5th Test Side

[Timbo]

I'd go:

1-Langer
2-Hussey
3-Ponting
4-Martyn
5-Clarke
6-Katich
7-Haddin
8-Warne
9-Lee
10-Kasprowicz
11-McGrath

 

[Alan Shore]

Langer
Katich
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Symonds
Warne
Gilchrist
McGrath
MacGill
Tait

 

[madunit]

Symonds is not a test player, stop f**king selecting him in the teams, his bowling is average, he's a poor batsmen when it comes to consistency, we need more stable proven performers, not these hacks that have a slight chance of firing in one game.

The test team in my opinion should be
Langer
Katich
Ponting
Martyn
Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
MacGill
McGrath
Tait

We need the extra bowler, 3 quicks and 2 spinners, the way Warne is playing, he would clearly be seen as an all rounder.

Plus having one less batsmen will make the bastmen realise that their wicket is more valuable and precious than all series so far, making them work harder out in the middle, and removing the complacent attitude thats been running rampant within the camp.

MacGill needs to play, purely because he is a wicket taking bowler, we need to take 20 wickets if we intend on winning

 

[madunit]

Bracken should have been picked in a 16 man squad at least that way we would have had another bowler which as we see now we badly need. Bracken is made for England conditions. If he can get 7/4 in Sydney imagine what he would have done in England.

He is far from made for English conditions!

He doesn't swing the ball, he doesn't move it off the pitch, he bowls straight up and down and is easy to dispose of.

Gillespie is the same, moreso when he's out of form.

Kasprowicz is the same too if he can't get any swing.

You need swing and spin in England to be successful, bowling straight up and down with no variation will not and has not worked in the past on English wickets.

Bracken will never and should never be considered to play test cricket ever again.

 

[waltzing Meninga]

I still want Bracken over there to give a bit of variety in the attack. A lefty in swinger could cause problems for Englands batsman who appear comfortable with every bowler except Warne.

I wouldnt go as far as saying England a comfortable with Mcgrath.

 

[aussies1st]

He is far from made for English conditions!

He doesn't swing the ball, he doesn't move it off the pitch, he bowls straight up and down and is easy to dispose of.

Gillespie is the same, moreso when he's out of form.

Kasprowicz is the same too if he can't get any swing.

You need swing and spin in England to be successful, bowling straight up and down with no variation will not and has not worked in the past on English wickets.

Bracken will never and should never be considered to play test cricket ever again.

Bracken can swing the ball back into batsmen.

 

[JJ]

Bracken can swing the ball back into batsmen.

yup - right into the middle of their bats from what I've seen

 

[Scott]

God I hope Hayden plays! I'd love to see England beat the arrogant Aussies!

 

[Stuart]

Langer
Hussey
Ponting
Clarke
Katich
Gilchrist
Watson/Symonds
Warne
MacGill/Tait
Lee
McGrath

I have gambled a bit. Im not sold on Watson or Symonds, but i think we need a 5th bowling option, especially if we play McGrath because there are no guarentees he will be able to play out the test. IMO going in with 4 bowling options is a much bigger risk than playing Watson or Symonds because if McGrath does break down, we are down to 3 bowlers and F**KED. Bat either at 7, which puts more responsibility on Gilly which i think could be a good thing.

Ive gone Tait/MacGill over Kaspa because because although both can be expensive, both pick up wickets regularly. We need to get 20 wickets this test and we need the 4th wicket taking option. IMO solid is not going to win it for us, sorry Kaspa.

 

[Mr Angry]

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Clarke
Katich
Hussey
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Tait
McGrath

Then I would be asking Langer to retire.
Move Hussey to Opener and bring Watson in @ 6.

 

[aussies1st]

"The talk around the place is that we're all looking for this Flintoff-like player, but it may be taken out of [Watson's] hands if he is to suffer any more of the back injuries he's had," said McFadyen, who coached Watson in Tasmania. "He has a fairly unforgiving action, and he may end up having to be a specialist batsman.

"Shane Watson has a technique that can easily cope with the new ball, and he's shown that by batting at three for Tasmania and Queensland."

Watson as Aus opener sure didn't see that one coming. I hope he can fix up his bowling action so that he can take wickets and stop getting injuried.

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

is this a gee up
watson for opener?

 

[aussies1st]

McFadyen is the former Tasmania coach so I think he would know what he is talking about. Nothing wrong with Watson batting technique and only reason he isn't in the Aus side is cause there was good batters ahead of him.

 

[JJ]

is this a gee up
watson for opener?

could be construed that way...

For comparison, here is a genuine gee up

"Luke Covell is a rep class winger"

- compare the two, and make of them what you will

 

[Mr Angry]

Does Covell play cricket - perhaps that is what we need.

 

[aussies1st]

He did it seems. Don't know why he went to league there is too many wingers that are greater than he is. If he could bat and bowl he would have been selected in the Aus team already.

 

[JJ]

I though Pat Richards was a very good cricketer....

 

[ThrashViking]

He was until he faced up to the mighty Luke Covell.
Heck, you'd sh*t yourself if you faced up against the second coming of jesus....

 

[JJ]

He was until he faced up to the mighty Luke Covell.
Heck, you'd sh*t yourself if you faced up against the second coming of jesus....

I see the fear in the eyes of opposing wingers every time the great man walks on the field for the Sharks

 

[JoeysWheelchair05]

Maybe Cricket should buy Berrick Barnes. Seems to be the thing to do these days. Play one season and move onto somewhere else once that one is finished. Union in the winter, cricket in the summer.