Your Ashes 2009 First XI

[GWW]

I hope Lee only gets selected for the first test if he's by far the in form fast bowler in the lead up games, with the most amount of wickets. Otherwise its the players from the South African tour (including Hilf, Siddle) who should be selected in the early tests.

[The Jack]

Judging on what I've seen lately in South Africa, admittedly only 4 overs at a time, Lee seems to have his mojo back. Hopefully his match fitness progresses to the point where he's capable of backing up day in, day out. But 4 or 5 over spells are his go anyway, he needs to be an impact bowler, the same as Mitch. And with Clark and the huge-hearted Siddle to provide the longer spells from the other end to those two, barring injury we should ducking flog em! Come on Aussie! I can't wait, less than 50 days til Cardiff now lads!

[cyclops]

1-hughes
2-katich
3-ponting
4-clarcke
5-hussey(massive series for this bloke)
6-north
7-watson(assuming he is 100% fit)
8-haddin
9-johnson
10-siddle
11-clark

[hearts on fire]

1. Hughes
2. Katich
3. Ponting
4. Clarke
5. Hussey
6. North
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Lee
10. Clark
11. Siddle

12. Hilfenhaus

[ORDoubleBlues]

Interesting to hear that the pitch in Cardiff could be a spinner's delight, if so I'd assume that Hauritz will be in the XI, possibly at the expense of S. Clark.

Krezja over Hauritz one would hope.

[the joker]

Interesting to hear that the pitch in Cardiff could be a spinner's delight, if so I'd assume that Hauritz will be in the XI, possibly at the expense of S. Clark.

Krezja over Hauritz one would hope.

Havent seen the squad??

[ORDoubleBlues]

Interesting to hear that the pitch in Cardiff could be a spinner's delight, if so I'd assume that Hauritz will be in the XI, possibly at the expense of S. Clark.

Krezja over Hauritz one would hope.

Havent seen the squad??

Genuinely thought he was in.
That's absolutely ridiculous IMHO. admit I wasn't over the moon about Krezja initially either but he did well in India where our spinners have traditionally struggled and to think someone who at best is a handy one day bowler is considered better......... Then again, I didn't think it was possible to get dropped after taking 12 wickets in a match either

[Grahaml]

Ok, my X1 would be

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hodge
Watson (if fit)
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Clark

Of course, Hodge aint there so wouldn't get picked.

I think Hussey has used his credits now and should show some form before getting picked. If he were to perform between now and then he'd be a big show to push his way back in.

I rate Watson as a batsman and if they can use him in the manner they used McDonald then they might get his batting with 10-15 steady tight bowling an innings to relieve our strike bowlers then that would be great. I can see Johnson, Siddle and Clark knocking sides over regularly if they're not worried about runs (Johnson and Siddle especially) so between Watson bowling 2-3 short, tight spells and Hauritz wheeling away from one end when the ball gets older there shouldn't be many runs flowing there.

Clark I think deserves his spot back. Is a better bowler than Lee, whose role has been taken up by Siddle. And sadly for Brett he's a bit predictable. Without swing (and he rarely seems to get any with the red ball these days) he's just cannon fodder.

Hilfenhaus would be brought in if he started to show signs of Terry Alderman in the earlier games. In fact I'd be picking him for every 20/20 and getting him to bowl 4 straight overs up front and ask him to swing it every ball. Because we don't have that many hit outs before the series starts we can't give all our bowlers a hit out unless we let Hughes play county games for his county and play with one less batsman or something. But we need to know if Hilfenhaus can swing the ball over there. But at the same time Clark, Hauritz, Johnson and Siddle need to get warm up games as well, along with our likely batting line up. "cheating" and getting Hughes a game with another side would allow us to open with a Watson or Haddin and play 5 bowlers.

[Real McCoy]

Hilfenhaus has to play, after watching the last Test ( Eng v WI ) and seeing the ball swinging the way it was and to me Lee & Siddle are pretty similar type bowlers, so for me one of these guys miss out.

And remember, swing bowling is what beat Aust last time in England.

[Rik E Boy]

Not one but TWO posters wanting Watson ahead of Lee. The only way I'd want Watson would be ahead of McDonald who is a plodder.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Hilfenhaus has to play, after watching the last Test ( Eng v WI ) and seeing the ball swinging the way it was and to me Lee & Siddle are pretty similar type bowlers, so for me one of these guys miss out.

And remember, swing bowling is what beat Aust last time in England.

What beat Australia last time was Simon Jones end of story. Every time the prick came on to bowl he'd have a wicket within a couple of overs. Freddie bowled well too but if he is the main man it doesn't sit well with him. Another thing that **** us up in 05 is we couldn't get early wickets. Mitchell Johnson will hopefully get the job done there. Still not sold on Hilfy at international level and Siddle can swing it but obviously not as much as the Hilfmeister. Lee at times doesn't give the ball a chance to swing so hopefully he's finally getting some brain because the brawn is on the wrong side of 30.....

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

Shit. How could I miss that gem. Yeah, let's bring in Nick Hodge when the ball is swinging. LMAO.

regards,

REB

[am Bays]

For mine you basically have to reward the blokes who saluted the judge on the Veldt.

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

It can be argued that it is a conservative side and blokes have been rewarded on their reputations. Any selection credits Lee and Hussey had are gone now if they get picked. Boys you have two tests to perform before Watson and Clark come in.

Siddle and Hilfenhaus should play. Siddle for his energy and hustle to get under batsmen's skins and I reckon Hilfenhaus with his swing at 140 km/h can do the job for us that Jones did for England in 2005.

I wouldn't pick a spinner instead relying on North and Clarke to do the overs part time. To win we need to pick our best bowlers to get 20 wickets and sorry I can't see Haurry in our best seven bowlers.

Whilst I think we will win, if we lose this series, however, I think it will be seyonara to Hussey and Lee and Punter will lose the captaincy especially if he doesn't have a productive series with the bat.

Potentially more change to come

[blink]

I have to admit, I am still not sold on Brett Lee coming into the side - maybe his performances in tour matches will help me decided.

However, I think that Stuart Clark definitely has to be included straight in the side. What Australia needs is a bowler who can put the ball on the spot, where it needs to be, over after over.

McGrath, before he went down with the ankle injury, was the best pace bowler from both sides in 2005 because he made the Pom's play him. All these blokes who can reverse the ball are handy, but inevitably will leak runs....

[Media Park]

Not one but TWO posters wanting Watson ahead of Lee. The only way I'd want Watson would be ahead of McDonald who is a plodder.

regards,

REB

Surely McDonald's done enough to keep his spot.

He's not going to dominate, but the fourth (assuming they play a spinner) seamer isn't really expected to be a striker.
He keeps it tight, and builds pressure for the better bowlers.

And I think he should bat at seven, behind Haddin...

[Rik E Boy]

Not one but TWO posters wanting Watson ahead of Lee. The only way I'd want Watson would be ahead of McDonald who is a plodder.

regards,

REB

Surely McDonald's done enough to keep his spot.

He's not going to dominate, but the fourth (assuming they play a spinner) seamer isn't really expected to be a striker.
He keeps it tight, and builds pressure for the better bowlers.

And I think he should bat at seven, behind Haddin...

I didn't say that McDonald hadn't done enough to hold his spot I was saying he can't play.

regards,

REB

[rod_rooster]

Not one but TWO posters wanting Watson ahead of Lee. The only way I'd want Watson would be ahead of McDonald who is a plodder.

regards,

REB

Surely McDonald's done enough to keep his spot.

He's not going to dominate, but the fourth (assuming they play a spinner) seamer isn't really expected to be a striker.
He keeps it tight, and builds pressure for the better bowlers.

And I think he should bat at seven, behind Haddin...

So you think Haddin should bat at 6?

[Media Park]

Not one but TWO posters wanting Watson ahead of Lee. The only way I'd want Watson would be ahead of McDonald who is a plodder.

regards,

REB

Surely McDonald's done enough to keep his spot.

He's not going to dominate, but the fourth (assuming they play a spinner) seamer isn't really expected to be a striker.
He keeps it tight, and builds pressure for the better bowlers.

And I think he should bat at seven, behind Haddin...

So you think Haddin should bat at 6?

Yep!

[the joker]

There is concerns in the UK that Kevin Pietersen could miss the whole Ashes series with a recurrence of his Achilles injury,

[Rik E Boy]

Yes, apparently there is an Ashes series on this year......

regards,

REB