AlwaysGreen]

f**k Ed Cowan right off.

 

[lockyno1]

Cowan is almost 30, with an average under 40. I'd rather stick with the younger bloke with a far superior record.

It's not like Uzi has been an outright failure, he's got starts looked good and not converted. Todays shot was poor but no worse than Pontings or the captains. I just think we should be looking to the future, if Ponting and Huss were scoring runs we wouldn't be talking about them and rightly so. But right now they are being carried and pontings case it's seemed like forever, i'd rather carry a few younger guys with an eye to the future. Rather than carry a guy who doesn't know when to give it away........

Since when is 27 almost 30? If he was 29 sure, but he is basically the best bat in Australia right now. What is killing us is the fact we are 4 for bugger all, at least Cowan sees off the new ball. Khawaja has been poor and Marsh is better at no3 anyway as he has made 2 bigg scores at no3 in test cricket, Kahawaja hasn't.

 

[beads6]

I don't think Harris has been ruled out for the summer yet has he??

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Pick Ed Cowan to open then...and put Marsh and Watson at 3 and 4. Marsh is a no3, it may not seem much but for some people it is a big difference.

There's no difference from batting first drop or opening ffs. If he can bat 3 he can bat 1 or 2

 

[African Monkey]

Maybe more faith could be shown in these guys?

I doubt you guys will produce anymore greentops for the rest of the summer and the Indians don't have a strong bowling attack apart from Zaheer Khan who is unfit most of the time anyway so maybe 1 more test to show faith in these guys?

 

[African Monkey]

There's no difference from batting first drop or opening ffs. If he can bat 3 he can bat 1 or 2

Exactly right. Batting positions at times can be very over-rated.

 

[Bazal]

Cowan is almost 30, with an average under 40. I'd rather stick with the younger bloke with a far superior record.

It's not like Uzi has been an outright failure, he's got starts looked good and not converted. Todays shot was poor but no worse than Pontings or the captains. I just think we should be looking to the future, if Ponting and Huss were scoring runs we wouldn't be talking about them and rightly so. But right now they are being carried and pontings case it's seemed like forever, i'd rather carry a few younger guys with an eye to the future. Rather than carry a guy who doesn't know when to give it away........

The thing is, though, for years we have bemoaned the fact that the selectors haven't been picking the in form players. Cowan is averaging over 60 at the moment and definitely deserves to be talked about IMO. It's no different to a couple of years ago when we were talking about Klinger....or Rogers...or Jaques. He could have a 40-50 Test career if he does well, he's still under 30 which is nice and he's in form. Usman might have all talent in the world, but he is struggling at the moment, so I think it's a very valid option to bring Cowan into the side for him (or Ponting or Hussey)

 

[lockyno1]

There's no difference from batting first drop or opening ffs. If he can bat 3 he can bat 1 or 2

Yes there is, and Marsh's statistics in 4 day cricket show it.

 

[hineyrulz]

Since when is 27 almost 30? If he was 29 sure, but he is basically the best bat in Australia right now. What is killing us is the fact we are 4 for bugger all, at least Cowan sees off the new ball. Khawaja has been poor and Marsh is better at no3 anyway as he has made 2 bigg scores at no3 in test cricket, Kahawaja hasn't.

He's not 27, he's 29 going on 30 FFS!! He's been average most of his career, still averages under 40. As i said i'd go with the younger man with a far superior record.

 

[Hutty1986]

Geez I hope the MCG pitch is a bit better tha last year's

 

[Bazal]

Yes there is, and Marsh's statistics in 4 day cricket show it.

Shut up LA Locky, you're dribbling again. What difference is there between batting at 3 and coming in second ball 1/0, or opening?

 

[Bazal]

Since when is 27 almost 30? .

Since when is a June 1982 birthday 27, you f**king hick

 

[hineyrulz]

The thing is, though, for years we have bemoaned the fact that the selectors haven't been picking the in form players. Cowan is averaging over 60 at the moment and definitely deserves to be talked about IMO. It's no different to a couple of years ago when we were talking about Klinger....or Rogers...or Jaques. He could have a 40-50 Test career if he does well, he's still under 30 which is nice and he's in form. Usman might have all talent in the world, but he is struggling at the moment, so I think it's a very valid option to bring Cowan into the side for him (or Ponting or Hussey)

Thats fair enough, if they do bite the bullet and move Ponting on is Ed Cowan really the answer??? They may as well go with Rogers who has been a far superior player and also in good form(Not saying they should either)

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Yes there is, and Marsh's statistics in 4 day cricket show it.

Never played cricket.

A first drop has to prepare his innings as though he is opening. He has tI be ready to bat from ball 2.

Anybody who can bat at 3 but not open should be at 5 or 6

 

[Bazal]

Thats fair enough, if they do bite the bullet and move Ponting on is Ed Cowan really the answer??? They may as well go with Rogers who has been a far superior player and also in good form(Not saying they should either)

As I said, I have no issue with trying a short term option like that while the young fellas find their feet. If we have a guy who can average 45 over a 15 test career, then that's a handy option while your Hughes' and Khawajas and Warners etc etc find their feet in the Test arena. I dunno if Cowan is that man, but he's younger than Ponting and Hussey and older and more experienced than the young guys. The Kat was a late bloomer too, remember. He's the kind of player who could bridge the gap for a few series IMO