Team vs South Africa

[Jimmy]

Big calls on Johnson...Hughes looks like he is safe and Lyon to likely get more time to see how he goes in different conditions against a quality foe.

My team would be exactly as last test with Johnson out and Harris back in and siddle holding his spot.

Khawaja to be the next man in should injury or form pop up.

Maybe Paine to cover for haddin or even to replace him.....I think his time is close.

[Media Park]

1. Shane Watson (Because he's the Shane)
2. Phil Hughes (Good ton, but he can't have another 8-10 Tests before the next- needs a big series...)
3 & 4. Shaun Marsh and Ricky Ponting (not sure on which order)
5. Michael Clarke (Refer Phil Hughes)
6. Mike Hussey (Eat my slice of humble pie, he's like a fine wine at the moment...)
7. Brad Haddin (I'm calling last chance saloon, the tab is up, last series before we're in a world of (FTC) Paine...)
8. Andrew McDonald (No chance here, wishful thinking, it will always be Johnson)
9. Ryan Harris depending on his fitness, otherwise Peter Siddle
10. Nathan Lyon (did not star, but unless a major backflip happens on Hauritz, the Brewery is staying)
11. Trent Copeland (did not star, but did enough IMO to deserve an immediate second chance)

The bonus with our batting at the moment is that apart from Ponting, who had one Test, a flight halfway across the world and back, and then one Test as a fairly good excuse, the bats were in reasonable touch, and pick themselves.

[The Cadet]

Hughes
Marsh
Ponting
Clarke
Watson
Hussey
Wade
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Lyon

Subs
Beer
Pattionson
Usman

[Media Park]

Wade

I want whatever you're smoking...

[Jimmy]

On the faster decks of SA, could copeland be dropped...?

[Squids]

Steyn is going to eat us for breakfast.

[Lightning McQueen]

Big calls on Johnson...Hughes looks like he is safe and Lyon to likely get more time to see how he goes in different conditions against a quality foe.

My team would be exactly as last test with Johnson out and Harris back in and siddle holding his spot.

Khawaja to be the next man in should injury or form pop up.

Maybe Paine to cover for haddin or even to replace him.....I think his time is close.

I'd sooner have Dougie if Mitch gets dropped, Harris and Siddle are too similar to have them both in, need a left armer or some more variation.

[Footy Smart]

Wade

I want whatever you're smoking...

MP you had McDonald in your side..... I want what your smoking my friend

[David Brent]

Big calls on Johnson...Hughes looks like he is safe and Lyon to likely get more time to see how he goes in different conditions against a quality foe.

My team would be exactly as last test with Johnson out and Harris back in and siddle holding his spot.

Khawaja to be the next man in should injury or form pop up.

Maybe Paine to cover for haddin or even to replace him.....I think his time is close.

I'd sooner have Dougie if Mitch gets dropped, Harris and Siddle are too similar to have them both in, need a left armer or some more variation.

Never had a left armer when McGrath, Dizzy, Kasper, Lee & S Clark & co were going about their business & we seemed to cope just fine bowling out attacks.

[test]

Big calls on Johnson...Hughes looks like he is safe and Lyon to likely get more time to see how he goes in different conditions against a quality foe.

My team would be exactly as last test with Johnson out and Harris back in and siddle holding his spot.

Khawaja to be the next man in should injury or form pop up.

Maybe Paine to cover for haddin or even to replace him.....I think his time is close.

I'd sooner have Dougie if Mitch gets dropped, Harris and Siddle are too similar to have them both in, need a left armer or some more variation.

Never had a left armer when McGrath, Dizzy, Kasper, Lee & S Clark & co were going about their business & we seemed to cope just fine bowling out attacks.

Agreed it doesnt need to be a left armer as such, but I see LM's point, Harris and Siddle are both, 'workhorse' type bowlers, of which Harris is better when fit, would prefer to see some variation too.

[Media Park]

Wade

I want whatever you're smoking...

MP you had McDonald in your side..... I want what your smoking my friend

I also said it was wishful thinking....

[wycbloods]

On the faster decks of SA, could copeland be dropped...?

That is when he would be at his best i would think.

[Pottsy]

On the faster decks of SA, could copeland be dropped...?

That is when he would be at his best i would think.

Too right. No pace to him, bounce and subtle movement are his weapons.

[brod]

Wade

I want whatever you're smoking...

Wade will play for Australia in the T20I
Haddin just retired
Paine injured

[Rik E Boy]

Wade

I want whatever you're smoking...

Victorian Hooch! Paine over Wade and Haddin FFS. And piss of Johnson he is seriously 5hite, as is Hughes.

regards,

REB

[Jimmy]

Troy Cooley is now interim coach and said Johnson was consistent in SL

Johnson will need to fire in SA or it could be curtains

[Pat Malone]

In fairness to Hughes, he got a couple unlucky decisions or great balls to get rid of him in Sri Lanka and batted a treat in the second innings of the third under a fair amount of pressure. Much rathered he made runs in that innings that any other.

Felt Khuwaja was a bit unlucky, Marsh took his opportunity in the second test no doubt but thought if they were going to go with Khuwaja for the first test, let him see the series out at least. He is now reserve batsmen and Marsh will likely have a couple series to make the position his own, as he should now that he is preferred.

Haddin will get South Africa and the first home series this summer at least, even if his form doesnt improve. Paine is next in line and will need to prove his form and fitness after surgery in the 4 day comp to put the pressure on, much harder to make such a significant change when the captain and new coach are now selectors.

Mitch has the form in South Africa so gets the last bowlers spot, but needs to show something.

Watto, Hughes, Marsh, Punter, Clarke, Hussey, Haddin, Johnson, Harris, Lyon, Copeland.

[CENTURION]

In fairness to Hughes, he got a couple unlucky decisions or great balls to get rid of him in Sri Lanka and batted a treat in the second innings of the third under a fair amount of pressure. Much rathered he made runs in that innings that any other.

Felt Khuwaja was a bit unlucky, Marsh took his opportunity in the second test no doubt but thought if they were going to go with Khuwaja for the first test, let him see the series out at least. He is now reserve batsmen and Marsh will likely have a couple series to make the position his own, as he should now that he is preferred.

Haddin will get South Africa and the first home series this summer at least, even if his form doesnt improve. Paine is next in line and will need to prove his form and fitness after surgery in the 4 day comp to put the pressure on, much harder to make such a significant change when the captain and new coach are now selectors.

Mitch has the form in South Africa so gets the last bowlers spot, but needs to show something.

Watto, Hughes, Marsh, Punter, Clarke, Hussey, Haddin, Johnson, Harris, Lyon, Copeland.

bloody good batting side, crap bowling attack, not world standard. can't win if you can't get the opposition out.

[Jimmy]

In fairness to Hughes, he got a couple unlucky decisions or great balls to get rid of him in Sri Lanka and batted a treat in the second innings of the third under a fair amount of pressure. Much rathered he made runs in that innings that any other.

Felt Khuwaja was a bit unlucky, Marsh took his opportunity in the second test no doubt but thought if they were going to go with Khuwaja for the first test, let him see the series out at least. He is now reserve batsmen and Marsh will likely have a couple series to make the position his own, as he should now that he is preferred.

Haddin will get South Africa and the first home series this summer at least, even if his form doesnt improve. Paine is next in line and will need to prove his form and fitness after surgery in the 4 day comp to put the pressure on, much harder to make such a significant change when the captain and new coach are now selectors.

Mitch has the form in South Africa so gets the last bowlers spot, but needs to show something.

Watto, Hughes, Marsh, Punter, Clarke, Hussey, Haddin, Johnson, Harris, Lyon, Copeland.

bloody good batting side, crap bowling attack, not world standard. can't win if you can't get the opposition out.

I can just picture Harry doing all the hard yards and johnno struggling as usual. Copeland will need to be super accurate or they will tear him apart. Lyon....well, make or break to see if he is international standard.

[Goat Herder]

Fair call Pat, Hughes copped some cracking deliveries in the SL series that even Sobers in his prime would've had trouble fending away safely. Looked in reasonable touch without setting the world on fire, until the last Test & his ton. Agreed that he needs to consolidate his good form, and indeed his spot. He will play international Test cricket for a LONG time!

IMO, Copeland is still a bit of an unknown quantity. Personally, I think he is 10kmph too slow to do much damage, but time will tell I guess. Stuey Clark had a corker debut series over there in 2006, and is fairly similar to Copeland as a bowler, albeit a few kms quicker than the young fella.

Fully agree that Siddle & Harris can't play in the same side. And FWIW, McGrath, Gillespie, Kasprowicz & Lee were all different bowlers, with Gillespie more like Siddle & Harris nowadays, all being bang-it-into-the-pitch types.