South African touring squad for Feb/Mar 2014 3 test series?

[BunniesMan]

A fit Harris, Johnson and Pattinson just looks so much more dangerous than Harris, Johnson and Siddle. Not trying to discredit the role Siddle plays but in SA with those green as grass pitches imagine having three fast bowlers capable of bowling in excess of 140kph consistently and being able to swing the ball...

I suppose you can't really change the batting lineup but we will get bowled out cheaply in SA a couple of times. For mine Rogers, Bailey and to a lesser extent Smith still need to prove themselves. I wish they would just move Watson to six, feel like that would give our batting the right order and feel.

I want Watson at 6 but he can't be 6 while they persist with picking Bailey. Bailey is in no way a top 6 batsmen, he's even further away from being top 5.

If and when they drop Bailey for a real first class batsman then Watson can and should go to 6.

This is the best period of Australian cricket we've had in a year, so unchanged XI.
The remaining 5 players in no particular order:

Faulkner
Pattinson
Paine
Doolan
Bollinger

Hypothetically, 4 failures in the next two tests from Rogers and Bailey. You still pick them? Slater had a lot more to his name and the Australian team were in a far better period and he still got dropped in the middle of a series.

If Bailey and Rogers average below 40 for the entire Ashes series they have no right to be on the plane.

 

[8Ball]

Hypothetically, 4 failures in the next two tests from Rogers and Bailey. You still pick them? Slater had a lot more to his name and the Australian team were in a far better period and he still got dropped in the middle of a series.

If Bailey and Rogers average below 40 for the entire Ashes series they have no right to be on the plane.

Poor comparison. Slater was dropped for reasons other than his form.

Whilst we're winning I have no issues with keeping the team the same. Obviously if either player makes single digits for the next 4 innings, then I'd rethink, especially Rogers given his age. However, team stability seems to be doing this team wonders.

In answer to your true question though... I'd STILL not pick PJWGGHA.HA. He needs 2 years of shield form behind him for me to re-consider. He's not mentally up to test level.

 

[Timbo]

I'd be taking some players who haven't played tests but could be future test players, purely to give them tour experience and to keep them playing FC games and not T20 horseshit.

So, the 'England ashes squad plan'.

Pass.

Take your best XI and then the next in line, every time.

 

[Red Bear]

I dont think Rogers is a long term option, nut he's more than done his job. Couple of half centuries, and beyond that a level headed player. Even batting out the day in Brisbane was really handy for the side. Really stoked to see him win an ashes, he must be over the moon

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Current test team plus Faulkner, Doolan, Wade, Pattinson and Coulter-Nile.

 

[Twizzle]

no Wade

he's a dud

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

I don't think Rogers deserves a spot to be honest, he's 37 years old.. There's absolutely no reason to give him another series to prove himself when the best we're going to get out of is 12 months of mediocre cricket.

If Bailey doesn't score at LEAST 1x100 and 1x50 in the next 2 Ashes games, I'd say he's on the chopping block as well, also on the wrong side of 30.

What does age have to do with anything? We have to go to South Africa to win the series not rebuild the team and worry about what happens in 12 months time so if Rogers scores runs in the final 2 tests then he deserves his spot, end of.

Smith's batting has dramatically improved since he has largely given the bowling the flick, he's a number 5 and if Lynn or anyone else wants in to the team then 6 is where they should go. Having a specialist batsman at 6 never hurt the likes of Langer, Ponting, Katich, Martyn etc.

Hypothetically, 4 failures in the next two tests from Rogers and Bailey. You still pick them? Slater had a lot more to his name and the Australian team were in a far better period and he still got dropped in the middle of a series.

If Bailey and Rogers average below 40 for the entire Ashes series they have no right to be on the plane.

Slater's off field life was going off at the time and he and Steve Waugh were not getting on, the guy got dropped from NSW faster than Phil WilliamGilbertGrace getting out to a spin bowler. The Rahul Dravid incident was the end of him.

 

[The Eagle]

no Wade

he's a dud

Rather Paine but with Hadden in this form can't be dropped

 

[Gas Panic!]

Nevill > Wade and Paine.

For me, it's current 11 plus Pattinson, Faulkner, Nevill and WilliamGilbertGrace. Long way to go yet though.

 

[Timbo]

Rather Paine but with Hadden in this form can't be dropped

I think he was suggesting the backup anyway.

It should be Paine or Nevill. Wade is utter dross.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

For me Wade has slipped to about 4th as Australian wicketkeeper.

If they were to pick a back up Id say it'll be either Paine or Nevill.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I can't believe the name Cummins still gets tossed around like it's a viable option.

Seriously he hasn't played since the last tour of South Africa, what 2 years ago?

He's played all of 6 FC games in his life.


Dude needs to have a whole season under his belt before he comes into the reckoning.


Pattinson
Bird
Bollinger
Faulkner

Are all in front of him. Probably others as well.



People forget as well how good Pattinson has been for Australia. Ok, he didn't bowl well in his two tests in England but look at his stats.

He's the next bowler back in the side easily. Doesn't matter if he hasn't played shield cricket either. It's not like a super long term injury like Cummins & he has a reasonable amount of experience.

Bird & Pattinson are the back ups if fit.

47 wickets @ 26 s/r 48 in 12 tests.

 

[BunniesMan]

I can't believe the name Cummins still gets tossed around like it's a viable option.

Seriously he hasn't played since the last tour of South Africa, what 2 years ago?

He's played all of 6 FC games in his life.


Dude needs to have a whole season under his belt before he comes into the reckoning.


Pattinson
Bird
Bollinger
Faulkner

Are all in front of him. Probably others as well.



People forget as well how good Pattinson has been for Australia. Ok, he didn't bowl well in his two tests in England but look at his stats.

He's the next bowler back in the side easily. Doesn't matter if he hasn't played shield cricket either. It's not like a super long term injury like Cummins & he has a reasonable amount of experience.

Bird & Pattinson are the back ups if fit.

47 wickets @ 26 s/r 48 in 12 tests.

I like all of this post. Patto and Bird are more than deserving of being next picked if fit.

 

[Timbo]

I think there will only be one tour match, which if is the case the squad will be 14, 15 at most.

They'll take Faulkner if fit, another quick and a keeper/batsman I reckon.

 

[Red Bear]

Chris Hartley would probably be more deserving than any of them, comfortably the best glovesman and a decent batsmen to boot. Wont get picked now though, over 30 and Haddins revival is probably a death knell for him

 

[Twizzle]

Keepers have to be pretty good batsmen since Gilly raised the bar and Hads has maintained a decent standard.

Unfortunately being a good gloveman isn't enough now days.

 

[caylo]

Warner
Rogers
Watson
Clarke
Smith
Bailey (very iffy on him still but let give him a chance)
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Lyon

OKeefe
Henriques
Faulkner
Pattinson
WilliamGilbertGrace
Doolan

So I picked 1 backup spinner because while its unlikely 2 spinners will be played in the unfortunate situation where lyon is injured just before a test starts you needs some variation in the attack and SOK is the next best. I have picked one backup quick, one bowling alrounder and one batting alrounder giving flexibility with the quick bowlers. Then I have picked WilliamGilbertGrace and Doolan (or Lynn for either) allowing cover for all batsmen from 1-6 and WilliamGilbertGrace can keep at a pinch if required. I picked WilliamGilbertGrace over a backup keeper because Wade keeping is pretty avg and his batting isn't firing while Paine does not have the quality with the bat to hold a test keeping/batting position in the team IMO

 

[Xfactor1979]

Australia's in good form and should be able to take out this series

However, having said that, they might have put all their eggs in one basket for this current ashes series, all the batters may have peaked and scored piles and piles of runs, so much so they are due for less runs? Or runs might have to come from other specialists not in the current squad?

 

[Bring it home Knights]

Australia's in good form and should be able to take out this series

However, having said that, they might have put all their eggs in one basket for this current ashes series, all the batters may have peaked and scored piles and piles of runs, so much so they are due for less runs? Or runs might have to come from other specialists not in the current squad?

All the batters may have peaked? Warner and Haddin have earned their stripes from this series, no doubt. but surely there are a number of batsman in the team who would become worried if a domestic class cricketer started dominating.

 

[VictorTheViking]

Warner
Rogers (who else is there?)
Watson
Clarke
Smith
Lynn
Bailey
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Lyon
Pattinson
Bird
Paine
Doolan

Cutting or coulter nile if pattinson isnt ready