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

[Twizzle]

Watson should bat at 3. I would dump Katich and Hussey as well as Clark and Haddin. Go for youth, with a view for the 2011 and more importantly 2013 Ashes.

1. Hughes
2. Jaques
3. Watson
4. Clarke
5. Ponting (yes down the order a bit)
6. North
7. Paine
8. Johnson
9. Hauritz
10. Siddle or McKay
11. Hilfenhaus
12th Bollinger

on of your best

are you sure you're not Andrew Hildich ?

 

[Twizzle]

Who is to say harmison would not have killed Hughes like he did in the tour match...

the English selectors

he couldn't get a game

 

[Twizzle]

can some one please get this idiot Hildich off my TV

Doug the rug was selected over Clark because of their youth policy ffs

Hussey retained his spot due to his ton in the 5th ashes test, rather than being droppped in helping us lose the ashes in the first 4 tests

How did this idiot ever get a law degree, no wonder he need psychiatric help when he was batting against Hadlee, the guy is not playing with a full deck

Is this the same policy that retains Hussey over Phil Hughes ?

 

[MSIH]

1. Hughes
2. Jaques
3. Ponting
4. Katich
5. Clarke
6. North
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Hauritz
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Bollinger

Maybe a few more Blues needed, but clearly the best possible line-up.

 

[yappy]

Look if they'd dumped Huss for Watson and played him at 6 during the ashes I wouldn't have been too dirty. But they didn't and Huss does seem to have regained his touch. An old and inconsistent Hussey is still a far better player than Watson. But if he doesn't make runs against the Windies Hussey's spot should be in jeopardy.

I still contend that now Jaques is fit and with Rogers there too Watson should be a fair way away from a start. Kat has done well opening, but he's a middle order batsman and should be the one to fill any middle order vacancies first.

The other thing I'm not convinced of is Clarke batting higher than 5. He's a lot tighter than he used to be, but I'm not sure he's a top 4 test batsman. No shame in that, Border and Waugh, made about 20,000 runs between them batting at 5 and 6.

I'd have gone in with:

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
North
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Bollinger
Hilfenhaus
Hauritz

with Haurie to carry the drinks on any pitch with a bit of green in it.

Jaques would come in for any batsman with Katich moving to 4. If we need another batsman after that you would consider Watson or Rogers.

 

[yappy]

Watson should bat at 3.

Now you're just taking the piss.

 

[HevyDevy]

Just ignore everything Locky says. He doesn't have any idea about cricket.

As for dumping Clark while retaining some absolute muppets, that'll do me.

 

[lockyno1]

Hardly. If you read Ponting's books, plus all the interviews you will see that Watson is seen as a long term no3 replacement for Ponting. He bats 3 at State level, it is where he is at his best.

 

[lockyno1]

on of your best

are you sure you're not Andrew Hildich ?

Are they going to be there in 2013? No they are not. Lets move on, get some games into the youth, and then go from there.

 

[TheParraboy]

can some one please get this idiot Hildich off my TV

Doug the rug was selected over Clark because of their youth policy ffs

Hussey retained his spot due to his ton in the 5th ashes test, rather than being droppped in helping us lose the ashes in the first 4 tests

How did this idiot ever get a law degree, no wonder he need psychiatric help when he was batting against Hadlee, the guy is not playing with a full deck

Is this the same policy that retains Hussey over Phil Hughes ?

Hildich is the biggest hypocite when he speaks, goes around in circles and shoots himself in the foot

Incidently, will Hussey be the only only Australian batsman of the last 20 odd years never to be dropped? From memory I remember Hayden, Langer, Waughs, Ponting, Clarke, Martyn, Lehmann all been dropped at some point. Not main man Hussey.
Maybe Tubby Taylor was the previous one, though I think he may have been dropped prior to becoming captain?


If we are fair dinkum about youth and building around Ricky and Pup, Hussey is the one to go considering his poor form in 2 series v SA and the ashes series, of which went a long way to us losing 2 of those series

 

[lockyno1]

As long as he keeps Sunshine and Hauri in the side I don't mind!

 

[TheParraboy]

The biggest trouble with 4 quicks is poor Ricky is scared of being suspended even though he has never copped a real punishment for any previous indiscretions, there is no reason to think any Match referee has the balls to suspend the Australian captain

Its tougher now, 3 strikes in a 12 month period in the same form of the game, then your out. Its a given Hauritz will play at the Gabba

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26347707-23212,00.html

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting facing Test ban for repeat slow over-rates
By Malcolm Conn
November 14, 2009

If Australia captain Ricky Ponting begins this Test summer like the last, he will be suspended for slow over-rates.

Under tougher playing conditions highlighted by the International Cricket Council, a captain who is fined three times for slow over-rates in the same form of the game during a 12-month period will automatically be rubbed out.

Had the ruling been in place a year or so ago, Ponting would have been banished for the second Test against New Zealand in Adelaide.

 

[TheParraboy]

As long as he keeps Sunshine and Hauri in the side I don't mind!

They will be there

 

[Twizzle]

Hardly. If you read Ponting's books, plus all the interviews you will see that Watson is seen as a long term no3 replacement for Ponting. He bats 3 at State level, it is where he is at his best.

he plays for NSW now where has has not got a game yet

we have 4 openers in our top 4 atm, he wont bat in the top 5 imo, assuming he ever plays

 

[Twizzle]

Its tougher now, 3 strikes in a 12 month period in the same form of the game, then your out. Its a given Hauritz will play at the Gabba

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26347707-23212,00.html

Hildick said this morning that Hauri will more than likely play at the gabba

The Bulls are really making a mess of the Windies atm i the warm up game, so everyone who plays in the first test match will more than likely play the whole series, cant see the Windies putting too much pressure on any of our players

 

[lockyno1]

he plays for NSW now where has has not got a game yet

we have 4 openers in our top 4 atm, he wont bat in the top 5 imo, assuming he ever plays

He will bat at 4 for NSW.

Hughes
Jaques
Katich
Watson

 

[lockyno1]

They will be there

Good, the more cuties the better. Now get Painey into the side!

 

[aussies1st]

The biggest trouble with 4 quicks is poor Ricky is scared of being suspended even though he has never copped a real punishment for any previous indiscretions, there is no reason to think any Match referee has the balls to suspend the Australian captain

Technically would be 5 quicks as Watson would also bowl quite a few overs. So really it makes no sense to go in with 4 quicks as Watson can fill the role of the 4th quick.

 

[TheParraboy]

are you allowed to bring a laptop into a test match?

 

[caylo]

The only decent one at the moment is McGain, but he was thrown to the wolves having barely recovered from shoulder surgery. I think the selectors have stamped his papers unfairly.

The next wrist spinner to get a go would be Steve Smith but he is nowhere near international level yet.

I think Steve Smith needs to be work with and he will be a very good leggy but he is a few years away, Krezja is out other option aswell. In a few years with the development of Henriques and Watson as test players I hope australia can god in with Johnson, Siddle, Krezja and Smith plus Henriques and Watson (batting at 5 and 6) as first and second change bowlers.