***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by ganeshran

What position does Khwaja play at in FC? If Marsh is fit, they can both play.

Three usually, although he's come through lower levels as an opener. He got his crack at 3 for NSW because we have Hughes, Watson, Katich, Jaques, Warner etc who are all openers.

[davidgdafter]

Originally Posted by uvelocity

sack all the ****ing batsmen already ****s

The batsmen will fire eventually. There is too much class and experience in there for them to continually get knocked over every innings.

Would love to see Hussey in the runs next game.

[howardj]

That's ^ half the problem with the team at the moment though. Eventually, yes, each player manages to fire eventually (Hughes, Ponting, Haddin will peel off the occasional good innings, and Johnson will take the actual bag). In between times though, it's absolute dross. Even Hussey failed for two years straight, then he has three good Ashes Tests, and that will probably buy him another few years. Where's the ruthlessness gone in the selection room? Like with Ponting (averaged in the 30s for the last two years, averaging 18 this year, is 37 years of age) and yet they STILL indulge him. It's got to get back to a 'team first' philosophy in the selection room. When you're ranked fourth or fifth in the world, underperforming players are owed nothing.

[GingerFurball]

"3 good Ashes Tests" is selling Hussey a bit short, he's the reason you didn't get beaten 5-0. Was also excellent in Sri Lanka.

[howardj]

Granted, he played well in SL, but my point was that everyone raved about his Ashes, but what about the two years before that? How he even got to the Ashes beats me. Anyway, the comment about Hussey was a minor point in an otherwise dead accurate post. We need to get back to some accountability at the selection table.

[BoyBrumby]

Would be starting with Warner ahead of Khawaja if the Wanderers is even half as lively as Newlands. Philander could cause him all kinds of problems.

Assuming if it is Cummins to come in (and it's nothing if not a bold selection) that means a(nother) life for Johnson too? Dunno what Cummins's batting's like (the stats aren't kind but it's a meaningless sample size) and wouldn't fancy Siddle, Harris or Lyon at 8 much.

[Howe_zat]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Would be starting with Warner ahead of Khawaja if the Wanderers is even half as lively as Newlands. Philander could cause him all kinds of problems.

Assuming if it is Cummins to come in (and it's nothing if not a bold selection) that means a(nother) life for Johnson too? Dunno what Cummins's batting's like (the stats aren't kind but it's a meaningless sample size) and wouldn't fancy Siddle, Harris or Lyon at 8 much.

Neither would I, but they're all reasonable #9s so it kind of cancels out. It's rather low on the priorities list anyway.

[BoyBrumby]

Originally Posted by Howe_zat

Neither would I, but they're all reasonable #9s so it kind of cancels out. It's rather low on the priorities list anyway.

Possibly in theory, yeah. In practice tho Harris's test batting hasn't ever really lived up to the not too shabby FC stats & Lyon's more of a decent ten (maybe a a nine and a half) and I imagine Siddle, who's probably in the best form willow-wise, would be the unlucky twelfth.

A lengthening of the tail might not be a huge concern, but it'd be remiss on the selectors' part if it didn't at least cross their minds. 47ao and all.

[Prince EWS]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Possibly in theory, yeah. In practice tho Harris's test batting hasn't ever really lived up to the not too shabby FC stats & Lyon's more of a decent ten (maybe a a nine and a half) and I imagine Siddle, who's probably in the best form willow-wise, would be the unlucky twelfth.

A lengthening of the tail might not be a huge concern, but it'd be remiss on the selectors' part if it didn't at least cross their minds. 47ao and all.

Wait, if you're worried about dropping Johnson lengthening the tail, why would Siddle be 12th man in that case?

[Sylvester]

Like his bowling we know Johnson can produce a good innings but they are few and far between lately so dropping him won't affect our lower order performance wise. On paper of course it does but on paper Johnson should be getting 5 fers.

Cricinfo have Cummins when they could have just predicted no changes to the bowling lineup so either they know something or they fell into the media trap.

[BoyBrumby]

Originally Posted by Prince EWS

Wait, if you're worried about dropping Johnson lengthening the tail, why would Siddle be 12th man in that case?

He wouldn't. Sorry, I was trying to construct the selectors' case for retaining Johnson should Cummins play. Might not have been immediately apparent.

Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Cummins

Would be a bit, y'know, wouldn't it?

[Howe_zat]

Cricinfo's "probable" lineups have a knack of being somewhat improbable.

[Top_Cat]

FFS.

Paceman Ryan Harris in doubt for Australia v South Africa Test | Adelaide Now

[robelinda]

FFS indeed, x1000.

[Nnanden]

Coooooooooopes