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The fallout

age_master

Hall of Fame Member
1) You'd imagine so. Although whose are anyone's guess. Clark, probably; Hussey, possibly; Katich, maybe.
Katich? Well he didn't have a great ashes but he still averaged 42 and would surely still be rated as the best opener in the country at the moment?
 

Langeveldt

Soutie
Too busy trying to figure out whether some South African is a dude or a girl.
You should see how things have been taken here.. It's basically like Apartheid has come back and now everyone in the world is conspiring to keep anyone with a tan in a shack..
 

BoyBrumby

Englishman
Katich? Well he didn't have a great ashes but he still averaged 42 and would surely still be rated as the best opener in the country at the moment?
I don't think it's that likely, but he's 34 (I think) and seems to constantly give away good starts with daft dismissals, or has done in this series anyway. After Hussey I'd say he's the top six player most in danger.
 

Redbacks

International Captain
Being the first Australian captain to lose a home series for 16 years, as well as being the first Australian captain to lose consecutive series in England for 110 years are serious black marks against Ponting's captaincy, though how much (if any) of the blame should be laid at Ponting's feet is definitely up for debate.
Record Holder for consecutive wins, captained the side to a test series victory in India.

On the ODI side, captained 2 WC's
 

Craig

World Traveller
Technically Adam Gilchrist was captain in the first three Tests, so really I consider Gilchrist to been the winning captain.
 

age_master

Hall of Fame Member
It's simply really, is Michael Clarke a better captain then Ricky Ponting?
Im not sure. People certainly seem to rate him but what i have seen in ODI's hasn't convinced me yet, he certainly isn't any worse.

I think the best captain in the side at the moment is actually Katich, he is a bit old to take over. Haddin has also done a fantastic job at NSW and given Australia's recent history would probably get the vice captaincy if there was a change.
 

tooextracool

International Coach
Will Clark and Lee ever play for Aus again?
Would be very surprised if Clark plays again given that they were reluctant to pick him in this series.

Lee may yet get another turn, although for that to happen it would have to be either as part of a 4 man pace attack or in place of Johnson.
 

tooextracool

International Coach
I dont think Hussey will retire. He's been playing international cricket for 4 years which is hardly a very long time, and given the way he played today I think even he knows hes not finished as an international cricketer. Either he gets dropped, and lets face it theres always a fall guy in Australian cricket when they lose a series, or he'll get picked again.
 

Top_Cat

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Disagree Ponting should resign the captaincy, thought he was generally pretty solid in the field. A couple of the selectors, on the other hand...
 

Matt79

Global Moderator
Despite the result itself, I don't honk this series has been as disasterous as is being painted by some. There were some poor selection/team management decisions and heads so roll over those, but there were nearly as many positives as negatives coming out of this.

What went wrong
Johnson was horribly low on form and confidence for much of the series. But would anyone seriously suggest dropping him? He clearly needs a lot of bowling work before he performs at his best and hopefully selectors take note of this and make sure he gets that work before series start.

Hughes was a big disappointment. He's young enough and good enough to work on his problem and sort it out, and he better because from now on teams are going to pepper him with short stuff that cramps him relentlessly. Will hopefully come back much better rounded player.

Stu Clark - time's up for Clark. Would likento see him get to 100 wickets, so maybe select him next time we play Bangers but there are better options now - he's over the hill.

Hussey - that century was magnificent, but it was sadly rather too late to have been of use. It has probably bought him a start at the Gabba but he'll want to start playing muuch better than he did through this series very quickly or it's time up for him as well.

What worked
Michael Clarke - love the bloke. WAG.

Marcus North - been great so far. Very reassuring at 6 after years of Symonds.

hilfenhaus - prob only in the team because Lee was injured but bowled wonderfully for much of the series. These are the conditions in world cricket most likely to help him and we'll have to see how he goes in less helpful atmospheric conditions but was very good.

Nathan Hauritz- a big plus for mine. Was regarded as a prank bowler at the start of the series but did a manful job. Will never be a world beater but has clearly put his hand up as Australia's spinner, whereas before this series noone had. There will be times when he should sit out if a pitch looks especially good for seamers, but otherwise, and especially if the pitch looks like it might take spin (like THE OVAL 2009 YOU FRIGGING IDIOT SELECTORS DAMN YOU!!!!!!!) then he should definitely play.

Watson - yeah, he clearly does have an issue with lbw, but he scored 30+ everytime he batted and showed IMO he can do a job for us at the top. If we're playing Hauritz rather than a fourth quick, he's more likely to have a bowl as well and I think he's good enough to be a fifth bowler. Should probably move down to 3 or 4 when Hussey goes, but if he can stay fit, should be a fixture.

Ponting's captaincy - unlike 05, I think Ricky pretty much led this team as well as anyone could this series.
 
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howardj

International Coach
Will heads roll? The selectors should go. The squad was wrong (three number sixes for starters) and the ommission of Clark and Hauritz at Lords and Oval respectively, were howlers. They are too hard to follow, and too funky/cute.

Will Ponting resign the captaincy? No and nor should he. Punter is clearly far more respected than Clarke within the squad, and Ponting's only real mistake in this series was in the last session at Cardiff - he seems to have mental blocks when things go awry in the field.

Will Hussey decide to go out on a high? The decision should be made for him. Scores of 3, 51, 0, 10 and 0 in the 1st innings of the Ashes, on top of averaging less than 25 in the past 10 months, means that time is up for this 34 year old.

How safe is Watson in the side if he's not going to bowl? He's very safe. It's an absolute myth that he needs to bowl to stay in the side. As this series shows, he can easily hold down a place as a specialist bat.

Will the selectors fall on their swords? See above. And really, do you need four guys to pick eleven guys? There's too much thinking going on in their meetings.

Will Clark and Lee ever play for Aus again? No, it's time to move forward. Well played to both of them though.
 

tooextracool

International Coach
How safe is Watson in the side if he's not going to bowl? He's very safe. It's an absolute myth that he needs to bowl to stay in the side. As this series shows, he can easily hold down a place as a specialist bat.
Was impressed with Watson as well. Might make sense for him to give up bowling and focus on his batting and hopefully then stay injury free. He has the game and the technique, despite being an lbw candidate, I think a move down the order maybe good for him.
 

Pothas

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Will Clark and Lee ever play for Aus again? No, it's time to move forward. Well played to both of them though.


Think Lee will play again, he probably benefited from not playing this test and if he stays fit then I am pretty sure he will feature against West Indies and Pakistan. Clark probably not though, had his excellent few overs on his return but think his time is over.
 

NUFAN

Y no Afghanistan flag
Will heads roll?
Yes, some. Stu Clark is likely to have played his last Test. I'm almost certain that the selectors will go.

Will Ponting resign the captaincy?
I don't think so, not yet - Probably the right move. He might resign from the ODI and T20 captaincy though now.

Will Hussey decide to go out on a high?
Yes he will decide to go out on a high, therefore he won't retire now. Hussey is a big team player, I doubt he'd consider his century as a high. He will continue on for sure IMO.


How safe is Watson in the side if he's not going to bowl?
Not very. Hands up who actually thinks Watson is a better opener then Hughes and Jaques. I don't, so he misses out.

Will the selectors fall on their swords?
Yes, apart from Boonie :P

Will Clark and Lee ever play for Aus again?
Clark no, Lee probably will.
 

Furball

Evil Scotsman
Record Holder for consecutive wins, captained the side to a test series victory in India.

On the ODI side, captained 2 WC's
Gilchrist captained the victorious side in India. Ponting captained in the only Test Australia lost.
 

slippyslip

U19 12th Man
What worked
Michael Clarke - love the bloke. WAG.

Marcus North - been great so far. Very reassuring at 6 after years of Symonds.
My concerns with North was that he only scored runs when Australia was already on top. In the 2nd and 5th tests, the ones Australia lost, he did nothing.
 

morgieb

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Will heads roll? Yes.

Will Ponting resign the captaincy? Won't resign, but I'd sack him.

Will Hussey decide to go out on a high? Should get dropped TBH.

How safe is Watson in the side if he's not going to bowl? He's still safe IMO.

Will the selectors fall on their swords? See Ponting and Hussey's comments.

Will Clark and Lee ever play for Aus again? Doubt Clark will but Lee probably still would.
 

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