AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL PREVIEW /GOSSIP 2008/2009

[mal]

Cant remember a season of ifs and buts since the Packer revolution last century
Australia has been a settled potent team for close to 20 years
This season from start to finish might have some intruiging changes to the team

MY TEST TEAM and comments

HAYDEN...........reports suggest his leg injury will be OK but 36 years old now
KATICH............did enough in the WI to replace what would be an unlucky JAQUES
PONTING..........reports suggest the skipper has recovered from the wrist injury
CLARKE
M HUSSEY
WATSON..........sorry lads but if ROY is unavaible WATTO will be in until injured
HADDIN
LEE.................Bad timing being heartbroken as is in sensational form last season, this year?
CASSON..........spinner by default
CLARK

The squad will be named this weekend I believe
THE REST OF THE SQUAD[dunno how many are touring]

JAQUES
BRACKEN
RONCHI
D HUSSEY
*********************ROY********* AU need him plays spin well and bowls good spin

INDIA TEST SERIES
________________

I think INdia will win the series easily
AU has no spinners CASSON is a part timer for NSW + CLARKE a part timer with a bad back?
KUMBLE/SINGH/KARTIK are far superior spinners
PONTING/M HUSSEY/WATSON will struggle v spinners
HAYDEN too old now ?
JACQUES/KATICH not stars v spin
CLARK will make the most runs for AU in my opinion if Matt the Bat struggles

4 tests in 32 days oooouch

INDIA 3-0

[Mythical Creature]

I think it will be extremely difficult for the Aussies to win with only ten players in their test side

[mal]

I think it will be extremely difficult for the Aussies to win with only ten players in their test side

Yeah Mitchell JOHNSON is ....

[Benchwarmer]

Still ten if Watto is in there ... will need a conveyor belt to take him out to the crease so he doesn't do a Watto-string on the walk there!

[blink]

CLARK will make the most runs for AU in my opinion if Matt the Bat struggles

Gee Mal, I hope you mean M. Clarke! As good a number 11 as Stuey Clark is, I hope he isn't carrying the batting hopes on his shoulders...

Will be an interesting series. I wonder if Ponting's woes against Harbajahan will continue in India - chances are they might.

[mal]

CLARK will make the most runs for AU in my opinion if Matt the Bat struggles

Gee Mal, I hope you mean M. Clarke! As good a number 11 as Stuey Clark is, I hope he isn't carrying the batting hopes on his shoulders...

Will be an interesting series. I wonder if Ponting's woes against Harbajahan will continue in India - chances are they might.

CLARK most runs
BEST JOKES
RATING 8-3

[Dogwatcher]

WATSON..........sorry lads but if ROY is unavaible WATTO will be in until injured

So who'll be in the for the second test Mal?

[mal]

After the AU V NZ O/D game late Febuary 2009
Do the International players go on tour anywhere ?
Or can the International players play in the SS final if required ?


DOGWATCHER
RATING 8-4 ...

[Dogwatcher]

Mal, you'd better explain to me how your joke rating system works mate

[Rik E Boy]

Australia's dominant reign at the top of world cricket is starting to come to an end. I agree with mally that we would be hard pressed to knock off the Indians over there. Better teams than the one we will send over there have tried and failed.

We'll win the home series and then lose the Ashes in 2009, but only if England's attack is sound. If they don't have Flintoff I don't reckon they can win it.

regards,

REB

[blink]

Your forecast for the Aussie team is certainly bucketloads of doom and gloom REB...

Anyway, the Test squad for India was announced this arvo - a few suprises in there too:

Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Bryce McGain, Stuart Clark, Doug Bollinger.

[blink]

For the record, I believe only four players from that squad have ever played a Test in India.
Ponting, Hayden, Clarke and REB's mate Simmo the Kat.

[Dogwatcher]

Well, I think we can write this series off.

Interesting, no Casson...

[blink]

Well, I think we can write this series off.

Interesting, no Casson...

I thought the same. Maybe the selectors are leaning towards playing Katich in Symonds' role as the spinning all-rounder? Katich's left arm leggies are fairly useful.

[Rik E Boy]

Your forecast for the Aussie team is certainly bucketloads of doom and gloom REB...

Anyway, the Test squad for India was announced this arvo - a few suprises in there too:

Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Bryce McGain, Stuart Clark, Doug Bollinger.

I just think we are starting to come to an end of an era, Bill. We'll still be hard to beat at home but away from home we won't be anywhere near as damaging. The loss of McGrath, Gilchrist and Warne will be huge. I hope I'm wrong but this squad has a Brisbane Lions look about it.

regards,

REB

[blink]

I just think we are starting to come to an end of an era, Bill. We'll still be hard to beat at home but away from home we won't be anywhere near as damaging.

You're definitely right that an era has ended, but I like to think that this country has an amazing depth of cricket talent just waiting to step up and prove themselves.
Hopefully the new guys like Dougie B, Krezja, Siddle, McGain (old though) and Casson can come on strong and develop quickly. Whilst other players that have been around a little while now Jaques, Katich, Haddin and Johnson need to lift from quality players to match winners.

[NFC]

McGain, at 36, our spinner.

Krejza. Know nothing about Siddle but gee he has an impressive record and is only 23, so I'm fine with this move.

But Bollinger over Hilfenhaus? Okay the Hilf had a shocking season, and the Indian pitches won't help him, but Bollinger won't play so I'd rather give the experience to the Hilf who will be a much superior bowler and has a chance of making it at international level.

No David Hussey? No Shaun Marsh, that's the only I'm really angry about.

WATTO!

[Rik E Boy]

Watto on a tour of India. The guy will probably break down getting off the plane. You've got to be tough over there but Watto is about as durable as Nathan Buckley's hamstrings. I have no problem with McGain, he can turn the ball and is just the type of player we need over there. We don't have Warnie and Magilla any more and the young uns don't appear to be too scary. Krejza is the surprise for me...not many blokes LEAVE NSW and get a gig.

Someone's not reading the script!

regards,

REB

[rod_rooster]

not many blokes LEAVE NSW and get a gig.

Someone's not reading the script!

regards,

REB

Chap by the name of Gilchrist went alright Oh yeah i thought that Border fella did alright back in the day as well

[mal]

Well, I think we can write this series off.

Interesting, no Casson...

CASSON was injured in an Australia A tour of India ?