*Official* First Test at the Gabba

[four_or_six]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

As I said in the Domestic thread, I'm sure that we'll see Ferguson before Khawaja in this series.

That sounds crazy given their records. Is it because Ferguson has at least had some ODI experience so they're more confident how he will react to the pressure?

[TumTum]

Even more crazy given they selected Khawaja in the tour of England against Pakistan.

[vic_orthdox]

They wouldn't have if Ferguson was fit. Add Ferguson's recent ton, and that he's a right hander (with the selectors concerned about the number of left handers with Swann bowling) will put him at the top of the list.

[Matt79]

Plus they have a man crush on the lad. And in fairness, he's done alright when they've given him a go in ODIs. But FoS's point is well made.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

Ponting has the fear factor about him too. Get an opener out early and Ricky Mother****ing Ponting walks in.

I'd say Ponting's lost the fear factor in the last couple of years - he's far more vulnerable once he's passed 50 than he was at his peak. 5 years ago if you let Ponting get a start he'd murder you - now the bowling side seems to have a chance no matter what he's on.

[howardj]

Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust

If Northy doesn't let ya down

Hussey must

[Oscillatingmind]

Tour match Hussey's best route to Ashes

my sentiments exactly

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

Is the team I would pick for the first test.

I reckon they should go for a 4 pace attack. I think, given the circumstances, the best team would be:

Watson
Katich (if he can't play, Hughes)
Ponting
Clarke
Khawaja
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
***
Bollinger

***Not sure about who would make the 4th pace bowler. There are so many potential options so its a pretty difficult choice to make. Harris was impressive before, and Siddle looks in very good form as well. Then there are the new guys like George (who I frankly wasn't that impressed with) and Hazlewood (don't know if he'll be fit, plus I wasn't that impressed with him either in the ODI). But then you've also got other domestic players like Copeland and Cameron who look mightily impressive. I'd almost be inclined to pick one of the latter, just as an x-factor for the English, who would know nothing much of their style. Also, if they got smashed around, then there are always the three more experienced guys to rely on, plus Shane Watson if needed.

[Cricket_God]

Originally Posted by DeusEx

I reckon they should go for a 4 pace attack. I think, given the circumstances, the best team would be:

Watson
Katich (if he can't play, Hughes)
Ponting
Clarke
Khawaja
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
***
Bollinger

***Not sure about who would make the 4th pace bowler. There are so many potential options so its a pretty difficult choice to make. Harris was impressive before, and Siddle looks in very good form as well. Then there are the new guys like George (who I frankly wasn't that impressed with) and Hazlewood (don't know if he'll be fit, plus I wasn't that impressed with him either in the ODI). But then you've also got other domestic players like Copeland and Cameron who look mightily impressive. I'd almost be inclined to pick one of the latter, just as an x-factor for the English, who would know nothing much of their style. Also, if they got smashed around, then there are always the three more experienced guys to rely on, plus Shane Watson if needed.

Against decent Sides its better to have a frontline spinner ,I would give hauritz a chance.Also if it seams in brisbane it may spin also.

[Flem274*]

Originally Posted by DeusEx

I reckon they should go for a 4 pace attack. I think, given the circumstances, the best team would be:

Watson
Katich (if he can't play, Hughes)
Ponting
Clarke
Khawaja
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
***
Bollinger

***Not sure about who would make the 4th pace bowler. There are so many potential options so its a pretty difficult choice to make. Harris was impressive before, and Siddle looks in very good form as well. Then there are the new guys like George (who I frankly wasn't that impressed with) and Hazlewood (don't know if he'll be fit, plus I wasn't that impressed with him either in the ODI). But then you've also got other domestic players like Copeland and Cameron who look mightily impressive. I'd almost be inclined to pick one of the latter, just as an x-factor for the English, who would know nothing much of their style. Also, if they got smashed around, then there are always the three more experienced guys to rely on, plus Shane Watson if needed.

I'd stick with Hauritz. For Australian conditions he's a good spinner. I reckon he'll be fine playing non-subcontinental teams.

I'll recant my previous side a bit and recall Cameron White in place of Khawaja.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

For Australian conditions he's a good spinner..

This is an interesting defence of his bowling as his terrible First Class bowling record was always explained away with the fact that it's hard to bowl spin here and that his bowling didn't suit the conditions.

He bowled okay when he first came into the team but I think what we've seen of him of late is more indicative of his ability. Unless we're going to play four quicks there's no point dropping him as none of the other spinners have maintained sustained Shield performances anyway (bar McGain who's in really poor form at the moment) but he's certainly not a home-track specialist, as his Shield record indicates.

[TumTum]

Originally Posted by Cricket_God

Also if it seams in brisbane it may spin also.

Gabba will be a seamer's paradise.

[Ruckus]

Originally Posted by Flem274*

I'd stick with Hauritz. For Australian conditions he's a good spinner. I reckon he'll be fine playing non-subcontinental teams.

I'll recant my previous side a bit and recall Cameron White in place of Khawaja.

That's pretty debatable though. He has had reasonable success in Aus (avg. 29.95) but that's only because the teams he has faced here were WI and Pak. Plus, I just looked over his performances against those teams and most of his wickets were tailenders. If his FC average is anything to go by, he will prove to be very mediocre in Aus (avg. 43.39).

I think given Hauritz isn't the greatest spinner, plus the Gabba looks like could really assist pace bowling (just look at the recent domestic game, NSW vs QLD), a 4 pace attack would be the most potent. If spin is needed at any point in the game North, Katich (if he plays) and Clarke are good enough resources imo.

[zaremba]

Is there any point in picking 5 seamers including Watson? I'd have thought that if it's a seamer's paradise, you'd be ok with 4 including Watson, and pick another batsman (or spinning all-rounder) and if it's flat or a turner you'd want Hauritz or, again, a spinning all-rounder. Either way, I doubt that adding a 5th quick would add that much to the team, and it would certainly look unbalanced.

[sifter132]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Clarke averages 19 at 4 compared to his average of 56 at 5. I don't have too many problems with him being given another run at 4 as he is now but calls for him to bat 3 definitely lack sound logic IMO.

You know who should move up? Marcus North. Here's why...

*He bat's at 4 for WA
*He's a 'boom or bust' batsman. You don't want a guy like that coming in at #6 IMO. You want him coming in earlier because if he does fail then you've got 2 proper batsmen in to halt any collapse, and your #6 to come. Batting him at #6, means the keeper has to halt any potential collapses and if it's due to a good spell of bowling he may not be able to resist with his inferior technique.
*And thinking more positively, North is the most likely of Clarke/Hussey/North to score a big hundred right now. So get him in there first. Clarke might be just as likely to score a ton, but Clarke rarely scores big centuries.
*It would let him partner Clarke more often, and that might give the Poms some bad memories of 2009.
*It would be a good confidence booster for him if Ricky comes and says, hey Marcus you're in at 4.
*It fits well with the other 2 guys as well, since we know Clarke is a good #5, and if Hussey is retained he's potentially a very good #6 too. He bats there in ODIs and even in Test cricket many of his better knocks have come with the lower order.

So my middle order for Brisbane would be:
4 North
5 Clarke
6 Hussey/Ferguson/Usman

Hussey needs at LEAST 2 50+ scores in the next 2 weeks to keep his spot in my mind. He's a broken man at present, badly needs some runs. And I have Ferguson just shading Usman at present if Hussey can't find some confidence. Main reasons being that Ferguson's been with the Aussie setup a bit longer than Usman, he'd be a more natural #6 I think and he's a right hander which will annoy Swann.