3rd Test: Australia V. Panikstan, 14 Jan Bellreive Oval

[eddiesmith]

we all scream for players to be dropped but who will replace them

injured bowlers = Clark, Hilfy, Lee, Bracken and a few others all out for the season

ideal replacement for North would be Ferguson and he's out for the season as well

if we replace North I'd rather see some one get a run who is at the start of their career rather than nearing the end, like Klinger or Rogers

Everyones favourite Cameron White could start a 10 year career

But they wont make any changes as there are no bowlers pushing for spots

Its funny the change to the dates of the test season actually help the current side keep their spots, because the first class season went on hiatus before the 1st test there is no way for players to put any pressure on during the test series, whilst normally it would only be the 2 back to back tests over Christmas/New Year that follow the shield hiatus

 

[hineyrulz]

I would hope that this would be Iqbal's last test for a while if he doesn't perform in Hobart. Misbah Ul Haq's days could also be numbered.

They are both hopeless, you would hope they have someone better back home than these two.

 

[aussies1st]

we all scream for players to be dropped but who will replace them

injured bowlers = Clark, Hilfy, Lee, Bracken and a few others all out for the season

ideal replacement for North would be Ferguson and he's out for the season as well

if we replace North I'd rather see some one get a run who is at the start of their career rather than nearing the end, like Klinger or Rogers

Not much can be done with Siddle
Ferguson averaged 43 last season so if we see him as a replacement then there are a few that have similar stats this season. White is there abouts and going well in ODIs of late. Khawaja and Bailey are killing it and Smith is around that average.

 

[African Monkey]

They are both hopeless, you would hope they have someone better back home than these two.

Younis Khan at 3 and Hasan Raza at 6 would be the way I'd go with Taufeeq Umar as the backup batsman.

 

[TheParraboy]

I cant see any changes for Australia

Though I would have a quiet word to North ans Siddle to produce something, otherwise their places for the NZ tour will be in question

I dont think Punter should rest from the game. Thats seems kinda absurd imo, even if his arm is causing him a little grief as it has been. Considering the ODIs kick of right afterwards and its played at Hobart his home state and there there is a good week rest before the test starts to improve his fitness

As far as Pakistan goes, I hope they bring in Mad Butcher Afridi

 

[Twizzle]

team is named today and according to Foxsports there will be no changes except Kat in for Hughes

 

[aussies1st]

Shouldn't be that surprising tbh, its probably going to take us losing the Ashes 5-0 at home before serious questions are asked.

 

[ElectricEelMan]

Confirmed no changes to the side

FFS!!!!

ARRGGHH!

 

[ElectricEelMan]

Shouldn't be that surprising tbh, its probably going to take us losing the Ashes 5-0 at home before serious questions are asked.

We probably won't lose 5-0 but what I am seeing with this Australian side and what I am seeing with the Poms in South Africa, we will not win back the ashes.

They are a vastly better team than we are right now

 

[Meth]

http://www.cricinfo.com/ausvpak09/content/story/443020.html

No changes- Katich still in doubt

In actual face, as obvious as the decline of the Australian cricket team is, I don't see why you would make changes. You could shed North (of no real value) and Siddle (hasn't played well in Australia in 2009)- but then, who have you got to replace them fit?

 

[Twizzle]

is anyone surprised

like I keep saying, its easier to do nothing

 

[ElectricEelMan]

http://www.cricinfo.com/ausvpak09/content/story/443020.html

No changes- Katich still in doubt

In actual face, as obvious as the decline of the Australian cricket team is, I don't see why you would make changes. You could shed North (of no real value) and Siddle (hasn't played well in Australia in 2009)- but then, who have you got to replace them fit?

The question asked should be ' why was Hughes dropped three tests after scoring two centuries in the same test, while North and Siddle can keep their spots after non-performing all summer'

Siddle has an average of 70 this summer taking only six wickets. And he was outbowled in a ODD on his return from injury by two teenagers and a 20 year old. I am sorry but there are other options out there at the moment. Now is the time to make some changes. There are some up and comers in both the bowling and batting ranks and what better time to make their debuts.

Why not Khawaja? Or Sean Marsh? Klinger? Steve Smith? Why not give John Hastings a go? Or Peter George? Or Cutting? Or Starc? Or even Hazlewood?

 

[Twizzle]

The question asked should be ' why was Hughes dropped three tests after scoring two centuries in the same test, while North and Siddle can keep their spots after non-performing all summer'

Siddle has an average of 70 this summer taking only six wickets. And he was outbowled in a ODD on his return from injury by two teenagers and a 20 year old. I am sorry but there are other options out there at the moment. Now is the time to make some changes. There are some up and comers in both the bowling and batting ranks and what better time to make their debuts.

Why not Khawaja? Or Sean Marsh? Klinger? Steve Smith? Why not give John Hastings a go? Or Peter George? Or Cutting? Or Starc? Or even Hazlewood?

I agree

there are probably a dozen or even more first class bowlers in the country that are no better or worse than Siddle, he is very average

But like you say, funny how they stick with him and drop Hughes after 1 series

 

[yappy]

It would have been a great chance to give one of the real young guns a taste of test cricket. Even someone as young as Hazelwood. I still remember watching Pigeon when he wasn't much older than Hazelwood playing for NSW. He didn't actually take all that many wickets, but you could just see from his control that he was something out of the box. McDermott made his test debut at 19.

It could just be a oncer until Hilf is fit for NZ (hopefully), but it would be a huge thing for a young guy to get a chance against a side that you know are going to be completely demoralised. And let's face it, he could hardly be less effective than Siddle.

BTW Happy Brithday Josh.

 

[munge]

Didnt expect any changes.
Though logically it is always the best time to blood a new player. Dead Rubber, rather than having to debut guys in tougher series, like in NZ in a few months in alive test matches.

I dont think theres a batsman out there whoes really legitimately kncoking down the house to say they should be in the test team, but id consider White. I know he didnt have a great run in India but I think its a confidence thing, and once he got that first score (a bit like Symonds) he will really flourish in test cricket. He also will strengthen our fielding big time, as hes one of the best grippers in the country.

 

[beads6]

A Disgrace, Australia need to start rebuilding now rather than wait until Ponting retires... It would be good to get some youngsters in there whilst Ponting is still playing IMO.

 

[aussies1st]

Only hope is Katich for North.

 

[Deleted member 10972]

The problem with Pakistan a lot of the time is the selection merry-go-round.

Instead of blooding new players, they seem to always backtrack to tried, tested and failed players of previous years, which rarely ever pays off.

Salman Butt is alright, but still has footwork issues, and Misbah-Ul-Haq paid dividends when he was first brought back, although now he has lost form severely. But neither are outstanding successes, and others like Yasir Hameed, Taufeeq Umar, Mohammad Hafeez, Hasan Raza, Asim Kamal, Naved Latif, Bazid Khan and the current duo of Imran Farhat and Faisal Iqbal (who both have literally no control of their temperament and ride their luck) are all seemingly given countless short term opportunities that never pay off.

They should know by now, that Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik, Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi are one-day specialists - none of them have the all-round game to be Test specialist players, and thus should not even be considered for Test selection. They should use the one-day team to blood in younger batting talents, such as the likes of Nasir Jamshed, Khalid Latif, Khurram Manzoor, Ahmad Shehzad and Shahzaib Hasan, and keep someone like Mohammad Yousuf specifically for Test matches only.

Test team

Salman Butt
Fawad Alam (this kid can play, no idea why he was sent back)
Younis Khan
Umar Akmal (move this kid one spot up the order, between two experienced bats)
Mohammad Yousuf
(not sure, but an allrounder would be ideal, maybe give Afridi a shot here?)
Sarfraz Ahmed (+)
Mohammad Aamer
Mohammad Sami/Umar Gul
Mohammad Asif
Danish Kaneria

ODI team

Imran Nazir/Khurram Manzoor/Khalid Latif/Nasir Jamshed/Ahmed Shehzad
Shoaib Malik (has more shot range than Alam, but lacks Test technique)
Younis Khan
Umar Akmal
Shahid Afridi
Abdul Razzaq
Kamran Akmal (his batting is needed moreso in ODIs)
Mohammad Aamer
Mohammad Sami/Umar Gul
Mohammad Asif
Saeed Ajmal

 

[typicalfan]

Pakistan blood new players too much and they do it in reaction to a poor performance or whatever the government at home wants.

Look at the dropping of the wicketkeeper yes he had a poor performance like Brad Haddin in the Ashes but why do they drop him? because he is overweight or something. If that was the problem then how did he play in the first place, and that stuff goes on and on.

Pakistan talent wise if Younis Khan is back and if Shoaib Ahktar were fit on paper are a formidable outfit, they have a good but not as good as he thinks he is legspinner and they have some of the best bowlers in the world for different reasons. They couldn't shoot themselves in the foot more if they tried

Also last time they came out here I am sure Afridi was quite dangerous as well with the ball and I would have picked him for the tour even if he is a loose cannon.

 

[JJ]

Pakistan talent wise if Younis Khan is back and if Shoaib Ahktar were fit on paper are a formidable outfit, they have a good but not as good as he thinks he is legspinner and they have some of the best bowlers in the world for different reasons. They couldn't shoot themselves in the foot more if they tried

.

They don't need Ahktar at all - with Asif, Aamer, Gul, and Kaneria - and Sami as a back up, their bowling attack is fine, easliy better than Australia's... be nice if a batsman could bowl as a change bowler...

Their problems are fielding (they are appalling) and batting - even with Younis they still only have 3 of a top 6 that you'd have much faith in