5th Ashes test at the SCG - 3rd to 7th Jan 2011

[Rik E Boy]

My dear NFC. In case you haven't noticed the Englishman have been scoring a rather lot of runs lately. We just can't seem to get that Cook fellow out and even though captain Andrew Struass and Kevin Pieterson aren't in the best of form they've still managed to take us for runs galore. Then there is this Trott fellow who now has a test average of 64 and who has scored three centuries against us in five test matches.

In these troubled times I cannot thank you enough for the genuine belly laughs your proposed test side for Sydney has given me. Pattinson has take a whole 12 first class wickets. Smith has looked even more out of his depth in the Test arena with the ball than he has done with the bat. Johnson has played one good test in the last two years and Siddle has busted his arse all summer so let's make him carry what would be the weakest attack Australia has ever taken into a test all by himself. Poor old Watto has to open the batting and gets so tired from running everyone out how can he assist Siddle on his lonely pursuit.

Your levity inspired my brevity and if you want some constructive criticism I can only politely say try again. You haven't picked a good enough attack.

regards,

REB

[whufc]

My dear NFC. In case you haven't noticed the Englishman have been scoring a rather lot of runs lately. We just can't seem to get that Cook fellow out and even though captain Andrew Struass and Kevin Pieterson aren't in the best of form they've still managed to take us for runs galore. Then there is this Trott fellow who now has a test average of 64 and who has scored three centuries against us in five test matches.

In these troubled times I cannot thank you enough for the genuine belly laughs your proposed test side for Sydney has given me. Pattinson has take a whole 12 first class wickets. Smith has looked even more out of his depth in the Test arena with the ball than he has done with the bat. Johnson has played one good test in the last two years and Siddle has busted his arse all summer so let's make him carry what would be the weakest attack Australia has ever taken into a test all by himself. Poor old Watto has to open the batting and gets so tired from running everyone out how can he assist Siddle on his lonely pursuit.

Your levity inspired my brevity and if you want some constructive criticism I can only politely say try again. You haven't picked a good enough attack.

regards,

REB

unfortunatly though Australian cricket is in a period where we are going to experince some short term pain.

part of this will include playing younger blokes who may not be ready just yet but will be essential parts of the side for the next 5-10 years.

we can not afford to make the same mistakes as in the past and just keep recycling players who are on the wrong side of 30 even if they are in our best 11 right now.

if we dont learn anything from the last two dominant eras in cricket the windies and then us we will be in a position similar to what the windies are now.

we cant just continue to pick our current best 11 because they are not up to standard we need to pick sides with an eye to what will be our best 11 for the 2013 ashes.

[mal]

Heez also too old now
But those consitent scores the Kat made the last 2 years were sorely missed since his injury in Adelaide
I know Watto and the Kat dont make enough tons
But those Watto/Kat opening partnerships , consistently saw off the new ball

I really hope Hughes makes the grade
I spruiked him to make the Test team, but I really have been disappointed with his career since his amazing start to it

[David Brent]

Watson
Hughes
Khwajhia
Ponting
Hussey
Ferguson
Haddin
Hauritz
Johnson
Siddle
Bollinger

12th Hilfy

[piccachu]

Kat (if fit must play, most consistant batsman in oz)
Hughes (persist with him, will be a great oppener and looked good before watto ran him out)
Ponting (farewell test and will make a big score)
Watto (best bat in the side ATM to take punters spot at 3 after the test)
Hussey (rock in the middle order, bate well with tail)
Haddin (seems to bat well with Huss)
smith (getting himself start, back him to do more with the ball on a turning SCG
Okeefe (play the 2 spinner SCG is known to turn and with only ordinary quicks available why not try something)
Johno (X factor need him in there)
Siddle (Work Horse)

i understand were very ligh on with quicks in this side but may aswell try something not to many quicks have put there hand up to say i deserve the vacant position left by Harris injury

[Jim05]

Okeefe a must for smith. Smiths bowling is rank and he is not good enough to be a batsman. Swap harris with copeland, bring in khawaja for ponting and maddinson for hughes. That allows kat to come in at 3
Watson - aus best opener. Doesnt go on but at least he gets to 50
Maddinson - we need to blood new opener
Katich - the rock, good solid adds the brains
Khawaja - the next run machine and future skipper
Hussey - solid run maker, interim captain
Ferguson - good runscorer brings good enthusiasm
Haddin - second best keeper/bat in aus history
Okeefe - best spinner in aus by a bit
Johnson - needs more work but we know what he can do
Siddle - first picked bowler, lionheart
Copeland - great raw talent
12th smith - depending on wicket could swap with ferg

[Media Park]

Katich (if fit)/Maddinson otherwise
Watto
Khawaja
Clarke (last roll of the dice)
M Hussey
Haddin
Steve Smith
O'Keefe
Johnson
Siddle
Copeland

Two spinners a given, and we're only going in with 1 and a half carrying Steve Smith.

O'Keefe is raw and deserves a chance...

[Jim05]

Great minds think alike hey MP
Ive omitted clarke because i dont thin he is still at full fitness. When fit i would have him.
We need to get guys like maddinson, okeefe and copeland in the system asap, play them on their home ground.
Ponting has had his farewell test or 4. Wont be with us next series and even he has said he has doubts about playing on. Thanks for the memories, i want to remember him as one of our best ever not some guy who could hardly make double figures in his last year

[westozfalcon]

Hopefeully Katich will be fit to resume as Hughes' crooked technique and poor judgement is continually being exposed at Test level.

By and large, most of Australia's top order batsmen have been dismissed by good balls this series but not Hughes. He's simply played poor shots for cheap first innings dismissals. At the WACA he was bowled, playing across the line to a ball from Tremlett doing nothing but going straight on, then in Melbourne he made a flat-footed swipe to edge Bresnan to gully.

He played a similar cringeworthy shot in the Test against Pakistan at the SCG in January so he's not learning from his mistakes either.

[NFC]

My dear NFC. In case you haven't noticed the Englishman have been scoring a rather lot of runs lately. We just can't seem to get that Cook fellow out and even though captain Andrew Struass and Kevin Pieterson aren't in the best of form they've still managed to take us for runs galore. Then there is this Trott fellow who now has a test average of 64 and who has scored three centuries against us in five test matches.

In these troubled times I cannot thank you enough for the genuine belly laughs your proposed test side for Sydney has given me. Pattinson has take a whole 12 first class wickets. Smith has looked even more out of his depth in the Test arena with the ball than he has done with the bat. Johnson has played one good test in the last two years and Siddle has busted his arse all summer so let's make him carry what would be the weakest attack Australia has ever taken into a test all by himself. Poor old Watto has to open the batting and gets so tired from running everyone out how can he assist Siddle on his lonely pursuit.

Your levity inspired my brevity and if you want some constructive criticism I can only politely say try again. You haven't picked a good enough attack.

regards,

REB

unfortunatly though Australian cricket is in a period where we are going to experince some short term pain.

part of this will include playing younger blokes who may not be ready just yet but will be essential parts of the side for the next 5-10 years.

we can not afford to make the same mistakes as in the past and just keep recycling players who are on the wrong side of 30 even if they are in our best 11 right now.

if we dont learn anything from the last two dominant eras in cricket the windies and then us we will be in a position similar to what the windies are now.

we cant just continue to pick our current best 11 because they are not up to standard we need to pick sides with an eye to what will be our best 11 for the 2013 ashes.

And about not picking a good enough attack, Hilf being replaced by Pattinson would make a negative difference? The Hilf's gigantic 4 wickets in 3 tests sure would be missed!

[NFC]

Hopefeully Katich will be fit to resume as Hughes' crooked technique and poor judgement is continually being exposed at Test level.

By and large, most of Australia's top order batsmen have been dismissed by good balls this series but not Hughes. He's simply played poor shots for cheap first innings dismissals. At the WACA he was bowled, playing across the line to a ball from Tremlett doing nothing but going straight on, then in Melbourne he made a flat-footed swipe to edge Bresnan to gully.

He played a similar cringeworthy shot in the Test against Pakistan at the SCG in January so he's not learning from his mistakes either.

Katich shouldn't be brought back in, but they insist that he comes back, it should be for a farewell game.

Time to move forward.

[Killa]

Warne pushing for Dan Christian, Khawaja and Beer for next test in melbourne interview.

[cripple]

There seems to be a lot of parrots on here repeating what other people before them are saying. The problem in my eyes at the moment is that a lot of us see a player have one good performance or hear his name on the news and all of a sudden think that they should be put in the team e.g. o'keeffe, maddinson, pattinson etc... These guys are not up to it yet, will get smashed and risk the possibility of never recovering ala Mcgain in SAF. I dont propose to have any sort of squad for the next test match but matchwinners in their own right such as Dan Christian, George Bailey, Cossie would be a better bet then the young potential stars who aren't yet ready.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Cossie would be a better bet then the young potential stars who aren't yet ready.

No .... he wouldn't. He has a much chance being selected as I have winning Lotto.

[cripple]

Cossie would be a better bet then the young potential stars who aren't yet ready.

No .... he wouldn't. He has a much chance being selected as I have winning Lotto.

Just put his name in there as a potential match winner against an english attack. Understands his game better then the alternatives proposed IMO and would perform better agianst the current english attack then many of the others mentioned after a successful stint for Glamorgan. I could have jumped on here and said put khawaja, maddinson, fergie etc... in but why not try something different.

[stan]

If katich does come back for this test, then, In my opinion, Clarke should be out. He needs to find some runs in shield cricket. Hughes was starting to look good yesterday before that fricken disaster.
If we are going to persist with smith then needs to bat at 7. Haddin at 6. Smith is not a number 6, but at 7 or 8 he would look alright.
Im not sure where watto should bat, but he keeps making runs at the top. He seems to find ways to get him self out.

At this stage, I would go with:
1. Watson
2. Hughes
3. Hussey - Failed in melbourne twice, however he has the best technique at the moment.
4. Khwahja - Time for a run. Probably worth him and pointing being swapped around.
5. Ponting - I think hes past it. But what about trying him down the order?
6. Haddin
7. Smith
8. Hauritz - Has earned his re-selection in my opinion
9. Johnson
10. Siddle
11. Hilf - Needs some top order wickets this time round.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Cossie would be a better bet then the young potential stars who aren't yet ready.

No .... he wouldn't. He has a much chance being selected as I have winning Lotto.

Just put his name in there as a potential match winner against an english attack. Understands his game better then the alternatives proposed IMO and would perform better agianst the current english attack then many of the others mentioned after a successful stint for Glamorgan. I could have jumped on here and said put khawaja, maddinson, fergie etc... in but why not try something different.

Cossie's too different, and I don't share your confidence he would be successful. He may have faced each bowler individually before, but never them all in the same attack. Cossie would fail miserably because of the lack of bad balls to hit.

[Jim05]

There seems to be a lot of parrots on here repeating what other people before them are saying. The problem in my eyes at the moment is that a lot of us see a player have one good performance or hear his name on the news and all of a sudden think that they should be put in the team e.g. o'keeffe, maddinson, pattinson etc... These guys are not up to it yet, will get smashed and risk the possibility of never recovering ala Mcgain in SAF. I dont propose to have any sort of squad for the next test match but matchwinners in their own right such as Dan Christian, George Bailey, Cossie would be a better bet then the young potential stars who aren't yet ready.

Mate im okeefes biggest fan. Been pumping him up before series began. Saw him live in his debut shield match and he is twice as good as any other spinner going around australia. He is a match winner and needs to play. Khawaja and copeland are the form players this year and should be next in line. As for maddinson i know its early but australia is really short of decent openers, bring him in he shows real potential and has a sound technique

[Dutchy]

Cant believe people want Katich back in, consider this -

> Last 10 innings average 23.1
> Hasnt scored over 100 in Australia since Brisbane 2008
> Doesnt bowl anymore
> Is a rising 36yo
> Injury prone

Now tell me why you would play him in a dead rubber in front of someone who is going to be around next year?

[westozfalcon]

Now tell me why you would play him in a dead rubber in front of someone who is going to be around next year?[/quote]

I assume you are referring to Phillip Hughes?

I'm not sure he will be around - in Test ranks at least - next year.

Katich is getting on in years obviously but he's miles ahead of Hughes in terms of concentration and the ability to protect his wicket.

Hughes plays cavalier strokes and throws his wicket away too often.