1ST TEST: Australia v West Indies Brisbane Nov 26 - Nov 30 2009

[yappy]

Yeah I'll concede a crap field can hurt a leggy more than anything. You've got to be prepared to go for a few and provide some cover to encourage them to toss it up.

 

[Mr Angry]

Dean Jones says Australia selectors are rewarding Ashes losers
By Ben Dorries
November 20, 2009
Dean Jones says the national selectors have fallen asleep at the wheel by allowing Australia's cricketers to dodge a bullet for losing the Ashes.

The former Australia batsman is astounded that veteran seamer Stuart Clark is the only fall guy from the team that lost the Ashes at The Oval just three months ago.

National chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch retained 34-year-old Mike Hussey in the 12-man squad to take on West Indies in the series-opening Gabba Test.

Jones said selectors should blood players against a feeble Caribbean side with an eye to 2010's return Ashes battle on Australian soil.

The average age of the Australia squad is 30.

"The game has changed hasn't it? When you lose the Ashes, normally someone's throat gets cut," Jones said.

"Now they just get paid more.

"If there was ever going to be a time to blood someone into the team and give them an easy ride into Test cricket, then this was the summer. We will bury West Indies, whoever plays. This was the time for change.

"We shouldn't forget that it was a 23-year-old (fast bowler Stuart Broad) who won England the Ashes. This Australia side has a lot of older blokes."

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26374639-5018870,00.html

Go Deano

We have lost 3 of the last 5 test series.

 

[Hallatia]

We have lost 3 of the last 5 test series.

that is an interesting little stat, because when else in the last 2 decades could we say a thing like that?

 

[hineyrulz]

Can't argue with anything he says old Deano, i still remember the crap AB copped in 85 after losing half his team to SA.

 

[TheParraboy]

We have lost 3 of the last 5 test series.

I think we are where we are meant to be

 

[yappy]

Yes and no. We've lost three of the past five, but we've also blooded a lot of new guys in that time. Since the series in the Windies in 2008 we've debuted 12 guys. The 12th debut before that was Symonds in 03, so you can't say the side hasn't been changed up a fair bit recently.

The recent debutantes include guys like Siddle, Hifenhaus, Haddin, Hughes, North, and Bollinger, so about half of the current test team has less than 18 months experience. Add in Hauritz who was looking like a one tester 18 months ago, Watson who I've said enough on, Johnson who debuted the summer before and you have the most inexperienced side since Border's time.

There just aren't that many guys busting down the door to get in apart from openers. I can see why Hussey has been given some leeway and I think he deserves it. North wasn't the reason we lost the ashes, nor were Clarke or Katich, and Ponting is still far and away our best bat. You can argue about who should be in the attack, but really you're only playing at the margins. Clark might have been a bit stiffed, but he's 34 so the end was going to come sooner rather than later, and the four quicks chosen are the best four we have at the moment. It's not very happy to say it, but Hauritz is our best spin option so should be in the 12. There is one guy I obviously think shouldn't be there, and I reckon the selectors get the balance wrong a lot (first two tests in SA being notable exceptions), but there is no way mass changes will improve this side.

Deano should remember that the dark days of the 80's only ended when the selectors stopped chopping and changing and picked guys like him, Boony, Marsh, Tugga, Merv and Billy and stuck with them until they came good.

 

[hineyrulz]

Yes and no. We've lost three of the past five, but we've also blooded a lot of new guys in that time. Since the series in the Windies in 2008 we've debuted 12 guys. The 12th debut before that was Symonds in 03, so you can't say the side hasn't been changed up a fair bit recently.

The recent debutantes include guys like Siddle, Hifenhaus, Haddin, Hughes, North, and Bollinger, so about half of the current test team has less than 18 months experience. Add in Hauritz who was looking like a one tester 18 months ago, Watson who I've said enough on, Johnson who debuted the summer before and you have the most inexperienced side since Border's time.

There just aren't that many guys busting down the door to get in apart from openers. I can see why Hussey has been given some leeway and I think he deserves it. North wasn't the reason we lost the ashes, nor were Clarke or Katich, and Ponting is still far and away our best bat. You can argue about who should be in the attack, but really you're only playing at the margins. Clark might have been a bit stiffed, but he's 34 so the end was going to come sooner rather than later, and the four quicks chosen are the best four we have at the moment. It's not very happy to say it, but Hauritz is our best spin option so should be in the 12. There is one guy I obviously think shouldn't be there, and I reckon the selectors get the balance wrong a lot (first two tests in SA being notable exceptions), but there is no way mass changes will improve this side.

Deano should remember that the dark days of the 80's only ended when the selectors stopped chopping and changing and picked guys like him, Boony, Marsh, Tugga, Merv and Billy and stuck with them until they came good.

Most of those blokes you have named were young blokes with plenty ahead of them, and at the time we had f**k all in the way of depth they we're all we had. Have a look at our batting line up three 34 year olds, the youngest is Clarke who is 28 and been around for 5 years.

I just think this summer was the chance to revamp the batting order. But instead we leave the best young talent in the country left out and play the same side that lost to lets face it a sh*thouse Pommy team. Honestly Hauri has done ok but if he is our long term spinning option we are well and truly farked. Not the biggest fan of Siddle and Johnson but it looks like they are our future so we should get behind them but honestly this summer was always going to be a walkover.

 

[yappy]

You know I think Hughes should be there, and yes the batting is getting a little long in the tooth, but who are the young guys apart from Hughes that are putting the pressure on? Kawaja might be a good un but not yet, Robinson has started this year on fire but he's already 28, Voges is ordinary and 30, Marsh is worse than ordinary, Rogers is 32, Jaques turns 31 soon.

If Callum Ferguson was fit you'd have a good think about him. Cam White is about the only guy that you could really look at as a batsman - and that's a bit of a stretch.

Hopefully Warner gets a go in the Shield and makes a good fist of it, or some other youngster comes out of no where, because the cupboards a bit bare at the moment.

 

[hineyrulz]

You know I think Hughes should be there, and yes the batting is getting a little long in the tooth, but who are the young guys apart from Hughes that are putting the pressure on? Kawaja might be a good un but not yet, Robinson has started this year on fire but he's already 28, Voges is ordinary and 30, Marsh is worse than ordinary, Rogers is 32, Jaques turns 31 soon.

If Callum Ferguson was fit you'd have a good think about him. Cam White is about the only guy that you could really look at as a batsman - and that's a bit of a stretch.

Hopefully Warner gets a go in the Shield and makes a good fist of it, or some other youngster comes out of no where, because the cupboards a bit bare at the moment.

You make a lot of sense mate, but still you can't trumpet a new beginning and only drop one 34 yr old fast bowler after losing the unloseable series.

 

[TheParraboy]

 

[yappy]

Ah well that's another thing entirely. I'll never defend the deranged mumblings of Hilditch.

 

[hineyrulz]

Hagan>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Neilsen>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Hilditch!!

 

[TheParraboy]

 

[beads6]

You make a lot of sense mate, but still you can't trumpet a new beginning and only drop one 34 yr old fast bowler after losing the unloseable series.

Load of crap the Australian team was overrated and the English side was facing the Aussies without Warne they were always in with a chance. England won the big moments build a bridge.

 

[Mr Angry]

England won the big moments build a bridge.

Indeed our team lead by Ricky failed.

 

[beads6]

The strength of Australian Cricket has been the way the selectors have shown faith in Captains. Granted Punter is not a good Captain and never should have been given the gig but there were not many candidates around at the time.

 

[Mr Angry]

No Ricky was the correct choice, but simply did not do a good job.

Shame really as he is one the best batsmen and fielders ever to play the game.

 

[Hallatia]

I know there a few reasons to disagree, but I honestly think Warne would have been a better choice to captain Australia. In my opinion, he has the best head for the game out of anyone who has played in the last decade

 

[Hallatia]

I just saw the odds on this match and Windies are paying $13:crazy:

 

[eddiesmith]

I just saw the odds on this match and Windies are paying $13:crazy:

You would feel ripped off at that price, $101 would be fairer odds