My guess for the 15 would be:
Katich
Jaques
Hughes
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger
Symonds
McDonald
McGain
I Imagine that Hughes will get the chance but I feel sorry for Jaques hasn't really done nothing wrong (also love to watch the bat).Though I wouldn't be surprised if Jaques gets it.
Symonds I think should play the the practice match maybe .If he fails then I would suggest someone else gets his spot until gets some form.As for Bowling I reckon It will be the same as the Sydney test except maybe Hilfenhaus might get in over Bollinger.
South Africa I reckon they should drop Neil since he is useless as far as I'm concerned and put prince back in.I reckon Amla would be a fine replacement.
Last edited by jondavluc; 31-01-2009 at 01:46 AM.
In the last 2 series, his innings by innings scores are:
6
19
169
46
94
40
10
38
He averaged 65 against the Kiwis and 45(!!) against the South Africans
and those innings by innings scores actually show some consistency as he's grown into the role as a test batsman.
Over the last 3-4 seasons, he's averaged 50+ for NSW batting at 4/5. And he's a more than capable batsman at the top level - since the slow start to his career, he's starting to show the form that makes him a top-level first class batsman!
Having said that - Noffke at 7 and Johnson at 8 doesn't exactly fill me with confidence...
Hope McGain gets a bag of wickets for Vic in this game so that we at least have a slow bowling attacking option that might give us some variation!
Haddin bats at six in FC for NSW, but 4/5 in ODs.
Carseldine the man for Australia at 6!
Andre Nel for mine is still a class above most fringe bowlers around the world. I don't think he has been forgotten about it just their main objective is to find a long term replacement for Ntini. If the series was 1-1 and Steyn or one of seamers were out he would come in for mine.
With the performances of Botha and the potential of Tahir they could play two spinners. Add in Abie Morkel as an experienced seamer now. They got good depth in bowling as well. No doubt losing your best bowler going to hurt, but they have plenty of decent options imo.
It the opening batsmen where they lack depth. Though even there Alma and Gibbs are very good.
Luke Pomersbach is the man i am backing to break into the Aussie test middle order in an year or two' time, he is very consistent for an aggressive bastman and though he has had a pretty shoddy OD season, he still is going great guns in FC cricket.
Would be a very good guy to bat at no.6, all he needs to do though is work on his batting against spin.
The one, the only CW Black
Code:47.3 W Coppinger to Heads Smacked the ball straight into the groin of Iwuajoku who has fallen over, miraculously with the ball still caught in his scrotal area! Out!
If I told you that at the start of season (or even just after JP's Perth innings) that SA were going in with ODI batting line up of Gibbs-Alma-Kallis-De Villiars-Dummy-McKensie-Boucher-A.Morkel. Would you still think they would have the best batting line up in the world or even just 2nd.
Smith in theory should have made as much difference as potentially Steyn being out. But he didn't. No doubt they might not be the best bowling attack without Steyn, but they can still take 20 wickets withput expectional performances. That bowling attack for mine will still be better then Australia and India.
As much as it is great to have a go at Symonds. He still is the best option at No 6 outside Hodge and Watson. Hussey and North are fast becoming overrated and a case of anyone but Symonds, regardless how inconsistent they might be. Hussey improved his consistency in the last couple seasons, but North still has a bit more do on that front for mine.
Well for one that's one of the poorer of the better ODI batting lineups in the world and if they maintained that line-up they'll start losing a lot more (obviously with Smith coming back this isn't likely to happen). The fact that won the series without Smith was great, but it's not something that'd continue. But we're talking about Tests anyways. Without Steyn their Test bowling doesn't look all that flash and there's no way it's better than a full strength Australian lineup and definitely not better than India's. Steyn transforms their Test side from a good one to an superb one, just like Smith does the same for their ODI side.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)