YOUR 1ST TEST TEAM AT GABBA

[The Dark Knight]

England, swinging the ball?? in Australia?? They can't swing the Kookabura to save their lives, the Duke on the other hand...

Agreed knighter. I can see Steven finn (if picked) being quite dangerous in australian conditions due to his height and the bounce he will generate

I can't. He is tall and has the ability to generate some good bounce because of it but being his first time in Aus I reckon he'll struggle with the conditions and won't find the right line and length to bowl quickly enough.

[valleys07]

I can't. He is tall and has the ability to generate some good bounce because of it but being his first time in Aus I reckon he'll struggle with the conditions and won't find the right line and length to bowl quickly enough

With three practice matches on aus pitches prior to the first test i think that will be enough time to adjust....aus batting line up might be caught off guard if they dont respect him. There is better bowlers in the world but he has potential....he will benefit on aus pitches

[The Dark Knight]

I can't. He is tall and has the ability to generate some good bounce because of it but being his first time in Aus I reckon he'll struggle with the conditions and won't find the right line and length to bowl quickly enough

With three practice matches on aus pitches prior to the first test i think that will be enough time to adjust....aus batting line up might be caught off guard if they dont respect him. There is better bowlers in the world but he has potential....he will benefit on aus pitches

Yeah the practice matches might help him, but I still reckon he'll be a deer caught in the headlights like Anderson and Harmison in 06/07. If he plays in the first test, I hope our batting line up absolutely gives it to him, like they have done to other young fast bowlers in the past and he leaves Aus with his tail between his legs.

[valleys07]

Yeah the practice matches might help him, but I still reckon he'll be a deer caught in the headlights like Anderson and Harmison in 06/07. If he plays in the first test, I hope our batting line up absolutely gives it to him, like they have done to other young fast bowlers in the past and he leaves Aus with his tail between his legs.

Lets hope your right

What is englands attack likely to consist of in brisbane? Anderson, Broad, Tremlett, Bresnan, Finn are their frontline bowlers in their squad, with swann and panesar as the spinners. Mine has Broad, Anderson, Finn and Swann for bowlers with collingwood to fill the part time role

[sherminator]

Interesting reading!
I think Lightning McQueen has hit the nail on the head ... can't see any major changes this summer unless injuries or we are getting spanked. Despite all the doom & gloom and pessimism that's floating around about the current Aussie team, we are not that bad! I mean, of course we are not as good as a few years ago, but this time had to come. We are in a much better state than in the mid-80's after the Lillee, Marsh, Chappell etc. retirements. Sure we lost 2-0 in India. Better sides than this one have been flogged there in the past. We were unlucky to lose the first test, Sharma rode his luck a lot in that big partnership. What won those 2 tests for India was the 2nd Innings' when they had Harbie & Ojha operating in tandem for long periods. England have Swann, but unless they bat Prior at 6 in order to play Monty, we won't be faced with that situation again. I too am worried but am trying to be optimistic! What ever happens I am looking forward to next year to see some youth come in such as Hughes & Khawaja. Perhaps a 'youth policy' should occur only picking debutants under 30 for the next few years will be good for the future.

[The Dark Knight]

Yeah the practice matches might help him, but I still reckon he'll be a deer caught in the headlights like Anderson and Harmison in 06/07. If he plays in the first test, I hope our batting line up absolutely gives it to him, like they have done to other young fast bowlers in the past and he leaves Aus with his tail between his legs.

Lets hope your right

What is englands attack likely to consist of in brisbane? Anderson, Broad, Tremlett, Bresnan, Finn are their frontline bowlers in their squad, with swann and panesar as the spinners. Mine has Broad, Anderson, Finn and Swann for bowlers with collingwood to fill the part time role

I reckon Anderson will lead the attack and IF he finds some swing, look out. Finn is way ahead of Tremlett and Bresnan, IMO their just poo. Broad will be in their aswell. He, like Mitch Johnson is a very talented cricketer and seeing them going head to head will be a real highlight. IMO the series might hinge on the performances of these two very gifted young men.

Barring injury Swann will be in there without a dobut. I'm not a fan of the guy at all, but he is a bloody good Off-spiner and quite a handy batsman aswell. Engand would of been thanking there lucky stars when he came along. With him they now don't need to play those 4 and a half/5 bowlers, meaning Collingwood and the other part timers don't have to get used as much.

IMO with Flintoff who was that 5th bowler, England didn't really need to rely on their spinners as much, hence Asley Giles. There would of been better spinners around than him, but the selectors liked him and he was always a safe bet.

They would of seen Flintoff breaking down over time and needed to really think about finding and playing a spin bowler who can put the pressure on the batting team and take wickets. They thought Monty was the one that could do that, they were wrong. Swann on the other hand has that abilty, which he showed on the big stage in the 2009 ashes. You could see him really putting the pressure on the Aussie batsman, something that they've never seen before from a English spinner and in turn he was really successful in that series.

[Hondo]

Maybe Hussey isn't as safe as I assumed ..

Greg Chappell with some encouraging (IMO) views on the ageing batting line-up and the potential of getting too hung up on one series (the Ashes) to the detriment of the longer term of setting up the next generation of batsmen

(that's my take on his comments anyway)

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/ageing-bats-in-australian-cricket-selector-greg-chappells-sights/story-e6frecj3-1225942650355

[The Dark Knight]

Maybe Hussey isn't as safe as I assumed ..

Greg Chappell with some encouraging (IMO) views on the ageing batting line-up and the potential of getting too hung up on one series (the Ashes) to the detriment of the longer term of setting up the next generation of batsmen

(that's my take on his comments anyway)

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/ageing-bats-in-australian-cricket-selector-greg-chappells-sights/story-e6frecj3-1225942650355

Can they really afford to make various changes to the team before the start of such a huge series?

I know a few of our batsman are out of form but can they be easily replaced by a new player and then can we exept him to turn it on straight away?

It's a big ask IMO for new players to come in, easily fit into the the Australian line up on the international stage, against the old enermy in a must win series.

[Hondo]

Fair points Dark Knight but it's not as though those "ageing batsman" have been scoring very well recently. As you say for such an important series can we afford to keep carrying them?

I remember Bevan playing his 3rd or 4th test v England in 1994-95 and then Blewett started in the 4th test of the same series and scored a ton. As did Mark Waugh v England 1990-91. Slater started v England in 1993. Taylor played his 3rd test v England in 1989.

Damien Martyn and Justin Langer started in the 92-93 series v West Indies which was considered very important at the time as the Windies were no 1.

Back then if the existing test bats had a form slump they went back to state cricket to sort it out and fight their way back. Now they just stay there regardless of form it seems.

Somehow, somewhere our selectors have stopped being willing to blood new, young batsman and I would argue that your post is symptomatic of the current selection policy. It's possible that a young, eager young buck is exactly what that batting line up needs. I have felt for ages that carrying Hussey all that time was sending the wrong message to the next generation of batsman as well as his test team-mates.

[Media Park]

Fair points Dark Knight but it's not as though those "ageing batsman" have been scoring very well recently. As you say for such an important series can we afford to keep carrying them?

I remember Bevan playing his 3rd or 4th test v England in 1994-95 and then Blewett started in the 4th test of the same series and scored a ton. As did Mark Waugh v England 1990-91. Slater started v England in 1993. Taylor played his 3rd test v England in 1989.

Damien Martyn and Justin Langer started in the 92-93 series v West Indies which was considered very important at the time as the Windies were no 1.

Back then if the existing test bats had a form slump they went back to state cricket to sort it out and fight their way back. Now they just stay there regardless of form it seems.

Somehow, somewhere our selectors have stopped being willing to blood new, young batsman and I would argue that your post is symptomatic of the current selection policy. It's possible that a young, eager young buck is exactly what that batting line up needs. I have felt for ages that carrying Hussey all that time was sending the wrong message to the next generation of batsman as well as his test team-mates.

The two highlighted did very well too.

Blewett got tons in his first two matches IIRC, then in the first test of the next Ashes...

Taylor made a heap of runs in the 89 Ashes, including a double ton.

[Aerie]

Getting a bit closer now, my XI at the Gabba would be...

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Khawaja
North
Paine
Johnson
Harris
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

[lion heart]

Have a funny feeling Rhyno Harris is going to bowl himself into the 1st test @ the Gabba during the next 4 days.

[CoverKing]

Harris is not playing this shield game mate

[lion heart]

Harris is not playing this shield game mate

Hmmmn did he pull up sore after 1st game back? I guess his chances of a 1st test gig would be pretty slim now. IMO is the best 'strike' bowler in Aus.

[CoverKing]

He pulled up a bit sore but CA made him rest, and Paine isn't in the squad either

[Stumps]

My team. In batting order

Jacques/Hughes I dont care which one
Katich
Watson
Clarke
Ponting
North
Haddin
McDonald
Johnson
Harris
Hilfenhaus

Im not trying to be silly dropping ponting down the order, dropping hussey, or playing ronald mcdonald (only in brisbane) instead of spinner. I reckon this is our best team for brisbane (as long as harris is fit, if not I would play Siddle (if he is fit )

[Footy Smart]

Cant believe people keep suggesting Jacques and Hughes..... They want consistancy yet they are the biggest hit and miss openers and have done sweet FA lately to warrant a call up!

ps Jacques will prob ton up now

[Stumps]

i agree he probably will thats why he should be in the team

[Senor Moto Gadili]

Aussie bats on fire in Shield cricket today

Watson 6
Katich 1
Ponting 7
Clarke injured
Hussey 0 (first ball)
North 17
Haddin 10

Lulling the poms into a false sense of security???

[CoverKing]

Aussie bats on fire in Shield cricket today

Watson 6
Katich 1
Ponting 7
Clarke injured
Hussey 0 (first ball)
North 17
Haddin 10

Lulling the poms into a false sense of security???

Hussey got an 18th ball quacka!