Your Ashes 2009 First XI

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Ok boys - with July 8th rapidly approaching and no more Tests scheduled for the Australian team, who do you think should be in the First XI for the First Test of the 2009 Ashes at Lords?

Here is my team (in batting order):

Phil Hughes
Simon Katich
Ricky Ponting
Mike Hussey
Michael Clarke
Marcus North
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Stuart Clark

Obviously the touring squad of 15 or 16 hasn't been picked yet, but this is who I would like to see wearing the Baggy Green on the morning (or evening, in Australia) of the 8th July @ Lords.

What do others think the team should be?

[shoe boy]

I would agree with that side.

[Tooting Bec]

big call having brett lee in there as well as big stuey clark.

For mine, put mcdonald and hilfenhaus in there instead. I think english conditions will suit those two players perfectly and they performed admirably in South Africa

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big call having brett lee in there as well as big stuey clark.

For mine, put mcdonald and hilfenhaus in there instead. I think english conditions will suit those two players perfectly and they performed admirably in South Africa

I agree with the Hilfenhaus call - he would be the first to come in should one of Johnson/Lee/Clark/Siddle go down injured.

However, McDonald is picked on his allround ability and I think North is the better fit in this case. McDonald was really only playing in South Africa because Lee and Clark weren't available. Obviously North's batting is far superior to McDonald and his tweakers give the bowling attack variety. North is also a gun fielder and as we saw in '05, a run out at an opportune time can turn a match on it's head (Ponting run out by Pratt when on 48 in 4th Test).

[heater31]

Obviously the touring squad of 15 or 16 hasn't been picked yet, but this is who I would like to see wearing the Baggy Green on the morning (or evening, in Australia) of the 8th July @ Lords.

not sure who they will be playing at Lords on the 8th of July as England will be in Cardiff wondering where the Aussies are

but the only question mark will be over Brett Lee if he has a terrible 20/20 tournament then his international days are numbered IMHO

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not sure who they will be playing at Lords on the 8th of July as England will be in Cardiff wondering where the Aussies are

Good point, slight oversight there - '05 series began at Lords!

[Tooting Bec]

Lee didn't do too well in his first hit out in IPL last night.

I think this will be the issue leading into the Ashes. Our batting seems pr4etty well picked with the selectors giving hussey more of an opportunity to get out of his form dip, but the bowling is our greatest concern with not having a world class spinner in the mix, and the possibility of going into an Important series with bowlers underdone.

How is S Clark going at the moment anyway? Is he fully recovered?

[Swamp Donkey]

Lee didn't do too well in his first hit out in IPL last night.

I think this will be the issue leading into the Ashes.

Did you really expect him to be at his best?? Its the toughest form of cricket to bowl in and Lee hasnt bowled in any form of cricket for 4-5 months! He'll come good and make a huge impact in England, personally I think Lee would be better left out of the 20/20 World Cup and should be playing County cricket in England to get some full days bowling to prepare for a 5 Test Ashes series, as winning the World 20/20 Cup is like winning the Wizard Cup, who really cares??

[tnt]

Doug Bollinger would get a gig in my team. Need a genuine swing bowler. Cost us in last ashes tour.

Who's got the television rights for the ashes this year. SBS again ?

[Pup]

Lee didn't do too well in his first hit out in IPL last night.

I think this will be the issue leading into the Ashes. Our batting seems pr4etty well picked with the selectors giving hussey more of an opportunity to get out of his form dip, but the bowling is our greatest concern with not having a world class spinner in the mix, and the possibility of going into an Important series with bowlers underdone.

How is S Clark going at the moment anyway? Is he fully recovered?

1/25 from 4 in 20/20 is hardly bad form.

He has just come back from injury and needs time to get back into his groove his real test is the lead up to the Ashes (Tour matches and Warm Up Games). I think he desereves his shot and is in our best XI.

[Pup]

Doug Bollinger would get a gig in my team. Need a genuine swing bowler. Cost us in last ashes tour.

Who's got the television rights for the ashes this year. SBS again ?

SBS.

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I was also interested to read that the referral system has been temporarily shelved* for the Ashes by the ICC. The system is still set to be rolled out permanently from October 2009.

Could this be pressure from the MCC onto the ICC to keep it out of the Ashes?

Maybe if this was being used in the 2005 series, Damien Martyn might still be playing today. He copped a couple of awful LBW decisions for memory...

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=813086

[Gozu]

Doug Bollinger would get a gig in my team. Need a genuine swing bowler. Cost us in last ashes tour.

Who's got the television rights for the ashes this year. SBS again ?

I think Fox Sports have the main coverage but it will also be on SBS.

[Tooting Bec]

I think Brett Lee's Average is hovering around the 40+ mark for the two series he's played in England. Not the best from your strike bowler. Saying that nearly saved us with the bat a couple of times.

[Pup]

Doug Bollinger would get a gig in my team. Need a genuine swing bowler. Cost us in last ashes tour.

Who's got the television rights for the ashes this year. SBS again ?

I think Fox Sports have the main coverage but it will also be on SBS.

Every ball in the Test and ODI's will be shown on SBS as well.

[Pup]

I think Brett Lee's Average is hovering around the 40+ mark for the two series he's played in England. Not the best from your strike bowler. Saying that nearly saved us with the bat a couple of times.

So he was not really that terrible in the IPL last night was he..,.

Yes but he was not the strike bowler in either of those tours was he. I agree his performance was less than satisfactory but IMO is in our best XI and should get a crack come day 1 of the 1st Test.

[The Jack]

Interesting to hear that the pitch in Cardiff could be a spinner's delight, if so I'd assume that Hauritz will be in the XI, possibly at the expense of S. Clark.

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Interesting to hear that the pitch in Cardiff could be a spinner's delight, if so I'd assume that Hauritz will be in the XI, possibly at the expense of S. Clark.

Is this pitch being doctored to compliment England's "gun" new spinner Graeme Swann? I actually rate Hauritz and Bear White as a better spinners than him...

[heater31]

Not sure as as the Dragons have already been docked points for next season's limited overs trophy

[Aerie]

Interesting that they've just gone with the 6 specialized batsman with a squad of 16. I wouldn't rate McDonald or Watson as good enough to be selected in their own right as a batsman and I'm not a big fan of Haddin being used in the top 6 neither. Also Hughes and North have only played a few Tests and Hussey's recent Test form has been questionable. I think Hodge, Symonds or Ferguson would have been a better selection for either McDonald or Watson.

I thought the three front line bowlers of Johnson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus served us very well in South Africa and I'd like to see them kept in the team for the First Test. That leaves one spot for one of Lee, Clark, McDonald or Hauritz. I'd pick Clark ahead of Lee, but would expect Lee to be around the mark should form or injury strike one of the other bowlers.

My First Test XI

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
North
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Clark
Hilfenhaus

Can't wait for the Ashes. Best sporting event in the world!