*Official* Fifth Test at the SCG

[Rant0r]

It's easy to say swing the axe when the ashes are lost. This isn't a bad team, just a team playing badly. It's quite possible that Ponting, Clarke and Johnson could hit form next test and all is forgotten. Clarke is clearly out of form though, Ponting is in his twilight, still probably the best option though, especially since Clarke probably isn't quite ready to be captain just yet. As good an idea as using Katich, Hussey or Haddin is short term as has been mentioned, it's probably not the best idea.

[Rant0r]

Katich went to Melbourne especially to throttle Clarke?

[Spark]

It's easy to say swing the axe when the ashes are lost. This isn't a bad team, just a team playing badly. It's quite possible that Ponting, Clarke and Johnson could hit form next test and all is forgotten. Clarke is clearly out of form though, Ponting is in his twilight, still probably the best option though, especially since Clarke probably isn't quite ready to be captain just yet. As good an idea as using Katich, Hussey or Haddin is short term as has been mentioned, it's probably not the best idea.

I assure you that if Ponting or Clarke - especially Clarke - ton up next match there will be a hint of sourness about it.

[Rant0r]

You're probably right

[andyc]

Hughes and Smith have to play in Sydney. Both are players to watch for the future and there's no point giving them a couple of games and discarding them. Hughes more so than Smith obviously, but as a couple of members have pointed out, Smith does seem up to it mentally, and that's what the selectors of the 80s used when picking and sticking with blokes like Healy and Steve Waugh, who as we all know took years to score his first Test century. These young players have talent; pick them and back them.

Edit: TBF though, if it's a choice between Khawaja or Smith, get Usman in there ASAP.

[Rant0r]

That's a fair call, Khawaja is probably more ready now than Smith, but quite a different player. Smith will in my opinion one day be a special player. But i'm not against even Khawaja batting at 6 in his place.

[Evermind]

Hughes and Smith have to play in Sydney.

Aight, but don't expect me to watch the first hour or so of Australia's batting innings.

Most disgustingly horrible player to watch. Makes Katich look like Mark Waugh.

[Rant0r]

Aight, but don't expect me to watch the first hour or so of Australia's batting innings.

Most disgustingly horrible player to watch. Makes Katich look like Mark Waugh.

[four_or_six]

Hughes and Smith have to play in Sydney. Both are players to watch for the future and there's no point giving them a couple of games and discarding them. Hughes more so than Smith obviously, but as a couple of members have pointed out, Smith does seem up to it mentally, and that's what the selectors of the 80s used when picking and sticking with blokes like Healy and Steve Waugh, who as we all know took years to score his first Test century. These young players have talent; pick them and back them.

Edit: TBF though, if it's a choice between Khawaja or Smith, get Usman in there ASAP.

I read that both would play, Khawaja would come in for Harris and Smith would go to 8 and be the specialist spinner.

Seems a bit mad, but I haven't understood the Aussie selectors for a while now.

[Black_Warrior]

Now England have to be careful here.. Yes the Ashes is back but they have to win this series.. Forget about the Ashes for a while and focus on winning the next test match. They havent won a series in Australia in two decades and that has to be changed. If I was Strauss, I would make sure the celebrations are not over the top because the focus has to be on winning the series now. Not drawing it, but winning it. Too often, England go into a series, win a test match and then kind of lose focus and let the other team level the series. They did that against South Africa earlier this year when they should have won the series.

[Jono]

Ha. Well if Prior can bat 6 in test (in the past, obv) Haddin should be able to open and comfortably average 50 or so.

Lol @ Haddin averaging 50.

[Prince EWS]

Lol @ Haddin averaging 50.

Especially opening.

[wpdavid]

Now England have to be careful here.. Yes the Ashes is back but they have to win this series.. Forget about the Ashes for a while and focus on winning the next test match. They havent won a series in Australia in two decades and that has to be changed. If I was Strauss, I would make sure the celebrations are not over the top because the focus has to be on winning the series now. Not drawing it, but winning it. Too often, England go into a series, win a test match and then kind of lose focus and let the other team level the series. They did that against South Africa earlier this year when they should have won the series.

Judging by what Strauss said after this game, I think the focus should be OK. But you're right: a drawn series would be a let-down after what's happened to date. Maybe that's why I was less elated today than after Day 3, when the game was pretty much won. Now the focus has to be on sealing the deal at Sydney.

[grecian]

Now England have to be careful here.. Yes the Ashes is back but they have to win this series.. Forget about the Ashes for a while and focus on winning the next test match. They havent won a series in Australia in two decades and that has to be changed. If I was Strauss, I would make sure the celebrations are not over the top because the focus has to be on winning the series now. Not drawing it, but winning it. Too often, England go into a series, win a test match and then kind of lose focus and let the other team level the series. They did that against South Africa earlier this year when they should have won the series.

Yep, as I just said in another thread, totally agree.

[pasag]

A bit of nonsense and hysteria all around Australia at the moment which is annoying not only because a lot of it is so extreme but because the valid points were the ones we were making years ago but ignored because it didn't involve the Ashes in Australia. Let's settle down and remember the series is still on the line, pick whoever you think will score the most runs and take the most wickets for the next game, whoever those people are. I honestly do not care about their age.

IMO those selections include Hauritz in for Hilfenhaus, Bollinger in for Harris, Khawaja (begrudgingly) in for Smith. These are our most pressing selections requirements. The Ponting/Clarke issue is a bit of a problem but I honestly don't think one of Hussey/White/Ferguson will make more runs then them if they replace them. If Katich is fit I'd have him instead of Hughes as well (although apparently the best development for him is to keep on being exposed at the highest level...).