YOUR 1ST TEST TEAM AT GABBA

[daysofourlives]

I think changes need to be made now not when we are 2-0 down in the ashes

1. Katich
2. Watson
3. North
4. Ponting
5, Kuwja (spelling??)
6. Ferguson
7. Paine
8. O'Keefe
9. Siddle
10. Bollinger
11. Hilfenhaus

12th. S. Smith

Imo Paine has grabbed his chance and Haddin will have to bide his time
Selectors will pick North so put him in a position where he is comfortable
Clarke will be back but needs to re-evaluate where he's at
Hussey- finished
Hauritz- finished, will not get a game for NSW
O'Keefe wild card, dont think smith is ready as a spinner but is in the mix as a batsman

Johnson- go back to perth and learn how to bowl. The test team is not where you should be learning to bowl. I think most posters on here would have played with a bowler that you have no idea what you are going to get. Its not so bad at our level with 5,6, and even 7 bowlers in a side and its only for one day. The test side has just 4 bowlers and if one is off like MJ is fairly reguarly you have 2 possibly 3 days in the field to get through with 3 bowlers and part timers

Get khuwaja and ferg in, they cant do any worse, may as well have the inconsistency of youth rather than that of the older guys.

We have just lost 3 tests in a row for the 1st time since 1988, the alarm bells should be ringing

[Jim05]

Yep agree changes need to be made
My team
Watson
Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Khawaja
North
Paine
Smith
Johnson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

[Motorboat]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Ferguson
Mcdonald
Paine
Smith
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

[The Cadet]

Katich
Watson
North
Kawaja
Ponting
Haddin
McDonald
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

12th A. O'Brien

[Jim05]

I bet the spineless selectors make only 1 or 2 changes. They will swap haddin and paine and probably look at siddle. They wont drop hauritz until 2nd or 3rd test.

[NFC]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Ferguson
Mcdonald
Paine
Smith
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS?!?

[The Cadet]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Ferguson
Mcdonald
Paine
Smith
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS?!?

Why not, been in good form with the bat. Instead 0f spinner. At Least you know McDonald will hold up an end with the ball, bowl stump to stump, keep it tight and take the odd wicket. Worked when we beat SAF.

[bloods08]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
North
Khawaja
Paine
Smith
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

12th: Siddle/Ferguson

[Pidge]

What i'd like to see

Watson (Not a fan though)
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
North
Khawaja
Paine
McDonald
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger
George

What will happen

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin / Paine
Hauritz
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

[Groover]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Paine
Doherty - Im probably his only fan, kid can bowl.
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

[Pidge]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Ferguson
Mcdonald
Paine
Smith
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS?!?

Do you want England to win the Ashes NFC?

[Media Park]

S. Watson
S. Katich
M. Clarke (captain)
C. Ferguson
U. Khawaja
A. McDonald
T. Paine (wicketkeeper)
S. Smith
M. Johnson
P. Siddle
D. Bollinger

Picking McDonald also on the basis of the all-round ability- and the fact that he's a ranga. Nah, he can bat between the top 4-9 possies, more than handy with the ball, and has that ability to accumulate runs slowly (his partnerships in Saffie), blast off into orbit (last SS game), and also bat with the tail.

Ferguson- Kid is just a gun. And when you take out that core of Punter, Hussey, and North in the middle, you gotta replace them with someone right? I think Ferg, and the next kid, are the best two pure batting options in Aus at the moment, so they take the middle order roles.

Khawaja- Well we all knew this guy had skills, a decent average, and a bucketload of potential. Now he's got a double undred against his name, is undoubtedly in the form of his life, and the message is simple- BRING HIM IN.

Smith= Easy selection. As I have said on other forums, outside of Asia, our spinners, post-Warne and MacGill, have been bit part players, who bowl a few overs before lunch, in the middle of a long partnership, and at the end of days, when it is to dull for the speedier ones. So... We know AU selectors will pick a slow guy, may as well pick one that can bat.

Siddle- I rate Siddle, I don't rate Hilf, so a straight swap there, assuming Bolly is fit. Siddle will go all day if need be, and although I searched the stats and was proven wrong by myself, I still think Sids is the best option.

So a bowling line-up consists of:
Siddle/Bollinger (new ball)
MJ/McDonald (first change)
Watto (medium pace second change)
Smith/Kat/Pup (spinners).

Regards,
MP

[whufc]

1. Katich
2. Hughes
3. Watson
4. Ponting
5. Hussey
6. North (personally i would go Khajawa but he did hit a 100 last start so will be selected)
7. Paine
8. Smith
9. Johnson
10 Hilfenhaus
11 Siddle

[Media Park]

personally i would go* Khajawa

Sorry WHUFC, I had to... I really did.

[Rik E Boy]

1. Katich (C)
2. Hughes
3. Watson
4. Ponting
5, Khawaja
6. White
7. Paine
8. Smith
9. Johnson
10. Bollinger
11. Hilfenhaus

12th George

1. More attacking batsmen please. Younger players aren't scarred by the rash of defeats and play their naturual game. It's all dried up for Clarke and Hussey and North's ton has wallpapered the cracks over a bloke who doesn't present the full face of the bat often enough.

2. Welcome back Hughesy. Time to bring back two regular openers. Watson has done a fine job but the problem is the middle order. A traditional remedy for a wonky middle order is to play three openers. Another traditional approach is to have the most attacking and best batsman bat at three. At the moment both of those batsmen are Shane Watson.

3. The attack. Hilf, Bollinger and Johnson must all play in Brisbane. It will be like a paradise after the roads served up in India. While the Gabba is a good batting wicket at least there is some bounce for the faster bowlers to take advantage of. I'd take George along for the ride to show him not all Test tracks will break his back and not all test batsman are as good as SRT.

4. In a spin! We've tried a lot and gained little. The problem is that Ponting doesn't and hasn't rated any of the spinners. He is expecting another Warne which simply will not happen, at least in my lifetime. Therefore he has to BACK whatever bowler he goes with. In my book Smith deserves his shot. He will only get better the more he is bowled. I'd like to see Katich get the gig as Captain but what we will see in the Gabba will not be my line up but the safety first Ashes losing comibination we will end up with. At one stage Warnie had a test career of 1-300 odd. Border backed him and he took off. Smith won't do exactly that but the lesson is there to be heeded by anyone who cares to look.

5. You'll keep. Paine as yet is not as good a keeper and batsman as Haddin but I believe Paine should continue with is test career and Haddin should not be rushed back in Geelong style. We should do it Collingwood style and make Haddin earn his spot back if good enough. Same goes for blokes like Clarke and Hussey who are dying on the vine with their gold pass.


regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

What we will see

KATICH
WATSON
PONTING
CLARKE
HUSSEY
NORTH
PAINE
SMITH
JOHNSON
HILF
BOLLINGER

12th LOCAL QLD KID TO MIX THE DRINKS

The only postive I see is they'll bite the bullet on a shattered Hauritz and they'll retain Paine. The selectors have no balls though so Clarke and Hussey will remain in the side even though they can't hit the ball anymore. Captain clueless will retain the coin tossing duties and will continue to bat at three. North has saved his arse once again so don't expect a score from him until the Ashes have been retained by England.

We will not regain the Ashes with this team and as Captain Ricky will once again be in the history books for all the wrong reasons. I am amazed he is not more popular in England.

regards,

REB

[rod_rooster]

Have to love the fact that A. O'Brien has been mentioned in this thread. Admittedly only as a 12th man but still comedy gold

[Booney]

Time is right to install Paine as our resident gloveman. Haddin can be gifted no more matches, Paine is the man.

Hussey and North must go. Ferguson and Khawaja must be given the summer to get in the swing.

I cant see now as being the time to break Watson and Katich up at the top of the order though, they are our only stable in form batsmen and must remain as is.

Ferguson at 4 and Clark at 5 too.

[mal]

The spin options will be ????
Theres no doubt Hauritz will start in Brisbane
These are my projections

2010-2011 HAURITZ
2010-2011 SMITH if Horrie is unsuccessful
2011-2012 S.OBRIEN if Smith is unsuccessful

[mal]

1. Katich
2. Hughes
3. Watson
4. Ponting
5. Hussey
6. North (personally i would go Khajawa but he did hit a 100 last start so will be selected)
7. Paine
8. Smith
9. Johnson
10 Hilfenhaus
11 Siddle

Your kidding me
Smith batting at 8
He makes a half ton for SA and you want him in the National team