***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Matt79]

And Ponting goes to 4?

[Hoggy31]

Originally Posted by Matt79

And Ponting goes to 4?

Indeed, however don't see Ponting swallowing that much pride.

[Matt79]

Originally Posted by aussie

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?

My 14 would be:
Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Rogers
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Hughes
Nannes
McGain

Not sure whether Nannes is eligible for Australia given his Dutch nationality. If he is not eligible, Bollinger gets to go, just ahead of Dorey.

I don't think we should take Symonds at the moment, and that being the case there's no allrounder who deserves a spot in the team. As pointed out, one solution is to drop Katich down and play Hughes and Jaques, but I'm reluctant to take in so unsettled an opening pair - one debuting and one returning from injury. Plus I don't want to disturb Katich's rhythm at the moment. Rogers is in great form at the moment and deserves another go - he can have a go and see how he fares in the lower-middle order, given he's third in line at the moment to open with Katich. Hughes to be the back up batsman and hopefully learn a lot from touring.

[pup11]

Originally Posted by Hoggy31

Indeed, however don't see Ponting swallowing that much pride.

Ponting is one the best no.3's in the history of the game and why would you want to move him from there, yeah we all know his captaincy sucks arse, but don't mix that with his batting prowess.

Moving on, as harsh as it may sound, Jaques would have to score some runs before he can reclaim his opening spot, Hughes is in amazing form and Australia would be crazy not to play him in the XI, but just so Jaques can also play, tinkering with an already messed up batting line-up is the last thing they should do.

Clarke has been good at 5, Hussey has been awesome at 4 until now, and there is no way one should even think of demoting Katich back to no.6 which is then the only viable spot left.

[FaaipDeOiad]

Will be mildly surprised if Hauritz plays the first test now. I'd expect something like:

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
McDonald
Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Siddle
McGain

Bollinger
Hauritz
And another backup bat, maybe Klinger, or Dussey, or Rogers or Jaques.

If Siddle isn't fit, they'll probably play both Bollinger and Hilfenhaus and take Harris as backup.

[pup11]

Originally Posted by Matt79

My 14 would be:
Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Dussey
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle (if not fit then, Noffke or Ryan Harris)
Hilfenhaus
Jaques
Bollinger
McGain

Not sure whether Nannes is eligible for Australia given his Dutch nationality. If he is not eligible, Bollinger gets to go, just ahead of Dorey.

I don't think we should take Symonds at the moment, and that being the case there's no allrounder who deserves a spot in the team. As pointed out, one solution is to drop Katich down and play Hughes and Jaques, but I'm reluctant to take in so unsettled an opening pair - one debuting and one returning from injury. Plus I don't want to disturb Katich's rhythm at the moment. Rogers is in great form at the moment and deserves another go - he can have a go and see how he fares in the lower-middle order, given he's third in line at the moment to open with Katich. Hughes to be the back up batsman and hopefully learn a lot from touring.

That are the only changes i would like to see in the team, i would rather have David Hussey at no.6, no need squeeze in a proper opener into the lower middle just to see how it goes, rather give chance to a guy who is a proper middle order bat and knows how to bat in that position and has scored runs too in that position.

As i already said would definitely take the chance with Hughes with the kind of form he is in atm, comes across a very mature bloke for his age and i think he can handle the pressure.

Jaques struggled in the recent SS game, whereas almost everyone from the NSW side made big runs, and that's understandable too, as he is coming back from an injury and would take some time to get into the grove.

Still would have him in the squad as the reserve opener, but then there is also this case that he might be better off not picked in this series and allowed to play for NSW instead, so he can hit himself back into some form before the Ashes, and rather have Rogers as the reserve opener in this series.

Definitely won't take Symonds, my anger for his repeated off-field sagas not withstanding, his form atm is poor and not deserving of a test spot.

Siddle is another worry imo, even if he is fit, he would go into the series a bit underprepared and if in case he is not able to make it, then either Noffke, Harris or Magoffin would be decent replacements.

I like the look of Nannes, but as it has been already said, his age, his beamer problem are the two prime reasons why he is not much of an option, but even if he gets picked, it shouldn't be at the cost of Doug Bollinger, who even though didn't have a great debut, but still is deserving enough of a test spot on the basis of his recent domestic form, and there is no point either in handing over Baggy green's after every game to every half-decent bowler in the country.

[Pup Clarke]

What about pushing Johnson up to 7?. Maybe he needs that extra responsibilty to become a test-class allrounder.

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
McDonald
Hauritz
Bracken
Hilfenhaus

EDIT - Just seen Dorey's record, anyone with <25 after a reasonable number of matches deserves a look at, any reason he's not been given a go?

[Manee]

If you are going to play McDonald then he has to bat seven. Moreover, if you want to put Johnson at eight, you should probably pick an extra full fledged bowler, whether it be Bollinger, Geeves or whoever.

[aussie]

Why is everyone resigning themselves to the strong possibility that McDonald might be picked??. Its that one OBVIOUS selectorial blunder that we should be hoping does not occur??...

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by Pup Clarke

EDIT - Just seen Dorey's record, anyone with <25 after a reasonable number of matches deserves a look at, any reason he's not been given a go?

Green-top bully.

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Originally Posted by aussie

Why is everyone resigning themselves to the strong possibility that McDonald might be picked??. Its that one OBVIOUS selectorial blunder that we should be hoping does not occur??...

There's no way he won't be picked now. Was respectable in Sydney, and since Symonds has failed horribly in state cricket and McDonald took 6-fa in the recent Shield match.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by dontcloseyoureyes

There's no way he won't be picked now. Was respectable in Sydney, and since Symonds has failed horribly in state cricket and McDonald took 6-fa in the recent Shield match.

Yeah, I probably wouldn't pick him in the eleven, but I'd definitely have him in the squad. In fact, I'd have him in the eleven as well if the selectors insisted on picking a specialist spinner again which seems as likely as ever.

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by FaaipDeOiad

Will be mildly surprised if Hauritz plays the first test now. I'd expect something like:

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
McDonald
Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Siddle
McGain

Bollinger
Hauritz
And another backup bat, maybe Klinger, or Dussey, or Rogers or Jaques.

If Siddle isn't fit, they'll probably play both Bollinger and Hilfenhaus and take Harris as backup.

This is the best team available IMO.

[Burgey]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Green-top bully.

Meh - so was Dennis Lillee, apparently.

Why has everyone got Hilfenhaus in their XI? He hasn't looked like swinging the white ball, what makes us think he'll swing the red one? Granted he's had a good season though.

If they're all fit, they probably won't change a winning side from Sydney (not saying they should keep it, just saying they probably will).

[pup11]

Originally Posted by Burgey

Meh - so was Dennis Lillee, apparently.

Why has everyone got Hilfenhaus in their XI? He hasn't looked like swinging the white ball, what makes us think he'll swing the red one? Granted he's had a good season though.

If they're all fit, they probably won't change a winning side from Sydney (not saying they should keep it, just saying they probably will).

He has swung the new white ball alright, it just hasn't lasted long enough, but he has got himself embarrassed or anything in the ODI's, was Australia's best bowler in the ODI series against South Africa (stat's wise), so i don't see why he shouldn't play in South Africa.

If conditions are helpful enough in South Africa, he could get heaps of wickets there.