First Test Eleven

[SOTTERS]

My side for 1st test at the gabba what u think
J.Langer
M.Hayden
R.Ponting
B.Hodge
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
A.Gilchrist
B.Lee
J.Gillespie
S.Warne
G.McGrath

12th M.Johnson

[Rik E Boy]

Hodge? Might as well select Michael Bevan, both play the short ball as well as each other and you can expect more than a few of them from Harmison alone. Bradley has some work to do and Martyn will play in the first test.

I'd say

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Clark (Johnson if Clark not fit)
McGrath

12th Bracken

REB's XI

Hayden
Jacques (won't happen but JL gets hit a lot these days, see REB's earlier rants)
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Clarke
Gilchrist
Lee (should bat ahead of Warne but won't)
Warne
Bracken (if Clark is not fit)
McGrath

12th Symonds

Stuart Clark deserves his spot in the first test but if injured, expect Johnson to play, even though at the Gabba, Bracken is the smarter selection. Clarke probably doesn't deserve it but I'm backing Pup to make runs in the NSW V England fixture. Tait and Cosgrove not far away either.


regards,

REB

[Aerie]

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Gilchrist
Watson
Lee
Warne
Gillespie
McGrath

[am Bays]

What it'll probably be....

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Watson/Gilchrist
Gilchrist/watson
Lee
Warne
McGrath
McGill/Bracken
Bracken/McGill

They want to play Watson come hell or high water to give them variety in the attack and are prepared to back Lee and Warne to chip in with ~50 runs between them. Clarke is the bloke want leading the batting come 2010, he will be given a chance again.

What it should be

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Clarke
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Gillespie/Bracken
McGrath
McGill

Watson ain't no Flintoff, stop trying to imitate them, for the last 30 years our side hasbeen built around 6 bats, 1 wk 3 quicks and 1 spinner, don't change a winning combination becasue of a couple of inches in 2005.....

However if we are one-nil down going into Melburne expect Langer, Martyn and Clarke (to a lesser extent) to be under pressure if they haven't scored over 200 runs for the series......Jaques and Watson to be chances to come in if the three amigos aren't scoring runs

Johnson is a Smokey for a bowling spot, they love him too a la Clarke.....Not forgetting Tait either.

If we lose this series expect some generational change with JAques, Watson, Clarke and Johnson to be given chances to develop as players in teh lead up to the 2009 series


Lsst test series for McGrath, Langer and MArtyn

[sydney-dog]

My Side

J.Langer
M.Hayden
R.Ponting
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
A. Symonds
A.Gilchrist
B.Lee
M. Johnson
S.Warne
G.McGrath

12th S. Tait

My opinion M Johnson is an important inclusion, In England our attack lacked variety, Johnson is a left armer you can reverse swing at pace, the POMS have not played this kid before, so he may suprise and he would be pumped given it is his home test

[Rik E Boy]

Jeez you South Australians are funny. Gillespie no chance, even he thinks so.

regards,

REB

[am Bays]

Jeez you South Australians are funny. Gillespie no chance, even he thinks so.

regards,

REB

Actually he is a New South Welsh man originally

I had him their becasuse he offers variety i.e moves it around. the 3 best pace men are Clarke, Mcgrath Lee, and they all bowl very similar. Kasper/Bracken/Gillespie/Johnson/Tait are all candidats for the alst spot to offer variety, to McGrath and Lee.

My side is immaterial as they want Watson in....

[Rik E Boy]

Dizzy a NSW man?? Didn't know that. OK, it's alright to pick him then Lee similar to Clark and McGrath..don't know about THAT wrinkles!

regards,

REB

[MLFC]

Seriously guys u boys had symonds in there once out of all those teams i think
rekon he might get the nod over watson(depending on a decent champions trophy)

[blink]

What it will be:

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Clarke
Hussey
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Clark/MacGill (for Adelaide & Sydney - should be Melbourne, but probably won't)
McGrath

If Clark is unfit, I think the selectors should play MacGill before Bracken, Johnson & Tait. I can't believe that no one has even mentioned his name as of yet! He is a proven wicket-taker at Test level, and can attack and contain, and the Poms proved last series that they can't play legspin well. So this is what I think the side should be for Day 1 at the Gabba:

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Symonds/Watson (still undecided to as who, but Watson ahead marginally)
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
McGrath
MacGill

12th - Clark

[magpie in the 80's]

Dizzy a NSW man?? Didn't know that. OK, it's alright to pick him then Lee similar to Clark and McGrath..don't know about THAT wrinkles!

regards,

REB

he was born in NSW. moved to sth. aust. around the age of 7

[Rik E Boy]

Seriously guys u boys had symonds in there once out of all those teams i think
rekon he might get the nod over watson(depending on a decent champions trophy)

Good point. On sheer talent alone, Roy should be in there. But he hasn't cut the mustard at test level just yet. I reckon the 'allrounder experiment' may just be put on hold prior to the first test, ie. no Watson or Symonds.

regards,

REB

[blink]

I don't know about that REB - it is not like Australia have lost test matches since the Ashes by adopting this policy. I still think we could see Watson or Roy line up at the Gabba - although a lot of what happens could fall on the fitness of Clark.

[am Bays]

Seriously guys u boys had symonds in there once out of all those teams i think
rekon he might get the nod over watson(depending on a decent champions trophy)

Good point. On sheer talent alone, Roy should be in there. But he hasn't cut the mustard at test level just yet. I reckon the 'allrounder experiment' may just be put on hold prior to the first test, ie. no Watson or Symonds.

regards,

REB

I hope so, but the noises you hear coming out of the selection committee demonstrate that it is something they are keen on

[Rik E Boy]

I don't know about that REB - it is not like Australia have lost test matches since the Ashes by adopting this policy. I still think we could see Watson or Roy line up at the Gabba - although a lot of what happens could fall on the fitness of Clark.

I don't see how Clark's availability affects the inclusion or otherwise of the allrounder. If Clark misses Bracken or Johnson will be selected and I reckon Pup will be selected ahead of both allrounders. Symonds and Watson aren't in Flintoff's class so not much point selecting them just to say we have an all rounder in the team. Watson can bowl ok but his batting isn't up to scratch and with Symonds' case he can field and bat but as a bowling option for Clark?? No way jose.

regards,

REB

[blink]

I hope that an allrounder plays, because that means MacGill will play, and I think he would be the next best option should Clark not get up.

[MLFC]

Yeh all good points
watson and roy are all very capable but none have reli shown what they can do at test level
will be interesting 2 see who gets the oppurtunity 2

[Rik E Boy]

I hope that an allrounder plays, because that means MacGill will play, and I think he would be the next best option should Clark not get up.

Magill won't play at the Gabba ahead of Bracken, Johnson or Clark.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

A few weeks ago I ranted and raved at anyone who would listen that Clarke would play in Brisbane and that the 'all rounders' were no show. However, after Watson's strong performance in the Champions Trophy, he could yet get the nod and I get to be wrong online for 1,955th time. Another interesting selection would be Bracken or Clark. I reckon Johnson is still a bit raw to be taking into Brisbane after watching him play a couple of games. He looks an even worse batsman than Glen McGrath!

Hayden
Langer (Jaques' Philding is horrible)
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Watson
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Bracken (with McGrath back, Bracken gives them something diferent as Clark is a sort of McGrath mach II)
McGrath

12th: Pup to make the cordial

regards,

REB

[am Bays]

I reckon you're spot on there REB