Mike Hussey to retire at end of summer.

[social]

Originally Posted by L Trumper

Will be huge loss for AUS.Now they have one genuinely great batsmen in the side and that's about it really.

Its not about how many great batsmen there are, it's whether the other guys contribute

[sphynx]

Originally Posted by centurymaker

Now, the ashes series in England will just be a formality really.

Can see Australia getting hammered.

It will all come down to the series in Aus.

I reckon Australia's quicks are a bit better than Anderson, Finn and co atm, will give more than a few headaches, I can see Bird doing well in England and Pattinson is probably the best young bowler in the world imo.....

[BoyBrumby]

It's not like England have a settled top 6 either.

Cook chooses himself, but even KP has a few lingering doubts regarding the unpleasantness. Bell and Trott are givens but both needed the tons in the 4th in India to nail things down.

Compton has done enough for another go, but doesn't look a player for the ages and, impressive as Root's debut was, it was just that.

Still, fair bit of cricket for both sides before things get warm.

[LongHopCassidy]

Who now? Quiney to get a proper go? Doolan?

[Spikey]

Originally Posted by LongHopCassidy

Who now? Quiney to get a proper go? Doolan?

Well Usman will have to get first go, given he was first in line to replace an injured Clarke.

[Spark]

Barring injury or some ****, fairly sure the top seven for India will be

Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Watson+Clarke (in some order)
Khawaja
Wade

I simply do not think that, given that we have to find three long-term middle order bats right now, that experimenting with Maxwell is a good idea in the slightest. Khawaja, then Doolan IMO if he continues to score a few in the second half of the Shield season. Quiney looks in pretty rubbish nick now, so we can forget him.

Whether that remains the top six will have a lot to do with the Indian bowling which, as we all know, is a bit ****. So a decent possibility that that's the top six going into the Ashes - barring injury, of course.

[NUFAN]

See for me Khawaja at 6 is going to be pretty frustrating. He is known for his inability to rotate the strike so I think its probably the worst position in the order to have someone with that trait. At least if he was at 3 or 4 he'd at least be taking the shine of the new ball. I hope he bats 4 at the SCG.

Also, if Watson stops bowling, none of the batsman will be bowling any seam up - Wade will have to bowl from time to time.

[AndyZaltzHair]

A bit of a shock, thought Hussey would play the Ashes

[Spikey]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

See for me Khawaja at 6 is going to be pretty frustrating. He is known for his inability to rotate the strike so I think its probably the worst position in the order to have someone with that trait. At least if he was at 3 or 4 he'd at least be taking the shine of the new ball. I hope he bats 4 at the SCG.

Also, if Watson stops bowling, none of the batsman will be bowling any seam up - Wade will have to bowl from time to time.

Well really the strongest batting line-up Aus could field (and which is possible. Sorry Katich and Rogers) probably contains Haddin and Wade at 6 & 7, but whether....

[Cabinet96]

Two very sad and surprising departures today. I'm stunned he didn't want one last crack at England home and away, but I guess you know when you don't want it anymore.

I'll miss you Huss, I always loved your enthusiasm and character.

[chaminda_00]

Originally Posted by NUFAN

See for me Khawaja at 6 is going to be pretty frustrating. He is known for his inability to rotate the strike so I think its probably the worst position in the order to have someone with that trait. At least if he was at 3 or 4 he'd at least be taking the shine of the new ball. I hope he bats 4 at the SCG.

Also, if Watson stops bowling, none of the batsman will be bowling any seam up - Wade will have to bowl from time to time.

Khawaja bowls seam up as well.

If they don't want to consider Cosgrove. Batting Hughes at six wouldn't be the worst option. I reckon his technique wouldn't be as exposed at six, if you take him away from the new ball completely.

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by Spikey

Well really the strongest batting line-up Aus could field (and which is possible. Sorry Katich and Rogers) probably contains Haddin and Wade at 6 & 7, but whether....

Only good thing about that is it solves the issue of not having a medium pacer capable of bowling as Hads could take the gloves.

Honestly though I can't see it happening, the experience that he would provide would come in handy though IMO.

Siddle is a chance of becoming vice captain IMO.

[NUFAN]

Originally Posted by chaminda_00

Khawaja bowls seam up as well.

If they don't want to consider Cosgrove. Batting Hughes at six wouldn't be the worst option. I reckon his technique wouldn't be as exposed at six, if you take him away from the new ball completely.

My bad, thought he just bowled a bit of spin.

Yeah Hughes could potentially make six his own, but there really isn't any good reason to drop him further down the order just to bring a top order bat - Usman will just have to learn how to rotate the strike a bit more if he is the chosen one or someone else will be given the opportunity.

[uvelocity]

Oh man no **** no. I feel sick. This is ****. What ate you doing Huss you can't do this

[robelinda]

man, it was bad when it was 3/40 and Clare & Hussey had to guide us to 3/400, but geez next Ashes i can see the 5th test in my mind- 5 tests and every single one being 3/40 then all out 200.