Be an armchair selector Part XVII

[Rik E Boy]

We've done this many times over the summer and it is as hard for us as it is for Hilditch and Merv. Blokes have retired and we've got others out hurt. We've seen some real clangers in the last six months but what CAN we do to at least maintain a reasonably high rating if we are no longer number one as most would now acknowledge that we are not.

REB's test XI

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
M Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
McGain
Clark

I believe we should try Mitchell Johnson at seven and play five genuine bowlers. Our 'all rounders' haven't been making runs so we don't lose too much with the batting side of things by playing Haddin at six. However, with five genuine bowlers our three hundred totals might actually start to get us somewhere. Perhaps the only genuine 'number six' option is the much maligned Shane Watson. Problem is, the poor bastard can't get on the field. McGain appears to be our best spinning option but he won't have an extended run at the top due to his age. We really need Krejza, the man who gets the most action on the ball to land the pill a bit more often. Others on the periphery include Shaun Marsh. I believe that Marsh has the game to be a decent test batsman. There is a lot of buzz about Hughes and he won't be far away. Rogers of the Bushrangers and Klinger are also knocking on the door. It isn't all doom and gloom in the batting department in test cricket. Our medium fast bowling stocks are OK as well. Siddle has his nose ahead of Hilfy and Bollinger but I reckon Tait should be for the scrapheap. With that horrible action and a litany of injuries, Tait will be relagated to the list of 'what if' cricketers.

REB's One Day Wonders

Katich
Marsh
Ponting
Clarke
Symonds
Paine
Hopes
Lee
Johnson
Hauritz
Bracken

The problem as I see it at the moment is that we have a teeball specialist opeining the innings and a middle order full of players who can't hit the ball off the square. Simon Katich of course was a frustrating failure (despite making runs) at the top of the order in the past but surely he gets a gig ahead of the inexperienced Warner when Katich is at his peak. Katich moves across the crease like a crab and is very difficult to bowl to. His strike rate has improved a lot as he has shown in test cricket. Katich can also bowl some handly little tweakers too. In the middle order we cannot afford to have all four of Hussey, Hussey, Hopes and White. Cameron White had an opportunity to prove himself as an international player yesterday on a great batting wicket and once again proved himself to be a solid Bushranger but that's it. A lot of eyebrows will be raised about my omission of Hussey. One of the reasons his running between the wickets has died in the arse is that he is no longer hitting the ball, and this is not just at one day level. He isn't half the batsman he was when he first burst onto the scene. I believe that M Hussey should be put in for tests only. When he starts hitting the ball again then put him in the one day side but until then it's Baggy Green only for Mr Cricket. Both of the Husseys are playing the same style of game. There is no variety in our approach and this makes it easy for good sides to counteract us. Roy and Pup are of course monties. We are missing Roy immensely and while Symonds is not convincing as a test player lately he should be playing in the next one dayer ahead of White. I also reckon it's time for Haddin to step aside in the one dayers. Let's see what Tim Paine can do. Haddin has been ordinary with the gloves and even worse with the bat in the one day series. He seems to be carrying baggage. Get the kid in as a preparation for his eventual elevation to test cricket. NO RONCHI PLEASE. With the bowling I'd be giving Hauritz and extended run in the team. He really is a one day specialist as has been proved by the Blues over the years. Bracken, Lee, Johnson are an experienced core and if Johnno has a bad one like yesterday there would be Hopes, Roy, Pup and the Kat to help out. Multiple bowling styles and options and some pretty good fielders in there to boot.

See I don't buy Tassies' 'can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear' comment in the Neilson thread. The talent is there but the coaching and selection has been poor at a time when we needed it to be at its absolute best with retirements and injuries shredding the team. There is NO crisis in Australian cricket, we have merely been beaten by a very strong team at the height of it's powers at a time when we were in a transitional phase. This is why players such as Lee, Clark, Symonds or even Punter shouldn't be shown the door too quickly. Now is the time for passing the baton on to the next generation of stars. The problem is that the 'interim' generation of White, Hilfanhaus, Tait, Haddin and to a lesser extent Watson might not get us anywhere. Perhaps a bit hard on Hilfy who could prove to be a good test bowler if given the opportunity. What also needs to be remembered about these changes is that they aren't permanent. But most would agree some changes need to be made. Shit, even Steve Waugh got dropped at one stage.

We will win the Ashes.

regards,

REB

[Hondo]

REB's test XI

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
M Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
McGain
Clark

That's very close to my team. However, I think that's too long a tail and if 4 specialist bowlers can't do the job, then a 5th probably won't be the difference. Plus as soon as you label someone like Johnson an all-rounder they inevitably put too much pressure on themselves at 7 and the runs dry up. Then their bowlling starts to suffer because they are spending too much time in the nets working on their batting. I think our strike bowlers have to focus on bowling with any runs being a bonus.

I understand the all-rounder policy especially these days when everyone's tail wags. I think we showed in Sydney that a 5th change bowler can be useful and lightens the load on the specialists. However, I feel the all-rounder has to be a batsman first. So as much as I have knocked him this year, a fully fit Symonds would replace Siddle in my best side.

I'd take Phil Hughes on tour.

REB's One Day Wonders

Katich
Marsh
Ponting
Clarke
Symonds
Paine
Hopes
Lee
Johnson
Hauritz
Bracken

I was actually thinking yesterday why are we deliberately leaving out experienced guys like Hodge or Katich while we throw Dave Warner to the wolves? So I actually agree with this side except:

- I'd stick with Haddin
- I'd look at Hodge or Katich. Or even give Mr Cricket a go at opening and get him and his brother out of the middle order.
- if Watto were fit I'd look at him instead of Johnson (not convinced on Mitch in ODI's). Otherwise Stuart Clark.

You're right - a fully fit squad would be far more competitive than we are at the moment. Which, apart from last night, is pretty competitive with RSA. It's not all doom & gloom.

[Footy Smart]

Test

Hughes - blood a youngster
Katich - deserves his spot
Ponting - needs to regain his touch of scoting big hundreds once set
Clarke - few injuries of late still a solid performer
M Hussey - need to find some form quickly
*(batsmen) - Klinger or North for me North adds some experience and a spin option. Klingers performance this year has be similar to katich last year 900 runs already
Haddin - glove work is sloppy at times and needs to apply himself more with the stick
Johnson - coming off a great series needs to continue his improvement
Lee - needs to find that zip and pace which made him feared by other teams
Hauritz - bowls some much needed maiden low run overs... could attack a bit more
Clarke - quality bolwer

One Day

Marsh
Klinger
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Hauritz
Bracken

[blink]

REB's test XI

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
M Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
McGain
Clark

This is pretty much the same team that I would like to see for the Ashes - but with Symonds (provided he is 100% fit, nothing less) replacing Siddle. Siddle and Hilfenhaus, I believe are the next two in line for Lee and Clark's spots and should be tour as bowling backups.

Let's see what Tim Paine can do. Haddin has been ordinary with the gloves and even worse with the bat in the one day series. He seems to be carrying baggage. Get the kid in as a preparation for his eventual elevation to test cricket. NO RONCHI PLEASE.

Agree 100% with this - and as mentioned by other posters numerous times: Gilchrist has always credited his extended run as ODI keeper as the reason why he took the step up to Test cricket so well, so why not give Paine the opportunity also. He is clearly the option for the future.

[Lightning McQueen]

I was impressed with Crossthwaite last season, has he dropped off a bit this season, I haven't taken enough notice.

[MatteeG]

Please please **** Hauritz off. Why is he in any side representing Australia? I turn a tennis ball off cement further than he spins em.

If we dont have a spinner with any quality, then simply dont play a spinner.

My Test 11

Jacques (Have Hughes on standby)
Kat
Ponting
M Hussey
Clarke
North (risk but now is the time to try this type of player)
Haddin (although the sooner we get a decent gloveman in the better)
Johnson
Lee (fully fit ONLY- Siddle until then)
Clark
Hilf

One Dayers

Marsh
Kat/Warner/Hughes (insert any of these 3 here)
Ponting
Clarke
D Hussey
Symonds
Hopes
Paine (nice choice REB- I reckon give this bloke a go!)
Lee
Bracken
Tait

[cyclops]

i dont care about the rest,but hughes and marsh should both be playing 50 over cricket and test cricket also.i think we all think that young warner can come in and just take over were gilly left off.it aint gonna happen,cmon selectors we gotta get hughes involved.

[Ned]

NED'S TEST TEAM

M.Hussey
S.Katich
R.Ponting
M.Clarke
B.Hodge
M.North
B.Haddin
M.Johnson
S.Clark
P.Siddle
S.Tait

12th J.Krezja

NEDS ONE DAY WONDERS

S.Marsh
B.Hodge
R.Ponting
M.Clarke
D.Hussey
C.White
B.Haddin
A.McDonald
B.Hillfenhaus
N.Bracken
S.Tait

12th D.Cullen

NED'S 20/20 Tee Ball Team

D.Warner
R.Quiney
R.Ponting
M.Clarke
C.White
T.Birt
D.Hussey
L.Ronchi
A.McDonald
N.Bracken
S.Tait

12th L.Carlsendine

[cyclops]

[quote="Ned"]NED'S TEST TEAM,50 overs,20/20

thank god youre not a selector

[Lightning McQueen]

Hey Ned, are you Dan Cullen?

[hearts on fire]

Test XI:

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Clarke
Hodge
Symonds
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
Clark

ODI XI:

Katich
Marsh
Ponting
Clarke
Symonds
Hodge
D.Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle

[Pag]

Test XI:
Katich
Jaques
Ponting
M. Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
McGain
Clark

Hughes, Siddle, Hodge to make up touring party.

ODI XI
Marsh
Katich/Jaques/Hughes (wouldn't care which, can make a case for all three)
Ponting
Clarke
M. Hussey
Symonds
Haddin
Hopes
Johnson
Bracken
Clark

[am Bays]

See I don't buy Tassies' 'can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear' comment in the Neilson thread. The talent is there but the coaching and selection has been poor at a time when we needed it to be at its absolute best with retirements and injuries shredding the team. There is NO crisis in Australian cricket, we have merely been beaten by a very strong team at the height of it's powers at a time when we were in a transitional phase. This is why players such as Lee, Clark, Symonds or even Punter shouldn't be shown the door too quickly. Now is the time for passing the baton on to the next generation of stars. The problem is that the 'interim' generation of White, Hilfanhaus, Tait, Haddin and to a lesser extent Watson might not get us anywhere. Perhaps a bit hard on Hilfy who could prove to be a good test bowler if given the opportunity. What also needs to be remembered about these changes is that they aren't permanent. But most would agree some changes need to be made. s***t, even Steve Waugh got dropped at one stage.

We will win the Ashes.

regards,

REB

My point is the Neilsen is coaching a side with out teh luxury of quality players Simpson (at the end of his Australian coaching wtenure), Marsh and Buchannen had. I don't believe we would be questioning his coaching ability if had access to Warne, McGrath, Langer, and Martyn and still had access to Gilchrist and Hayden.

I agree with you we need to give these new players: Jaques, Siddle, Johnson, Krejza, Hughes (when picked) Hilfenhaus and others when given teh opportunity to develop into quality cricketers. Crikey it took Simpson 3 years to get the side to gel into the ASHES winning juggarnaut.

I also agree with you that we are up againt a very good team that is playing very good cricket a la like we used too. The Jarpies are playing pressure orientated cricket that exposes any technical and mental flaws in their opponents games - hence we lesser players than what we are used to picking they are being found out. the solution more time learning their games at teh top level.

With that in mind I believe our best team for the forthcoming ASHES and Seth Efrican series is:

Jaques
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Hodge
Haddin
Lee
Johnson
Krejza
Clarke

Siddle

Fringe players: North, D Hussey, Hughes, Hilfenhaus.


.

[Booney]

Klinger cant get a gig?

[cyclops]

test 11

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Marsh
Symonds
Haddin
Johnson
Mcgain
Clarke
Hilfenhouse

[Push in the Back]

Test X1

1.Katfish
2.Quiney
3.Punter
4.Birt
5.Pup Clarke
6.D Huss
7.Hadds
8.Krazy
9.Mitch
10.Cameron
11.Swan/Magoofy

Kat blocks, Quiney belts them, Punter, Birt - better than records suggest, Pup, D Huss - will score many slotted in at 6, Hadds - best option clearly, Krazy - let the bloke settle, Mitch - need a left armer and he is miles advanced to Doug Yeah Yeah, Cameron - angry bugga, Swan Lager/Magoofy - one of, both tall and get ball to jag around.

[Rik E Boy]

Test X1

1.Katfish
2.Quiney
3.Punter
4.Birt
5.Pup Clarke
6.D Huss
7.Hadds
8.Krazy
9.Mitch
10.Cameron
11.Swan/Magoofy

Kat blocks, Quiney belts them, Punter, Birt - better than records suggest, Pup, D Huss - will score many slotted in at 6, Hadds - best option clearly, Krazy - let the bloke settle, Mitch - need a left armer and he is miles advanced to Doug Yeah Yeah, Cameron - angry bugga, Swan Lager/Magoofy - one of, both tall and get ball to jag around.

Crap attack.

regards,

REB

[Killa]

Test
Jaques
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
M. Hussey
Marsh (blood for number 3 or spot later on in career)
Hadden
Johnson
McGain
Siddle
Hilf

Touring party: Bollinger, McDonald, Holland, Hughes (Can be used as keeper)

ODI
Warner
Marsh
Ponting
Clarke
Symonds
Hughes
M.Hussey
Hopes
Johnson
Bracken
Clark
Cullen (Great one day bowler and T20 as well)

Touring Party: White, D.Hussey, Hadden, Siddle

T20
Warner
Marsh
Ponting
Clarke
D.Hussey
Symonds
M.Hussey
Hadden
Johnson
Bracken
Hilf
Cullen

Touring Party: Moses, Clark, Hopes, White

I wouldn't play clark in tests straight up because it is too soon and need to built up on fitness if he is heading to the ashes.

[brod]

TEST XI

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
M Hussey
Clarke
Marsh
Paine
Johnson
Lee
Clark
McGain

ODI XI

Katich
Marsh
Ponting
Clarke
D Hussey
Symonds
Paine
Lee
Johnson
Hauritz
Bracken

[Aerie]

Test XI for Sth Af

S. Katich
P. Hughes
R. Ponting
M. Clarke
M. Hussey
B. Haddin
R. Harris
M. Johnson
P. Siddle
B. McGain
B. Hilfenhaus

ODI XI

S. Marsh
D. Warner
R. Ponting
M. Clarke
M. Hussey
B. Haddin
R. Harris
M. Johnson
N. Bracken
D. Cullen
S. Tait