***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[social]

Originally Posted by chaminda_00

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.

Nel and Gibbs are largely ancient history whilst Amla is totally unproven as an opener

[social]

Macdonald got a 6-for today and it would not surprise me in the least if he toured

And tbh, it would not shock me to see him do ok with the ball even if I'd be amazed if he was anything other than very average with the bat

With media pressure/signals from CA/Ponting interview today/selectors' hating to be proven wrong, I can see a first test team of

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Symonds if fit to bowl some spin
Haddin
Macdonald or McGain if it looks slow or if Macdonald is required at 6
Johnson
Bollinger (although I get the feeling the selectors dont really want him)
Siddle (if fit)

Hughes 12th man

Worst case scenario doesnt bear thinking about

[social]

Ok, just discovered that the team will be picked on Wednesday and will contain 14 members so it's time to remove the splinters and get off the fence

First man on the plane and with a great, big, hairy (C) next to his name is the Kat-man.

Oz neeeds a level-headed, articulate guy to deal with the new order of world cricket and Ricky, for all his qualities in other areas is simply not that guy

So I'd pick

1. Katich (C)
2, Hughes - totally contradicts what I said earlier in the thread but since then he has put up his hand under great pressure and said "pick me"
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. Hussey
6. Symonds - but only if he can bowl 15 overs per day NOW otherwise Hodge (best now) or White ( potential quality but needs responsibility and confidence)
7. Haddin
8. MacDonald - level head and could add something with the ball in both SA and Eng but NO WAY he bats 6
9. North
10. Krezja - needs encouragement and bowling
11. Bollinger - criminally underrated by the Oz selectors
12. Johnson
13. Siddle
14.a Tait - see Krezja but with massive strike power and a suspect brain/heart
14b. Hilfenhaus - like him but something's not quite right

There is no way they'll pick that team but it's time for some people to **** or get off the loo

If they need others they can fly them over

[aussie]

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Hodge's first class form hasn't demanded a recall.

It shouldn't (unless he has been in OBVIOUS awful form). Since he is a proven test player.

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Additionally, he's basically been cast aside because he's too loose outside off in Test cricket, in the view of selectors. He basically bats the same as Haddin - and if Haddin didn't have glovework behind him, he would've never been picked for the same reason.

Come on, we both know that view is straight BS. That the selectors used to get Martyn back into side in the last SA tour. Looking back Hodge should not have been dropped in the first place, he was made a scapegoat for the previous selectorial blunder of dropping Martyn after the 05 Ashes. Since the selectors realised their mistake & wanted him back for the 06 Ashes.

In case if anyone gets mistaken i am not "MASSIVE Hodge fan". Just stating my concern of how is being treated in this phase of the team that needs to have its best possible XI.

Secondly. As i just mentioned given the the crazy hypothetical notion that "Hodge is weak outside off-stump" was created by the selectors. It would be 100% inaccurate to say he & Haddin bats similar. That is so untrue.

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Basically, the two best options right now in terms of consistent scoring in SS cricket over the past two seasons are openers, in Rogers and Hughes. Add in a guy who averages high 40s in Test cricket opening; and you want to move a very good no. 4 to opening why?.

All true but as i mentioned earlier in the thread i believe in strictly "conservative selection" for the SA tour & the Ashes.

So i am 100% againts the selections of:

- Hughes, i haven't seen him bat of course. But although he is showing prodigy like batting performances in state cricket. Its only one season, if he goes to SA & fails he will be quickly relegated from prodigy to another selectorial blunder & i don't want that for him.

- McDonald, as an all-rounder. Since it should be clear with Watson out, we don't need to play him as an all-rounder to mess up the balance of the side. Just to play accomodate a spinner in a 5-man attack. A batsman should be picked ahead of him.

- Haurtiz or Krejza, as the spinner. Simply because i don't believe a spinner should be part of the final XI in any test since neither are good enough to play as part of a 4-man attack.

Although i haven't seen McGain bowl, his FC form last season along with the solid praise he got from many of the knowledgable Australian posters on this sight suggest he is the best spinner available.

Yes he is having setting the world on fire right now in his comeback match. But any spinner taken to SA is just for the "extreme case" of a turning pitch being encountered & the best spinner in the land should in the squad to potentially exploit it. Although i highly doubt based on watching past series in SA this will happen.


Back to the point though. Unlike the bowling, our batting depth still is strong & versatile. Hussey no doubt has established himself as our premier # 4. When Katich was picked to open in WI last year, i don't think many expected it to be permanent but he showed his versatilty, or when Langer in the 5th test of 2001 came to partner Hayden, not much expected it to be permanent either.


Hussey is just as cultured a batsman in playing different position as Katich & given he has opened already in test & looked compact plus years doing so in domestic cricket for years. He can do it again, so as to accomodate Hodge to give the side the strongest top 6available.

Picking Hodge does gives the batting a stronger look in Hayden's absense than going for Hughes, Rogers or Jaques. Very conservative. But i know the selectors won't do it because they feel Hodge has offended them. ATS of our cricket i don't want hear that crap TBH.

Originally Posted by vic_orthdox

Noffke is coming off an injury, hasn't got form behind him, and Siddle is arguably a better bowler already, and definitely has the potential to be a better bowler. And Noffke will never be good enough to play Test cricket at no. 7.

Well i never suggested Noffke should bat @ 7. I want the best 4-man seam attack of Johnson, Siddle, Noffke, Bollinger/Hilfenhaus, with Noffke batting @ 8.

No doubt due to injuries Noffke hasn't displayed his 2007/08 with the ball. Has taken 18 wickets @ 24 in the 5 games he has played. But son is a proven FC performer & he is the only bowler in the land that Ponting could have in SA, that he could depend on to put the breaks on SA. Thats is very important.

[Nnanden]

Talked with Fuller for ages, decided I would choose

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
North
Haddin
Johnson
Bracken
Siddle
Bollinger


I really, really like the look of that side. I don't particularly rate McGain and I really like North as a FC bowler keeping an end tight. The pace attack to me looks to have a great mix of experience and wicket-taking ability/control. Ideally Noffke would be somewhere in there, but I don't know whether he's fit enough atm. Would make my squad.

[aussie]

Originally Posted by Matt79

Punctuation.

Not only is it a funny sounding word, but when it's used correctly it's so handy when others are trying to work out what you're talking about.

If you saying that you hope not to see me criticising the non-selection of Noffke in the event that Australia's bowling attack does not perform in SA, I can assure you that you will not. I don't really rate Noffke or think that he should be in the Test squad, so why would I suddenly decide that he should have been picked after the event?

LOL, Fair enough. Well then we just have different views on Noffke..

I shall ask you though as i just mentioned to Vic. If you don't believe Noffke should be in the test squad, which bowler in the land can Ponting potentially have in his attack in SA. That he can depend on to do the role of the "containing bowler" Clark would have done in your opinon?

[social]

Originally Posted by Nnanden

Talked with Fuller for ages, decided I would choose

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
North
Haddin
Johnson
Bracken
Siddle
Bollinger


I really, really like the look of that side. I don't particularly rate McGain and I really like North as a FC bowler keeping an end tight. The pace attack to me looks to have a great mix of experience and wicket-taking ability/control. Ideally Noffke would be somewhere in there, but I don't know whether he's fit enough atm. Would make my squad.

The problem is that I'd find it almost impossible to believe that the selectors would pick 3 left armers (makes no sense when you consider that they'd pick 11 right handers in a heart beat)

There's no doubt that Oz have really missed a trick by not making more use of Bracken's talent. I really believe he's got a lot to offer with the old ball and could also take a lot of the stress of Johnson and Siddle who cant be expected to bowl all day, every day (Siddle is already suffering stress fractures ffs and Johnson cant be far behind)

[Nnanden]

Originally Posted by social

The problem is that I'd find it almost impossible to believe that the selectors would pick 3 left armers (makes no sense when you consider that they'd pick 11 right handers in a heart beat)

Again, is my side, not the selectors. But agreed.

[social]

Originally Posted by Nnanden

Again, is my side, not the selectors. But agreed.

It's a really tough one with very few players demanding selection, injuries, no clearly defined direction, guys on the outer via politics and a selection panel with the combined IQ of a garden hose

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by Nnanden

Again, is my side, not the selectors. But agreed.

Not a bad side tbh, but is Siddle actually likely to be fit? The number of injuries to our quicks this year and the latter part of 08 has been astounding.

[oldmancraigy]

Ok - here's my 14:

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
McDonald
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
McGain
Bollinger

Harris
Jaques
Hilfenhaus

If Siddle isn't fit, then Harris plays in the first test.
Tait wouldn't tour - he just loses the plot too often
McGain is in there SO LONG as we think a spin option is needed. I don't see the point in picking Hauritz - who can bowl long spells and keep it tight, but isn't a wicket taker. I also don't see the point in taking '100 per innings' Krejza - who can't bowl tight and just releases the pressure completely...

The other younger guy I'd like to take on tour is Clint McKay from Victoria. He just always seems to take wickets.

[Johnners]

I know that most are talking about the sides they would take, not who they think will be picked, but.... I'll be surprised if they don't give Hauritz another crack (rightly or wrongly) after his 4-fer on a pitch that by all reports is an absolute road. I won't be surprised if the team looks something like this:

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds/MacDonald
Haddin
Johnson
Haurtiz
Siddle (will he be fit?)/Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

MacDonald/Hussey D
Hilfenhaus/Harris
Hughes

If Siddle is fit, Hilfenhaus will be the backup bowler. If he's not fit, I guess Hilfenhaus will make his debut, and possibly Harris (Dorey a smokey?) will be the backup bowler. If Symonds is selected, Hughes & MacDonald would be my guess as a backup batsmen and allrounder. If Symonds isn't fit, will probs be Hughes and Hussey. To make it clear, it's not the team I'd pick (Would pick the same as Nath, except with Jaques to open) but it's what I think they'll go with.

[Precambrian]

Originally Posted by social

Ok, just discovered that the team will be picked on Wednesday and will contain 14 members so it's time to remove the splinters and get off the fence

First man on the plane and with a great, big, hairy (C) next to his name is the Kat-man.

Oz neeeds a level-headed, articulate guy to deal with the new order of world cricket and Ricky, for all his qualities in other areas is simply not that guy

So I'd pick

1. Katich (C)
2, Hughes - totally contradicts what I said earlier in the thread but since then he has put up his hand under great pressure and said "pick me"
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. Hussey
6. Symonds - but only if he can bowl 15 overs per day NOW otherwise Hodge (best now) or White ( potential quality but needs responsibility and confidence)
7. Haddin
8. MacDonald - level head and could add something with the ball in both SA and Eng but NO WAY he bats 6
9. North
10. Krezja - needs encouragement and bowling
11. Bollinger - criminally underrated by the Oz selectors
12. Johnson
13. Siddle
14.a Tait - see Krezja but with massive strike power and a suspect brain/heart
14b. Hilfenhaus - like him but something's not quite right

There is no way they'll pick that team but it's time for some people to **** or get off the loo

If they need others they can fly them over

Best post from you in ages. So true, Australia needs a fresh beginning and a confident one. A fading star like Ponting is unlikely to give it, because he is trapped in his own images and perceptions. Katman is more down to earth and does not bring in unwarranted attention to the job. I guess he will do a Botha, sneak in a series win before anyone notices, and then the Aussie machinery will once again be up and running.

[vic_orthdox]

As i just mentioned given the the crazy hypothetical notion that "Hodge is weak outside off-stump" was created by the selectors. It would be 100% inaccurate to say he & Haddin bats similar. That is so untrue.

Both rarely get their feet outside the line of the stumps, leave themselves room to free the arms and flay through the off. Hence they drive very well square of the wicket, but as a result hang their bat outside the line of their body and eyes. Martyn was similar, but he always had his eyes in line with the ball; these two do not.

I am a big fan of Hodge, and think that he should have played more cricket for Australia. However, I think that his chance has passed, and that we aren't to gain anything by playing him. We need to get the next generation of batsmen ready whilst we have the settled leadership of Ponting, Hussey and Clarke for them to bat around.

[Hoggy31]

The easiest solution to the whole Jaques/Hughes thing imo is Katich moving back down the order, it's not like he's suddenly going to lose all run scoring touch. Would have Jaques and Hughes opening with Katich at 3, ideally (won't happen tho). Would be happy with either North or Klinger as back-up bat.

Hope we don't select Harris or Bollinger, don't rate either as international bowlers, would love to see Dorey given a chance with the red ball (format he should've been selected in initially) but I think his age will get in the way of that. Magoffin is the way to go if we're looking for a direct replacement for Clark. McGain's gotta go after today's 5fa, untried at international tho so always the possibility of being a flop, Hauritz has to go as back up.

Is it actually confirmed anywhere that we're taking only 14? Surely couldn't hurt to take a squad of 16 or so.