Fight for SA tour spots

[Ned]

If fit i think Noffke is a huge chance to tour SA and England. He can bat at 7 and let Haddin bat at 6 and Johnson can stay at 8. He is much more than a part time bowler as well which as others have stated we need to be able to apply more pressure when the front line bowlers are on. The selectors will be watching McGain with great interest when he gets the chance to bowl to the redbacks, hopefully later today.

I agree Noffke to play as the all rounder at 7. McGain will need wickets in this game to be a good chance.

[Ned]

I know it's a long shot but looking towards the Ashes, If we are after a bloke who swings the ball more than any other Australian QLD'S Swan could be the man.

[Ned]

North is over rated.

You can also add A.Voges to the overated list.

[rod_rooster]

North is over rated.

Not sure i can disagree with that but he is better than Shaun Marsh.

[rod_rooster]

Needed 1 tall bouncy fast bowler who can open or bowl first change.
A bowler who might be able to keep up the pressure from overs 40-90 where we have let South Africa and India off the hook in our beaten series

Needed a leg spinner not an off spinner, the proteas thrive on offies
A bowler who might be able to take wickets between overs 40-90 where we have let South Africa off the hook in the last test series

The spinner must be Mcgain

The tall bouncy quick bowler I will submit is Brett Dorey
I have mentioned before , its a pity he is 31 years old

20. 2 overs 6/28 versus Queensland

Rod Rooster can you please include the big fish please

Dorey has been tried at International level before and he has been exposed big time. He simply is not good enough to take the next step. Lacks a yard or two of pace IMHO.

[Ned]

As it stands:

Openers:
Jaques 9, 12
Hughes 151, 48*
Rogers 24, 93*
Klinger 48

Spinners:
Krezja 1/153 0/29
Hauritz 4/86
McGain 0/55

All rounder/Middle order:
Symonds 5, 3, 0/14
McDonald 6/58
North 0, 20
D.Hussey (ODI) 15
Marsh (ODI) 13
Noffke 41, 1/44, 0, 1/44


Fast Bowlers
Bollinger 3/61
Hillfenhaus ODI
Harris 4/60, 1/43
Bracken ODI
Tait ODI
Magoffin 2/50, 4/62
Siddle Injured ?
Dorey 6/28, 5/60

[Interceptor]

Thomo speaks his mind

Jeff Thomson blasts Australian fast bowling stocks

TEST pace legend Jeff Thomson has blasted Australia's bowling stocks, saying the South African Proteas will continue to feast on the attack.

With Ricky Ponting's pace options at crisis point following Stuart Clark's injury setback last Thursday, Thomson believes Australia will struggle to take the required 20 wickets to win a Test on the upcoming tour of South Africa.

The veteran of 51 Tests took particular aim at off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, tour hopeful Shaun Tait and spearhead Mitchell Johnson.

Australia head abroad in a fortnight confronting the grim reality not one of its frontline quicks – including Johnson, Peter Siddle and Doug Bollinger – has bowled a ball in Test cricket on South African soil.

Clark was the exception, having routed the Proteas with 20 wickets at 15.85 in his maiden Test series in 2006.

However his loss has left Australia's attack at the mercy of a South African side already buoyed by the absence of Brett Lee, who is recovering from stress fractures in his foot.

Thomson was dismayed by Australia's ability to take just two wickets in their crushing one-day loss last Monday and predicted more pain for Ponting's bowlers in South Africa.

"From what I saw of the Australian attack the other day, what they bowled was absolute crap. Every one of them was terrible," said Thomson, Dennis Lillee's partner-in-crime during a career that reaped 200 Test scalps at 28.01.

"I don't know where we go from here.

''We took two wickets.

''It looked like South Africa was playing a third grade club attack.

"I'm not the only one who thinks that.

''What I saw the other night was just gun-barrel bowling.

''There was no creativity.

''Nobody likes bowling on a flat wicket with no swing, but that wicket (in Adelaide) the other night showed how wanting our bowling attack is.

"You have to be able to perform when the wicket isn't doing too much and South Africa showed them up the other night.

"The South African wickets are very similar to here but they'd want to have something up their sleeve because at the moment how are they going to take 20 wickets to win a Test?

"We took two in 50 overs the other day so maybe if we bowl 250 overs we'll get 10 wickets."

National selectors are expected to take one spinner to South Africa but Thomson insists they must not pick Hauritz.

He also canned Tait's selection prospects and said Johnson was showing signs of burnout after a gruelling summer in which he carried Australia's Test attack.

"You can't pick Shaun Tait, seriously,'' Thomson said.

''He runs out of puff in a limited-over match.

''No way.

"They better not be taking that refugee from Queensland that plays in Sydney.

''Nathan Hauritz should be called Nathan Horror.

''Does he spin the ball?

''They have to take Jason Krejza – at least he turns the ball.

"Mitchell Johnson looks tired.

''He's bowling so round-arm at the moment you may as well call him Mitchell Malinga (a reference to Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga).

"Mind you, Ponting has given him a lot of bowling.

''He bowled his heart out in the Test matches and he shouldn't be a stock bowler."

Australia's coach Tim Nielsen defended his injury-ravaged attack.

"It's never easy when you lose guys like Brett (Lee) and Stuey (Clark) but I've got faith in the guys we've got," he said.

"Mitchell has come a long way in the past 12 months and Peter Siddle was magnificent in his last Test.

''This is an opportunity for guys to perform and I'm confident they will do that."

Thomson hopes selectors take Tasmanian quick Ben Hilfenhaus and Queensland's Ashley Noffke on tour.

"Hilfenhaus will go OK over there with his swing and if Ashley Noffke was 100 per cent fit, you could do worse than pick him."

from http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24990500-10389,00.html

[Hondo]

OK lets try to pick the Test squad we think will be named (not what we'd like):

S Katich
P Jaques
P Hughes
R Ponting
M Hussey
M Clarke
A MacDonald
---------------
B Haddin
---------------
P Siddle (if fit)
M Johnson
D Bollinger
B Hilfenhaus
N Hauritz
B McGain

Symonds can't possibly go surely, Krejza not enough wickets, MacDonald 6 wickets today, Hughes 151 last innings, Hauritz 4 wickets today.

If Siddle is unfit maybe Magoffin or Dorey are smokeys?

[Pidge]

OK lets try to pick the Test squad we think will be named (not what we'd like):

S Katich
P Jaques
P Hughes
R Ponting
M Hussey
M Clarke
A MacDonald
---------------
B Haddin
---------------
P Siddle (if fit)
M Johnson
D Bollinger
B Hilfenhaus
N Hauritz
B McGain

Symonds can't possibly go surely, Krejza not enough wickets, MacDonald 6 wickets today, Hughes 151 last innings, Hauritz 4 wickets today.

If Siddle is unfit maybe Magoffin or Dorey are smokeys?

I reckon that is the squad that they will take. Dorey has taken 11 wickets this match.

[CoverKing]

The selectors have been looking for a spinner with control and one that can take a wicket or two, Nathan Hauritz is the man. He has bowled well in the last 2 tests IMO and the head to head wth krejza in this game proves he is far superior IMO.
Hauritz 4/86 off 43 overs with 14 maidens
krejza 35 overs 1/153 and 4 maidens (1st dig)
9 overs 1/52 with 1 maiden (2nd dig)

I think Hauritz has guaranteed himself the spot on the tour, with the back up spinner maybe being McGain if they take two..

[Killa]

Phil Jaques fails again as Phil Hughes continues to set high standards

PHIL Jaques must rely on the long memories of national selectors to earn a trip to South Africa following a double failure against Tasmania in Newcastle. The NSW opener made a scratchy 12 on Sunday to go with his nine on Friday in his first Sheffield Shield match since back surgery. In his second dig Jaques was dropped on five and edged a ball through slips on seven before falling to veteran Tasmanian paceman Gerard Denton. Meanwhile his opening partner Phil Hughes (82no) continued mounting an irresistible case for Australia's three-Test tour of South Africa starting in Johannesburg on February 26. Hughes backed up his 151 in the first innings with another trouble-free knock to inch closer to the vacant Test opening spot. At stumps on day three, the Blues were 5-157, a lead of 350 runs, with a target expected to be set early on Monday. Australia captain Ricky Ponting's comments that the Test side needed experienced hands for the return series in South Africa bodes well for 11-Test player Jaques. The 29-year-old's fine record and the fact Australia are blooding so many youngsters should help his cause. But if selectors go purely on form, Hughes must pull on the baggy green later this month. The squad for South Africa will be picked following the current round of four-day fixtures. Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said his youth won't count against him. "I think if you are scoring runs around the country it helps your cause but (Hughes) seems to be able to do it under pressure,'' Hilditch said. "He scored a hundred in (last season's) Shield final which was a really good hundred. "He's an exciting young player but there's other good players and Phil Jaques obviously has the (Test) record on the board as well.''

[stan]

It will take some time for Jacques to find his feet after his injury. But anytime he can spend in the middle will be good for him. Eventually he will start to make runs again, but it might not be in time for the SAF tour, I hope it is as well need him.
Also you have to consider Phil Hughes, hes having a very good season and making plenty of runs. 151 and 82* not a bad return.

[wycbloods]

The selectors have been looking for a spinner with control and one that can take a wicket or two, Nathan Hauritz is the man. He has bowled well in the last 2 tests IMO and the head to head wth krejza in this game proves he is far superior IMO.
Hauritz 4/86 off 43 overs with 14 maidens
krejza 35 overs 1/153 and 4 maidens (1st dig)
9 overs 1/52 with 1 maiden (2nd dig)

I think Hauritz has guaranteed himself the spot on the tour, with the back up spinner maybe being McGain if they take two..

Agreed i think they should take McGain and Hauritz. Whilst i think Krejza will become the no 1 spinner for Australia he needs to improve his consistency before he plays for Australia again IMO. He constantly goes for 4-5 r.p.o in the state comp so until he can get that between 2.5-3.5 on a regular basis then he shouldn't play for Australia. He doesn't take enough wickets to go for 4-5 r.p.o.

[steakn]

What is wrong with taking Bracken?

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
? Noffke-Symonds-DHussey(although i'm not convinced from ODI form) McDonald? Who else?
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Bracken

12th Jaques(could he bat no.4 or something and shift the other boys down one?)

[Killa]

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Hughes (play him in this expirence for a while until get use of international cricket)
Hadden
Johnson
Siddle
McGain
Bollinger

12th McDonald
13th Hilfy
14th Hauritz