SL & WI in OZ 2013 - short formats

[NUFAN]

Make if official if you want

FIXTURES

ODI
Jan 11 - Aus vs SL (Melbourne)
Jan 13 - Aus vs SL (Adelaide)
Jan 18 - Aus vs SL (Brisbane)
Jan 20 - Aus vs SL (Sydney)
Jan 23 - Aus vs SL (Hobart)

T20
Jan 26 - Aus vs SL (Thunder territory)
Jan 28 - Aus vs SL (Melbourne)

ODI
Feb 1 - Aus vs WI (Perth)
Feb 3 - Aus vs WI (Perth)
Feb 6 - Aus vs WI (Canberra)
Feb 8 - Aus vs WI (Sydney)
Feb 10 - Aus vs WI (Melbourne)

T20
Feb 13 - Aus vs WI (Brisbane)


Interesting times ahead. If I was chief selector my current lineup for T20 would be as follows.

1. Shane Watson
2. David Warner
3. Aaron Finch
4. Glenn Maxwell
5. George Bailey (c)
6. Matthew Wade
7. Moises Henriques
8. James Faulkner
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Kane Richardson
11. Xavier Doherty

I would also consider including Cutting, Laughlin (to replace Doherty) and Phil Hughes in my squad. Wade could be rested with Paine or even Ludeman as a bolter. Its hard to know where the injured fast bowlers are at in their recovery, but for Cummins and Pattinson in particular I don't exactly want them playing T20 straight from injury.

I'm not going to lie that I'm basing many of the selections on Big Bash performances this year.

[AlanJLegend]

I like the look of your line-up, would probably leave Watto out of the T20s though; we know how injury-prone he is, and with three enormous test series coming up I'd hate to see him get injured playing mickey mouse cricket (that being said, he will no doubt play the IPL so it probably doesn't make much difference). Would open with Paine and have Steven Smith at 6. I am a big fan of Smiffy.

[NUFAN]

Steve Smith originally made my lineup but I forgot to include him on my reserves list. He definitely is an option. Re: Watson, yeah its difficult to know what to do with him, since he's our best T20 player it was hard to leave him out. I really want to see Henriques (again) and Faulkner represent Australia, really excited about the pair and think they could offer more than say a Dan Christian.

If NCN was bowling a little better, he'd definitely be close to a game too.

[smalishah84]

not a big fan of 5 ODI series'

10 ODIs within the span of a month

[benchmark00]

Travis Birt's form is disappointing, would normally be one of my first picked.

[NUFAN]

I quite like watching both SL and WI in the shorter formats so I'm happy enough with the schedule.

Yeah Birt first game was excellent and if I made this thread then, he would have probably been selected but yeah he's looked ordinary of late so misses out. Needs big runs to make my Aussie team now.

[Crazy Sam]

I can't wait for the ODI's - still my favourite format of the game although only a smidgen ahead of tests..........

It will be interesting to see what selection policy they make for these games. 10 ODI's always feels like too much, but in this instance it gives the selectors plenty of time to look at possible players for the Ashes tour and Champion's Trophy.

I read somewhere that there is only one round of Shield games before the test squad for India is announced, so that will be a factor in the selections too I should think.

[Daemon]

Ponting at #3 imo

[benchmark00]

Originally Posted by Crazy Sam

I can't wait for the ODI's - still my favourite format of the game although only a smidgen ahead of tests...........

[morgieb]

Hughes averages over 50 at T20. A must pick surely?

[ajdude]

wouldn't mind seeing beer in the t20 side cause doherty's ****

and all of NCN, Faulkner, Finch and Hughes to get at least one ODI. bailey deserves to be in the ODI team but most casual australians will be all like 'why is this **** in the odi side'

[ajdude]

Originally Posted by Crazy Sam

I read somewhere that there is only one round of Shield games before the test squad for India is announced, so that will be a factor in the selections too I should think.

thought I read that there's only one round before they actually leave

[benchmark00]

In Australia's strongest t20 line up, I don't think Bailey has a place. Ben Rohrer would be better suited to that finishing/hard running type. Better fielder too.

[AlanJLegend]

Originally Posted by benchmark00

In Australia's strongest t20 line up, I don't think Bailey has a place. Ben Rohrer would be better suited to that finishing/hard running type. Better fielder too.

I'm putting up my flame shield here, but I think having a specialist captain (and to be honest, Bailey probably wouldn't be THAT far from making the T20i side on batting alone) isn't as bad of an idea as you might think. Hear me out.

The way I see it, in any form of cricket it is incredibly important to have a good captain. Having a good cricketing brain and putting the right bowlers against the right batsmen can save you a lot of runs over the course of a game. On the other hand, having a less experienced captain can lead to poor field placings and a lot of extra runs to chase. Cricket is very much a game of skill but I think it is often overlooked how much it is also a game of tactics.

Obviously it would be a bad idea to bring somebody like Graham Manou in as a specialist captain. But I think Bailey can probably get away with it.

[benchmark00]

I'm not sure Bailey's captaincy is good enough to warrant the difference between his batting and Rohrer.

Bailey will be selected, no doubt, I just wouldn't do it.