*Official Third Test at Edgbaston

[pasag]

Open with Johnson.

 

[ripper868]

Open with Johnson.

Reverse the whole batting order IMO, at the very least it puts Watson where he should probably be batting.

1. Hilfeh
2. Siddle
3. Hauritz
4. Johnson
5. Haddin
6. North
7. Clarke
8. Hussey
9. Ponting
10. Katich
11. Watson/Hughes

 

[jondavluc]

I can take the Johnson staying in the team but Clark! not being selected again and Hughes being dropped is bull***t.

 

[steds]

Whole game to get rained off imo.

 

[Burgey]

Reverse the whole batting order IMO, at the very least it puts Watson where he should probably be batting.

1. Hilfeh
2. Siddle
3. Hauritz
4. Johnson
5. Haddin
6. North
7. Clarke
8. Hussey
9. Ponting
10. Katich
11. Watson/Hughes

Bit embarrassing if they end up 4-550 though.

 

[steds]

Don't worry. It's impossible to lose 550 wickets.

 

[pup11]

Open with Johnson.

Well the way things are going, I'm not ruling that out either..

Though on a more serious note, if Hughes gets dropped, then I would suggest that North should open the batting, but still all this make-shift arrangement seems so silly.

I think its howardj who made the comment that Aussie think-tank in recent times have the tendency of doing a lot of thinking, eventually just to end up outsmarting themselves, and that's exactly what seems to happened here.

 

[inbox24]

Haha, Hughes dropped.

They give Johnson a leash that's unlimited test matches long and Hughes only gets 2 tests after averaging 70 in his first 3, what a piece of ass.

If anyone should be dropped right now, it's Andrew Hilditch and the 'selection panel'. I wonder if anyone has his address or details, we could contact him/her.

 

[NUFAN]

Jamie Cox is still bitter about never playing a Test match.

I would much rather Huss opening with Watto in the middle order then the other way around.

 

[Top_Cat]

I'm still not convinced Watto will open, reckon he might slip to 4 and Huss might move up, just quietly. No article I've read so far confirms that he'll actually open.

Agreed but if Watto doesn't open, surely Clarke would bat 4?

 

[tooextracool]

Well the way things are going, I'm not ruling that out either..

Though on a more serious note, if Hughes gets dropped, then I would suggest that North should open the batting, but still all this make-shift arrangement seems so silly.

I think its howardj who made the comment that Aussie think-tank in recent times have the tendency of doing a lot of thinking, eventually just to end up outsmarting themselves, and that's exactly what seems to happened here.

I think they try desperately to project themselves as a rather ruthless bunch, but they over do it and end up making a mockery of their selections. I can, to some extent, understand the selection of Watson, one would think hes in there to cover up for Johnson (who will now probably end up playing), but certainly don't think that the one specialist opener that they have should have been dropped and almost certainly not after just 3 poor innings.

I would think that now it is a straight out toss up between Clark and Siddle for the final place in the side.

 

[tooextracool]

I can take the Johnson staying in the team but Clark! not being selected again and Hughes being dropped is bull***t.

Has this been announced? Are they retaining Siddle over Clark?

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Agreed but if Watto doesn't open, surely Clarke would bat 4?

Yeah I suppose, I think they want to bat Watson high though as that's where he bats his best. Clarke has been superb at 5 and pretty average when he spent time at 4 after Marto was dumped. It was a long time ago but I still think Watto might bat 4, 5 is probably more likely though.

 

[Pigeon]

Has this been announced? Are they retaining Siddle over Clark?

Yes. Except for Watson-for-Hughes, the XI is same as the one that played at Lord's.

 

[inbox24]

Isn't the Mac in for North too?

 

[jondavluc]

Has this been announced? Are they retaining Siddle over Clark?

Nah nothing offical but at the bottom of hughes dropped article they said it was understood that siddle is retained over stuart clark.Apprantly I misread that bit of the article and thought they said he was dropped.

 

[ripper868]

Bit embarrassing if they end up 4-550 though.

Especially after stumbling to 3-70 only for Johnson and Haddin to notch 240 odd each on day one.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeah I suppose, I think they want to bat Watson high though as that's where he bats his best. Clarke has been superb at 5 and pretty average when he spent time at 4 after Marto was dumped. It was a long time ago but I still think Watto might bat 4, 5 is probably more likely though.

I see what you're saying but don't think they'll go that way. Only because the Aussies seem to regard number 4 as some sort of hallowed black-belt of seniority. Pup moving back up is a promotion not just in batting order terms, if ya know what I mean.

Agreed Watto naturally needs to bat high, though. When Ponting gives it a way, I'd guess he'd be a monty for his spot.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I see what you're saying but don't think they'll go that way. Only because the Aussies seem to regard number 4 as some sort of hallowed black-belt of seniority. Pup moving back up is a promotion not just in batting order terms, if ya know what I mean.

Agreed Watto naturally needs to bat high, though. When Ponting gives it a way, I'd guess he'd be a monty for his spot.

Yeah I agree with all of that.

 

[four_or_six]

Well if that's true about Watson in for Hughes, how ridiculous!

But great too, I will set my DVD recorder.