First Test Eleven

[blink]

I like the look of that Test side REB.

I posted in another thread yesterday an identical team, except Clark in for Bracken. Now that I have seen what you said I reckon you are right, and Bracken should get the nod over Clark. His ODI form has been outstanding - he was the equal leading ODI wicket-taker of the year along with Lee. Also his left-arm gives us something different.

BTW he bowls left arm, but bats right handed?!? You do see that a fair bit actually.

[am Bays]

My only concern with Bracken is that he bowls 125 to 130 km pace which is on the slowish side for test cricket and that is Mcgraths pace at teh minute. Can we afford to go into the series with two bowlers that test batsmen can get a relatively good look at the ball before it reaches them?

I know speed at aint the be all and end all and that in Brakens case he does hoop it around, but that is why I wouldn't be surprised if Johnston comes into the side because it is his home deck, he bowls it at 135-140 and can hoop it too but but not with the same degree of control that Braken does.

The other wild card is McGill

However first up the selctors will be relatively conservative and go for the side that REB has nominated.

Martyn is batting like a jet at the minute....

[blink]

The other wild card is McGill

I have been calling for this for a while, except most people shoot it down. But as you have said, the selectors will most definitely play the safe card when it comes to Stewie I think.

Martyn has rarely looked like getting out recently - is in great form.

[sydney-dog]

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Johnson
McGrath

12th Man Tait

[giffo]

I know speed at aint the be all and end all and that in Brakens case he does hoop it around, but that is why I wouldn't be surprised if Johnston comes into the side because it is his home deck, he bowls it at 135-140 and can hoop it too but but not with the same degree of control that Braken does.
.

Control isn't as critical in a Test as it is in a one-dayer, full steam ahead with lot's of chin music. As Tait said" If I don't know where it's going, how can the batsmen"

[am Bays]

I know speed at aint the be all and end all and that in Brakens case he does hoop it around, but that is why I wouldn't be surprised if Johnston comes into the side because it is his home deck, he bowls it at 135-140 and can hoop it too but but not with the same degree of control that Braken does.
.

Control isn't as critical in a Test as it is in a one-dayer, full steam ahead with lot's of chin music. As Tait said" If I don't know where it's going, how can the batsmen"

You try telling that to Devon Malcolm and Shoib Akhtar, who are quick but eratic but against class test batsmen have got pounded more often than not.......

[GWW]

For those who have Foxtel and followed the recent Champions Trophy closer than myself, whats the opinion of Lee's current bowling standard/performance? I'm not saying hes out of form, but i'm curious because all the talk lately has been about McGrath, Johnson, Bracken, Watson etc.

[Aerie]

I'll change my XI from what I said a month ago...

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Gilchrist
Watson
Lee
Warne
Bracken
McGrath

I wonder how many of these players will retire after the Ashes or the World Cup next year? It looks like there won't be any Test matches for the Aussies (except maybe Zimbabwe in our winter) until Sri Lanka tour here from November next year. Wouldn't surprise me to see a few of those in bold retire. Maybe Langer and Hayden after this series and Gilchrist, Martyn and McGrath after the WC?

These blokes have formed the nucleus of Waugh's and Ponting's Australian sides and will go down in history alongside the legends of each era. It should make for fascinating viewing watching them reach for the pinnacle one last time.

[Jimmy]

how is bracken going?? has he settled down, matured a bit to become the 3rd test seamer or???

gillespie...love him, but i think he is past it but i havent seen his latest efforts...

id still love to see tait in there...hows he looking????

[Jimmy]

I also want to see hussey do well, i reall think he is a star...

clarke needs to make runs ASAFKNP!!!!!!!!!

he is giving me the shits

[Rik E Boy]

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Johnson
McGrath

12th Man Tait

Cripes Syd, you must hate Marto even more than I do LOL.

regards,

REB

[-]

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

i respect ur post if u want hodge in

if u think its going to happen u r in cookoo land

what i want

lang
hayd
pont
mart
huss
watson
gilchrist
warne
lee
johnson/clarke.s
mcgrath

the selectors will make the right call on johnson as its too tough 4 me. i think if we play watson we can more afford the risk of johnson being innacurate

i think he should have to earn stripes more johnson though clarke undeserving of axe

[MW]

Mine would be:

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Watson
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Tait
McGrath
Bracken 12th

[ORDoubleBlues]

Will admit again that I'm a Tait fan but surely he has to be in before Johnson. His upside is far greater than Johnson's.

[Green & White Fever]

Here's my first test squad:

Hayden
Langer
Ponting (a bit of a tosser...)
Martyn (not a huge fan, but he deserves the gig after stellar form in the ODI's)
Hussey
Watson (when fit, the selectors should perservere with him)
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne (my choice for captain, not likely though...the do-gooders will see to that...)
Bracken (what's all the fuss with Johnson? This guy may be slower, but swings the ball both ways!)
McGrath (here's his domain)

12th man: Tait (swings the ball at 140km+....enough said)

England XI:
Strauss
Trescothick
Cook
Bell
Pietersen
Flintoff (captain, drinking buddy)
Collingwood
Read
Panesar
Harmison
Hoggard

12th Man: Mahmood

What do you reckon ladies & gents?

[am Bays]

Well Tait has reinforced his value to the side today!!!

Has to be strongly considered now, not only was he quick he moved it to.......

Good position for us to be in 4 quality bowlers vying for one spot

[am Bays]

Can anyone tell em the last bloke to get dropped from a test team after making a double hundred??

That is the fate awaiting Gillespie given that he is arguably 6th in line for the 3rd bowling spot after:

Bracken, Clarke, Johnston, McGill, and Tait.

[sydney-dog]

I would love to see Tait play but I think the selectors will pick a left armer to add variety to the attack, if so Johnson, my view should be selected in front of Bracken

In Syd their is a huge push for Clarke to get the third seamer role, myself I think he is too much in the McGrath mould and the selectors should push for variety

Unfortunately I cand see Tait getting a run until McGrath becomes unavailable due to injury or retirement

[rod_rooster]

Personally can't see what all the fuss with Watson is. If he is picked the selectors are picking an all rounder for the sake of it. He is not in the best 6 batsmen in the country (not even close actually) and he is a long way back in the list of fast bowlers as well. He has done nothing performance wise to justify a spot. Only way he is even being considered is that Australia really lacks a quality batsman that can bowl a bit or a quality bowler that can bat a bit. Guys like Flintoff who could play as either don't come around very often and Watson certainly isn't one of these. He bats OK and bowls OK but does neither exceptionally well.

[mal]

Personally can't see what all the fuss with Watson is. If he is picked the selectors are picking an all rounder for the sake of it. He is not in the best 6 batsmen in the country (not even close actually) and he is a long way back in the list of fast bowlers as well. He has done nothing performance wise to justify a spot. Only way he is even being considered is that Australia really lacks a quality batsman that can bowl a bit or a quality bowler that can bat a bit. Guys like Flintoff who could play as either don't come around very often and Watson certainly isn't one of these. He bats OK and bowls OK but does neither exceptionally well.

[""He bats OK and bowls OK but does neither exceptionally well"".]

That describes most allrounders.
Not many allrounders average 50 with the bat + 25 with the ball.
If the allrounder does one of the above 50/25 thats enough, and
the other skill is carried.

If Flintoff did not bowl, he would never make the England team as
a speciallist batsman.